Kathy Ozio - Heart Valve Journal

My Journal

Kathy Ozioposted an update

147 days ago

Anyone have increased tricuspid valve insufficiency (mild to moderate) after mitral valve repair surgery? If so, how fast did it progress?

J Alexander Lassally Do you think the MV repair triggered more leakage here? Yikes!!!

Kathy Ozio I just had my annual echocardiogram and the TR went from mild to moderate since last year. Been read ... Read more

Kathy Ozio I just had my annual echocardiogram and the TR went from mild to moderate since last year. Been reading, but not getting concerned yet. I go to CC in November for them to do their testing, and I'll see if that's the case and their thoughts.

Rita Savelis When I had my mitral valve replaced (9 years ago) the surgeon also looked at my tricuspid and reinfor ... Read more

Rita Savelis When I had my mitral valve replaced (9 years ago) the surgeon also looked at my tricuspid and reinforced it. He said that from experience he has seen that tricuspids can have problems when mitrals are worked on. I did not know he was going to do this until after surgery.

Kathy Ozio Thanks, Rita. 🥰

Kathy Ozioposted an update

262 days ago

Yumiko Ishida, c w, Darrell Malone and 3 others reacted to this

Today is my 1st anniversary for mitral valve repair! I'm so thankful for this site and to Adam for all the wonderful and helpful information always on here. ...Read more

Today is my 1st anniversary for mitral valve repair! I'm so thankful for this site and to Adam for all the wonderful and helpful information always on here. My surgery didn't go as planned, but all turned out and one year later I'm feeling great! My best advice for those of you awaiting to have your surgery - do not judge your recovery against any one else. You will recover at your rate. Listen to you body, rest when you need to rest, but keep moving as much as you can.

Dan S-otts Congratulations 🎊🎈🎉.
Take Good Care! 💔❤️‍🩹❤️

Marie Myers Happy anniversary!

Ana Kelton-Brand Congratulations and a big thanks for the words of encouragement for those of us who are way behind yo ... Read more

Ana Kelton-Brand Congratulations and a big thanks for the words of encouragement for those of us who are way behind you in our recovery!!! Happy Anniversary!

Rose Madura Happy Anniversary Kathy! Your words of wisdom are so true. 🪖💪❤️‍🩹

Grace Mason Happy 1st anniversary Kathy!💐❤️

Susan Lynn Happy First Anniversary, Kathy!

Christine Maiorano Happy First Anniversary

Donna Casaletto Happy 1st year anniversary!! We were a day apart ☺️!

Kathy Ozioposted an update

352 days ago

Anyone have issues with palpitations lying on your right side? I noticed this about two months ago and some nights they are bothersome enough I can't stay lying ...Read more

Anyone have issues with palpitations lying on your right side? I noticed this about two months ago and some nights they are bothersome enough I can't stay lying on my right side. I'm 9 months post op MV repair surgery

christine blackway I am pre-surgery and have palpitations mostly while lying on my left side. Cardiologist says they are ... Read more

christine blackway I am pre-surgery and have palpitations mostly while lying on my left side. Cardiologist says they are more noticeable when lying on left side because of where your heart rests, closer to your side. Interesting that you notice it on your right side. We all experience things differently! Congrats on ypur recovery. How are you feeling otherwise?

Kathy Ozio Thanks Christine. Feeling really good as far as my heart goes. 😀

Sharon Behl I'm pre-op and feel it more on the right side. I remember 2 years ago post-op. It took awhile to be ... Read more

Sharon Behl I'm pre-op and feel it more on the right side. I remember 2 years ago post-op. It took awhile to be comfortable. Make sure they are checking you for fluid accumulation or other issues

Kathy Ozio Thanks, Sharon! Thinking of you tomorrow and praying!What happened that you have to have re-repair?

Robert Miller Does your heartbeat really change depending on the way you sleep? From my experience, it is just how ... Read more

Robert Miller Does your heartbeat really change depending on the way you sleep? From my experience, it is just how aware you are of your heartbeat. When I lay on my left side, I feel the heart the most. If I lay on my right side, I can still feel it but much less than laying on my left. Laying on my back (which I don't like that much) I feel it the least. Having said that, do you just feel like the pulse is irregular or also faster, slower, harder, shallower, etc? I would discuss it with your cardiologist.

Kathy Ozioposted an update

515 days ago

Anyone have issues with low blood pressure but high heart rate months after surgery? Tapering doses of metoprolol and verapamil after surgery, but only my ...Read more

Anyone have issues with low blood pressure but high heart rate months after surgery? Tapering doses of metoprolol and verapamil after surgery, but only my heart rate has gone up (averaging in 90s to low 100s last two weeks) My normal HR was in the 80s. Blood pressure is only 90s over 60s so I want to continue tapering my meds.

Janelle Hurst Yes, I had issues with both low BP and high heart rate. It seems to be a common issue after heart su ... Read more

Janelle Hurst Yes, I had issues with both low BP and high heart rate. It seems to be a common issue after heart surgery (sometimes it can be high because of Afib, so if you have any concerns, contact your doctor). I ended up having to come off all meds in order to keep my BP high enough. My heart rate was 100-115 (was 70-80 before surgery)...it took quite a few months for it to go back to normal.

Kathy Ozio Thanks, Janelle!

Susan Dunne Yes, I had ghat same problem. Now after 18 weeks the BP is stable but heart rate is still a bit fas ... Read more

Susan Dunne Yes, I had ghat same problem. Now after 18 weeks the BP is stable but heart rate is still a bit fast. Slows down sometimes but a bit faster than before surgery. It takes time to normalize.

Kathy Ozioposted an update

532 days ago

I had wished I had found this site before my MV repair surgery. Everywhere I read, the minimally invasive surgery was such a shorter recovery time (and it is- ...Read more

I had wished I had found this site before my MV repair surgery. Everywhere I read, the minimally invasive surgery was such a shorter recovery time (and it is- if all goes well). My surgery had some glitches (my heart didn't cooperate fully) and I ended up in ICU for three days, step down unit for 6 days and one week after the MV repair, I had an ICD implanted. I didn't realize how much my body had been through and was so upset that I wasn't feeling better in two weeks. Everywhere I read, I should have been feeling decent and been able to walk, and do this and ..... I just want those to know that aren't feeling "normal" in 10 days, two weeks, three weeks that it's okay and not to push or be upset. As long as there are no issues, it might just take you longer to recover. Walking as much as you can is super important - no matter how short of a walk you can do. Learn to listen to your body. It does get better and you will feel good again. I'm at 3 months now and feeling great some days and some days I still get really tired. But all is good and I know now it just takes time.

Deena Z Kathy, don't beat yourself up,; you did well by going to the Cleveland Clinic and the top surgeon the ... Read more

Deena Z Kathy, don't beat yourself up,; you did well by going to the Cleveland Clinic and the top surgeon there for mitral valve repair. This was the most important decision to make and you made it well. The rest was not predictable. Glad you are feeling that much better. Enjoy your summer!

Rose Madura Kathy, we are thankful you found us now.

. Deena is right, no second guessing, you did the right th... Read more

Rose Madura Kathy, we are thankful you found us now.

. Deena is right, no second guessing, you did the right thing. Try not to compare yourself to others. Unfortunately, complications are part of the process sometimes. God bless you!

Ana Brusso Hi Kathy, I’m also glad you found us as our sweet Rose is saying. My hvs godchild Deena is right. P ... Read more

Ana Brusso Hi Kathy, I’m also glad you found us as our sweet Rose is saying. My hvs godchild Deena is right. Please continue to post and share your thoughts, we are here to support each other. God bless you ❤️🙏

Rita Savelis I hear you Kathy. Recovery is not a race and there are many who write about quick recoveries but that ... Read more

Rita Savelis I hear you Kathy. Recovery is not a race and there are many who write about quick recoveries but that is rarely the case. Sometimes I wonder if they are not being truthful. I was exhausted for a long time, which my surgeon had told me about before surgery. Minimally-invasive surgery can be hard on the body and sometimes more painful than a full sternotomy. It takes time as you say and thank you for being honest and truthful. This is how I tried to be because I know that there are patients out there who wonder why they don't have the promised miracle recovery. Surgery on your heart is hard on your body. One day at a time. Take care.

Kathy Ozio And I thought I was over crying at everything.

Thank you all for the kind words. I just wanted to ... Read more

Kathy Ozio And I thought I was over crying at everything.

Thank you all for the kind words. I just wanted to give hope to someone else that may be feeling like I did.

Kathy Ozio Deena- I am sincerely thankful I went to Cleveland Clinic and had Dr. Gillanov. With all that happene ... Read more

Kathy Ozio Deena- I am sincerely thankful I went to Cleveland Clinic and had Dr. Gillanov. With all that happened, I was in the best place.

Pamela Gregory I did a lot of crying for several months. You have been through a lot and heart surgery brings so ma... Read more

Pamela Gregory I did a lot of crying for several months. You have been through a lot and heart surgery brings so many fears before, during, and after! At 7 months, I am starting to feel more confident that I am OK. This is a very emotional experience for sure. You take your time and be patient

Tatjana Seizova-Cajic Thanks Kathy and everyone for sharing. My minimally invasive MV repair is coming up next week and as... Read more

Tatjana Seizova-Cajic Thanks Kathy and everyone for sharing. My minimally invasive MV repair is coming up next week and as it approaches, I am getting number. Not fun at all... just to get to the other side + 5 days would be good; then I'll fret about the rest.

Klara Čičić Kathy, you are not alone. We are here for you! I had minimally invasive repair 8 months ago. Since 2... Read more

Klara Čičić Kathy, you are not alone. We are here for you! I had minimally invasive repair 8 months ago. Since 2 months ago I can finally say I feel completely normal, even better than before the surgery. But it took 6 months for me. Everyone is different. Our dear warrior Angela had neuritic pain many months after her mini invasive repair... Everything is possible and promising quick recovery is not wise. You are doing great and it should get even better with time

Klara Čičić Tanja, we are here for you. We know that numb feeling. Treat yourself with some good stuff, do what y ... Read more

Klara Čičić Tanja, we are here for you. We know that numb feeling. Treat yourself with some good stuff, do what you love, write a journal, write down your fears and feelings, keep moving, do some activity you enjoy... Breathe! You can do this!!!

Louise Moore Oh Kathy, try not to worry, your heart has been through a disruption and has to heal while it still k ... Read more

Louise Moore Oh Kathy, try not to worry, your heart has been through a disruption and has to heal while it still keeps constantly working. When I think of that, it's an amazing organ and needs time and every two/three months you'll feel it being stronger, more healed and that will feel so right. Spoil yourself a little in the meantime 😋

Kathy Ozioposted an update

562 days ago

Anyone two months post mitral valve repair?

Patricia Miller Almost 12 months post robotic mitral valve repair for me. Any specific questions or concerns?
Hop ... Read more

Patricia Miller Almost 12 months post robotic mitral valve repair for me. Any specific questions or concerns?
Hopefully you're recovering well. Hang in there.

Donna Casaletto 🙋🏻‍♀️ my mitral valve repair was 2/23 and on 4/3 I needed to have a procedure to drain my ... Read more

Donna Casaletto 🙋🏻‍♀️ my mitral valve repair was 2/23 and on 4/3 I needed to have a procedure to drain my left lung (pleural effusion) I just noticed our surgeries were a day apart! How’s your recovery going so far?

Klara Čičić 6 months post mitral valve repair ✌️ Ask anything!

Kathy Ozio Thanks! I just wish I had found this before my surgery! I'm doing very well now. Just started rehab. ... Read more

Kathy Ozio Thanks! I just wish I had found this before my surgery! I'm doing very well now. Just started rehab. Second day seemed to put me back about three weeks, but I'm anxious to go back.

Patricia Miller I didn't find this board until several months after my surgery. It has definitely helped increase my ... Read more

Patricia Miller I didn't find this board until several months after my surgery. It has definitely helped increase my knowledge and decrease my anxiety about my heart disease. I did not feel prepared for what to expect either. So glad you feel like you are turning the corner. Cardiac rehab will help you regain your strength and reach your goals.