Shawna's Journal

Here are some notes I took from my hospital stay. Hopefully this will help some of you who have a surgery coming up. Mine was open heart, so they split my sternum. These notes are with that recovery in mind.

Heart pillow makes coughing and bed transfers be more comfortable . But won’t take away pain completely.

Ask for more meds or for a dose increase if edge is still there (don’t expect it to go away, but the edge should be taken off).

Stay on top of anti nausea meds

Appetite will be slim to none. Make sure you eat something, even if just a few bites.

Bring slip on shoes for walking.

C-shaped neck pillow that can allow room for your pick line can help with comfort.

If you walk in the socks they give you, don’t wear them to bed. Germs.

Ladies- don’t expect to wear your usual bra ( sternum surgery).

There will be days, or hours that go by that are hard. Just get to ‘the next thing’. I’m a driven person, but am also not 21 anymore. Allow grace for that.

Once you can order food, consider a couple things: 

1. Don’t go back in too fast. Bread may be a challenge if intubation was done. But think soft and easy to digest foods. Fresh Fruit was my friend.




2. When you feel full, even after just one bite, STOP. Wait and return when you can.




3. Your taste buds will be different. The things you loved before surgery you may have an aversion to after surgery. That happened with me and coffee and I am a regular coffee drinker (decaf). I couldn’t stand the taste of it after surgery. Just roll with it. It’ll probably change back in a month or two. Every day will be different in that regard.

Watch how often you have a bowel movement post op.You must get the flow back or you will feel awful. It will impede your progress. You don’t think there’s much there, but there’s more than you think.

Every day is different.2 steps forward and sometimes 1 step back. It is ok. Give yourself a break on that.

Having a support system is HUGE! 

I signed up for meal train. Com. I won’t have to cook for at least a month thanks to friends/neighbors/ family!😁


I signed up for caringbridge to  help facilitate communication (instead of social media). You send a link and everyone you invite makes an account and pswd . It’s a touch more secure. You can also add pics if you want. It’s been great.

Read about how to breathe while intubated. You may wake while still intubated. It is ok. But educate yourself beforehand.

I brought a big bag of chocolate.  I started handing it out in preop all the way to discharge.That was a BIG hit with techs, def nurses and even a few doctors. Doesn’t have to be that, but do remember the people who are taking care of you. It will go a long way!!

Work on your pre-op baseline as much as you can. Meaning, if you can walk, then please walk it will make recovery much better. Doing squats will really help you get in and out of the chair and on / off toilet. 

Progress will change daily. And changes happen fast. So if you don’t like where you are, just wait. It will be different in no time.

Hang in there. Give yourself some goals (even if small ones like walking a few more feet each day). Treat yourself to something nice (mine was going to the hair salon after discharge and getting a wonderful hair wash and blow out). 

Keep positive!! There is light on the other side!!!💝

Hi to everyone from the other side!!🙌🏻

My open-heart surgery was done 7 days ago. I got home yesterday and , overall, feel really good. 

Im getting a bit of an appetite back, walking and breathing excercises are done several times a day, and am so happy to be on this side.


While  I was still in the hospital, I started making notes so I could give you guys some some pointers or feedback. I’ll put that together in the upcoming days and post it for you.

But for now, just know that everything went great, I had fantastic care, and wanted to encourage everybody who has surgeries upcoming. Do the best you can to get your body in pre-surgery condition because it certainly helps so much in post surgery.

I’m very thankful for this group and the people that come together to share fantastic knowledge.

Blessings to you all! From the flipside💝😁

🙌🏻ZOFRAN for the WIN!🙌🏻

Heart Cath day today.

Anesthesia is kinda like having a night on the town. It's all fun and games until….well….its just NOT anymore 😒
I've been sensitive to the stuff many times in the past. That anesthesia hangover is RUFF!! I'll be having some nice long conversations with my anesthesiologist team before the next big one on the 27th.
Every person that touched my case today was great. Kind, on top of everything, and so knowledgeable.
This was my first heart cath. It was really cool, to be honest. I got to see things on a big screen from the inside out. I told my doc that he was the first one to touch my heart since God knit it in mamas womb. So no pressure!😝
The techs and nurses in the cath lab were so great. And you know what else? They take requests! For music that is….so the entire procedure we had The Eagles greatest hits playing. 🎶 And when the doc left….he cranked it and we all sang out loud to ‘Lying Eyes'….🎤
(This is where the similarities really come through to the night on the town. Like last call and you're dancing to that one-last-song😂. Riiiiight before that hangover begins…..🤕)

Just reminding everyone (I should have reminded myself...) to discuss what it will take to make you comfortable BEFORE you actually need it. I waited too late and suffered with headache and nausea and didn't really need to.
Blessings to you all on your journeys!!!