Therese's Journal

Anna Jones  I wish I had an answer for you. I'm sure plenty of people will respond, though. Just wanted you to know I have been keeping you in my prayers and thoughts

Bonnie Stone-Hope  Hello Therese,
I found it necessary to have my head up while sleeping for the first few weeks, to breath easily. However, rented an electric bed for a week, slept in a slightly reclined lazy- boy chair and ultimately used 2 firm pillows, one on top of the other, when in my regular bed.
Did not buy a wedge. Felt most comfortable when head was about 45 degrees elevated.

Barbara Wood  I bought a 9" memory foam wedge pillow & found that with a few bed pillows - 2 behind my head, 1 on either side for my arms, 1 under my knees was very comfy. I bought a recliner but really hardly ever used it, preferring the wedge. Other thoughts - v neck tees, tanks with a shelf bra, drawstring pants- I came home about 6 lbs heavier & it took about 2 weeks to lose that.
Best wishes Therese, it won't be nearly as bad as you imagine!

Debbie Goff  I too had bought a wedge pillow and two body pillows. I found that none of them worked to sleep in my bed. The most comfortable to me was sleeping in my recliner. Sleep for me was miserable for the first couple months. But be reassured it does get better with time!

Suzanne Finn  Oh, yes the pillow wedge was a necessity coming home from the hospital. I used it also on the couch during the day for resting. I also purchased a 9 inch memory foam, worked great. I would also recommend v-neck t-shirts as you may have very sensitive skin around the incision area. Best wishes for your upcoming surgery. The waiting can be agonizing, soon you'll be on the recovery side.

Toni Z  2 weeks post surgery and I’m finding the couch better to sleep in than recliner. It’s a firm couch and I used one of the big back cushion and a pillow to sleep on. A big help is a dose of Percocet to dull the pian and knock me out. Hope this helps.

Therese ODell  Thank you all so much! I have been a little anxious this afternoon. Spent the day cooking and freezing meals so my husband won't have to cook too much (really so I won't starve) Lol!

Peggy Whitecotton  I too bought a wedge but found it uncomfortable and slept in a recliner with a pillow under my head and one on each side for about 6 weeks...

Sophia Ridley  I used for a number of months as every time I tried to sleep normally I was in shoulder pain. I put three pillows on it, two at head and one lower. I also made a well for my head so it was supported. You do need to stop yourself slipping, wasn’t a problem at first but was later.

Rita Savelis  Hi Therese. Never used a wedge. Just needed to use pillows so I wouldn't lie completely flat.
P.S. It might be an opportune time for your husband to start to cook, in his own way.
It's amazing how people (spouses) will step up to bat when they have to....

Julie Copeland  I did the pillow pile-( 3-4 pillows at night) the first couple weeks till I was brave enough to slowly eliminate the pillows as I moved and breathed better.

Laura Jacobs  The wedge pillow was an absolute necessity for me. I used it along with several pillows, under my head, along my sides and under my knees...similar to what Barbara was describing. As I healed, I slowly removed those pillows that I no longer needed.

NM Peacesine  I had an angiogram yesterday and it wasn't bad at all. The hardest part for me was getting the IV in and a blood draw. My veins are really tricky. Once I was on the table, they give me a little something to take the edge off but I was awake the whole time. I didn't feel stoned or anything, and didn't feel any discomfort at all. I noticed that the Dr. was doing things to my wrist but it didn't bother me in the least. Afterward I had a plastic pressure bandage thing on for about 4 hours, then just before I went home they changed it to a heavy dressing. It had to say put for 24 hrs. and you should keep your wrist fairly still and above your heart, like on a pillow. Had some Tylenol for a bit of pain.

Barbara Wood  Same as Rose...also had my angiogram through the wrist - easy, painless, out of the hospital in just a few hours.

Marie Myers  I also had pulmonary function tests, which is a breathing test, a Chest X Ray, and arterial blood gas test. I was worried about the cardiac cath, but it was really easy with the sedation. I was not bothered by what they we're doing, and vaguely remember seeing the screen.

Rose Madura  The angiogram was not a big deal. They gave some drugs to calm you but I was awake for the whole thing. It was actually kind of neat to watch. When I saw how the dye went through like a road map, I knew that was good. My cardiologist said I had excellent arteries. I told him it was from eating oatmeal! :) I had some post issues with pain in the groin area and bruising but it all went away in time.

Diane T  Just had my pre-op testing yesterday: chest x-ray and blood draw. (CT scan last month.) Nurse Practitioner went over instructions for the week before and day of surgery. Also met with anesthesiologist.

Anna Jones  Congratulations on scheduling your surgery. I hear you have picked a fantastic surgeon. Please keep me posted about how you are doing and what you think of Dr. Accola. As I've mentioned before, I am a little behind you. I have my heart cath in 2 weeks and then I learn how soon I need my surgery. I am pretty sure I will be picking Dr. Accola too. I'm hearing great things about him from you and others.

Adam Pick  Therese, You are in the best of hands with Dr. Accola and his team at Florida Hospital. Fyi, I just sent Dr. Accola an email to find out if you will get a heart pillow at the hospital. When I hear back from him or his team, I'll let you know! My thoughts and prayers are with you. February 6 will be a great day for your heart and you! Keep on tickin! Adam

Therese ODell  Adam, thank you so much for doing that for me! I really liked Dr Accola and feel so relieved that I am in good hands. Thank you for creating this site and for all you do getting us accurate and timely information! So grateful for you!

Therese ODell  Anna, I will keep you posted on my adventure! I think you will like Dr Accola too. I have been very impressed with his office staff as well as liking him. They all seem to be very professional and on top of things. Quick to call you back, get things scheduled, and very helpful. I will need a cardiologist in St Pete where I will be recuperating and they are coordinating everything. One less thing I have to worry about!

Anna Jones  Therese, that is fantastic. If you need one in Orlando, let me know. I can give you the name of the Cardiologist/Interventionist I used in Longwood, FL

Anna Jones  Therese, look what I found on the Internet. This is cool:

https://www.floridahospital.com/foundation/areas-support/cardiovascular/plan

Since 1987 patients recovering from open heart surgery have hugged heart shaped pillows to help stabilize the chest and provide pain relief after surgery. Today, a cutting edge research project for post-operative cardiac care called The K-Tape® Study is underway exclusively at Florida Hospital Cardiovascular Institute (CVI). K-Tape® is an elastic sports and fitness tape made in Germany designed for muscle, ligament and tendon pain relief. It is used for athletic injuries such as lower back pain, knee pain, shin splints, carpal tunnel syndrome, and tennis elbow. In CVI’s feasibility study with 100 patients, K-Tape® is applied to the neck and back pre-operatively and over the incision and sterile dressing on the sternum post operatively. Our physician researchers anticipate significant benefits to patients - an increase in chest stability, additional comfort in breathing, and overall improvement in quality of life. In turn, K-Tape® also has potential to reduce the length of stay in the hospital, decrease readmission rates, reduce patient pain and the need for narcotics. This research may establish innovative post-operative care for cardiac patients all over the country, while reducing health care costs for all. K-Tape® may be the Florida Hospital Cardiovascular Institute catalyst for the first new product to go on the market since the Heart Pillow was invented more than 28 years ago!

Therese ODell  Hi Anna! Thank you for the link, that is pretty cool! Have you decided on Dr Accola? I think you will really like him. I will keep you posted on my experience with him and with the hospital. So far it has been excellent. I talked with the cardiologist's (who is doing the angiogram) nurse and she was wonderful. They have everything coordinated including setting me up with a doctor in St. Pete. Hope you are doing well. I certainly have my moments of anxiety but overall am doing good. I feel like my symptoms are getting worse and like it or not it is time......

Anna Jones  Hi Therese, Sending continuing best wishes for an easy surgery and recovery. I am willing to bet that your moments of anxiety are shared by everyone past and present who face this surgery.

I was supposed to have my heart cath on Jan. 15, but I have the flu, so will have to reschedule it tomorrow. I just don't think I am up to it right now, and I don't think the staff really want to be around me right now.

Once I do have it done my cardiologist/interventionist will let me know if he thinks it is time. I already think it is past time as I also see my symptoms worsening. I am going to ask the cardiologist/interventionist to send my data to 3 different surgeons. Dr. Accola is on the top of my list. I will speak to him once he has my records. I am in TX and he is in FL, so there are logistics involved.

My cardiologist/interventionist is strongly suggesting I choose Dr. Gerald Lawrie in Houston. Dr. Lawrie has a ton of experience but I think I would feel more comfortable with someone younger, and going to Houston presents just as much difficulty as going to FL.
Also, and this may not be the best attitude, but if I am going to die, I would prefer to die in FL as it is where my husband is buried and where I lived most of my life.

I still have to pick the third surgeon. I was going to pick the Cleveland Clinic, but that is no longer on my insurance. I also had high hopes for Dr. Adams in NY, but he isn't on my insurance either.

Please keep in touch and keep us updated as to how you are doing. If you need any moral support just ask.

Celia Waterkeyn  In the UK they didn’t like heart pillows/ rolled up towels etc re risk of cross infection!! They encouraged me to cross my arms across my chest and hug myself ie when coughing or sneezing. Has worked pretty well. I did take a pillow in with me anyway but ended up hugging instead.