Finally home.

[Peg D]

Hi. Well I finally got to come home yesterday. The cath was on Monday, May 14 and surgery was the next day. The cardio said the surgeon would scare you, but he was the best. He certainly did! After the cath, he said the left ventricle was enlarged, the aorta was a little enlarged, and the lung pressures were high. Hopefully the lung pressures were caused from the valve. Anyway normally you would have a 1 in 10 chance to come out OK, but with these if brought it down to a 1 in 5. Just what I wanted to hear! (Lung pressures did go down!)
Anyway surgery went well! Then came the Coumadin. Friday protime-.88, Saturday, 1.26, doubled the Coumadin, Sunday, 8.0! Got some Vi. K then Monday, 1.24! So I guess I'm very sensitive!
Now I'm waiting to see what tomorrows test shows! Any suggestions?
Today I was getting my hair washed and had a very strange feeling. Felt kind of numb, (that's not the right word--maybe just weird) like you couldnt see but you could. I kept talking to make sure I could, went through all the things to check for a stroke and all seemed OK. A few seconds it dissapeared. Anyone has had this happen? Is this part of pumphead? Also the heart seems to pound out of my chest. I've read about others with that experience. I was up doing a few things and took the pressure and rate. The rate was 85. That seemed high. Are these things to call the cardio about, or are they fairly normal.
I'm feeling SO much better already than I did before, but still worring also.

Peg--aortic valve replacement--May 15, 2007 at Kansas Heart Hospital in Wichita, KS.

 

[Mary]

I'm glad you're home, Peg.
The heartrate is about the expected rate. Mine stayed over 100 for at least a month.
I'm sure someone will weigh in our your coumadin level. I know I've read that everything is out of whack when you first get started, but it seems like they're testing and changing you alot.
I might be concerned about your funny episode. It sounds like one of the TIA's I experienced. I would call the cardio and mention it to them.
Good luck and keep us posted as to what's going on.

 

[Guest]

PEG!

Good to see that you are HOME and POSTING! Congratulations .

Thoughts/prayers coming your way for a continued SUCCESSFUL recovery!



Cort:33swm."Mr Monte Carlo.Mr Road Trip".pig valve.pacemaker
PICS:lego.HO.model.MCinfo.RT.CHD = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort
"These hands are meant to hold" ... All-American Rejects ... 'Move Along'

 

[juliek]

Peg,
Its so good to hear from you! I haven"t had surgery,so I don't know how to respond knowledgeably to your post surgical issues - others here will, but I thank you for keeping in touch with us. I will continue to keep you in my thoughts and prayers.

 

[Phyllis]

Good to hear you are home, Peg. I echo Mary- definitely give the doctor a call about the "episode". No question is too trivial!

 

[WayneGM]

Glad to hear your surgery went well and you are now at home. For the first few months post-op, my advice is if in doubt about anything, give the doctor a call. Better to be safe than sorry. Best wishes for a smooth recovery.

 

[kbheart]

When I left the hospital the nurse told me to be very careful about putting my arms above my head, especially when washing my hair in the shower. I'm not sure why, but maybe the chest muscles need more time to recover. My cardiac rehab nurse also mentioned that I should be careful about lifting things up to a high shelf. My experience has been filled with a lot of strange sensations, some of it I ignore and some I mention to the doctor. When in doubt, a call to the doctor is best. I hope your recovery goes well! It takes a while but it gets easier the further over the mountain you go.

 

[Ross]

If they gave you Vit K to bring your INR down, it's most likely still going to be low and slow to bring back up. I need more information on what your taking. How many mg's per day? How often are they testing you? Are they changing the dose everytime you see them? Any other medications?

 

[Cooker]

Welcome Home!!

 

[Bina]

Hi Peg,
It sounds like you are doing well.....only 8 days in hospital! (I was 16)

I remember that I had my hubby wash my hair since lifting my arms was a big effort and I found that my heart had to work extra hard to compensate.

Regarding your "weird,numb" feeling....I had those, my doc was not concerned because my EKG, HR, and BP were all good. See what your doc thinks, but most of us have these feelings come and go.

And yes, I thought my heart would jump out of my chest many times; funny, it's still in there It is scary, but settles down....don't over do things, rest.
Best wishes.

 

[Susan BAV]

Hi Peg - Glad to see your own welcome home thread. Glad you're doing well.

My surgeon told me to NOT lift or push or pull more than five pounds for the first eight weeks, which included heavy doors. Hearts seem to beat hard and fast after valve surgery. I don't know about the other episode you described; it wouldn't hurt to ask your doctor though.

 

[Adam 12-21-05]

Peg,

Welcome home and congratulations on your new aortic valve.

By the way, who was your surgeon in Kansas?

Cheers,

Adam