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Debbie's Posts

Diagnosis: Aortic Regurgitation, Aortic Stenosis

Member Since: June 30, 2017

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Debbie Goff posted an update

5 years ago (January 29, 2021)

Hello everyone.....it has been a long time since I have posted, but here goes! I had OHS in 2017 a St. Jude mechanical valve was put in. I have great luck with it. This past year my ejection fraction has decreased 10%. Now my cardiologist is talking about a pacemaker.... Read more.

Debbie Goff posted an update

8 years ago (October 21, 2017)

It has been 5 weeks since my OHS. Everyone has said I am doing great, but yesterday I woke up with some pain in my chest. It is not intolerable pain but since I have not had much pain before just being uncomfortable, I am worried. Does anyone know if... Read more.

Rose Madura

Hi Debbie, I'd say it's all pretty normal. Try not to overdo it. I think you'd have excruciating pain if you messed up the sternum. I too had trouble sleeping on my back using wedge and pillow and would end up in the recliner to get a few hours of... Read more.

Bob Fessler

They asked me if I hear grinding and clicking when I move as a way to assess if the sternum is okay. If not, you are probably okay. I think some pain is normal at 5 weeks. If it continues or if you are really worried about it, go to... Read more.

Gerald Poulton

Hi Debbie, I guess everyone is different but I was able to sleep on my side pretty well since I came home from the hospital. I had to take it slow to get up on my side and found it fine as long as I didnt put my arm in... Read more.

Peggy Whitecotton

Dear Debbie, yes this is all normal and 5 weeks may seem like a Long time but its really not. I slept in a recliner with a pillow on each Side one under my legs and two behind my back and head for 3 months... I too, bought a wedge... Read more.

Rita Savelis

Oh, gosh, sleeping is so hard after OHS. I took sleep meds (every so often) as my doctor said sleep was more important than worrying about meds. After being forced to sleep on my back (against my will) for so long, it's now a position I can sleep in fairly... Read more.

Meredith Bray

I had a heck of a time getting good rest, even at 5 weeks I was still taking a series of long naps rather than sleeping through the night because I couldn't get comfortable. Almost 4 years out and I still am uncomfortable on my back. Anyway, sleep where you... Read more.

Ruth Howell

That all sounds pretty normal to me. I recall having had terrible upper back pain and pressure in my chest, making sleeping impossible. That lasted for a long time. Your sternum is wired shut with stainless steel wires, so it is pretty unlikely that they have come apart, but you... Read more.

Barbara Wood

I agree, sleeping was very hard for a long time after. I napped a lot too!

Jane Welp

My surgeon didnâ€™t want me in a recliner so I stayed in my bed for night time sleeping. I love my temprapedic bed so much. Please be sure you have a bed you â¤ï¸ LOVE! You matter & you are worth it. I did take cat naps during the day... Read more.

Donna Garthe

I was unable to lie on my side for two months at least. I hated the recliner, but that's where I mostly slept. Up and down a lot. I'm at the three month mark, and I still wake up once or twice a night, and my sternal scar feels tight,... Read more.

Jill Lawrence

I had some heightened pain at 5-6 weeks and I chalked it up to my nerves waking up. It passes, but I did return to pain meds for those few days. Also, sleeping is the worst - my husband bought me a pregnancy pillow and it turned out to be... Read more.

Debbie Goff posted an update

8 years ago (October 10, 2017)

Wow, 4 wks since bicuspid valve replacement with OHS. Everyone says I am doing great! I feel good except some discomfort when I walk around the sternum and incision area. I have no pain but just a weird feeling when I get up from a chair and walk. I have... Read more.

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Marie Myers

I did not have any sensations when getting up, but my chest did feel a little tight during the healing process. Also it took about 6 weeks for my lungs to feel fully expanded. Getting a gentle massage and easy upper body stretching helped me too.

Gerald Poulton

Hi Debbie, the sternum does take a long time to heal, although I am joggong a bit at 9 weeks I find sometimes it is like the muscles are tight, not really my incision ir breat bone though. The muscles and your ribs go through a lot of stress when... Read more.

Bob Fessler

Debbie, that sounds exactly like my experience 4 weeks after surgery. It's now been about 11 weeks and I don't even think about my chest anymore. At least for me, it did get better.