Terry's Posts

Diagnosis: Mitral Regurgitation

Member Since: May 27, 2016

Send Terry a Note

My Posts

Terry Gillen posted an update
9 years ago (October 17, 2016)
Well it has been almost 3 months and I am finally getting some feeling back where they had numbed my chest and down my whole right side. It is painful to touch my chest and right Breast, I am hoping it is because it is like it is waking up... Read more.
Hi Terry, I am in my 7 TH week since OHS and I am also experiencing some numbness. 6 years ago I had my 1st OHS and had the same symptoms , the numbness should subside in time but if you are very concern you should follow up with your... Read more.
I had minimally invasive robotic surgery and I'm still amazed they call it minimally invasive. I had 7 to 8 weeks of excruciating immobilizing pain when everything I read and was told by doctors was that it would only be a 1 to 3 week recovery. I was out of... Read more.
My numbness is wearing off slowly and pain is replacing it, but I just had surgery on Thursday. Definitely, check with your doctors that this is normal and what you should do for relief.
I had surgery on August 2nd for a mitral and tricuspid valve repair. I still have some numbness and tenderness on both sides of my incision in my chest. My Doctor said it may take up to 6 months to improve and sometimes if it is not totally better after... Read more.
Terry Gillen posted an update
9 years ago (September 5, 2016)
I am almost 1 month post op and just the last week or two I have been feeling very sleepy, just wondering if anyone else ever felt that way? It is not my medications because nothing has changed about them. I have been sleeping at least 6-8 hours a night... Read more.
Seven months after aortic valve replacement surgery, I still get sleepy and fall asleep when watching TV. In month four, when I talked with my cardiologist about this problem he changed my meds. This helped. Also I had, in the 2nd month, talked to my sleep doctor, and he adjusted... Read more.
Sweetie! You wrote for the last one or two weeks you've been sleepy. That means post op, two to three weeks you are tired and need sleep. Yay😄❤️ There's nothing wrong, you're just barely out of OHS, and your body is healing, so you WILL need extra sleep. I've been... Read more.
It is very exhausting and tiring post-op, between going to appointments, rehab etc. You are only nearly one month post cardiac surgery, at lot of slerp and rest is needed at this stage, take it easy on yourself hun. Do you find you feel tired after rehab? I know when... Read more.
I would use the word "exhausted" rather than sleepy to describe how I felt for at least 2 months... After that I'd use the word "tired" for another 6 months or more... It is still so very early in your recovery. Let your body heal. Healing is tiring. Be kind... Read more.
Terry Gillen posted an update
9 years ago (August 31, 2016)
I have to sleep on my back all the time, just wondering when some of you finally got to sleep on your side? It has been 21 days since my Surgery. Hope everyone is doing well God Bless you all.
👍 Amy Dorsey reacted to this
Which surgery did you have? I was cut through my side. I have two incisions and 3 hole pokes on my right side and armpit area. For me I couldn't lay flat for about 4 weeks. I can lay on my sides now but it's still tender and I have... Read more.
Its been 6 weeks for me and I still can't sleep on my side. My PT told me the reason is when you sleep on your side, your ribs compress together, and for a sternum incision, that is usually too painful. You have to wait for everything to heal well... Read more.
It usually takes weeks/months to be physically able to sleep on your side. I remember asking doctors when it was "okay" and they said "whenever you want, when it feesl right". It felt sort of scary to do it.... What's weird now, its that because I slept for so long... Read more.
it has been over two years for me and i cannot sleep on my belly or my side i sleep in a laid back position with my feet propped up in a electric recliner and it is the only way i can sleep comfortably i say what ever works we... Read more.

Upcoming Surgeries

Jane Schappell
Aortic Stenosis
May 13, 2026
Margaret Devenney
Aortic Stenosis
May 14, 2026
Chris Freyer
Mitral Regurgitation
May 15, 2026

The Patient's Guide

The Patient's Guide

This book has helped over 47,000 patients and caregivers from diagnosis to recovery.