Megan's Journal

Robert Miller  Check out the learning center. The most important thing is to follow what your surgeon is telling you. Don't overdue it even if you feel great. The bones need to heal. Do the breathing exercises. Make sure you have enough pillows of different sizes. Maybe get a new electrical bed or couch to adjust the angle, etc.

https://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/learning-center.php

Dan Fouratt  Megan First I am not a doctor so this is not medical advice but practical experience.  I hand a minimally invasive aortic valve replacement. The better shape you are in going on the better off you are.  I also met with a dietitian who alter my diet (higher protein plus a few other changes) before surgery. Get a post surgery diet plan so you can prepare before the diet  going in for surgery.  Like Robert said listen to your doctor as well as your body.  Walk, walk, walk.  I had surgery Mar 21, 2023.  May 17, 2023 my wife broke her heel and was basically very limited mobility for the next three months. I was able to go from patient to care giver at the 8 week post surgery mark.  You will be more then ready for your marriage. Good luck on your journey.

Amy Minto  Go to cardiac rehab! My surgeon said I was young, so I didn't need it, but I requested to go. It was so wonderful. I really appreciated guidance from the nurses about how hard I could push myself safely. And it was wonderful to be around other people who could understand. The community was very beneficial from an emotional standpoint, and so uplifting and encouraging. I had minimally invasive mitral repair 7 years ago. I did not have a great experience, but I had a side approach done incision where an underwire sits under my right arm. I have had, for 7 years now, pretty unpleasant nerve damage from my ribs being wrenched apart and small movements like scrolling/typing on my phone are very painful. I cannot ever wear a traditional bra or even the wire free ones bc seams hurt. And it was years before my husband could touch my rt breast.  I have since learned many people who do this type of minimally invasive surgery have similar problems like me bc ribs are not meant to be wrenched open like that. Multiple pain management drs, PT, etc have corroborated this happens a lot. Currently in urgent need of replacement, but I have a rheumatic valve. I do have another wonderful friend I met on here who did mini sternotomy, with no residual pain. There are loads of posts on here with people giving great tips for post op. What I was really shocked by was the utter exhaustion and very limited endurance once I was home that came from being on bypass. Nobody warned me about how crippling than was. That being said, I have gone on to be very active, even was dong Taekwondo 3x a week up until this November. Now I can't talk too much or I get very bad chest pain, and am gasping for breath just walking up the stairs. Happy to chat more, and huge congrats on your upcoming wedding. I do hope you will have a lot of people to help you prep for the wedding. I can't imagine dong that so soon after, but you may have a very different experience.  So excited for you and I hope you will come back on here &post wedding pics!

Deena Z  Jack-up your protein intake for starters.  Work those stomach muscles to aide your getting in and out of chairs, the bed.
Have your cardiac rehab provider already researched.
Most of all, beyond anything else, pick a high volume repair valve surgeon with outstanding outcomes.  A surgeon’s outcome metrics ought always be available.

Rita Savelis  Your youth and your health are very positive for surgery already. There is nothing special to know, just that recovery takes a different amount of time for each person. You may be exhausted, you may be in discomfort. But you have to allow your body and heart the time it needs to  heal. One day at a time. Congrats on your upcoming marriage!

Megan P  Thanks for everyone’s advice.  I’m optimistic that everything will go well.  In the mean time I’ll just continue trying to get stronger in my core / legs. Sounds like that will be helpful.  If anyone has any other tips I’d gladly take them 

Maureen Fearon  Greetings Megan,
I’m 4 weeks post median sternotomy at age 60.   I too am a very active person and trust me when I tell you, you’ve got this!  I had the amazing Dr Gillinov from Cleveland Clinic perform my repair and felt so calm and confident going into surgery.    Follow your  nurses directions  and get up out of that bed  and into the chair &  walking once you’re in step down.   I was dc early on day 4.  Pain was actually not that bad and only needed one  5mg oxy for 5 days at bedtime and some extra strength Tylenol as needed.
 I personally think sleeping in a comfy recliner was best for me.  I actually padded it with sleeping bags.    By day 8 post op, I was able to get 5k steps in walking around my house.   I’m now walking 10k steps a day, I do two 40 min walks on my walking pad.  Also, be sure to complete the upper body exercises PT will give you .   
I bought a ton of button up shirts and pj tops.  Moving arms initially can be uncomfortable.  Make sure to put all things you need, food, meds, toiletries at countertop level so it’s easy for you to access and feel somewhat independent.   
Showering first time at home and  washing my hair was challenging so my daughter helped me.  I was fine on my own after that because I had a bench in my shower to sit on and a detachable shower head.   If you don’t have a bench you can pick up an inexpensive shower stool on Amazon to sit on.  Definitely swap out shower head for a detachable one !   All the best on your surgery and hopes for a smooth recovery!  Feel free to call me  if you have any other questions.  
  Congrats on your upcoming wedding as well!
Maureen
614-905-7991

Jill Reeder  So much good advice already given. In preparation, I would add practice getting out of whatever bed or chair you plan to sleep in without using your upper body. And buying a sport bra that is on the big side - if you can find one that fastens in front. The hospital gave me a one-size-fits-all with Velcro that fastened in the front… it was not comfortable at all. I have one from Honeylove that has worked really well for me.  If your hospital offers “training” get it as far in advance as you can. Mine was the afternoon before and that wasn’t enough time to absorb and process what I learned. 

I did not discover this site until after my surgery, so you are ahead of the game. The folks here are truly supportive and share great information. 

Post-op, I want to reiterate the importance of doing your breathing exercises (incentive spirometer). Also, after 4-6 weeks you may be feeling pretty well, but not likely 100%. I am at week 9 (mitral valve repair via open heart/ full sternotomy) and my experience has been pretty textbook. For me, some days feel like a step back before moving forward again (usually if I’ve pushed myself too much) but week over week has been a marked improvement. 

Don’t hesitate to ask your friends and family for help. Especially as you prepare for your wedding. 

Best of luck. You’ve got this!