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Very true, if you want to feel alone on this forum try being a mitral valver with a repair.... lol. Seriously, though, I think some of us "mitrals" have a lot in common with regard to oddball heartbeats, potentially slower recoveries, and other "mitralesque" qualities (how's that for a new...

Just sllloooowwww down!!!!! Afib is nasty, just take it easy for a while. Yeah i get it, we all want to be back to our old selves asap. But it really does just take time. patience, pls, its ok to go slow

How is your blood pressure? Atenol drops BP and if BP is too low bending down and up again quickly can cause lightheadedness. Just a thought...when in doubt get it checked out. Best, Ruth

DWC - You don't say if you are male or female. If you are a woman there can be concerns with undergarments, specifically bras, after a thorocotomy. Men shouldn't have that concern ;-P Seriously, though, there's nothing "minimal" about any OHS. I'm happy with my right thorocotomy. My scar...

Went into Afib/flutter at about week 2/3. "Resting" heart rate rarely went below 100. Was on Amioderone to no avail for 6 weeks. Was also put on Coumadin during that time. Cardioversion finally stopped the Afib after Amioderone didn't. I know everyone is different but Amioderone literally...

A complete range of emotions is understandable and natural. You will do fine. We are lucky to live in a time and place where our hearts can be fixed by talented doctors. Try to focus on the big picture, instead of the details. We all experience things differently. You will find your own...

I hope your husband is feeling better. I caught the flu about a month post-op and didn't know where to turn. The cardiologist said it wasn't their issue, my PCP told me I was just plain old sick from a virus. But, I was already weak as a kitten from the surgery. Sigh. After that, I caught...

Good luck Gail! I was very nervous about cardioversion but it ended up being the day I felt like I got my life back. Finally I had energy and stamina again. I wish you the same. :)

I had severe insomnia during the post op phase when I was in a fib. I would get up and read. Often I couldn't sleep until 5am! I'm one of those "out by midnight" people naturally. It also may have been linked to my taking amioderone which made me jittery (but never fixed the afib). Insomnia...

"They died for a good cause" "They died for a good cause" I went into surgery very worried about cognitive decline. I work with computers and often have to keep inane details in the forefront of my memory while troubleshooting problems. My job depended on being sharp as a tack. So, I...

Greetings! I had a right thoracotomy, a form of minimally invasive MVR, and as you have experienced, I had pain in my rib on my right side for some time. Don't let anyone fool you that "minimally invasive" is in any way "minimal". Your chest muscle was cut, your ribs were spread, your heart...

Keep your chin up and don't lose hope Keep your chin up and don't lose hope Boy do I wish someone would put an end to that darn 3-12 week recovery rumor... Ok, maybe some folks out there experience such a quick recovery but I sure wasn't one of them! Everyone recovers AT THEIR OWN SPEED...

Welcome! Welcome! David, welcome to this wonderful group. Here's wishing you a successful surgery and a speedy recovery. All the best, Ruth

Oh, regarding kids, I'll just share my experience. My boys were 12 and 15 at the time. They came to see me in the hospital the day after surgery, just hours after I had moved to a "regular" room from CICU. In 20/20 hindsight, I wish they hadn't. It meant a lot to me to see them but I think...

Welcome. :) I tried to stay focused on the positive, how very thankful I was to live in a time and a place where my heart condition could be healed. When I told people about the surgery I focused on how successful the treatment is these days and how lucky we are to be in the hands of talented...

I went into A-fib/flutter at 2 weeks post op and stayed there until cardioverted 8 weeks later. Amioderone didn't work for me. The cardioversion worked wonders, though, and I've been fine since. Make sure your doctor does baseline thyroid blood tests before putting you on Amioderone and then...

I would have packed much less "stuff" in my hospital bag as I used almost none of it. Other than my own toothbrush, the only thing I really needed/enjoyed having was my own extra-soft bathrobe (I used it as both a robe and a spare blanket). I wish I had known that it could take me months to...

Congratulations! Hope it's all going well and wishing you many, many more.... :)

Congrats! Congrats! Congratulations on the big #4! May you have many, many more....

Thanks all! Marguerite, yes, the orchids are thriving too! Actually, that's how I remembered the valversary. There's a particular very fragrant orchid that I had next to my chair during recovery and when it bloomed again this year (always in January), it reminded me! LOL, blame it on...