Michael's Journal

Marie Myers  Sleeping was difficult for me for several months. I finally asked for a prescription sleep aid, and only used it a couple times a week . That way i could get a good night’s sleep when i really felt I needed one,  and avoided the possibility of becoming dependent on the sleep med.

Susan Lynn  Michael - Ten weeks out is still pretty early into recovery.   My suggestion is to get rid of your clock and find something good to binge watch on tv.   Sleep when you're tired if your schedule will permit.   You'll eventually get back to your normal sleep pattern when your body is ready. I couldn't sleep through the night for awhile after surgery, but a short nap during the day got me through those first few  months of recovery.   You'll find what works for you.   Good luck! 

Rose Madura  I don't know for how long it was but I slept in bed for a couple hours and then would go downstairs to the recliner and try to sleep some more. Napping helped. I slept when I needed to sleep. It just takes time.  Hopefully you will get a break soon.

Yumiko Ishida  It took me a while to be able to get a good night’s sleep, probably months. I am with Susan and Rose in that I think you should allow yourself to sleep when your body tells you to, if you can. Napping could be a challenge once you go back to work. Either way, it is important to establish good sleeping habits, like making sure your bed is for sleeping only. Even when I was mostly sleeping on the recliner, I had a “bedtime” ritual I followed, like turning off my devices, brushing my teeth, adjusting my pillows, etc. When I woke up in the middle of the night, which I inevitably did, I moved to the couch to read a book or scroll through this website. When I was younger, I used to take a lot of stuff to help me sleep, but most of them make me too groggy now. I still take melatonin, but that is the only thing I take specifically to help me sleep. I also take magnesium, a beta blocker, and an antihistamine for other reasons, which all contribute in one way or another but without noticeably affecting my energy level. I used to drink a shot of tart cherry juice as a night cap, too, but I can’t always get it, so it has not made it into my new routine, but maybe you could give it a try. Recently I started listening to sleepcasts, and found that they really help when the main issue is a racing mind. May not help if you still have physical discomfort. The surgery is a big shock to your system and everything gets disrupted. It takes time to reestablish a routine that works for you, but you will get there!

Valerie Allen  I have listened to the Calm app every night for probably 7 years. There is a lot to choose from on there, depending on what you need.

Marie Myers  I felt those irregular beats also, especially in the first month after my AVR and aneurysm surgery. Mine decreased with time. I asked my cardiologist, and he told me if I wasn’t having dizziness, low blood pressure, or other symptoms, I could wait it  out. If the episode lasted 15-20 minutes, I would have gone to get it checked out. Luckily, none of my episodes ever lasted more than a couple minutes. It can be unnerving when it first happens! 

Rose Madura  Yes, very unnerving.  I had Aflutter and Afib for about 6 weeks after my surgery. I also experienced PVCs, all which were terrible for me. I'd make a call to the cardiologist just to see what he/she thinks.  Please keep us posted. 

Margaret Fielden  I was left with Afib after surgery, now six months on. I'd get checked by cardiologist to get clarity.

Valerie Allen  It sounds like PVCs which is what I have. It registered on the holter monitor a few months after surgery. It is like an extra beat every 10 beats or so. He said if no symptoms it should be ok as Marie said. I feel it has lessened, though yesterday at my echo it felt like I had several 🤔

Rita Savelis  Yeah. I get those every so often for a few beats and just ignore them. It's been 10 years. One is usually very very aware of one's heart in the first year following surgery and beats are heard much more clearly.

Michael Ponzio  So I spoke to my cardiologist and she told me to make sure that I am hydrated and that I eat foods that are high in potassium and magnesium, and if or when it happens again to take a half a pill of metoprolol. She also said anxiety will make it worse. I have plenty of that so trying to take it easy.

Pamela Gregory  I'm a yes too. After 2 1/2 years I still periodically get that weird feeling usually when I am starting to exercise hard then it settles down???

Richard Munson  My wife is currently dealing with anemia but not after surgery. She just this week had a colonoscopy/ endoscopy to check for internal bleeding. I only mention this because of the internal bleeding aspect as a possible cause. 

Marcus Krauss  I was anemic after surgery. My RBC, hemoglobin, platelet count, and hematocrit % were all low. This persisted through the entire 5 days I was in the hospital. The surgical team said it was likely due to some blood loss during surgery, and that it's very common. My body would need a little bit of time to produce more blood and get back to normal. I visited my PCP about 2 weeks after surgery, and the numbers were still below range, but were moving in the right direction. At about the 1 month post-surgery point, they had all moved back into the low end of the normal reference range.

Michael Ponzio  I just had appointment with my PCP and numbers were below normal hopefully a few more weeks I will be close to normal. 

Marie Myers  Pretty much everyone is anemic after heart surgery, and your body will replace the cells after several weeks. This is normal due to the blood loss during surgery. There are other causes of anemia post valve surgery, such as valvular leak, or turbulence that destroys red blood cells. Hopefully you are anemic simply from  the blood cells lost during surgery.

Michael Ponzio  My rbc counts are coming up. Is it also normal to have elevated white blood cell count after surgery as well?

Marie Myers  Yes, elevated WBC can be normal after heart surgery also. This is due to the stress and mechanical trauma of the operation itself. If the elevated WBC count is accompanied by fever or respiratory symptoms, then you need to figure out what is causing the symptoms and treat them..

Michael Ponzio  Marie I have not had a fever since the operation or any respiratory issues. Thank you so much for your guidance I appreciate it greatly. 

Yumiko Ishida  My iron level was critically low post surgery and I had to get iron infusion. RBC, hemoglobin, etc, were low, too, but not critically, so the doctors were not too concerned about those as long as they were on an upward trend. All the numbers were slow to recover because of the low iron, though, so you probably want to have that checked out, too. As long as it’s not too low, eating iron rich food should help you.

Betsy Davenport  Yes. I have been taking Folic Acid and Vitamin B-12 for it but haven't gotten new lab work yet. I've also gotten careless about taking the vitamins, so I hope it's better. Thanks for asking this question, because it's prompting me to call my PCP.

Michael Ponzio  I have been taking supplements and eating foods high in iron. Getting bloodwork done again in about 3 weeks. 

Michael Ponzio  Hey Andrew I’m on Metoprolol 50mg 2 times a day. It varies from morning it will be 135/78 to some afternoons 160/90

Eric Tsibertzopoulos  I am now T-7 days for Aortic Valve Replacement and Ascending Aorta Repair....want to run for the hills.

Suzette Schear  Hi Michael sometimes between all the meds being taken, sometimes things need to be changed in times you take them or the dosage. Based on side effects they can cause.  At first I was also not steady in bp.  My doctor depending on what my bp was told me to skip one of the medicines based on bp and moved one of them to nighttime.  I would call doctor to let them know.  It took about two three weeks of a different cocktail of pill taking time.  Best to you 

Robert Miller  With pressure I assume blood pressure. I was on Metoprolol for some time after surgery. Helps a lot. It also lowers your heart rate. So monitor your activity as you might get dizzy. 

Jack Lake  Hi Michael  I take Metoprolol 2x a day also. I take my BP everyday at noon for the last 7 weeks. I was told to sit and relax for about 10-15 minutes before taking it. Sure enough it’s  right where they want it to be.  110/70 not much higher than that.  Did your doctor want you to take it a few times a day?  Best of luck!!

Rose Madura  Michael, I think this is normal. I'd monitor it regularly and call the cardiologist if it gets out of control.  Glad you are home now! 👍

Marie Myers  My husband ( no heart surgery) had to take 100 mg of losartan and 5 mg of amlodipine to get his BP under control. It sometimes takes a bit of time to find what works for you. My BP did sometimes creep up towards the evening in the months following my heart surgery…But it has since settled down. Keep checking your pressure, and inform your doc of the trending pressures. 

Robert Miller  Blood pressure might increase temporarily but I think it's more because of stress that you feel. It should stabilize. You might be put on some blood pressure medicine for a few months. Talk to your cardiologist. 

Fidel Martínez Ruiz  Hey Michael: after my mitral valve replacement, some days I had the pressure high, but it normalized soon. I began walking a little bit first  and growing up every day. I think that in my case this was important in recovering and normalizing the pressure. God bless you.

Grace Mason   Very early on after surgery some additional BP meds were added for me. After more healing I was able to reduce and eventually stop them. Check in with Roberto. He can help you sort it out.

Allen Carkner  Post Ross I was on three different types of Bo meds to get my blood pressure under 110/70 most of the time. It took effort. I was playing video games and it when up a bit. 

Deena Z  For sure!  Common and reasonable  to have.  Meds for now and give yourself a couple months to have to  it normalize. 

Valerie Allen  My BP meds were being adjusted for 4 or 5 months after. In fact, I am going to have them adjusted again soon as I got a couple high potassium readings recently.

Kathy Ozio  Yep. I was on high doses of metoprolol and verapamil and still had higher BP and heart rate for a few months.

Kimberly Eisenhut  I know from surgeries my mother has had, that her BP would be higher for a while we think because of the pain also. I do know if you are in pain at all your BP may rise also. Speak to your Dr if you are concerned or send them a message in MyChart if you have one and give them readings.Please keep us posted and praying for you and everyone here

Kimberly Eisenhut  Great news Michael! Nice to see you smiling and so happy you are on the mend now. Keep us posted on your recovery

Sher Follett  I am so glad to see you are sitting up and looking so good and I mean that ! Gives me so much more comfort to see that smiley face. On the road to recovery now for you!

Deena Z  congrats!!!  The hardest part is over.  Home sweet home.  It will make you feel more normal, though it is baby steps for the first month or so.  

Deena Z  How awesome is this news, Michael.  So even faster recovery.  Almost to recovery mode.  Know you wont have much of an appetite the first couple of days, but see if your caregivers can bring in some high protein shakes or drink the Ensure protein containers that Sinai supplies.  I forced the stuff down me.  
Your hemoglobin will be low and that is part of the reason for your exhaustion, so the protein shakes ought to help.  If you can eat beef even better!

 

Tammy Gonzalez  Right there with you (April 2nd). It's a lot to swallow, but I'm thankful we live in the times we do with modern medicine. Good luck to you on your upcoming surgery. 

Deena Z  Hi Michael, 
Not what you would want to hear, but thank God they caught the two blockages.  Not only life saving, but also one less potential future surgery.  You will get through this  with more resilience than you ever imagined.  It’s hard to explain  why I say this with confidence to you, but after recovery you will better understand.  You’re at a great hospital, a great cardiac ICU and have a great surgeon. I was there too. ❤️

Sher Follett  You're going to leap tall buildings after this Michael! Get everything fixed and you will be able to get back to living your life. All the best with your surgery next week, I will be thinking about you on the 19th.

Suzette Schear  Glad pre-op went seemingly well and you’re on the next phase of your journey. Wishing you the best for your upcoming surgery

Marcus Krauss  Welcome to the community, Michael! I had a Ross Procedure a few months ago in late October. There are quite a few others here that have had one as well. You're going to do great! The first 24-48 hours are pretty rough, but I think you'll be surprised at how much better you feel every day through the first several weeks. I started cardiac rehab about 7 weeks post-surgery in mid-December, and was cleared to go back to gym to start re-introducing weight lifting in late January. I took 3 months off of work, but to be honest, the last month of that I felt pretty normal and could have returned to work had I chosen to. Obviously everyone's experience and recovery is a little different and personal to their own body and situation. Happy to answer any specific questions you may have about my experience.

Darrell Malone  Hello Michael. I am a month away from my Ross 1 year valveversary! So far so good and so happy that I was a candidate for this procedure.  I do feel great and do mostly everything before I had surgery.  I ride to and from work most days, use the elliptical a few times a week I do a HIIT program that pushes me some.  I have yet to get back on my mountain bike but that shouldn't be too much longer ( as long as winter agrees) and I can't wait for my grandson to join me.  At the beginning it is tough but nothing is easy.  We all recover different so stay your course.  Time will tell obviously but stats on this procedure are very promising I am so happy to not having to take blood thinners and hopefully another surgery is never.  I am 56 now.  Good Luck on your journey.  Will be watching for your post once you are able. Be Well.

Ana Brusso  I hope Andrew Dial chimes in, he even put together a video. He had this done a couple of years ago. 

Andrew Dial  Hi Michael! I’m excited to hear you chose the ross! It was the best decision I ever made for myself. I am totally open to answering any questions you have! 

Grace Mason   Hi Michael,I had my Ross almost a year and a half ago now, with Dr El-Hamamsy and his awesome team. You are in excellent hands.
I journaled my experience and I'm also happy to answer any questions you may have.
Wishing you well ❤️‍🩹

Pamela Gregory  I had huge anxiety about my surgery!!! I had a lot of sleepless nights and tears. Kind of thought I might have a nervous breakdown actually. Here is the good news: The actual surgery (AVR replacement and aortic root replacement) was no where near what my brain had worried about. Survival and pain were my biggest fears. They definitely have the means to keep the pain at a bearable level. I am the biggest wimp about pain that I know, so I say with confidence that you can definitely do this!!!

Marie Myers  I suffered from fear and anxiety prior to my surgery also. I found that yoga and meditation helped me.  I found lots of “calming” and “acceptance “ videos on  U Tube and those helped me also. I asked my doc for some anxiety medication, and when my mind was really wound up at night, I took a .25 mg alprazolam (Xanax). Like Pamela’s post above, I found that the whole experience did not live up to what my worrying mind would have me believe. The specific things that i worried about (waking up intubated, pain, recovery ) went much easier than I had anticipated. Are there any specific things you are concerned about?

Michael Ponzio  Thank you for the encouraging words. Definitely helps. My biggest fear is that something will happen to me before I even get the surgery. Every little thing I feel like in my chest or with my breathing I fear something is happening like a heart attack. Then my heart starts racing ughh it’s a nightmare. I had an ultrasound in December and had consult with surgeon in January. I guess they would have planned the surgery earlier than March if they felt necessary. Thanks for listening guys. I appreciate it. 

Richard Munson  Fear is normal. Keep asking yourself what your life will be like if you do nothing. Then it becomes a no brainer. 

Susan Lynn  Michael- You're going through the most difficult part of heart surgery right now - waiting! We all felt that anxiety, but feel good knowing that once you arrive at the hospital for your procedure, the worst is behind you. Everything else is completely doable! We did it - you can, too! We'll be with you every step of the way!

Rita Savelis  Oh gosh, you are oh so normal. Talking to a counselor can help. Taking some anti anxiety meds can help. Doing whatever helps you to feel more relaxed. Being vocal with your doctors is good. But it's hard not to be anxious. Just sit with it and know that it is normal. Ultimately this surgery is very banal and surgeons are experienced. You don't have to perform surgery - so don't stress over that. You just have to go through a recovery. I was exhausted and in discomfort and then as each day went by I got better. It doesn't sound like your surgery is an emergency surgery so trust your doctors. Take care.

Civita Fahey  I think we all have anxiety over our conditions. I know I never did until then. Mine got worse after my surgery as I was obsessed with my heart rate what I could and couldn't do.  time has helped, but in the long run, we will always have some. I'm on a very low dose of anti-anxiety and it helps take the sting off. 

Michael Ponzio  I appreciate all the support and encouragement from you guys. Tremendously grateful and appreciate all the advice. Thank you. 

Klara Čičić  I am with Richard. Just try to repeat to yourself how lucky you are to have a surgery that will fix your heart and grant you more healthy years. Without it, it is sure and steady worsening..... It is routine surgery in experienced hands and statistics are really on your side. I am naturally more anxious person, but I couldn't wait for my surgery, I was more excited than fearful. Today, my anxiety is worse than before, but that's another story :)) And ofcourse, this wonderful site and these heart warriors helped tremendously in releaving the anxiety....reading succesful stories from real people... You can do this!!!

J Alexander Lassally  I wish I had a magic elixir, but I don't ... Anxiety before cadiac surgery is just plain intense.  Know you are not alone and it is okay to be selfish and do what you need to do... 

Michael Ponzio  You guys are awesome and extremely helpful. Thanks again I’m so glad I signed up for this community

Valerie Allen  Anti anxiety meds as needed and meditation or guided meditation. I also went to a few therapy sessions.