Briana's Posts

I graduated rehab this week! All is well, and I am continuing to work more hours in Labor and Delivery. Seems like spring has sprung and thkose spring babies keep coming! Everyone keeps telling me I'm looking great. It has taken me 5 months, but I'm back to the weight I was before surgery. I only lost five pounds, but gaining that muscle mass back is more work than losing it. I suppose that is a better problem than others have. I definitely don't need to lose weight. As for my stress test, I haven't scheduled that yet. I really would like to wait longer to allow my heart and aorta to continue to heal before I put any unnecessary stress on my body. Exercise is going great. When I started rehab I was doing 3.4 METs and now I can do about 7 METs. Now, I just need to make sure I regularly get exercise even though I'm working, homeschooling, and wanting to sleep in when I can. It's so hard to make myself get out of bed to go exercise when there is no one expecting me.

So I just have a question for everyone out there. I went to see my cardiologist this last Friday, March 10th and he wants me to do an exercise stress test in the next month. I am 4.5 months since having a Ross procedure and ascending aorta replacement. Everything at my appointment looked great. I'm just wondering if others have been asked to have a stress test so soon after surgery? Opinions? I'm not sure I want to stress my heart so soon. I realize I would be monitored, but what is the point? I exercise multiple times a week and am continuing to improve, but I make sure I don't go over 170 BPM. The office said they want to make sure my blood pressure is adjusting appropriately, which they check in Rehab. I already know that is fine.

Yesterday was four months since my Ross procedure and ascending aorta replacement. I would have posted then, but I worked a 12+ hour shift on the Labor and Delivery unit that I work at. I'm feeling amazing, and am loving being back at work! I am still doing cardiac rehab on the days that I am not working. I continue to do better every week, and my heart is improving. If I am unable to do cardiac rehab, I try to get to the YMCA a few times a week for my aerobic exercise. My muscles and bones no longer bother me. I only have a tender area of my incision that is sensitive to touch and clothing, but isn't too bad. For the most part, I don't even notice that. I've enjoyed speaking with others at work and on this blog about my surgery and why I made the choice I made for my valve replacement. Life is busy again, with family activities, work, church, homeschooling, and YMCA. Days now seem to go by so fast, and I can't believe that just four months ago we were in New York. I'm so happy to be where we are today, healed and ready/able to do more than before.