Thomas Campbell - Heart Valve Journal

My Journal

3724 days ago

I'm Curious whether anyone has experienced more severe symptoms post surgery when catching a cold. The first time four months post surgery was the worse. Severe ...Read more

I'm Curious whether anyone has experienced more severe symptoms post surgery when catching a cold. The first time four months post surgery was the worse. Severe neck pain and soreness especially in the chest similar to the pain I felt a month after surgery. My general physician didn't show any concern. Now I am suffering again with a cold, fever, painful coughing and thinking of switching doctor for a second opinion if it doesn't go away. Would love to hear about others experiences.

Joseph Ballett Have not felt this yet and not sure i want to hope you feel better soon.

Thomas Campbell I hope so also. Unfortunately between work and a 2 year old, it's hard to avoid getting sick.

Thomas Campbellposted a journal

3800 days ago

I am waiting to hear the results of my stress test I had a couple days ago. I seem to handle it well. I was on the treadmill for 10 minutes and was going at ...Read more

I am waiting to hear the results of my stress test I had a couple days ago. I seem to handle it well. I was on the treadmill for 10 minutes and was going at a good clip. My heart rate was 130. The only thing that worried me was a slight "swoshing" sound. I am told that it's the sound of a leak. I read a post from Adam that it was common. Still can't help to dwell on it. I am curious if anyone has any experience with post valve repair leak?

Mary Myers Tom, hang in there and try not to panic. I am sure there is a simple solution. Hope you can start reh ... Read more

Mary Myers Tom, hang in there and try not to panic. I am sure there is a simple solution. Hope you can start rehab soon. Have a great night.hugs from your heart sister Mary (mia)

Michael Meyer Thomas,
No experience although my repaired valve is not 100% leak free. It is common for a repaired ... Read more

Michael Meyer Thomas,
No experience although my repaired valve is not 100% leak free. It is common for a repaired valve to have some leakage. If it makes you feel better, you should be able to review the surgeon notes, they were very specific with regard to the quality assurance checks. You may have already reviewed this information.

Thomas Campbellposted a journal

3803 days ago

Adam Pick reacted to this

Anyone have any advice on questions to ask my surgeon when I meet with him post-op? It's been 5 weeks since the surgery and I haven't had cardio rehab yet. ...Read more

Anyone have any advice on questions to ask my surgeon when I meet with him post-op? It's been 5 weeks since the surgery and I haven't had cardio rehab yet. I don't feel ready to return to work. Still slightly confused as to who is in charge/responsible for my recovery? Any advice is appreciated Thanks Thomas

Eleanor R Hi, Thomas. Like you, I am several weeks post surgery, now in week 7. My follow up meeting with the ... Read more

Eleanor R Hi, Thomas. Like you, I am several weeks post surgery, now in week 7. My follow up meeting with the surgeon was kind of a non-event, it was a checking me over to make sure the valve was working as expected (vitals, EKG, etc.) by the PA and a release of me to the cardiologist. I had not secured a follow up appointment with the cardiologist until just before surgery, so I needed the surgeon to renew prescriptions until I could get in to see the cardiologist. Mainly the meeting(s) with the surgeon post surgery was for him to tell me what he found, what exact type of valve he implanted, and I asked him for his own advice on how to best take care of the new valve. It was a bit odd, since this person (The Surgeon) becomes such a huge part of your life, but it is for a very short timeframe, then you are back to your life, and he is on to the next patient. It was good that I had realized that even pre-surgery, that this wonderful person, holding literally my life in his hands and is caring for me, will have a job to do, then we will both move on. Sorry, sounds rather sentimental, but basically the surgeon's task is done, so s/he will clear you and send you for follow up either with a cardiologist or your primary care physician, once he knows the valve is settled well, heart is in rhythm and incision site is healing well. Have your questions focus on how you are doing, what you should be aware of to take good care of yourself and your valve, and any recommendations he has for you. Good luck to you. Eleanor

Michael Culpepper Thomas -

In my case, I view my cardiologist as primary in my recovery. H knows the history and has ... Read more

Michael Culpepper Thomas -

In my case, I view my cardiologist as primary in my recovery. H knows the history and has the years of experience to advise what I should do when. Tje surgeon is really an excellent technician, but knows little history. My GP is filling in while the cardiologist is on vacation.

If I did have a chance to meet with the surgeon, I wouldask things like when is my heart considered fully healed, what post-op signs should I look out for, etc.

As I said, in my case my cardiologist is the one who is accessible -- he has been like a Dr. Welby for me. Goodluck Iin all you do.

Michael (Mike) Culpepper

Michael Meyer Thomas:
I suggest getting folks to own responsibility. I used my primary care physician to manage me ... Read more

Michael Meyer Thomas:
I suggest getting folks to own responsibility. I used my primary care physician to manage meds and INR until I had an appointment with my cardiologist. The cardiologist should own the post surgical care, recovery and take over the medication for any other residual heart health issues. There does not seem to be rules for this, you just have to work with all the care givers because the paperwork drops through the cracks. I am also currently waiting on rehab and the doctor orders was issued almost a week ago. What are they doing? Don't know. I find the medical community excellent in many ways and truly lacking in others. By the way, my wife is a nurse and this surgery has been enlightening for her.

Michael Meyer Thomas, my name is Michael Meyer, not sure how the web site came up with the alternative name.

Thomas Campbell Thanks everybody the meeting with the surgeon was quick and not very informative but he is very frien ... Read more

Thomas Campbell Thanks everybody the meeting with the surgeon was quick and not very informative but he is very friendly and told me to call him if I had any question. Now on to the cardiologist.

Thomas Campbellposted a journal

3815 days ago

Some good notes are my Coumadin level is great and blood pressure is fine since the getting off the metoprolol. Bad news I get this quickly developing pains ...Read more

Some good notes are my Coumadin level is great and blood pressure is fine since the getting off the metoprolol. Bad news I get this quickly developing pains in my back and other random spots. Not like the soreness I would get from over-doing it. My wife has commented as of late that my mood has worsen. I seem either down or grumpy or moody. She asked the nurse about my mood. Fortunately the nurse let her know recovery takes longer then a surgeon will tell you. The nurses have all been a godsend. They have the experience of dealing with cardiac patients post-surgery where as surgeon's expertise and focus is to repair and fix. Not to dismiss the work the doctors do, I am only trying to explain the focus of each. The one thing I am slowly learning is how difficult this process is for the body to deal with. It's as though your body suffers from amnesia. Consciously, you are aware what has happened. Yet unconsciously, your brain is off battling windmills. I'm getting a bit tired and should call it a night. Good luck to all Thomas

Eleanor R Isn't it weird how having surgery can affect our moods? I wasn't grumpy so much as just flat, nothin ... Read more

Eleanor R Isn't it weird how having surgery can affect our moods? I wasn't grumpy so much as just flat, nothing seemed to move me either way. It is only recently that I catch myself laughing or smiling. Before I felt like a robot in many ways, with stiff arms and tight movements, and lack of emotion. I am glad to have a broader range of emotions now and feel less blah. I hope you are making progress as well. Remember, what we aspire to is not perfection, but progress. Heal well. Eleanor

Thomas Campbellposted a journal

3820 days ago

The cardiologist told me to stop taking the Metoprolol yesterday and to get some blood work done. I'm expecting a call back. Last night I started feeling soreness ...Read more

The cardiologist told me to stop taking the Metoprolol yesterday and to get some blood work done. I'm expecting a call back. Last night I started feeling soreness on my side where the incision was, my shoulder and general soreness lower chest when I took deep breaths. I took my pain med for the first time in several weeks. Still didn't feel well in the morning playing "princesses" with my 2 year old daughter. At least she knows now I need a chair to sit on when we play. I felt a slight light-headed ness going to get bloodwork in the morning and still feel it now, although it's only a fading feeling. Thank you to all for your words of advice and stories. It's easy to lose sight of your condition or second-guess yourself. Take care, Thomas

Thomas Campbellposted a journal

3821 days ago

This week started out with a step back. Tuesday morning I felt exhausted in the morning. The visiting nurse came by and said my standing blood pressure was ...Read more

This week started out with a step back. Tuesday morning I felt exhausted in the morning. The visiting nurse came by and said my standing blood pressure was low. Temperature, pulse, O2 levels were ok. Wednesday felt better. Today the nurse came again and made a call to the surgeon and cardiologist about my low blood pressure. Unfortunately, both are on vacation. I am expecting a call back from another cardiologist at the practice. I don't feel terrible but certainly not as motivated as last week. I did begin feeling some soreness around the breast. I was told the anesthesia used during surgery takes quite some time to wear off and some nerves also take time to repair. Last week I had the feeling that I would be back to normal in a month's time but now I'm not so sure

Thomas Campbellposted a journal

3825 days ago

I met with my cardiologist a couple days ago and he scheduled a stress test / echocardiogram in three weeks. Seems like a long time from now. Can I start rehab ...Read more

I met with my cardiologist a couple days ago and he scheduled a stress test / echocardiogram in three weeks. Seems like a long time from now. Can I start rehab before that or do I need permission from the cardiologist? I am curious what others' experiences.

Thomas Campbellposted a journal

3825 days ago

I had my surgery 19 days ago. I went thorough minimal invasive mitral valve repair (Da Vinci / robotic) at Charlton in Fall River, MA. I had a smooth repair ...Read more

I had my surgery 19 days ago. I went thorough minimal invasive mitral valve repair (Da Vinci / robotic) at Charlton in Fall River, MA. I had a smooth repair and a quick stay at the hospital. I've been home for 2 weeks. I am getting my energy back I trying to walk regularly. I'm up to 2 miles a day. My breathing is still not up to pre-surgery. Had a minor scare a week ago thinking I might have a hernia but it turned out to be a hematoma. I am learning to deal with not being able to do all that I could; not lifting is the hardest pill to swallow. I was always working through any illness I had and never took time of from work. Sometimes, I have to remind myself I had surgery.