Amy's Posts

I celebrated my 3 year anniversary of aortic valve replacement surgery one week ago and am doing very well. Reports from my cardiologist continue to be good, but I'm never complacent since I have a biologic valve and will face more surgery in the future... although I'm looking forward to a less invasive procedure next time. Cutting through the tritium plates and cables in my sternum may cause difficulty for the surgeon. I continue to volunteer 2 or 3 days per month in the cardiac wing of the hospital where I had my surgery; working with the Cardiac Rehabilitation Therapists to visit patients who have undergone open heart surgery. I share my experiences, answer questions they, their families or care givers might have about recovery from a patient's perspective, and try to lift their spirits a little. Just as on this forum, it's so nice to 'talk' with those who have been or are going through the same thing. After all, the doctors and nurses know all about the medical side, but they haven't been in the bed! My husband and I also sent our youngest off to college this Fall, so we're now officially empty-nesters! I have been recently slowed down again (at lease a little) after undergoing surgery on my foot. (Going through the list of repairs and maintenance that comes with being over 50!) Healing requires no weight bearing for 6 weeks, and the pin in my toe would keep me from trying. I've got a great 'all-terrain' knee scooter which has kept me going; 3 weeks to go! For everyone in the 'waiting room' and those who have recently undergone surgery, you are all in my thoughts and prayers.

I can't believe that I missed my two-year anniversary post by two days... :-) Wednesday was officially two years since AV replacement and a little over a year since my sternal debridement. I must apologize to all of my heart sisters and brothers for not posting in so long. I have been following your journeys even if I haven't been posting. Looking back much has happened in the past year. Turns out that recovery from the second surgery (September 12, 2017) to repair my sternum wasn't as easy as I'd thought it would be. I had much more pain than anticipated and the debilitating fatigue took a full 5 months to go away. Every time I visited my primary care doctor, surgeon or cardiologist, they all told me the same thing; "Give it time." In January, before I reached that 5 month mark, I began a new part-time job. Fortunately, the hours are flexible, but it took awhile to figure out how to juggle working 15-20 hours and do all the things I was doing before as a stay-at-home mom along with my other volunteer activities. Also, even before the job came along, I had begun the process to become a volunteer at the hospital working with the cardiac rehab therapists. I'm part of a group of four former heart surgery and cardiac rehab patients who visit with cardiac patients after their surgeries before they leave the hospital. We are there to give a patient perspective and answer questions about recovery from major heart surgery - and also to encourage them to go to cardiac rehab when they're well enough. I am only able to volunteer two or three days a month, but it is so worthwhile. This takes me so much out of my normal comfort zone, but I absolutely love it and feel as though I am able to help out in a small way... even if just to listen to them and let them know that it gets better! We had also gotten a puppy mere weeks before my sternum repair surgery, sent our oldest child off to college, had unexpected major home repairs including a new roof, a major water leak, and much needed yard improvements. My heart seems to be doing fine, but I do find myself pausing when I feel some fleeting rhythm irregularity. So far, so good, but I'll find out more when I go in for my checkup with my cardiologist later this month. I am very thankful for another year and look forward to many more.

One Year Anniversary Today is the one-year anniversary of my bicuspid aortic valve / root replacement and aneurysm repair. Tonight we celebrate with a 'pig-out' in homage to my pig valve. It’s been an interesting and very busy year with a lot to be thankful for… I am doing great and am back to feeling like I did at least 10 - 15 years ago; although surgery three weeks ago to debride my unhealed sternum and install metal plates has me sidelined. …for a little while. I look forward to resuming all my normal activities in the next weeks, and am now officially known to my friends and family as the “Woman of Steel(e).” 😊 For those of you facing surgery or have recently gone through it, this website is a great place to be… Not only to read other’s stories and find out lots of great information from those who have already gone through the same things as we face, but to be able to encourage and give advice to others who follow… A big thank you to Adam for your long hours creating and maintaining this forum, and to everyone who is so willing to share real stories and experiences and to encourage others. With all the knowledge that our doctors and surgeons have, there’s no replacing the advice and reassurance from those who have experienced the same things we are going through. Blessings to you all!