Peter.duplin@yahoo.com's Journal

Sorry I haven't posted in a while,but I thought I would get you all up to speed on Sandra's recovery .Sandra had a pretty bad week.Week 3was a lot better ,she got out of the house for some walking, and we worked in our garden, we went to are favorite restaurant for lunch, and even squeezed in a trip to Wallmart for some comfort shopping. We named our garden The Heart Garden. We planted some beans, some tomatoes, some peppers, and a couple types of flowers. I brought a chair over to were I was planting so Sandra could get some fresh air while I did the planting. Sandra really wanted to get down and get her hands dirty, but not quite yet,but she did enjoy the garden, as that is one of her favorite hobbies. All in All it was a pretty productive week,and I can start to see some good improvement in Sandra's health. We are both hoping that she will continue to mend,and look forward to the summer, and that walk on the beach that she promised me. All our prayers go out to those having surgery today, and those like Sandra who are on the mend, our warmest regards Sandra and Peter.

I would like to the HVC. Yesterday was one of those days that you just want to scream and I took this site to vent.Sandra is very dear to me and she is such a trooper.she is courages and has the heart of an elephant. I think we both need a day to catch our breath.We have been dealing with her heart related issues for such a long time,and now that she has her new valve and is on the road to recovery ,you think you would get a day of reprieve , I just want what is the best care for Sandra as she recovers,and it does seem to work like that at our assisted living facility,but Sandra is 21/2weeks post op, and we look forward to her appointment with Dr Rovin her surgeon on the 27th of the month by then she will be almost 5weeks post op and hope the Good surgeon is happy with her recovery status. We both understand that her recovery takes time,and now that she has a brand spanking new valve ,we have time on our hands.Sandra and I would like to thank you all for your prayers, and love that you have given us so generously,both before and after her surgery,and now during her recovery.There are people in this world who have great big Hearts ,and you only need to go on this site to find them .Thank you all ,and we would like to send out our loving prayers to those who are having surgery today,and those who are on the mend.Are warmest regards Sandra and Peter

On the journal I posted this morning, please excuse my French I only want what is best for Sandra , and it seems like we are fighting battle thanks again for letting me vent my feelings

As some of you know Sandra and I live in an assisted living facility. She got released on March 1st and was sent home with a stack of discharge papers, with all kind of protocol. She is to be helped to shower daily , she is to have her wounds cleaned daily , she is to have her temperature taken daily , and charted ,she is to have her weight taken daily and charted, she is to eat a low sodium diet., she is to have her blood pressure taken daily and charted. She also needs help with her wash.. There are so many things she needs assistance with, and she has seen a nurse since she has been home,. It seems we have lost the assist in assistance. I can do a lot of things for Sandra,but as the owner of the assisted living says I am not a f--king doctor, and the man flat out dislikes me, and I'm afraid to voice my opinion be cause I can't afford to get my walking papers from him. He is an egotistical SOB. I always have to walk on eggshells around him, and have had several heated discussions with him.My dilemma is this,I only want the finest treatment forSandra,and after what she has been through, she deserves the finest treatment. Something or someone has to give, and I know it isn't going to be me. Meanwhile, I have to always be looking for a way out,but I promised Sandra I would not leave without her,and I am not going to throw her to the wolves now,but I always have to be thinking one step ahead of that SOB.,the only time he treats people half descent, is when it is time to pay the rent , so now I will go about my business,and hope and pray that Sandra doesn't end up in the hospital for something they did wrong.Thank you for letting me air out my dirty laundry. Warm regards, and prayers to those who are having surgery today and those of you that are on the mend.

This morning at 7am will be exactly two weeks since Sandra's open heart surgery. My question is this ? We would like to know how long after a surgery like this were you able to start any type of serious cardiac rehab? Up until know Sandra has been going on short walks that to her seem like marathons.We are doing breathing treatments,wound care,and plenty of rest.it seems like that is all her body can handle right now, and I told her that her body will tell her when it is time to do more.The dilemma is that because she was so symptomatic 9 months before the surgery that she really wasn't able to do anything physical for any length of time. Now that she has gotten the new valve we want to know from people who have had surgery how did you approach your cardiac rehab? If you can help Sandra and I with some feedback, please do .we also want to send out our prayers for all those having surgery today,and those like Sandra who are on the mend. Warmest regards.

Sandra and I had to go to the E R yesterday we thought she had a blood clot down in her groin area . It was this golf ball size lump with brushing all around,it definitely look like a blood clot , but after an ultra sound we found out that it was just a large hematoma .I guess it is good to error on the side of caution at least that is what the doctor said. Sandra and I were very relieved. Sandra and I want to send Prayers out to all those with upcoming surgerys and those like Sandra who are on the mend warm regards Peter and Sandra

H.V.C. Sandra is 12 days post op and we finally got a chance to catch our breath and actually write a post. It has been quite a ride, but we are learning a lot about what it takes to actually go through a surgery of this magnitude,and I am learning what it takes to be able to help a loved one after a surgery like this. Sandra has been home since Sunday and has had her ups and downs.We have been learning about wound care,breathing treatments ,and we are also learning about her physical limitations.All in all it hasn't been the best of weeks.Sandra never complains,and I know what her limitations are at this stage of her recovery. I try to tell her how important rest is,and I try to help her with the things that I feel are beyond her limitations. I help her with her showers ,laundry,and wound care and we also go for very short walks. I explain to her that she is going to have set backs especially with her pain issues and sleep issues. We try not to wear her out , so naps in the morning,and a nap in the afternoon,are good things right now. The greatest thing is she has made it through this life changing surgery,with a brand new valve,God forbid she will ever need this surgery again,but she went from a19cm.to a 23cm,and the good doctor said if need be the next time they could do a T.A.V.R. We will cross that bridge if we ever have to,but right now we are relieved and so very Thankful that Sandra is on the mend and look forward ,to a long walk on the beach.Sandra and I would like to take this time to thank each and every one of you for all your support and prayers, they didn't go unnoticed. We would also take this time to pray for those who have upcoming surgeries,and those of you like Sandra who are on the mend.God is Great.

I am very sorry that I haven't posted in a couple of days but Sandra had two and a half days of very very scary of phycosis. Yesterday when I went to her room she was sleeping and I didn't want to wake her so I went to the waiting room for about 2hours as she slept. I went back to her room and she was still asleep so I took out a special pair of rosary beads that she had given to me and started to pray, about half way through my prayers Sandra opened her eyes and lit up like a Christmas tree she held out her arms to me like she hadn't seen me in years. The psycosis had passed and she was soooo glad to see me she was making sense. What a relief it was. God is great, and the power of prayers is so very real. Thanks for all your well wishings and all your prayers. Our prayers go out to all those who are having surgery today, and all those great people who kept us in there hearts and in there prayers we will be forever greatful.

I am very sorry that I haven't posted in a couple of days but Sandra had two and a half days of very very scary of phycosis. Yesterday when I went to her room she was sleeping and I didn't want to wake her so I went to the waiting room for about 2hours as she slept. I went back to her room and she was still asleep so I took out a special pair of rosary beads that she had given to me and started to pray, about half way through my prayers Sandra opened her eyes and lit up like a Christmas tree she held out her arms to me like she hadn't seen me in years. The psycosis had passed and she was soooo glad to see me she was making sense. What a relief it was. God is great, and the power of prayers is so very real. Thanks for all your well wishings and all your prayers. Our prayers go out to all those who are having surgery today, and all those great people who kept us in there hearts and in there prayers we will be forever greatful.

I am very sorry that I haven't posted in a couple of days but Sandra had two and a half days of very very scary of phycosis. Yesterday when I went to her room she was sleeping and I didn't want to wake her so I went to the waiting room for about 2hours as she slept. I went back to her room and she was still asleep so I took out a special pair of rosary beads that she had given to me and started to pray, about half way through my prayers Sandra opened her eyes and lit up like a Christmas tree she held out her arms to me like she hadn't seen me in years. The psycosis had passed and she was soooo glad to see me she was making sense. What a relief it was. God is great, and the power of prayers is so very real. Thanks for all your well wishings and all your prayers. Our prayers go out to all those who are having surgery today, and all those great people who kept us in there hearts and in there prayers we will be forever greatful.

I am very sorry that I haven't posted in a couple of days but Sandra had two and a half days of very very scary of phycosis. Yesterday when I went to her room she was sleeping and I didn't want to wake her so I went to the waiting room for about 2hours as she slept. I went back to her room and she was still asleep so I took out a special pair of rosary beads that she had given to me and started to pray, about half way through my prayers Sandra opened her eyes and lit up like a Christmas tree she held out her arms to me like she hadn't seen me in years. The psycosis had passed and she was soooo glad to see me she was making sense. What a relief it was. God is great, and the power of prayers is so very real. Thanks for all your well wishings and all your prayers. Our prayers go out to all those who are having surgery today, and all those great people who kept us in there hearts and in there prayers we will be forever greatful.

Good morning community, Just a short note on Sandra, yesterday when I came to the hospital ,I was shocked to find Sandra in restraints, It seems she had a psycohsis event She was having hallucinations and hearing thing that weren't there and a little paranoid. The whole event was very unnerving to watch and see.There could be a lot of thing that could have brought on this event ,but the Dr.said that this wasn't his field and he would a psychiatrist in house to have a look and talk with her.One of the things that scared me most is the fact that they were giving her Haldol ,and that scared me the most. I want to have prayers sent to those having surgery today,and those on the mend GOD SPEED and warm regards,Sandra and Peter

Just visited with Sandra she seemed depressed ,so I went online to research about depression after open heart surgery and bingo I found my answer. They said it is very common after this huge surgery to experience depression.does anyone have any helping tips for me to help her along? I love her and want to do anything I can.

Just made it to the hospital an unGodly 6am. So i thought I would take a few moments to catch you all up to speed on Sandra's surgery the doctor assured me that all went well with Sandra's surgery ,he said the old valve was a mess. He replaced Sandra old valve a19cm which had bad stenosis and calcification with a brand spanking new 23cm. It's three days old ,he said God forbidding that she would ever need a new valve he would be able to do a T.A.V.R, but when your new valve is only three days old, you don't even want to think about that. Yesterday when I saw Sandra she was sitting up in a chair and despite the pain she had this beautiful pink skin,something I have never seen since I met Sandra a year and a half ago. She also had these beautiful heart rhythms , also something I have never seen before. This is day three and I can't wait to see the love of my life . I would like to give a shout out to all the people of the community,because without your prayers, and support I don't know if we could have made it through the surgery. A special hug and prayer to Terri from Cali. For going the extra mile when I couldn't get my computer up ,she took the time to get the community up to speed, on Sandra's progress. Thank you Terri your an Angel in disguise,and Sandra and I will be forever thankful! We would also like to take the time to send prayers,and well wishings to all those who are having surgery today,and all those who are on the mend.

I would like to thank the whole community for all your prayers for Sandra, despite the fact that she feels like she was hit by a truck Sandra is on the mend.i would like to personally like to thank Terri for posting for me while my computer was down, Thank you Terri you are an angel .Prayers go out to those who are having surgery today, and those on the mend. Warm regards Peter and Sandra