Heart pillow/ valve choice

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CA Pigg

CA Pigg

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 8, 2009
Messages
290
Location
Alabama
The surgeon said they don't give the heart pillow, so just wondering what size pillow is best, is there are place to get them or just a regular pillow??:confused: I told the surgeon I want the ON-X and they are going to have it ready for me!! I feel really good about my valve choice:) I had my root canal today :( and they cleaned my teeth so I'm getting there!!! Thanks for all the support!!!
 
Not a regular pillow,you want it real firm to give support. The size should be
about 16 inches by 12. You may be able to find it at a surgical supply site.

BTW-a support bra is helpful too. I used a sports bra.
 
Last edited:
Pillow

Pillow

Check with your hospital and see if a Mended Hearts chapter is active there. If a chapter is active in your area, they'll happily provide you with a chest pillow. Mended Hearts does have a website so you could pursue hooking-up with a chapter that can give you a pillow. It's a great group.

If you can't find a Mended Hearts chapter, drop me a pm and I'll send you a pillow.

-Philip
 
I just doubled over a bed pillow. For a couple of weeks it looked like I was carrying around my "Binkie" security pillow - which I guess is was. :) My family has a bad habit of laughing through difficult times, so since they were worried about me they kept cracking jokes. (Or maybe they were just secretly torturing me????)
 
Mass General doesn't provide Mended Heart Pillows but my second surgery, my nurse made me a cough pillow by using a regular bed pillow folded in half and taped. It worked great. When I came home, I used one of the couch throw pillows that was quite firm. Also fine. I didn't need it very often or much but it was good to know it was by my side if I wanted it.

Happy you have made your valve choice and feel comfortable with your decision.
 
For a cough/support pillow: some people take a really large bath sheet towel, fold it into 4, and then roll it up.
It can be secured with tape or ribbon.
I used a firm "decorative" cushion from the sofa.
 
My Mended Hearts pillow, though lovely, was too soft and puffy, and I found a rolled up bath towel, secured at each end with a rubber band, was more helpful. The hospital had several medium-firm mini-pillows, and I would have liked one of those. (Probably the same Dina recommends.)
 
Throw pillow size is a good size. Justin made quite a few for kids having heart surgery, but when he had his last couple surgeries he used uglydolls. They were the right size, we got new ones for each surgery because we didn't want anything old with germs.
 
Goldilocks

Goldilocks

I'm reminded of a story I heard a long time ago about a girl who needed AVR surgery. Her name was Goldilocks. After her successful surgery her papa brought her a chest pillow, but it was too hard. Her mama then brought her a chest pillow, but it was too soft. The Mended Hearts people brought her a chest pillow and it was just right...

Opinions, preferences, and what works for others will obviously vary because we're all different. I once forgot to take my pillow to work with me after surgery and hugged a book from my office bookshelf when I felt a sneeze coming on. The book worked just fine.

Others have offered some good advice and solutions here. Seriously, if you'd like to try a Mended Hearts pillow and can't find a chapter near your location, I'll drop one in the mail for you. You may find that something like a rolled-up towel works better for you, but you're welcome to give one of my pillows a try.

-Philip
 
Mass General has heart pillows now. They have the MGH Heart center logo and instructions on when to use it. The other side has a pic of a heart on it, and it came with a pen for autographs I guess. My pen got taken away, I guess they thought I'd poke my eye out.It's even made in the USA by Shumsky theraputic pillows. Theraputicpillows.com. A couch pillow will also work fine. I grabed them often for a sneeze when my heart pillow was out of reach.
 
I feel cheated. :(
Two OHS at Mass General and no heart pillow.
Guess I'll have to get over it..... no way I'm going back just to get a pillow. :D
 
I'm going to disagree with everyone here; the large, firm heart-shaped pillow I got at the hospital wasn't good for me, not for coughing and especially not as a seat-belt protector.

I used my stuffed llama. It's pretty soft, and not very big at all.
 
The Heart Institute just rolled up towels and attached them with tape. When I got home, my husband did the same thing and somehow pinned in elastic so I could put it around my neck.
 
Don't panic if you don't find the perfect one. Many of us actually went through the entire recovery without ever hugging a pillow, specially heart-shaped or otherwise... :rolleyes:

Best wishes,
 
I actually made my own heart pillow before going in for surgery - and just as well since all they gave me was a rolled up towel in a pillow case! Anyhoo, mine was a rectangular shape and filled with a regular cushion insert, just tighter to keep it nice and firm. I used a calico case and made a detachable strap so I could sling it over my neck or the bed or whatever to keep it handy. It was also modelled on a bag of cement, since we had a running joke about "find a bag of cement and harden the f**k up" for those self-pity moments :D While I was in hospital it often brought a smile to my face and was a great conversation starter :)


A : )
 
I have 2 heart pillows. I teated them as my teddy bear. If I didn't have it I was panic city. I still get jumpy when I have to sneeze. Ihave used sofa side pillows. I wonder if it wopuld be a good Idea for us to circulate heart pillows? For those less fortunate here.
 
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