Had my first check up

[emc07]

Hi everyone,
I had my first check-up since surgery and my cardio says I am doing great. I have no fluid around my left lung anymore and I am no longer anemic. I asked her to go off the amioderone and 1 Lasix, and she said that was fine. I luckily did not experience the side affects I had heard of, at least not yet I made it a point not to read the side affects, due to the fact that I tend to manifest the symptoms on my own... I think I am a closet hypochondriac. I am feeling good, I can drive again, and I am so thankful not to be trapped in the house.

My heartbeat is loud at times, especially when I am lying down, but it is beating normal, so I count my blessings. Has anyone else had loud beats? Will this go away? Also I am not sleeping, which I have read is normal. My cardio prescribed some ambien, but I haven't taken it, cause I hate pills. I may have to soon, because I am getting a little shack wacky! I am getting some sleep, it's just not in a row. I took advantage of sleeping a whole night before the surgery, had I known, I would have cherished it more. It does offer some time for soul searching at 4 in the morning... So... I am well. Just wanted to update everyone, and say thanks again for being here, it makes it so much easier to cope with all of you as support.

~Erica

 

[hall]

Glad to hear you are feeling good and a good report from the doctor. Don't know about the valve question, I have tissue. Hope all continues well.

 

[zipper2]

Right on,good news and keep up the good work
on those check-ups,sorry not of any help with the
loud beats.

zipper2 (DEB)

 

[SHEEPDOG]

Congrats!!!

Congrats!!!

I haven't been keeping up on the site lately but I suspect you got a mechanical valve. I will be 3 months post op in 5 days. I was participating in a martial arts class a few days ago and working pretty hard. In a quiet moment, the instructor and the other participant asked what the noise was. I asked if it was a steady beat and then told them it was my heart valve. I cant heaar it really, except while standing in the bathroom. Guess that is the good part about having hearing problems. My wife thought it was a H20 leak, drip, drip, drip.
The sleeping problems are STANDARD PROCEDURE. I took benedryl to get to sleep. started with 2 and then 1 if i woke up in the wee hours. Pain meds help too.
Do the best you can and hope the CLICK< CLICK< CLICK doesn't bug you too much.

 

[WayneGM]

Great update. Keep up the good work.

 

[skeptic49]

Thanks for the update, Erica. I hope your sleeping problems lessens soon. (YAWN!)

Jim

 

[ottagal]

Hi Erica,

Thanks for the update and it sounds like you are slowly but surely on the road to recovery! I really hope that there are some better night sleeps ahead of you.

Wanda

 

[Bina]

Erica, since you have a tissue valve, the beating that you are hearing is just your heart getting used to the new valve.
It does take some time for the heart to "re-model" and find it's regular pattern.
Sleep is very important, try to grab some when you can, even if it means taking a pill 2-3 nights a week.

 

[Dawn-Marie]

Hi Erica ~ I'm happy you're doing so well. I haven't had valve surgery yet, but i know that after other surgeries Tylenol PM helped me immensely. I hope you find something that works for you, as rest is so important to help heal your body. Best wishes for a continued uneventful recovery, Dawn-Marie

 

[emc07]

Thank you!

Thank you!

Thanks for the comments everyone. I took an ambien last night for the first time. I was desperate as it was 5 in the morning, and I feel really good this afternoon, no drowsiness, or anything. I did wake up briefly at 11:45am, but went back to sleep soon after. So for now, this is at least a temporary remedy. Now I can enjoy the Michigan game and not be exhausted!! Yay, Go Blue!

Bina- Thank you for the comments on the heart beat, I feel better now. I keep checking my pulse to see if I am A-fib again, even though my cardio said it was probably the extra fluid that caused it, and now that it is gone, I shouldn't have to worry about it. I only had the A-fib right after surgery for a day or two, and never since, thank goodness.


Thanks for all the great encouragement! Here's to getting some quality zzzz's soon

~Erica