Jill's Journal

Rose Madura  Congratulations Jill on your anniversary. You have a rough ride so I understand your anxiety.  Our minds can really mess with us sometimes. Stay strong! ❤️‍🩹💪

Marie Myers  The doc was able to pull my temporary pacer wires out a couple days post op. Sometimes the pacing wires don’t come out easily, and it is deemed less risky to leave them in. In that case, the wire is clipped close to the skin surface. I know several people on here have mentioned having the pacer wires left in and clipped closely to the skin. Hope that helps.

Thomas Brusstar  Hi.  I had pacing wires.  They insert them during surgery, just so they have a connection in case they need good pacing leads in recovery.  I didn't actually need them, but I understand why they put them in.  They explained that there is a little hook at the end where they insert the wire into the heart tissue.  For me they tried to pull them out after a few days (probably 2, I was still in the hospital), and 1 came out easily and the other did not.  They don't want to pull too hard because it could cause bleeding on the heart itself.  I was super tense at the time, because they explained sometimes it doesn't come out.  So I still have a wire in there, almost 6 years later.  I've never had an issue, but I'm not happy about it.  Just the idea isn't nice.  I'm sure that's what yours is.  They never use wires to "hold your heart together," I don't think.  I have plenty of staples holding my sternum together, but those are different.

Jill Porter  I had the appointment and the cardiologist said in fact it was one of the epicardial pacing wires that were left in and it was popping out and had to be dealt with. So now I have an appointment for next week with the electrophysiologist because he's the one who handles this. Trying not to be upset. It does hurt now  though. Just hope the procedure is not a big deal.

Carolyn Stone  Hi Jill,
I had a PFT prior to my TAVR procedure. I had no idea they gave you carbon monoxide but it explains the little capsule they made me sit in (I did it while at the hospital for my Pre-TAVR angiogram). They did say that I was a bit restricted in my breathing or is it constricted either way they said it wasn't the worst they'd ever seen and approved me for the TAVR procedure. Now I've got a "mild COPD" diagnosis following me around. Having not done a PFT before I don't know if it's scar tissue from the COVId 19 and RSV I had this fall (delaying my heart surgery) or as you point out my severe scoliosis. I had spinal fusion t4 to l4 when I was twelve.

Richard Munson  Breathing in carbon dioxide sounds like a bad idea to me but what do i know. Stress test and echo sounds like a good idea. 

Rose Madura  Jill, I didn't see anything about breathing in carbon dioxide in this article. Maybe ask the doctor about it....

 https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/pulmonary-function-tests

Klara Čičić  Dear Jill,  there are few pulmonary function tests used regularly to help diagnose lung conditions and one of them is called DLCO. It is very useful in determining problems with diffusion capacity, or how good your lungs are in gas exchange. It uses mixture of gases one of which is CO in very small amounts that can't hurt you and there is good science behind this choice, I promise :) you can read about it if you want and I recommend you talk to your pulmologist for detailed information before the procedure to calm you down. I am sure you were surprised to hear "carbon monoxide" but be sure it is quick and harmless test that gives a lot of useful information based on which doctor can help you.

 I am sure this will inspire Richard's imagination to produce a joke or two 😁

Ana Brusso  I was given a pulmonary test and now was given an albuterol sulfate inhalation solution to treat my lungs for a mucus on my lower lungs. Will do this treatment after my treatment for knee replacement. I understand that shortness of breath is common after OHS. Who knows. 

Jill Porter  I had a conversation with my Dr. We agreed that since my SOB is improving slowly, to cancel the tests for now and review again at my next appointment. Thank you for all your thoughts and input. I love having this group to reach out to!!

Valerie Allen  Jill, I am so glad you’ve turned a corner and are starting to feel more normal. I know you’ve had some tough times but you plugged on through. Hurray for you! So glad you posted.

Kathy Ozio  So glad to hear you're feeling better. The bumpy road can be tough some days and even now, 9 months out, it hits me out of the blue. It's hard to believe what you went through and it takes time for some people . This site was the best thing to find and everyone is so supportive and helpful. So glad you're feeling better and you will just keep getting better!

Jill Porter  Thank you. I think I had an unrealistic idea of how long it would take to start feeling better and when I passed those dates I became doubtful and anxious. Many people do have a quicker road to improvement than I did. Others have a timeframe more similar to mine. 

Kath Duggan  Glad to hear you are feeling better. I tend to have faster timelines for healing and get very impatient with myself. I will have surgery next week and I really get anxious about healing after! Take care❤️

Jill Porter  Best of luck to you! Most of the people on this site seem to not have too bad a time of it so hopefully the odds are with you and you'll be like them!

Pamela Gregory  I think sometimes people don't share all the details. Glad you are turning a corner and feeling better!

Rose Madura  Jill, so glad you are feeling better. You had a rough recovery but you are a warrior 🪖. You stayed strong and now you are well on your way to a full recovery. And I agree with Pamela that sometimes, people don't share all the details.  Anyway, congratulations! 👍❤️‍🩹

Michele Renee  This post really gave me encouragement. I have been so worried that I’m not on the right track to recovery with AFIB and the medication. Thank you so much for sharing ❤️❤️❤️❤️

Susan Eckermann  Hi Jill - I had mitral valve repair one year ago, as well as a Maze procedure. Prior to surgery I was frequently in A-fib, due to the severe mitral valve regurgitation caused by my inefficient valve. Post-surgery, I was frequently in A-fib, had occasional dizziness, and extreme fatigue. I took a couple naps a day - something I'd never done before - because I needed them. It took about 3 months until I felt consistently "good" —- and on a straighter path to recovery. Doctors explained that what I was feeling was part of the healing process, my heart adjusting to it's "new normal," and also at times medication adjustments weren't keeping up with my healing progress. At one point, my pulse rate was in the 40's until they reduced, then stopped a couple of the medications. I also didn't start cardiac rehab for several months, but did short walks daily, which helped me to rebuild strength and stamina. My surgeon encouraged me to keep a daily journal, with vitals and a quick thought about how I was feeling. I found that helpful to measure my progress, and share with medical staff when I had concerns. I encourage you to continue sharing your concerns with medical staff, and note your feelings/symptoms, as you are doing. Best wishes for continued recovery progress .

Stephen Berry  Hi Jill-I had mitral valve repair 2 years ago.  My primary symptom after surgery was shortness of breath, actually worse than before surgery.  It was months before I could walk up even a small incline without breathing hard.  I still get short of breath going up more than two flights of stairs but recover quickly. All my tests are normal.  I recommend that you trust your doctors, get testing when appropriate, and know that it takes years to fully recover from heart surgery.  I feel great now and trust that you will too.

Be patient with yourself and try not to worry.  Exercise as recommended (key is to not give up and keep working at it).  Best wishes to you.
Stephen

Susan Lynn  Jill - I had to wait months to get into cardiac rehab, too. Since you've had surgery recently, you might want to continue to use your spirometer. It could be related to your lung capacity rather than oxygenated blood going into your heart.
I was short of breath after my mitral valve repair and even asked my cardiologist for a cardiac stress test, but I passed. You may want to inquire about getting one if you think you have post-op regurgitation.

I do think that slowly increasing the intensity of my exercise ultimately did help. Best of luck to you.

Delise Becker  Hi, Jill. I am six weeks out from a mitral valve replacement and tricuspid repair (via sternotomy). I was extremely short of breath pre-surgery, but only when I really exerted myself. Grocery shopping was not a problem, but doing Jazzercise was. Since surgery, I have been walking short distances most days, trying to increase the distance a little each day. I don't seem to be short of breath. I, too, was experiencing A-fib AND A-flutter and had to go to ER three times to be cardioverted. I finally saw a cardiac electrophysiologist (EP) yesterday. He did reiterate what both my surgeon and cardiologist told me: that it can take from 6 weeks - 3 months for the heart to "settle down" after surgery. He did an EKG, which showed that I was in sinus rhythm, but with low voltage in the precordial leads and poor R-wave progression. I didn't actually see the report until this morning, so I'm not sure what all that means, but at the bottom of the report, it stated that my EKG was ABNORMAL. My point is that even if you are in sinus rhythm, you could have other electrical system issues. Or, as others have said, you likely will improve with more time. I did use my spirometer a lot, and I'm still using it. The EP told me that walking is fine, as long as I'm not in A-fib or flutter. I, too, am still awaiting to get into cardiac rehab, so I am doing what I can. I don't want to overdo it, though, because I certainly don't want to get out of sinus rhythm again. That is so miserable! 

I hope that as you continue to heal, you will be less short of breath, and that eventually, you won't have any shortness of breath. Hang in there!

Karen Hanna  Jill, the golden rule I think is, no matter what our cardiologists say, we are all going to recover differently.  My mitral valve repair was May 2023.  I was very impatient.  I had no obvious symptoms going in, was very fit and active (I am 69), so was shocked at being considerably out of breath post surgery! I was also diagnosed with "heart failure" at my 6 week echo.  I was horrified. I was reminded that my heart was traumatized from surgery and to give it time to recover and find its new normal. I had to go on meds to lower my heart rate. (MY BP is always low)  I started cardiac rehab 8 weeks post surgery and did all 36 sessions.   I am playing tennis again and am certain my next echo will show my EV back up to almost normal levels again.  We all have different journeys but you will definately get there. Be kind to yourself , keep exercising and be very patient. 

Rita Savelis  I didn't have a real appetite for a long time (months?) but ate in a mechanical fashion. Everyone reacts differently. Everything is "normal".

Kimberly Eisenhut  Good to see you are home and doing well. Hope you find a solution for the rhythm  problem quickly :)

Delise Becker  It's good hear that you are home now. Hopefully, an "electrician," as my sister calls her electrophysiologist, can help get your rhythm back in sync. Best wishes for your continued recover. 

Robert Miller  Did they say that they couldn't fix your afib or it's just that they still see some afib? After my first surgery I had to be on a pacemaker for a few days. Eventually, my heart did beat without the pacemaker but it still took months for the heart to beat more regularly. Even these days I have some afib but it's a lot better than before. Check what your cardiologist is saying about it. 

Rose Madura  Oh no! Hopefully this will clear up soon.  Maybe this video will help..
https://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2017/11/15/atrial-fibrillation-after-heart-surgery/

Rose Madura  Glad the video helped Jill.  I was a textbook case in that it was on and off for about six weeks.  Praying it will get better soon. 

Jill Porter  I have to try and let go of the expectation that it’s going to pop back into sinus and stay there. I have to accept this reality. This is hard for me to do.

Rose Madura  I understand Jill. It's hard. It stinks. You just want to start feeling better. I will continue with pray. I don't know if you are a believer, but praying helped me.

Robert Miller  What do you mean with afib? If your heart isn't beating exactly as it should months after surgery you are probably ok. It takes time to recover. It's a different story if you heart goes like 100bpm+ at rest or constantly misses beats. Please contact your cardiologist to discuss this.

Marie Myers  Robert- a fib is an irregular heart heart which can be the cause of blood clots which can do lots of harm or death. The heart rate on a fib can be fast, and it is irregular. It is a serious arrhythmia which must be treated with anticoagulants to prevent blood clots. It is not uncommon after heart surgery, and is sometimes just temporary. But it must be treated with meds, cardioversion, possible ablation, and definitely anticoagulants. Hope that explains it.

Robert Miller  @Marie Myers, thanks for the explanation. I do understand what afib is. My point was that it can be in different forms and different severities. I haven't really heard that afib can be caused by blood clots but instead that afib can cause blood clots. That's because blood can pool up and then form clots. That's another reason why my hearts appendix has been removed because that is where blood clots are most likely to form. 

Marie Myers  Jill- I am sorry to hear you are still in the hospital. What do the docs say about your low EJection fraction? 

Jill Porter  That it probably can be managed with medication. I heard your ef can go down after surgery but I guess this is too much??is like my heart isn’t adjusting to the new fixed up valve. But I didn’t have this surgery to be in a worse situation that what I started out with. I’m sorry but I’m quite upset at this moment.

Rita Savelis  Hi Jill. I'm sorry to hear about all that you've been through. I didn't feel better for weeks after double valve surgery and had various unexpected side effects. It's hard. I feel your anger and disappointment. You've been through a lot and are still going through a lot. Hopefully your surgeon can explain in an honest way what is happening with your heart and why it might be happening. After your physical ordeal you are feeling lots of emotions and need explanations. Take care.

Richard Munson  No idea what being a good candidate or not means as i had pretty much the same procedure at mass general in boston and so far after 2 years ok. My prayers are with you that this will be solved soon. You go into this surgery to get better, not worse. 

Valerie Allen  Jill, by not a candidate are you thinking you should have had replacement instead of repair? Sorry, trying to understand. 

Delise Becker  Lifting you up in prayer, Jill. Also praying that your surgeon and medical team will figure out a plan for your recovery and healing.

Rose Madura  Jill, I'm sorry about this. I'm praying that you turn a corner soon and then start feeling better.  Hang in there.  Praying for you...

Robert Miller  You said "NOW (my emphasize) my ejection fraction is very low" Are you saying it is lower than before surgery? In my case it could only improve. About 6 months after my second surgery my EF improved significantly. So it takes some time. Consider that your heart just was opened and has to heal. Talk to your surgeon but give your heart some time (few months) to recover. Your EF will most likely go up. 

Jill Porter  Starting to improve a bit. They said my ef before surgery which was about 50 was not accurate because of my leaky valve. Now the valve is fixed it is much harder for my heart to pump I think my ef is like 33 now. They said it’s ok. So I am hanging on to faith. 

Susan Lynn  Jill - The measurement of ejection fraction is deceiving before surgery because it's considering blood going forward and regurgitating. Pretty much everyone will experience an initial reduction in EF. My cardiologist explained a condition called heart remodeling that occurs after surgery. Your heart has to get used to the demands of the increased blood flow pumping forward. So much healing happens in the first few weeks after surgery, you might just need to be a little patient until your heart adjusts to the improved efficiency. Hang in there!

Rose Madura  Jill, I had Afib and Aflutter after my surgery for about six weeks and then it stopped. During those six weeks they treated me with high doses of Metrolpol and Amiodarone. At one point, they were going to do a cardioversion but my cardiologist saw that fluid buildup was extensive so I had to go through another surgery and they did a pericardial window. You are still early from your surgery. I'm assuming you are not converting out of Afib. That's probably why they are talking cardioversion. There are videos on this site that Adam posted that discuss Afib after surgery. Hang in there. Recovery is tough. But you are a warrior! I'll say a prayer for you.

Miriam St.Clair  I had afib and aflutter for about 6 months after surgery, which didn't resolve on it's own, so I opted for the cardioversion. They loaded me up with amiodarone prior to the cardioversion, and then gradually tapered the dose down after the cardioversion. Three months later, no afib or aflutter, and I'm off the amiodarone. I have to stay on Eliquis (blood thinner), though, because I did have a stroke from the afib about three weeks after my valve surgery. It's all good now, though.

Jill Porter  Thank you. They cardioverted yesterday and I am in sinus but having heavy heart beats if that makes sense. I am on am on Amiodarone. It means so much to hear from people who actually went through the same thing.

Susan Lynn  Hang in there, Jill. You're in exactly the right place to get the needed treatment. Glad you were able to get a repair! Better days are ahead!

Deena Z  Jill, I know it is disappointing to be back in the ICU. Know you are in good hands there and they will get to the root of the problem. "Hiccups" occur and most of them from my own experience and from participating as an active member on HVS get resolved fairly quickly and without the need for more surgery. Hang tight. Thanks for the update. I will say a prayer for you right after I post this~!!

Rose Madura  Jill, Deena is right, you are in the right place now. I had several scary readmission after my OHS It's important to trust the doctors and do your best to stay positive. God bless you. Praying for you to turn the corner soon.

Klara Čičić  Oh Jill, these days are so challenging. I also felt awful. Afib must be making things worse for you. It's the last thing you want in those early recovery days, but Afib is very common post surgery complication, especially in the first 12 weeks. I hope it will pass soon!! Hang in there dear Jill, you will get through this!

Marie Myers  I am sorry you feel so lousy. Unfortunately , early recovery is very exhausting and emotionally difficult. As you regain your strength and probably get off the Multaq, I am confident you will start feeling better. Keep us posted!

Rose Madura  Jill, I'm sorry you are having AFib.  I also suffered with it and Aflutter post surgery and it lasted on and off for about six weeks.  It's no fun, that's for sure.  Hopefully, you will start feeling better soon.  God bless you and hang in there.  Keep us posted. 

Robert Miller  Did you have afib before the surgery? If not, then it might just take some time. You said you feel awful. Is it because you feel your heart  isn't beating properly and that makes you feel bad? Or do you physically feed bad? In my case I could feel like my heart isn't beating properly which made it hard to fall asleep. I hope you discussed this with your cardiologist. 

Susan Eckermann  Hi Jill. I developed Afib due to my severe mitral valve regurgitation. It did not immediately subside after OHS/mitral valve repair in November 2022. Especially with the post- surgery meds —Metroprolol, Amiodarone, Warfarin. My BP and HR varied so much as I healed. After several months though, my BP and HR stabilized and my Afib disappeared. I had a scare, with a very low HR and feelings of faintness that sent me to the ER during month 2 of my recovery. The doctors reduced my meds and in month 3 of recovery I was off everything, and have experienced no Afib since that time. Healing does take time and I did feel there were many highs and lows during my recovery as my heart adjusted to its new "normal." I would encourage you to contact your cardiologist to discuss your concerns, discomfort, etc… Remember that your body has been through major surgery. Take it one day at a time. Rest when you can, take walks, eat well. Slowly but surely, you will keep making steady progress and feel a little bit better each week. Recovery is challenging, but you will make progress. Grant yourself grace.

Susan Lynn  Jill - I'm guessing you're still in the hospital. Let the nursing staff know. They'll try to keep your medications on schedule and that should help. It gets better. Hang in there.

Rose Madura  My advice is to stay ahead of the pain. You are still very early in your recovery. Susan is right. 👍

J Alexander Lassally  Hope you turn the corner on the pain. Was is the Davinci Robot operation? Def tell the nurses and see if they can notch it up !

Klara Čičić  Oh dear Jill, I remember writing to the worriors here "how on earth did you all survive this? cca 48 hours after the surgery... It honestly was like a never ending labour without epidural hahah. But trust me it gets better each minute, each hour, each day... Especially once they take out those chest tubes. You can do this!

Lisa Coombe  I had great pain relief for my entire stay in hospital, I had enough sleep even though I couldn’t lay flat

Cathleen Weed  Jill, You'll feel much better when the chest tubes are removed. Get up and walk as much as you can. Your body will feel better with movement even though you don't feel like moving. It will help you in sooo many ways. Move it or lose it :) We come out of surgery feeling worse than when we went in...that's the nature of the surgery. You get worse before you get better. Every single minute is getting you closer to a full recovery. Let the nurses stay ahead of your pain with whatever you can tolerate. Then just buckle up for the ride. Recovery and healing hurts until it doesn't .

Jill Porter  Tubes came out this afternoon! Still achey but much better! Also had AFib for several hours this afternoon but it passed with medication. Wow! Much respect to everyone who has gone threw this 

Robert Miller  I agree with @Cathleen Wee. Once those tubes are out you feel so much better. As for pain, tell the nurses. In both my cases at different hospitals they told me they won't give me any meds unless I ask for them. They also told me not trying to be a hero by not asking for meds. So if you are in pain then ask for the meds.

Rose Madura  Jill, glad your surgery got moved up. You are showing symptoms and you don't want to wait. Praying for all your family. Glad you have a good support system.

Robert Miller  My condition worsened very quickly, i.e. a couple of months. I am not saying it's the same for everybody but it's probably a good thing your date was moved up, especially considering the symptoms. And it's great to hear that you have a good support system. It makes a big difference. I assume/hope you have already planned for the recovery. The recovery is really the biggest part of this whole procedure. 

Valerie Allen  Hi Jill, I hope someone has some tips. You might discuss again with your dr. All I know is using more pillows while sleeping.

Susan Lynn  Jill - That feeling is awful. I had SOB with exertion before my mitral valve repair and it was uncomfortable and exhausting. I would see if you can move up the date on your surgery. Your surgeon may have a cancelation and be able to get you in sooner. Get whatever pre-op tests they'll allow now, so you're ready. Even though your surgery is next month, it's an eternity when you can't breathe. Better days are ahead. Best of luck to you!

Jill Porter  Thanks Susan. It's good to hear from people who understand. I can't move my surgery up because my daughter is having surgery in early September and I will be her care giver. 

Klara Čičić  Dear Jill, I think you should discuss it once again with your doctor. Those diuretics could be taken every day if needed, there are also other medications used in situations like this to reduce strain on heart, there are even different kind of diuretics that could be tried. I don't know your whole history, but your primary care doctor should manage your therapy in order to reduce symptoms to a minimum.. Using more pillows is an option as Valerie said, eating less sodium, watching your blood pressure... I hope you will make it till the surgery with as little symptoms as possible! Take care

Kath Duggan  I am on diuretics ( and potassium) every day until surgery in November. Most of the time they help and allow me to exercise most days comfortably  . I want to be as strong as I can going in to surgery. My doctors feel like it is okay for the short term to help control this while awaiting surgery. It is very scary to be short of breath.

STEPHEN MORRIS  As a firefighter, when we go to these calls, we will often get the person to calm down and concentrate on breathing through your nose and out through your mouth. Breathe slow and deeply..it takes patience and hard to do when struggling for air, but it does help.

Patsy Stewart  I have an allergic reaction to the dye. They usually do my CT scans without the dye. When they need a CT scan with the dye, they give me steroids to take starting several hours beforehand. I’m also allergic to benedryl, so I can only take the big doses of prednisone. So far, I’ve done really well taking the prednisone before the scan. 

Jill Porter  Thank you. That is what the doctor said. He said that I could just take Benadryl before. He didn't think the steroids were necessary. 

Steven Methot  That's my birthday and it's a significant one too... I guess I become a senior citizen then.  My birthday wish will be for a great outcome for you!

Klara Čičić  Yay Jill! Seems like you are ready for surgery and in a good state of mind. Getting a date is huge thing. Now sit back and relax, do something nice for you every day, write a journal, walk... We are with you through this crazy journey that will make you stronger and your heart healthier! You can do this! 

Marie Myers  Yes, it is going to be a long ,hot summer everywhere. I am in South Florida where the heat and humidity have been very high for so early in the summer. Stay hydrated! Let us know what happens with your surgical consult.

Rose Madura  Jill, it sounds like you are doing Ll the right things. Praying for a good outcome on the cath. God bless you..

Ana Brusso  Hello Jill, welcome. Lots of heart warriors graduate from MVP surgery here on this site. I’m sure they will chime in. Anxiety is one of the things we have gone through. The waiting is the hardest part. Stay busy, do your research and write to us, we know exactly what you are going through. God bless you in your surgery journey 🙏❤️

Susan Lynn  Jill - I had mitral valve surgery. Surgery is stressful, but actually feels like a one minute nap and it's all over! Please feel free to ask any questions you may have!

Jill Porter  I'm really hoping to be able to breathe easier and have more energy. I have two young grand babies to chase after.

Susan Lynn  Jill - Most people on this site will tell you, you're going through the hardest part right now - waiting. It's easy to let the stress and anxiety get to you, but don't let your imagination run away with you. Every part of the process is doable. You'll be just fine! We did it - you can, too!

Robert Miller  You are doing the right thing doing this procedure. I am sure you already know this but assuming you have OHS (Open Heart Surgery) during this procedure they will cut your chest open, they will stop your heart and they will collapse your lungs to get good access to the heart. It sounds somewhat frightening but 

* Surgeons to this all the time
* There will be two surgeons during the procedure just in case something happens to the first one (very unlikely).
* You will be under constant surveillance during and after the procedure. Frankly, I felt a lot safer when I went for the surgery then when I was at home, even with my wife right next to me. My wife has to sleep sometime and can't monitor my heart all the time. In the hospital there is equipment recording every heartbeat and there are nice nurses working 24/7.
* You will feel a lot better after you are done with your recovery. Much stronger, not easily out of breath anymore, etc.
* You just added many years to your life to enjoy things (and make best use of it)

Some other comments:

* You said you have Afib. Did you discuss the Maze procedure to (try to) fix it?
* Ask about removing the appendix. That's where blood clots usually build up, especially with afib.
* Have you prepared for all the things for recovery (that's really the major part of the surgery)? My two main issues were back pain due to having to lay on my back and getting out of bed. For getting out of bed it is very helpful if you have some bed or couch that can elevate your back by a motor. There are those wedge pillows (manual solution) but at least for the first couple of weeks I preferred the couch (our couch can adjust the angle, our bed can't). Get enough pillows to support your back, your legs, etc.

Again, you are doing the right thing. You will be in the best hands. After your recovery you will so much better...

Thomas Brusstar  I agree with the others!  My MVP was repaired almost 5 years ago.  The stress of waiting is the worst. The surgery itself will happen fast.   I went in on a Tuesday and was home for dinner Friday.  Right now your heart is working overtime, making up for all the mitral valve “backwash” / regurgitation, and the pressures are stressing your left atrium especially while hurting your lungs.  Immediately when they are done, those pressures go away, and your heart can start to get back to normal.  My left atrium was 4 x normal size going in, and was down to 2 x normal by the time I left the operating room.

I had a sternotomy, but some have it done by several smaller cuts without cutting the sternum.  It’s surgeon preference/ recommendation, with various advantages.  Minimally invasive with no sternotomy is billed as faster recovery.  I do think sternotomy happens faster, so less time on the heart/ lung bypass machine during surgery.  Even a full sternotomy can be done with sternal fixation (a plate with screws closing the sternum), which helps mobility and healing afterwards.  Talk to the surgeon and ask about those options

You’ll be glad you got this done!

Rose Madura  Anxiousness is normal as everyone has said.  Try to trust the science and your doctors.  They do this every day and odds are in your favor that you will be much better after the surgery.  God bless you.

Kathy Ozio  I'm four months out from mitralvalve repair (minimally invasive) and yes, the most stressfulti.e is definitely the time up to the surgery. Afterwards, most important thing is to listen to your body and not overdo it, and walk as you can. You will feel better. I was always short of breath, and it took about a monthoor two after but I was finally able to feel I could get deep breaths and it was wonderful! Praying your journey goes well and ask anything!

Greg Lewis  Hi Jill ...so here's the thing...you take this ONE step at a time. Your team will guide you through each step. I found that how one step goes, leads to what the next step will be. So focus on what's in front of you. Your mind will try to get you to worry about what's down the road..BUT.. it has no idea what that is!!! What a crazy trick it plays on us! Everything will go just the way it's supposed to. If your a believer, God doesn't make mistakes.  It's all for a reason!! Good luck!

Jill Porter  These are very comforting comments! What an amazing group of people you are. Thank you so much! My cardiac cath is on Monday. I'm trying to do as suggested and taking one day at a time. I'm encouraged by the thought of feeling stronger and having less shortness of breath someday.