Susan's Journal

Janice Smith  Welcome home! Hope you continue to do great. Food did not taste good to me for weeks, but I ate it anyway to keep my strength up. Eventually,
it will creep back. The word I most often heard was "patience." I am now
almost 9 months post-op, and food has tasted great to me for some time now. lol

Judith Collins  It was really hard to eat while I was in the hospital. My appetite is coming back but slowly and only a few things taste good.

Tammy Pilcher  Congratulations on your homecoming, Susan! I didn't have the problem with taste, but I know alot of people have. I hope it gets better soon! God bless you!

  Welcome home, Susan! Such a great feeling!
It's not uncommon for foods not to taste good like it usually does.
I was told medications I was on, could be the cause of that. I am four weeks out, tomorrow, and food tastes really good the past two weeks!
Eat, to keep your strength up!
God Bless You as you continue to heal.

  Praying that your surgery goes smoothly, without complications, and that you have a steady recovery.
The scripture I took with me on an index card and read before my Meds to relax me, prior to surgery
is: John 14:27....about His Peace.

Terry Shermeister   Hi Susan: I know how you are feeling. I'm having my MVR on Thursday. It's an emotional roller coaster. Strength, prayers, and healing to you.

Robert Osmachenko  Susan, do you know what your numbers are ie: pressures, opening size and ejection fraction? What I know about the heart muscle is that it thickens up and enlarges because it has to work so much harder to expel blood from the valve that is stenotic. Higher pressures at your heart equate with higher blood pressure numbers, right? Once corrected at the valve the heart muscle should revert back to original size.
If I were you, I would look into the diagnosis of "hypertrophic cardiomyopathy". Is this part of the surgery really necessary.
Many of us report dizziness and hot flashes and high blood pressure prior to surgery because we are not getting the oxygen/circulation our body needs. Take care. Prayers aloft for you.

Terry Shermeister   Thanks so much Susan! It's always scary but knowing that our surgeons are so capable is such a relief. Here's thinking positive thoughts and prayers for your surgery in two weeks.

Dan D.  I know it must be very hard for you and your family to have all your thoughts and resources focused on one day and then it changes. (Yesterday I freaked out with the possibility that something might alter my surgery date. Aside from my own focus, several supporters have organized their lives around my surgery date and a change would mess up their lives.) I guess the best that can be said is that your change, while very disruptive, is only for one day and you have some time to re-focus. Best wishes to you!

Terry Shermeister   Hi Susan, there are things we cannot control. The key is to try to accept them and understand things happen for a reason. I relate to your stress and all the variables that we face during this journey. For me I look at it day by day. If nothing is scheduled I look at it as a blessing and enjoy the moment. As I had my pre op and educational session yesterday, it was very positive and lessoned my stress. You have a great support group with your family and friends, it's a blessing.

Tim Goff  It can be tough to have the schedule disrupted but you will now have an extra day to spend with the family and to relax before the procedure. Enjoy the family time as on the other side of surgery, though you will have time, it wont be as quality as prior to. Wishing you all the best

Jennifer Miller  I also was a total wreck leading up to the big day & couldn't sleep at all. I finally asked my family doc for help & he prescribed very low dose Xanax. I wish I'd spoken up sooner! It didn't make me loopy or hung over in the morning, just calmed my anxieties enough to get to sleep. Maybe it would help you too, Susan!

Dan D.  My surgeon didn't mention this option. I'm interested to know about this before my surgery which is about a month from now.

Robyn Tatu  Robyn, my wife, has a metal allergy so they had to use Titanium plates and screws instead of stainless steel wire. The Surgeon said he would do them himself (he typically has someone else do the wiring.)
But when the time came, he said that they had some titanium cables in stock, typically used for large people, and he used them.
I did some reading about the plates. I do some carpentry and I like clamping things instead of screwing and plating so I am drawn to something that pulls and binds.
I asked our doctor if the plates mean a longer time to get back in if he needed to but he said it was not any harder nor take any longer to cut. He feels both do the job fine.