Jerry White - Heart Valve Journal

My Journal

1106 days ago

My surgery was 8 weeks ago. For the first four weeks my incision seemed to heal really quickly and neatly. The surgeon told me that I could remove any glue ...Read more

My surgery was 8 weeks ago. For the first four weeks my incision seemed to heal really quickly and neatly. The surgeon told me that I could remove any glue that was barely hanging on, if I did it gently. For a week or two my incision was pretty and pink along the whole length.

Then it started opening up again. I would have a bit of blood from a few specific spots. At the moment I have three small, circular scabs, and one area that bleeds a little but never forms a hard, dark scab. Is this normal? I never would have expected it to start scabbing over again.

Greg Lewis Proper healing here is nothing to mess with. I would go see your doctor.

Robert Miller Mine was initially healing pretty quickly, too. Then the lower incision got more read and in a couple ... Read more

Robert Miller Mine was initially healing pretty quickly, too. Then the lower incision got more read and in a couple of spot some pus did build up (that was about 6-7 weeks after surgery). It was tiny, more like a pimple. There was also a bit of blood (maybe about a dozen blood drops) coming out when I squeezed it. It was really quite minor so I was just waiting for a few days and see how it develops. It did go away, came back a week later and then disappeared and hasn't come back for the last few weeks. If it had stayed or gotten worse I would have contacted the surgeon.
In your case it seems more significant. Based on your description I would definitely contact your surgeon. If he isn't close then maybe you can email him some images.

Jerry Whiteposted an update

1130 days ago

Hi Everyone. I had open heart aortic valve replacement and single CABG five weeks ago. Everything has been going great since then except that my skin on my ...Read more

Hi Everyone. I had open heart aortic valve replacement and single CABG five weeks ago. Everything has been going great since then except that my skin on my chest is very sensitive. I get a prickly feeling, like tiny pinpricks, constantly. Also my skin feels sunburnt. I have switched to a very soft undershirt, which helps a little. It's not just the scar, it's a wider area of the chest. I can't shake this sensitivity. It's very annoying.

The prickly might be because of the hair growing back? I have a hairy chest, which was, of course, completely shaved immediately before surgery. It's coming back in. I don't know if that's really what I'm feeling but it's a guess.

Has anyone used an ointment or lotion to make their skin feel better? Is there another solution, or do I just have to give it more time?

Angela Meletiadis hi Jerry. Yep, I've got the pin pricks, 8 months after minimally invasive mitral valve repair. I also ... Read more

Angela Meletiadis hi Jerry. Yep, I've got the pin pricks, 8 months after minimally invasive mitral valve repair. I also still have pain in the areas of incisions and through my right breast. Soft clothing helps, and time has shown to be somewhat of a healer, but I still have an annoying degree of pain. I'm preparing my own post so that I don't take up space on yours. Does gentle massage help?

Jerry White Hi Angela. Thanks for the response. I haven’t tried massage. It seems too soon after surgery to be ... Read more

Jerry White Hi Angela. Thanks for the response. I haven’t tried massage. It seems too soon after surgery to be pressing on that area. I’ll wait awhile. My doctor offered Gabapentin, but I’m reluctant to get myself hooked on a new medication. I’ll probably just wait awhile longer and hope for an improvement.

Angela Meletiadis Yes, five weeks is early for deep massage. I was thinking of gentle massage with an oil or cream, or ... Read more

Angela Meletiadis Yes, five weeks is early for deep massage. I was thinking of gentle massage with an oil or cream, or even olive oil soap in the shower.

Susan Lynn Jerry - Nerves take a long time to regenerate. I had a variety of sensations for a year, but even... Read more

Susan Lynn Jerry - Nerves take a long time to regenerate. I had a variety of sensations for a year, but eventually they stopped. Mine were more annoying than painful. I hope yours will diminish with time. Best of luck!

Ana Brusso I use a gentle body cream and massage the different areas of my chest that have incisions several tim ... Read more

Ana Brusso I use a gentle body cream and massage the different areas of my chest that have incisions several times a day. My most annoying and sensitive area is the incision done after the surgery in ICU to insert a new tube to release a bubble in my lung.

Frank Giovanniello Jerry, Try Eucerin Skin Calming. It really helped me.

Jerry White Hi, commenters. Bit of an update. I had been trying various creams, Eucerin and CBD and even somethin ... Read more

Jerry White Hi, commenters. Bit of an update. I had been trying various creams, Eucerin and CBD and even something with lidocaine. I can't say that any of them were the magic solution. I saw my surgeon a week ago and he said I should make sure no creams touch the incision, which is still healing. Even though I never apply anything there, it seems to migrate because he saw some on it. At this point I'm just skipping the cream, adapting to it and living with it. Maybe once the incision is in better shape I'll feel more comfortable using topicals. One year is a long time, but it looks like that's what I'm probably facing.

Jerry Whiteposted an update

1207 days ago

Steven Methot, Ed Eller, Susan Lynn reacted to this

I would like to add this hospital to the list.

Steven Methot I love it. Have you seen Hyperbole and a Half's pain scale? Much more accurate than the traditional ... Read more

Steven Methot I love it. Have you seen Hyperbole and a Half's pain scale? Much more accurate than the traditional smiley faces.

Jerry Whiteposted an update

1207 days ago

I'm reading the pre-surgery material provided by my hospital. They recommend installing grab rails in your shower, and a toilet seat riser. How important are ...Read more

I'm reading the pre-surgery material provided by my hospital. They recommend installing grab rails in your shower, and a toilet seat riser. How important are these? Did anyone else make those home mods prior to surgery?

Rose Madura Hi Jerry. I used a shower seat for about a week after returning home.

Marie Myers I was 63 at the time of my surgery, and did not need grab rails or riser. Like rose I used a shower c ... Read more

Marie Myers I was 63 at the time of my surgery, and did not need grab rails or riser. Like rose I used a shower chair for about a week. I also loved my 4 week rental electric recliner.

Andrew Dial Shower seat! And a wedge pillow as I had to sleep on my back for awhile

Patsy Stewart That information wasn’t included in my material. The handrails would basically be for safety. Getti ... Read more

Patsy Stewart That information wasn’t included in my material. The handrails would basically be for safety. Getting up from a sitting position isn’t as hard as getting up from when you’re laying in bed. I used a shower chair. We had already installed a taller toilet, so no need for a riser. My son did install some hand rails to have something to steady myself. My husband had to scrub me down and basically clothe me for several days, so he became the biggest help while taking a shower. Having someone to help you would be your most useful tool since you’re not supposed to be tugging and pulling, raising your arms above your head or basically using your arms for 2 months.

Klara Čičić I used shower chair during my 10 day hospital stay. When I got home I didn't need it anymore.

Pamela Gregory Shower seat for at least a couple of weeks and definitely a wedge pillow to prop you up and keep you ... Read more

Pamela Gregory Shower seat for at least a couple of weeks and definitely a wedge pillow to prop you up and keep you on your back.

Ana Brusso Never needed shower chair nor hand rails, it’s individual I think. I had help taking the first coup ... Read more

Ana Brusso Never needed shower chair nor hand rails, it’s individual I think. I had help taking the first couple of showers and washing my hair a few times.

Richard Munson I still use my shower seat. A recliner in there and i would never come out.

Steven Methot About the toilet seat raiser, my mother-in-law was told to get one (we did), but she actually found o ... Read more

Steven Methot About the toilet seat raiser, my mother-in-law was told to get one (we did), but she actually found our toilet worked fine. There are toilets that are taller than others but not out of the normal, they are often listed as "comfort" height (17 inches I think) and are more and more the norm. If your toilet is a lower one then maybe the toilet seat raiser is a good bet. I think that medical supply stores actually rent them.

Robert Miller The toilets in the hospital were normal height so I am not sure why they recommend raised toilet sea ... Read more

Robert Miller The toilets in the hospital were normal height so I am not sure why they recommend raised toilet seats at home. Use your heart hugger, though. Getting in and especially out of bed is a pain. The first two weeks I slept on our couch which has an electric up/down function. Afterwards I slept in our bed with a wedge pillow. It's a fairly hard pillow that props you up some 30 degrees or so. It made it a lot easier getting in and out of bed. It also helped with sleeping on my back which I was not used to.

Greg Lewis Hey Jerry! Every single case is different, and you may or may not require some items. But, i can tell ... Read more

Greg Lewis Hey Jerry! Every single case is different, and you may or may not require some items. But, i can tell you from experience, to gear up, so that in the unlikely event, your surgery leaves you a bit more helpless than you planned on, you will be ready, and not trying to get these items when your feeling like crap! Or they are not available. Good luck!!

Ed Eller I used a shower chair for a couple weeks. Glad I did.

Jerry White Followup: I didn't bother with a toilet riser and I was fine. I did use a shower seat, given by a for ... Read more

Jerry White Followup: I didn't bother with a toilet riser and I was fine. I did use a shower seat, given by a former surgery patient, and used it for about a week but then realized I didn't need it. It was good to be prepared. I'll pass on the seat to the next person!

Ana Brusso Welcome to recovery Jerry. God bless you 🙏❤️

Jerry Whiteposted an update

1209 days ago

Jerry White reacted to this

I bought Adam’s book just now using the “instant download” feature. After paying by PayPal, there was no link to download. How do I get the book? This ...Read more

I bought Adam’s book just now using the “instant download” feature. After paying by PayPal, there was no link to download. How do I get the book? This is frustrating.

Earl Brigham Jerry - If Adam cannot solve this problem for you, let me know. I myself purchased a copy which I ca ... Read more

Earl Brigham Jerry - If Adam cannot solve this problem for you, let me know. I myself purchased a copy which I can share with you. Don't get frustrated, we will get you taken care of.

Jerry Whiteposted an update

1232 days ago

Patsy Stewart reacted to this

I had a second opinion from Dr. Junaid Khan yesterday. It was a very helpful session. He confirmed the course of treatment from my Kaiser cardio team, and answered ...Read more

I had a second opinion from Dr. Junaid Khan yesterday. It was a very helpful session. He confirmed the course of treatment from my Kaiser cardio team, and answered all our questions. As to "do I need this surgery?" he basically said, statistically if I have the surgery I will be alive in one year, but possibly not if I don't. That's pretty compelling! I'm glad to have found Dr. Khan through this site.

Susan Lynn Compelling indeed! We're lucky we have advanced notice and that the medical expertise exists to fix... Read more

Susan Lynn Compelling indeed! We're lucky we have advanced notice and that the medical expertise exists to fix us! Try to relax until game day. We'll be cheering for you, Jerry!

Ana Brusso Agree with Susan Lynn, thank God for advance notice and be able to get questions answered and find th ... Read more

Ana Brusso Agree with Susan Lynn, thank God for advance notice and be able to get questions answered and find the right surgical team. Glad you found Dr. Khan

Rose Madura Very compelling! I had something similar when I asked if I could wait until I retire to have the surg ... Read more

Rose Madura Very compelling! I had something similar when I asked if I could wait until I retire to have the surgery. I was less than two months out. I was told no, that could be too late. Agree with Susan and Ana, I'm so thankful we have the technology today to deal with our hearts and go on to live healthy lives. God bless you on your journey.