check-up with cardiologist

[csutherland]

Jerry had his first post-op checkup with the cardiologist today. (The surgeon was last week). Everything is fine and he's turning him back over to our primary care physician. The cardiologist only needs to see him annually. His recovery has been really uneventful and I think remarkable. He's walking 3-4 miles a day and not even napping every day. His number (is it INS?) today was 2.37; last week 2.60. They're keeping him on 7.5 mg M-W-F and 5 mg the other days. Rehab started yesterday with paperwork, then classes for a couple weeks, then down to business.

Guess we won't be reporting in much unless something happens.



AVR + 1 bypass 2/12/02
St Judes Mech.
Springfield MO

 

[sylgeren]

Good ck-up

Good ck-up

Good to hear Jerry is doing so good. Funny how the cardio just hands you over to your primary and that's that. Same for me, only my primary doesn't seem to be up on heart stuff. I really feel I should go back to my cardio, but he only wants to see me annually too. Had a slight case of dizzy spells, and hands and toes getting tinglins sensation. But Rob informed me it is sometimes the medication (beta-blocker) which has those side effects. Jerry sounds like he's on the road to recovery so fast. Good thing he walks so much and the rehab too. Well if we don't hear from you , we will know that everything is going well. And after all, that's what we want. Bless you both. Bye Syl

 

[RobThatsMe]

Hi,

Great to hear Jerry is doing so well. My heart surgeon, when he releaseed me, turned me over to my PCP. I did not feel comfortable having a PCP looking after my heart. I wanted a specialist, so I contacted a cardiologist and I go to him for checkups on my heart and also to monitor, or now report my INR levels since I now have my own home testing unit.

I still go to my PCP for my annual physical checkup,and if I don't feel well due to a virus or cold,etc. But, when it comes to my heart, and the illness than almost killed me, I want a specialist looking after me in that area.

If you fee this way, tell your cardiologist, or go find another one that will see him for annual heart checkups.

Hope Jerry continues on a full and speedy recovery,

Rob

 

[Nancy]

Congratulations on Jerry's great checkup. It's always such a relief when someone confirms the fact that you're feeling much better.

Jerry, keep up the excellent work.

Cheers!!!

 

[sylviayasgur]

hi csutherland!
so glad to hear jerry's doing so well. i guess it's a great sign when your cardio hands you over to your pcp! i'm so thrilled for you that jerry's recovery is smooth and uneventful.
hope he keeps feeling better with each new day.
be well and God bless,
sylvia

 

[csutherland]

follow-up remark

follow-up remark

Forgot to mention that the cardio will still do the INR part. The PCP will keep tabs on the other meds such as Lipitor, Altace, Altenelol, etc





AVR + 1 bypass 2/12/02
St Judes Mech.
Springfield MO.

 

[hensylee]

Dear C - such good news for you both. I see my cardio once a year, too.

Keep on enjoying life - and check in from time to time to let us know how you are both doing. God bless

 

[sylgeren]

Seeing Cardio. again.

Seeing Cardio. again.

Well here I am again. Thought everything was getting better. But with my medication giving me problems and my back hurting so much. I now will see the Cardio. dr. again this Tues. Thursday was my 7th week after surgery, and My primary dr. still says I can't drive. Which is Ok. I really don't want to hurt anything. Thanks to all the good advice I got from all of you, I now am just going to wait it out.

I read things about Joey and I just pray for them both. I wouldn't any body to go through it again. But we all get through a lot when we look back at lives. I still live infront of my PC. Couldn't live with out it. Good to see Frank back on the site. Bye for now. Syl.

 

[Nancy]

Hi Syl-

I hope all goes well on Tuesday. There are always so many little adjustments after this kind of surgery. Everything will get worked out soon and you'll be feeling much better. Little by little the end of the tunnel is in sight.

Best wishes.

 

[sylgeren]

re-Cardio. Appt

re-Cardio. Appt

Hi Nancy, Well here I am again, with more questionds. Had my appt with the Cardio, he wants to do an Echo this thursday. and a follow up appt with some blood work. I will then see the PA in his office. Since then I've felt like something isn't right in my chest area. Like sometimes the sternum is moving in a different way. So I called Rehab Clinic, they suggested I see my surgeon again and have him look at the sternum. Now I have to get a referrel from the primary to get a chest x-ray, what a hassle. Have a appt with the surgeron next Tues. Wow and I thought I was on the road to recovery, and the people at my work keep asking "when are you coming back" I'm on my 9th week from surgery. and I seem to be going backwards. Any wise words from you would help. SYL

 

[Scottie]

You poor thing Syl

You poor thing Syl

No wise words Syl ...but a lot of sympathy for you flying across the Atlantic ....I hope you find out what is wrong quickly ...and get it sorted ....get well soon ..thinking of you here
Scottie

 

[Nancy]

Hi Syl-

Always keep in the back of your mind that you have had one of the most profound surgeries that you can have. It's unlike any other surgery out there. It involves bionics, physics, chemistry, electrophysiology and medicine, plus superb surgical skills and anesthesiology skills. All kinds of hi-tech tests are done, all for the goal of restoring your heart back to proper functioning. Really very, very amazing.

It is the marrying of a foreign object with your own physiology. And the great news is that it's a highly successful surgery.

Because it is so technically difficult, your body needs lots of time to readjust, rest and heal. You have to rebuild the parts of your body which have deteriorated during the time you were ill. Rehab takes a lot of effort and it's tiring. while you're trying to rehab, your body is silently doing all of its own readjusting. It's learning how to go back to work again in a more normal fashion.

It's good that you are having an echo, bloodwork and a chest xray. You will know soon afterward if there are any problems. Maybe your sternum is taking longer to knit together. But there are no set timetables, everyone heals at a different rate. I think you can see it from all the posts here. Some zip through it and are back to work in 4 weeks (lucky devils), most take much longer to gather strength and to heal. Don't measure yourself by others, you are unique. It sounds as if you have good, caring doctors who will stay on top of everything for you. That's great.

As far as work is concerned, I'm sure that most of them don't know of too many others who've had such surgery, so they have no way of knowing what is involved with the healing process. I would just tell them that the surgery is not like any other, and the recovery takes a while and that you want to come back to work when you are able to do your very best, just like you did before and tell them you're so glad they miss you, LOL.

Nine weeks after heart valve surgery isn't all that long. You are on the road to recovery and you'll get there. There are always little glitches here and there. A year from now, you won't even remember them.

Good luck with your appointments and please let us know what they say.

Take care,

 

[sylgeren]

Update on Sternum problems

Update on Sternum problems

Hello everyone, thanks for all the input. Really appreciate everyone. Just had a call from my primary dr. he has ordered a chest x-ray for Wed. and it will be on the Dr. desk by Friday. So at least things are moving along.

Thanks Nancy and Scottie, I really needed some encouregment right now. I'll be in touch. Syl