Kim Mickelson - Heart Valve Journal

My Journal

1090 days ago

And I just started cardiac rehab yesterday....intake is low due to COVID in Houston. And, I have been doing a lot on my own, so I am wondering if I need to ...Read more

And I just started cardiac rehab yesterday....intake is low due to COVID in Houston. And, I have been doing a lot on my own, so I am wondering if I need to stay in the formal rehab program. Any suggestions? I have been on my stationary bike (a surgery gift to myself!) 4-5 days a week and doing elastic band exercises for the chest and legs. I was amazed at how much we use pectorals for everyday things--like simply craning your neck! I honestly don't feel (absent a few pectoral muscle twinges) like I had surgery....And, in a way, I feel bad for taking a slot in rehab, as there may be someone who could benefit more from it. I would appreciate hearing from people who have done the whole program and from those who opted out--what did you do.

Richard Munson I never started it due to covid and to be honest i am glad i did. I am a self motivator with my own t ... Read more

Richard Munson I never started it due to covid and to be honest i am glad i did. I am a self motivator with my own treadmill and i use it religiously every day. My p.t. The first week after surgery said walking was the best. The whole idea i think is to exercise your heart.

Joshua Rosenfeld I just finished my cardiac rehab in st louis. I highly recommend it, especially because they monitor ... Read more

Joshua Rosenfeld I just finished my cardiac rehab in st louis. I highly recommend it, especially because they monitor you during exercise which is much safer than being on your own.

June Suica Blaszkiewicz I did the same about two months ago. Cardiac rehab was about 30 min. from my home, and because of lim ... Read more

June Suica Blaszkiewicz I did the same about two months ago. Cardiac rehab was about 30 min. from my home, and because of limited staff, because of Covid, I really was not getting much exercise in. So I now ride my bike at home every other day and walks. Had my exam, and my provider said I was doing fine.

Marie Myers I did the whole program, but honestly, I could have done the similar work outs at home. My surgery wa ... Read more

Marie Myers I did the whole program, but honestly, I could have done the similar work outs at home. My surgery was almost 5 years ago, so Covid was not a factor. It is reassuring though, that the nurses are monitoring you for arrhythmias during your work outs. If I had to pay a high copay , worry about Covid, or travel a great distance, I might have opted out. My cardiologist gave me permission to quit rehab if it was “too lame” for me. I was in pretty good shape going in, and I was the youngest person there at 63.

Helge Volden I completed the cardiac rehab program after my OHS. I feel It helped me get back in shape post surger ... Read more

Helge Volden I completed the cardiac rehab program after my OHS. I feel It helped me get back in shape post surgery. The great thing is that you are supervised and monitored. I knew I wasn’t over doing or under doing anything. I would feel safe in a health care setting. I won’t go to a real gym because of covid.

Richard Munson I asked my visiting first week home p.t. About not going to rehab and was concerned about covid. She ... Read more

Richard Munson I asked my visiting first week home p.t. About not going to rehab and was concerned about covid. She sensed i was not going to go but use my in house treadmill. She said my body would tell me if i was doing too much.

Kim Mickelson Awesome, thanks, everyone!

Kim Mickelsonposted an update

1176 days ago

Joseph Heinzmann, Cameron Peek reacted to this

4 weeks post-surgery for mitral valve repair. Recovery has been, in my view, astonishingly fast--faster than I expected. This website and community gave me ...Read more

4 weeks post-surgery for mitral valve repair. Recovery has been, in my view, astonishingly fast--faster than I expected. This website and community gave me a lot of tips on what to do in the hospital and now that I'm out. My current questions though, are about the incision and scar. My incision (dissolvable stitches/glue) itches like crazy--no nerve damage here. I'm too old to be totally vain about the scar, but not old enough to totally not care--what have others done for reducing the bumps (which are, honestly, very slight) and redness over time? How long does it take?

J H Mattingly Sounds like you are doing great Kim! Very happy to hear. My incision was also a bit itchy and bumpy ... Read more

J H Mattingly Sounds like you are doing great Kim! Very happy to hear. My incision was also a bit itchy and bumpy for a while. I just used the soap they recommended and it healed very well with really no special anything. It healed very well and is barely noticeable.

Joseph Heinzmann 1/12/21 surgery - bumps gone for some time now. My skin is fair so there are dark spots from the inci ... Read more

Joseph Heinzmann 1/12/21 surgery - bumps gone for some time now. My skin is fair so there are dark spots from the incisions.

Kim Mickelson Thanks for the encouragement and updates. My Doctor SIL tells me in six months, the scar won't be not ... Read more

Kim Mickelson Thanks for the encouragement and updates. My Doctor SIL tells me in six months, the scar won't be noticeable. But I am nordic fair, so I wonder. In the end, it is part of me. A friend recommended aloe vera (direct from the plant) but I'm Leary of doing anything too soon.