1 year anniversary last week

Valve Replacement Forums

Help Support Valve Replacement Forums:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

maxximom

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 25, 2001
Messages
160
Location
Dublin Ohio
Hello to all my old friends and a big hello to all the my new ones.
I haven't posted very often in the past 6 months,,but I do come arround and lurk from time to time.
It has been a pretty good year for me after my AVR and triple bypass last September. You were all so helpful to me. I was a pretty scared 70year old women..who never had a surgery before.You helped me in every possible way from bolstering my morale to educating me in ways that the doctors have no clue in knowing :) Pillow advise, recliner advise,comfortable cloths and on and on.
I started rehab about 4 weeks post op and I continue to work out at least twice a week at the Duke Center for Living (I should go more often. The year has been pretty uneventful for me..but not entirely free from minor (I hope) problems. The visual disturbances that I had immediatly post op have lesssend somewhat, but still continue..I am seeing a Neuro Opthomolagist..but my guess is that this is something that I will just have to live with.It isn't to bad and if that's the worst I have to deal with..I can accept it. My scare has formed some Keloids and still itches a lot and is very tender..I may go for steroid shots if it doesen't improve with some ointment that I just started to use.I do remember someone posting that they had Cortisone shots into their scare about 6 months ago..If any one remembers who that was, can you let me know.
The other problem (?) About 3 months ago when I went to take a stress test so I could go medically unsupervised for working out at the health club..it was discovered that I had a Left Bundle Branch block..I freaked out..because that was new for me. The last EKG that I had in January was normal. I was told that this could happen after surgery..but for four months post op everything was normal..why should it happen so late after surgery. So far I have not received a answer from the Cardio..I am seeing another cardio at the end of October..I will push for answers then.
It has been a hectic for me in the last four months..but a happy time :) My youngeat daughter became engaged and is getting married in the Philadelphia area on the 20th of October..and we have been goping back and forth between Raleigh NC and Philly trying to make the "dream wedding"come true.
Once the wedding is over..I will try and get back here and taaaaaake a more active part and maybe be of some help to anyone who needs support from a older person who has had both a AVR and a triple bypass. Thank you all again for your help when I needed it the most.
With great affection
Joan
AVR St Judes Porcine Toronto valve,triple Bypass, Duke Medical Center, Dr. Donald Glower
 
Hello Joan,

Your comment about visual effects 'caught my eye' (sorry for the pun ) I wonder what you experienced exactly?

I've seen floaters, moving 'gray clouds', loss of convergence, and some kaleidoscopic like patterns, all typically lasting only a minute or so.

'AL' 4 months post op
 
Congratulations

Congratulations

Hi Joan,

It's nice to see you posting again.

I'm glad to hear that you're doing pretty well, although you seem to have a few problems that you may just have to live with (in your words).

I remember the support you gave to me back in January and February prior to my surgery at U. of Penn Hospital. It was very reassuring and helped keep me in a positive mind set. I hope you will start posting more often and lend the same kind of support to others that come along.

By the way, is the daughter that's getting married the same one that works at U.P. Hospital?

Have a great time, Mother of the Bride, and congratulations again on your one year anniversary.

Ron K
 
Hi Al and Ron
How nice of you to respond.
Ron..I'm glad that I was able to be of some help to you.."way back when" That's what it's all about here!
Yup it's my same daughter that works at or more exactly for UPenn. She used to be the Trauma Social worker at the hospital..and then was "stolen" away by the University to head up their Fire Arms injury Center:) She is being married outside of Philadelphia (near Media) on Oct 20th..we are in countdown mode as I type:)
Al..I'll try and explain all my weird visual disturbances to you..it's hard to explain and if you want to call me..just email me and I would be happy to speak to you about them..My mouth is much better than my typing..LOL But maybe posting will hit a familier chord for others..so here goes.
When I awoke after surgery the first thing I noticed after realiing that I was still here on this earth, was the fact that evrything I was seeing was a lovely magenta color..starting about halffffway up the wall and onto the ceiling..I also was seeing some pattens that I described a "Miami Beach Modern arcchitechtural" I guess you need to be of a certain age to know what I mean about that :D At any rate nobody would pay any attention to me about this (medical staff) my family believed me..the medical people thought it was medications..I knew it wasn't. The day after discharge I went to my Opthamologist (also a personal friend) I had seen her only a week before surgery, so she had a good comparrison of "before and after" What she found was some very small Retinal bleeds (hence the magenta color) There was some diminished ability when I read the eye chart as compared to pre surgery..but I was of course on pain killers at the time. She felt that the problem had to do with the release from the Cross Clamping and the Power surge of blood back into my veins and Arteries..and that it would diminish and disapear in time (no time given)
The lovely magenta color dissapeared within the week..the lovely designs have never gone completly..they have changed to a pattern that is more like seeing through lace or sort of a paisley design..I don't really notice itr at all in bright light..but mostly notice it when the light is dim..like wating TV with the light in the room off..or when I go into the movie theatre or driving when the sun has just set. I quicky seem to be able to disregard it (the brain is wonderful) and not really notice it much. It is sort of showdowy..definitly NOT floaters..and I cannot determin if it is my left or right eye..or both. I see it when my eyes are closed as well..and it has some mpvement to it as well as a hint of bluish -gray color. Wow!! this is really detailed and long..but I hope that it helps.
I also have been getting "viisual or Ocular Migrains" I saw that someone had posted about that too. I have absolutly NO paian associated with them..I just get a Golden question mark shaped, sparkley shaped desssssign..sort of pleated like a DNA chain..it lasts for about 15 minutes..and then totally goes away. Ican feel it coming on..I get sort of a numb feeling in my eye..as if I had numbing eye drops put in..this doesen't happen to often ..But this is something that I only had about three times in my lifr pre operatiely ..and that was at least 4 years before surgery.
About 2 months ago I saw a specialist at Duke who is a Opthomogogist/neuroliigist..I have to go back at the end of the month..recheck visual field tests..I will update if they reach any conclusions.I understand that this is not uncommon..although it is not commonplace either (sounds like double talk)
Please contact me if I can help further.:)
Joan
 
Gads..I just went back and looked at my post..the typing and spelling are awful..I can't figure how to spell check a post :confused: I could allways blame it on being a Pumphead..couldn't I? Sorry folks!!
 
Dear Joan,

How good to hear from you. I was wondering where you had gone to. I never had the eye problem that you mentioned, seeing designs sounds interesting. Congratulations on your daughters up and coming wedding. As far as the left bundle branch block, they found that in me before my surgery. Nothing to worry about the electrical system will reroot it self. Most of my scaring is smooth except at the top and that has keloids. Yes, it itches, and there is soreness on either side and on the scar. Was told it is arthritis where they put the bones back together. There are times that I feel it and I try and ignore it as best as I can.
All the best, martha
 
Hi Miss Joan,

Hi Miss Joan,

I am glad to hear that you are doing well 1 year later and getting better. I also had visual problems after surgery and to an extent still do somewhat. I also figure it is something that I'll just have to live with. About your scar itching mine has never quit sometimes it is quite intense. Again I suppose it is something I will have to live with.

Again glad to hear the good news about you and congrats on your daughters upcoming marriage.
 

Latest posts

Back
Top