Margot Swann - Heart Valve Journal

My Journal

2001 days ago

Kaaren Carone and 1 other reacted to this

I’m responding to Karaan’s Question about the most important thing to bring to the hospital. I would say a companion to stay with you 24/7 during your ...Read more

I’m responding to Karaan’s Question about the most important thing to bring to the hospital. I would say a companion to stay with you 24/7 during your stay. I had a nurse practitioner cousin who was always there. I had no complications and good nurses BUT there can be no lonelier feeling than trying to care for yourself in that helpless state. My husband was told to go home after a previous heart cath that needed an overnight and I really felt deserted.

Margot Swannposted a journal

2604 days ago

Fatema Yaqubi, Bob Gillespie, Elizabeth Palmer and 2 others reacted to this

My aortic valve was replaced by open heart a tad over three weeks ago. I've got to say I'm feeling pretty darn good. My body has been feeling like my own for ...Read more

My aortic valve was replaced by open heart a tad over three weeks ago. I've got to say I'm feeling pretty darn good. My body has been feeling like my own for about 10 days. I've been off pain Medshare since I left the hospital after four days and I'm told I can drive again in about three weeks. The driving is something I miss a lot, let me tell you. I still sleep more than before and sometime take two naps. I still don't have my energy level back. But I can see the light over the horizon.

Jennifer Barnett It's still early days so that's great you're feeling good. Taking a couple of naps is pretty usual in ... Read more

Jennifer Barnett It's still early days so that's great you're feeling good. Taking a couple of naps is pretty usual in those first weeks and good for recovery. It's easy to get carried away and over do it when you start getting your energy back and feel normal again so it's really important you pace yourself otherwise the next day you can feel exhausted. It's amazing how we can bounce back so quickly after something so big. At about 4 weeks post op I had a sudden increase in energy and felt more normal, I didn't resume driving until 6 weeks though as I just didn't feel ready.
Best of luck with the journey of recovery and take care.

Marie Myers I agree that it is amazing how our bodies heal after such a big surgery! I felt pretty much back to n ... Read more

Marie Myers I agree that it is amazing how our bodies heal after such a big surgery! I felt pretty much back to normal at 8 weeks. The energy levels do take a while to return, though...

Gerald Poulton And your recovery has only begun, it continues to get better. I ended up giving up on the naps, they ... Read more

Gerald Poulton And your recovery has only begun, it continues to get better. I ended up giving up on the naps, they felt good and were needed for a time but I found they affected mepy night sleep.

Margot Swannposted an update

2632 days ago

Barbara Wood and 3 others reacted to this

My surgery is now around the corner. The time passed too quickly. I've experienced tremendous support from family, friends, and church members - think laying ...Read more

My surgery is now around the corner. The time passed too quickly. I've experienced tremendous support from family, friends, and church members - think laying on of hands by 90 women at a retreat last weekend - and my jitters are somewhat quelled. Considering that just last week I did a controlled crash of my car, that's a big deal. Now I'm dealing with a hand injury on top of the surgery. It just adds color to my story. Thank God for this community.

Marie Myers I remember the preop anxiety well.. Relaxation CDs helped me, as did yoga and meditation. Please don ... Read more

Marie Myers I remember the preop anxiety well.. Relaxation CDs helped me, as did yoga and meditation. Please don't fear the post op discomfort. I can honestly say that sternal pain was not a big factor for me. The exhaustion was overwhelming and surprising to me. My big complaint was achy upper back and shoulders. That bothered me more than my incision. Keep your hugger pillow with you and you will do well. It is all baby steps in the beginning. Best wishes on a smooth surgery and strong recovery!

Ellen Leng I was pretty anxious as well and agree with Marie about relaxation/meditation/yoga as being helpful. ... Read more

Ellen Leng I was pretty anxious as well and agree with Marie about relaxation/meditation/yoga as being helpful. Sounds like you also have great social support. I remember that 2 days before the surgery, I just felt a wave of peace. My choices were made, bags packed, all notified, ducks in a row, and calm came on. Not everyone has that experience, but a lot have. So trust the work you and your team have put in to get to this point!

Eric Wattleworth Thinking of you today and praying you have a successful procedure. Eric really didn't have much pa ... Read more

Eric Wattleworth Thinking of you today and praying you have a successful procedure. Eric really didn't have much pain after the first day. His biggest complaints are tiredness and sweats.

Margot Swannposted an update

2675 days ago

Phyllis Petersen, Bob Gillespie and 1 other reacted to this

My preliminary cath is now scheduled for August 25. The full monty to replace my bicuspid aortic valve is October 2. The butterflies are certainly gathering. ...Read more

My preliminary cath is now scheduled for August 25. The full monty to replace my bicuspid aortic valve is October 2. The butterflies are certainly gathering.

Catie B Having a surgery date makes it all feel very real. I hope every step will go smoothly for you!

Marie Myers I remember that feeling well... Be very kind with yourself in the waiting period....

Phyllis Petersen The fear of surgery, but the desire to get it over with. This is probably the worst part of the rolle ... Read more

Phyllis Petersen The fear of surgery, but the desire to get it over with. This is probably the worst part of the roller coaster ride.

Oh boy, I get butterflies and I don't have a date. When my surgeon explained the procedure, I heard ... Read more

Oh boy, I get butterflies and I don't have a date. When my surgeon explained the procedure, I heard the first few steps, then I have no memory of what was said after that. I hope you have the confidence you need in your surgeon. That's a huge help.

Margot Swann Thanks all for your encouragement. I just read Christine's 25 Tips for Women blog here within Adam's ... Read more

Margot Swann Thanks all for your encouragement. I just read Christine's 25 Tips for Women blog here within Adam's wonderful website. It was full of really good advice. What a fantastic resource this is!

Margot Swann Has anyone used the Aztec Heart bra after surgery? It sounds good but has no reviews to speak of. ... Read more

Margot Swann Has anyone used the Aztec Heart bra after surgery? It sounds good but has no reviews to speak of. Really want that support. It's pretty pricey at $121.

Phyllis Petersen Cleveland Clinic gave me a couple of bras. I'll have to see what kind they are.