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Diagnosis: Mitral Regurgitation

Member Since: June 20, 2024

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Doug Fults posted an update

1 year ago (December 10, 2024)

Feeling great on my three month valversary! Continuing with Cardiac Rehab (as a convenient winter workout) and getting back into CrossFit The surgery is largely a memory, as I'm mostly free of numbness, swelling / bumpiness & tenderness at the surgery sites / between ribs - just a bit left... Read more.

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Marcus Krauss

I'm starting on cardiac rehab next week. I'm looking forward to doing something more strenuous than walking, and I want to get back to lifting weights in early January.

Dan Fouratt

Doug, Glad to hear you are doing well.

Christopher T

Hey Doug how is it going ? I have the same MVP and most likely going with Dr Gillinov. He offered the robotic as well. How were the first few days after surgery ? What is this numbness you feel post op? I have been hearing from others that there... Read more.

Doug Fults posted an update

1 year ago (November 19, 2024)

With apologies to poets everywhere: Ode to the Incentive Spirometer 'O Inspirometer, how I love thee! You expand my lungs to once again breathe freely ... demanding nothing in return beyond a steady exhale. You reward me with a productive cough, of dislodged phlegm ... accomplished with minimal effort. You... Read more.

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Richard Munson

👍

Marie Myers

Who couldnâ€™t love an incentive spirometer??

Richard Munson

Put some lipstick on it and take it on a dinner date.

Lisa Silverman

Ok hilarious and also for real question: Iâ€™m 6 days post op from mitral valve robotic repair and still seem to have a lot of stuff in my chest (though Iâ€™m checking out clear and good in X-rays and good o2 levels) but still wake up feeling like a lot... Read more.

Marie Myers

Drink a lot of fluids to help thin the mucus, and use your incentive spirometer! It will help expand the deflated areas and then your lungs will naturally try to get you to cough the phlegm up. It takes a week or two to feel like you are cleared out.

Lisa Silverman

Thanks Marie itâ€™s good to know it takes time so I can be more patient w my body

Marie Myers

Patience after heart surgery was a tough one for meâ€¦

Doug Fults

What Marie says! I can't recall if it was in step-down or the week first out of the hospital, but I started noticing that right after using the incentive spirometer, my next cough was often, well, quite productive, clearing out another area of the lung. "Phlegm" would the more accurate... Read more.

Marie Myers

Tough to find a word that rhymes with phlegm, thoughâ€¦ðŸ¤”

Doug Fults

:) I didn't even try

Adam Pick

Hah! Laughing out loud! Love this!!! ❤️😊👍

Sue Maize

My incentive spirometer was my best gauge of progress in the immediate days following my surgeryâ€”was so thrilled when I made it to 2000! ðŸ˜Š

Richard Munson

Too bad your name was not clem, it rhymes with phlegm. Trying to come up with a limerick. There once was a man named clem, who coughed up a mouthful of phlegm. He started to choke and his spirometer broke, sorry the last line is stumping me, it has to... Read more.

Marie Myers

â€œAnd he never did use it againâ€. ( Hopefully because Clem was done with heart surgery)â€¦

Susan Eckermann

Lol! I still have it from my OHS and sometimes take it out and use it just to see how I do! I recall those small spirometer victories while in the hospital, so well!

Doug Fults posted an update

1 year ago (October 15, 2024)

5 Weeks Post-op: Wow, what a difference a couple more recovery weeks has made! Sleeping through the night with no Tylenol and no pain. Feeling pretty much like my old self, just a little sensitivity across the right chest & side remaining. Signed up for Cardiac Rehab, they said I... Read more.

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