John's Posts

For my heart, I’m on: Amlodipine, aspirin, losartan, carvedilol (beta blocker), & rosuvastatin. In addition to my valve issue, have CAD that includes a soft plaque on my LAD & chronic high BP. The punchline is my CAD & plaques arn't from high cholesterol. They are from comically low cholesterol. My total is less than 100.

My wife didn't say that I changed. Having said that, I am trying to be more laid back. Trying not to let things bother me as much and concentrate more on family. I am still getting irritated if people waste my time or driving 50 in a 25 but I think I am doing better in that respect, too. And after almost 1 month, we will finally get our car back from the shop today. Long story but someone hit us, his insurance approved the repair but refused to pay because he didn't respond anymore, shop refused to release the car, we had to have our insurance pay and I just paid the deductible so they finally release the car... And I need to follow up with the hospital that charged me $5k (they always do that) to admit me for my very expensive procedure and then pay all the other medical bills that are piling up and see how much we need to pay back to our HSA account. But my point is, I am trying not to let me be bothered by this stuff. It's also good for your heart and your relationships. But unlike my cardiologist, I love to go on rollercoasters, ski double blacks and other things despite it getting my heart going.

I never had to do this but supposedly our insurance will now go after the other person's insurance. The only thing I am worried about is that our insurance will increase premiums and won't give us back the deductible. I am not too much worried about the $500 deductible, though. And I spare you of the details what they didn't do but were supposed to do. Getting back on the topic of surgery, the hospital is still negotiating with the insurance company. Supposedly the hospital will put the reimbursements back onto the HSA card rather than cutting a check. If they indeed do that, then I need to pay my other medical bills with the HSA card until reaching the max. If they cut me a check, I can't put anything else on the HSA card and probably have to pay back into the HSA account. And to stay with the original topic, I am taking these things easier after surgery. Before I would have gotten annoyed. These days it's more like it is what it is. Still deal with it but don't get agitated. And thinking about it, that is actually something my wife said changed.

One of the few good things about massachusetts is the state run insurance board. Normally i hate everything government. I used them as leverage when an insurance co of a person that drove into my house failed to pay my insurance co after they reimbursed me. My insurance co was too stupid or lazy to go after them. In my defense, it was to get back my deductible. 5 grand. My insurance co was penalizing me after someone hit my house in their car. I don’t think so. It took a year but i won. I even attended a deposition. That got a little ugly. I learned a lot about the industry. They feast on people throwing up their arms in defeat.

Melinda, it’s been a while. How are you? My nerves were pinched because of positioning during surgery. Apparently it happens to 5 - 10% of the time. I also have a numb patch under my chin that makes shaving feel weird. I haven’t had trembling, just fingers “asleep”. But between the numbness and the swelling from my arthritis, my dexterity has been shot and I can’t do anything by touch. They said nerves are slow to heal and it could take a year or it might never fully recover. So I celebrate any little improvement I get.

That is great news and very encouraging. Have you been doing any special exercises, therapy, or steroids (like a medrol dose pack or injections at the wrist like for carpal tunnel)? An orthopedic hand surgeon did a few steroid injections at the joints in my fingers & base of the thumb. For me, it helped my arthritis & dexterity. How is your running progressing?

For me, since the numbness wasn’t severe, it’s just been something I’ve endured. I was more obsessive with my ability to exercise and dealing with edema. The only injection I’ve had is on a trigger-finger knuckle that is related to my arthritis, not this numbness. The trigger-finger predated my surgery. I haven’t done any physical therapy or special exercises for my fingers. The loss of movement I have is because of swelling related to my arthritis and predated my surgery. I might be switching up my arthritis meds in March to see if something different will help my hands more. I will be going to see an orthopedic surgeon at the end of March for my trigger finger. I will ask him about my other fingers, but more for getting range of motion back, not sensation. I did have one package of Medrol after my surgery but it wasn’t for the numbness. I honestly don’t know what it was for. It was just one of the many pills they sent me home with. My running hasn’t been progressing lately and that’s been my own fault. I was a slacker in December and January and put on a few holiday pounds. I’m trying to get back in the habit and eating better. Thankfully, I get 1.5 to 5 miles of walking at work though. I will be purchasing a new pair of running shoes this month so I can be more adventurous with my trail running. It was part of my plan for last year that got derailed by my heart surgery.

Hi John -- Glad you are improving! I had a Ross Procedure June 2nd at Vanderbilt after replacing my native BAV 11 1/2 years ago. I feel like I did well overall with the procedure, but because of compressed nerves in my neck, my thumb and two fingers would go numb on both hands usually at night sleeping. I have done a few sesssions of PT since my surgery last summer and my physiotherapist does think it was partly from the position I was in during surgery and just being "rearranged" again in my sternum, which as you know also affects your ribs and thoracic region. This time, instead of just sternal wires, they placed Longitudinal Sternal Stabilization plates (with wires). I think my system (muscles, nerves, bones) are still getting used to the new arrangement -- but my physiotherapist says she thinks the plates have me in a better position than the wires alone did, and I am continuing to try and heal and keep up with my PT exercises and exercise overall. Hope you continue to improve! It's hard to sort through some of the resulting symptoms from open heart surgery, so glad you posted this - especially since you had a Ross as well!

Hi.! I had carpal and cubital tunnel surgery both elbows and wrists before surgery and also 5 trigger surgery releases. I went thru the whole journey of steroid shots in fingers and wrist and nothing worked. Surgery helped but after ohs it worsened and the numbness returned and a bit of of trembling began. Went to neurologist and he checked for PD which I do not have. Sent me for more PT and it is helping. In my situation much has to do with the cervical spine and limited movement and weird sleeping positions causes some issues. Starts cardio rehab so out there doing something each day in addition to my own exercise. Hopefully a little better each day. You all help a lot. Thanks John your comments are always helpful ❤️

I don’t know why under my chin on the right side is numb. I didn’t discover it until I shaved for the first time because the port for my juggler took a long to heal. It was a couple of months before I noticed it. My suspicion has always been that it was the port that damaged the nerve. But that’s probably just me displacing how much I hated having it.

Yes, thanks John! Did you end up with plates? If so, what kind? They are supposed to be better for shoulder mobility than just wires (like I had the first time) -- but yes, working through the pulling in my shoulders! There are some neuro-movement exercises that I recently found that seem to be helpful, so will keep the community posted, in case it can help someone else!