william borland - Heart Valve Journal

My Journal

2257 days ago

Nancy LeClair Gottlieb, Dan Baltazor, Dan Baltazor and 3 others reacted to this

It's been 11 days since my surgery and I finally was able to take my first shower (due to my pacemaker's incision heal time). It felt great washing the "blues" ...Read more

It's been 11 days since my surgery and I finally was able to take my first shower (due to my pacemaker's incision heal time). It felt great washing the "blues" down the drain! Recovery is going well. I now walk 3 times a day for 20 minutes each, and try to get out to a scenic spot for at least one walk. Fortunately, like Adam, I live in Southern California close to the ocean. Today my wife and I walked at Redondo Beach and had a picnic lunch in Palos Verdes. Hope all of you who are on my similar path are recovering well, and wherever you live are enjoying some good weather. Sending warm wishes to everyone.

Rob Sparling Your walking progress matches mine! Impressive! Keep pushing, William! ❤️💪

Bradley Dunn I bet that shower was awesome.

Dan Vechiola Nice progress William. Keep pounding that pavement!

william borlandposted a journal

2261 days ago

Shannon Gray reacted to this

Exactly one week ago I was being wheeled from the OR to the ICU unit after successful aortic valve replacement and coronary bypass surgery. The hospital stay ...Read more

Exactly one week ago I was being wheeled from the OR to the ICU unit after successful aortic valve replacement and coronary bypass surgery. The hospital stay was uneventful except for a pacemaker implantation on the third day. Plenty of walking through the corridors of Cedars Sinai and lots of visits from the nursing staff for bloodwork and meds. I am home now, and this will be where the real recovery takes place. Two weeks ago, I was working out at the gym for 45 minutes and feeling great. I have always been asymptomatic, and this has been the hardest part to deal with. Right now, I feel pretty banged up and just walking three times a day for 10 minutes is a chore. I know it will take time and fortunately I have plenty of that, and when I do get back to normal I’ll have a full life to live. So even though I am frustrated about my current health. I am very lucky.

Dan Baltazor Great you’re back home. Not looking forward to the mental requirements it’s going to take to get ... Read more

Dan Baltazor Great you’re back home. Not looking forward to the mental requirements it’s going to take to get through the entire recovery process. One day at a time and one small milestone at a time, I’m guessing. It only gets better from where you are right now though, just hang in there!

Louanna Miller I am 7 weeks post OHS for mitral valve repair. I was in the hospital for 10 days due to low oxygen l ... Read more

Louanna Miller I am 7 weeks post OHS for mitral valve repair. I was in the hospital for 10 days due to low oxygen levels, blood pressure dropping and fluid retention. They got those under control and I came home.

I have to say recovery is one day at a time. I try not to evaluate myself daily, but I typically notice some improvement every 2 days. It’s small at times, but one day at a time. Allow yourself to heal and listen to your body. Get lots of rest and walk. That seems to be the secret.

Rita Savelis The exhaustion is frustrating! It can take weeks/months to get your energy back. You've been through ... Read more

Rita Savelis The exhaustion is frustrating! It can take weeks/months to get your energy back. You've been through a lot. Give your body the time it needs. You can't see your heart but it's a muscle that has been traumatised by surgery, as any muscle would be. I felt like I had been hit by a truck after OHS. I was glad that my surgeon realistically told me it would take a long time to not be so tired. He didn't give a specific time frame. I think that was a wise honest assessment. Take care.

Duane Brown I understood the "its as if you get hit by a bus" reference far better after surgery then before.

Jennifer McInerney I agree, my general lack of energy has been a surprise. Who would have thought walking down my drive ... Read more

Jennifer McInerney I agree, my general lack of energy has been a surprise. Who would have thought walking down my driveway would be a major event - lol

Rob Sparling William, thanks for the update! I am only one week ahead of you and can tell you that things acceler ... Read more

Rob Sparling William, thanks for the update! I am only one week ahead of you and can tell you that things accelerate nicely. I am walking 45 mins a day now. I felt like logging into email yesterday! I’ll keep my distance from work a bit longer but the energy level was there, for sure! You will be positively surprised, I think!

Dan Vechiola William your great attitude will propel you quickly into recovery. Its been 4.5 weeks for me and I ... Read more

Dan Vechiola William your great attitude will propel you quickly into recovery. Its been 4.5 weeks for me and I just finished a 30 minute walk at a pretty nice pace. I trained pretty hard for surgery and besides some soreness in my chest I am now where I was prior to surgery. I wear the Incision Shield which is sold in the store on this site. It helps with the sensations in my chest. Keep grinding!

william borland Thanks for all the positive comments.

william borlandposted an update

2262 days ago

any suggestions on controlling coughing after surgery?

Duane Brown Don't eat foods with dry crumbs, such as dry toast. I learned that lesson the hard way. Also, I remem ... Read more

Duane Brown Don't eat foods with dry crumbs, such as dry toast. I learned that lesson the hard way. Also, I remember frequently sort of clearing my throat often and spitting into a cup seemed to help.

william borland thanks

Thomas Brusstar I like spicy food in general, but spicy food can also make me cough. I’ve learned it is totally no ... Read more

Thomas Brusstar I like spicy food in general, but spicy food can also make me cough. I’ve learned it is totally not worth the possible coughing, so I avoided spicy food for a while. Coming up on 12 weeks, coughing is fine now but sneezing is still “unwelcome.”

Rob Sparling William, my nurses encouraged me to cough to get the gunk moving out of the lungs. I can’t say I e ... Read more

Rob Sparling William, my nurses encouraged me to cough to get the gunk moving out of the lungs. I can’t say I ever felt good with that or saw any improvement as a direct result, but keep it mind that avoiding the coughing may let phlegm linger.... I cough with my heart pillow hugged tightly to my chest and it reduces the pain by 50%.

william borlandposted an update

2266 days ago

Bill Gillam, Helen Daw, Dan Baltazor reacted to this

Hmm..thought I'd posted this earlier but didn't see it in feed, so here's my update. Since my surgery on 10/1, they've been continually "pacing" my heart rhythm ...Read more

Hmm..thought I'd posted this earlier but didn't see it in feed, so here's my update. Since my surgery on 10/1, they've been continually "pacing" my heart rhythm which was running pretty low. After consults with surgeon and heart rhythm specialist, my upper/lower heart chambers aren't "communicating" as they should and..I need a pacemaker. Awaiting pacemaker implant this afternoon. Good news is I was moved from ICU this am and in regular room now.

Rob Sparling Wow! William, please keep us posted! Keeps ng you in thoughts and prayers! Hoping for quick resolu ... Read more

Rob Sparling Wow! William, please keep us posted! Keeps ng you in thoughts and prayers! Hoping for quick resolutionfor you!

Jeannette McLaughlin Hello! William - I was exactly in the same position as you when I had aortic valve replacement surger ... Read more

Jeannette McLaughlin Hello! William - I was exactly in the same position as you when I had aortic valve replacement surgery end of Sept. 2016. Like you, my upper/lower heart chambers were not communicating and I had a pacemaker implant eight days after the surgery. Hope all went well with the procedure. Take care and best of luck with your recovery.

Catie B Sorry for this obstacle, William. Hope everything is tuned up soon for you!

LINDA ROBERTS Hope things are improving and you are on your way to recovery.

Rita Savelis I'm sorry to hear that. I got a pacemaker 17 days after double valve replacement. In a small number o ... Read more

Rita Savelis I'm sorry to hear that. I got a pacemaker 17 days after double valve replacement. In a small number of OHS cases the heart's electrical system doesn't go back to normal. It was a shock for me at the time because I had no idea this was a possible side effect. But afterwards I had a bit more energy because my heart rate went up. Wishing you the best.

william borlandposted an update

2267 days ago

Dan Baltazor and 1 other reacted to this

Some details on my surgery..aortic valve replaced, single coronary bypass graft and smalll benign tumor removed (was attached to valve). Still in ICU, at times ...Read more

Some details on my surgery..aortic valve replaced, single coronary bypass graft and smalll benign tumor removed (was attached to valve). Still in ICU, at times feel like I got hit by a truck, but I will get stronger every day. Thanks for all the kind words.