John's Journal

Good Morning! A quick update...

I'm a little over four months post SAVR, it seems like a lifetime ago!


I retired on Dec 19 2024, wife and myself took a long trip in January and about a week after we returned we both got the flu... the cough was exhausting...took about three weeks to finally get well.

I've been diligent about the stationary bike and weight training...my strength and stamina are starting to return...
The one thing I'm really enjoying is not being short of breath doing every little job, but that's allowing me to also push myself too hard at times, in the evenings I'm exhausted!
Slow and steady wins the race for sure! My lovely wife and caregiver is constantly reminding me of this!
I'm still seeing my heart rate elevated alot of the time and I was told at rehab in December this is something time will take care of.

No more cardiologist appointments until Aug. and that's to have my echo done.

Overall, I'm extremely thankful I'm in very good health and have a great mind set, ...looking forward to the summer, my favorite time of year, our garden and seeing how much better things get!

Have a wonderful day!

Morning guys! Hope everyone is doing well!
This morning marks seven weeks since my SAVR and alot is going on,
and I'll admit I totally underestimated the seriousness of this procedure.

Most of my meds ran out Nov 30. Still on Lipitor and Metoprolol.
Doc started weaning me off Metoprolol Saturday and hopefully done with it for good by New Year. I'm finding I'm not sleeping well since I've started cutting the dosage to half a pill per day but my blood pressure is staying stable.
Started cardiac rehab the 25th of Nov. That is going well...Working as hard as the nurses will let me without fussing at me to slow down. My insurance changes Jan 1 so I'm using this as a template for going it alone after that...I work at home on the exercise bike on rehab off days, at least 45 minutes to 1 hour and I'll be happy when I can get back to my kettlebells.
I'm still having days when I go out, especially in crowds or noisy areas, that I tire quickly. They are getting fewer thankfully!
Sleeping in the bed is getting better since I found two giant pillows to pile up next to me, mainly to keep me from rolling. I'm a chronic side sleeper and I've woken myself several times trying to get on my side!

I have run into an issue I'm a little nervous about...I have started having a clicking in my chest mainly along my collarbones and at the bottom of my sternum. Certain movements and/or sitting positions causes it more often but never when I'm standing...Called Doctor's and they are bickering with insurance about approving a CT scan and I see them the 24th...

Woke up this morning very sore along my incision, not sure what that's about...not the first time for sure and I'm sure it won't be the last....
All in all things are going well, most days are good and there are a few bad ones as well...gaining some weight back and I'm still impatient with myself sometimes over my progress but I'm always extremely thankful to be as healthy as I am now!
Everyone have a great day! Sorry to be long winded!

Morning guys! Hope everyone is well and recovering well!
A week home and things are getting better most days, can't say everyday yet...
Took almost a week to get the smell from the hospital outta my system, figured it out in the shower one evening, they use Dial Antibacterial Liquid soap, same stuff they sent me home with lol!
Appetite is improving steadily, down about ten pounds I could afford to lose and I can't wait to get back to my kettlebells, which I know are a good ways off still...pain management has been pretty easy, read on my surgical notes they destroyed my thoracic nerve, so I'm pretty numb.
Up to 15 min of walking three times a day, I'm ready for more but they are doctors orders, learning everyday how good of shape my body was/is in and how far gone my Aortic valve was gone!
I'm extremely blessed with my wife, a wonderful care giver and some great friends,it's been a steady stream of people this week, that means alot to my wife and myself!
First cardiologist follow up is Tuesday, I see my personal physician the 25th and I'm guessing Cardiac PT will start in about two weeks...

Good morning! Discharged yesterday, I feel like a baby right now, no sleep schedule, sleeping on my reclining sofa at the moment. and I'm having to change some of my routine around to help my lovey wife with care giving duties for me...I start on a walking routine today, and really gotta get used to the pill regimen, I had no idea!

Up early even for me...starting my last full day with a wonky stenotic aortic valve, that up until the last few month was well behaved...my surgery got moved back to Friday the 25th, and strangely enough I'm looking forward to the surgery and recovery just to have an insight on how bad I actually feel now, I'm sure it's been a progressive decline that months ago,  I attributed to growing older!