Oct 29, Sunday

Well, tomorrow is the big day: back to work. Connected again with my oldest childhood friend on Saturday, which was great because we lost contact about nine years ago--he lives in Portugal. Unfortunately it was at his father's memorial service. But at least I found out about it while there was still time to go, pay my respects and catch up. With all the people he was talking to I only told him my last two years as we were saying goodbye. It was nice to not be the patient for the day in conversation. Mom didn't come, I think she's passing a kidney stone, but is better tonight. With the service, then the gravesite, then the luncheon, then checking on Mom I was out of the house the longest period of time since either surgery: nine hours. I was exhausted last night, and my right side just ached: front, back and shoulder. Bad night. Still not good today, after Fellowship I came straight home and spent the day on the couch; read an entire novel! Still with some pain, but better. I think the driving aggravated it--it was a lot of shifting. Haven't done as well on the treadmill, down to 0.5 to 0.6 miles in about 20 minutes and exhausted. Assuming that it is because I expending more energy being out and about. I'm cutting my Toprol in half, and will make an appt with my cardiologist here to discuss changing over to a calcium channel blocker to see if I get any relief. I have to keep reminding myself that it really isn't that long since the lung surgery, and that's known for being difficult to recuperate from. This Thursday will be five weeks, so I'm probably expecting too much. I will update after the big day back to a (semi)-normal life! Take care to all, Laurie

Thurs, Oct 26

Just wanted to post before the weekend, for those of you who only can check during the week. I am very happy to report that I feel substantially better in the last few days. There are now actually 1/2 hour blocks of time that I have NO pain! While the right chest is still the most painful, if I am not doing anything it doesn't hurt. Movement or touch still are painful. But this means I can sleep without having pain--a big deal. Back is also much better, and I have been sending "knitting" thoughts to the muscles regularly, which seems to be helping. I did 0.88 on the treadmill this morning, but I am tired, so may be trying to increase too fast. Went down to the office yesterday, which is the longest I've driven. It was great to see everyone! Could feel it, sore last night. But I definitely feel like I have turned a corner and am really improving. This also dramatically improves my mood and desire to interact with people, so I am finally returning some phone calls and being more social. Trying not to jump in--need to remind myself to do only a couple things a day. Desperately need to do some grocery shopping, but that may be it for the rest of the day. Thanks for checking in! Laurie

Sunday, Oct 22

Hi all! I am touched and amazed at the number of people that I run into who are still checking this regularly, so I will need to get better at updating. Mood better (most of the time!). Mom returned to her home on Thursday, so since then I have been doing all the little things that add up: cooking (not much or very involved), dishwashing, cleaning out the litterbox, etc. I'm having more pain in the back than before, and I guess that's from the increased usage. It is at the thoracotomy site and below: the part I'm worried about since the "incident" during recovery while still in Boston. I'm also trying to get out more, because I need to build up my stamina; return to work is a mere 8 days away! I'm only going to go in Mon, Weds and Fri for 1/2 days to start out with; my boss is being very understanding. Definitely a little nervous about how my energy will hold out. After both the heart surgeries I drove at four weeks, and then started going out and running errands, increasing my time away from the couch (currently my favorite piece of furniture for daytime). Just now getting out and about, and the manual shift is definitely biting me in the a__. Shifting not fun, and the right side is so weak that I can't push the gear shift down to go into reverse--I have to reach over with my left hand to do it. Isn't THAT depressing!! It's weird, because there are other things I can do, but certain others are just too much. Cleaning out the litter box with the scooping of the sand is also quite painful. So I'm still trying to rest and do nothing, which you all should know is incredibly difficult for me! Fortunately my friend Rose brought me books: the two precursors to Mists of Avalon, which I have upstairs but have never read. So I'm 1/2 way through the second one, and then have the longer Mists to go through. HIGHLY enjoyable. I rarely read anymore, because there are always so many medical journals that make me feel guilty if I read for pleasure, so I've done a lot of catching up in the past couple of months--one of those silver lining things. I'm also watching a lot of TV, including History Channel, Animal Planet and Travel Channel: aren't I predictable!

Interest note: forgot to mention that last Saturday a mouse made an appearance in the house.... Poor little guy. Chester chased him downstairs; I think he thought it was a neat moving toy. Still haven't figured out how the mouse got up there, however. Then the rest got involved, although I think Zerla and KC were interested because of the other two. It stupidly went running from sofa to sofa, and Tabitha got a hold of it and did some damage, but it got away and went under a sofa again. Then--no kidding--the cats positioned themselves each at a different corner, with various swipes of paws underneath. A few minutes later Chester was tossing it up in the air. No blood--I think it died of a heart attack!! Or internal injuries. No autopsy was performed ;) AND I am now doing over 3/4 of a mile on the treadmill!! It takes 25 minutes with a recovery period almost as long, but hey, ya gotta start somewhere! Will update soon in another exciting installment! Bye! Laurie

Oct 16: update and brief history

Yesterday was the 2 year anniversary of the first surgery. I certainly thought then that the worst was behind me.... For those new or late to this blog, here's the brief story: Found I had mitral valve prolapse with severe regurgitation (backward flow of blood) Feb, 2004 after a severe asthma attack from my trip to Egypt. Got better, got worse >>> complicated repair of the valve 10/15/04 when I was 41 years old (26 years younger than the average age of patient at that surgery). Kept having symptoms: fatigue, short of breath with any exercise, not much better than pre-surgery. No one believed me for a year, that's when I spoke to Dr. Cohn at a conference about a year after the surgery. He believed me. So, I went to Brigham in Boston, which is Harvard medical school's hospital, finally got correctly diagnosed May, 2006. Original repair left me with an unusual abnormality that caused the front leaflet on the valve to flip over when the heart is squeezing and block flow of blood outward. This is similar to a congenital problem that you hear young athletes dying of called IHSS or SAS. What most of you never knew is that there have been reports of those with my problem, SAM with left ventricular outflow obstruction, also suddenly dying. That's when I stopped climbing the stairs at work (I was trying to keep my muscles in some sort of shape). The first surgery was done cutting under my right breast, then through the right 3-4th ribs, meant to avoid cutting the sternum/breastbone. Because the first surgery was 10 hours, it left me with a weakness there, causing the lung to come out when I coughed, laughed or was bearing down. They were hoping to fix that during the second surgery, but it took too long because of all the scar tissue. Second mitral valve REPAIR (not replacement, Thank God) was the surgery August 10, then six weeks later the lung hernia repair on Sept 21, which is what I am still recovering from. Finally feeling better in last few days, although I've really been taking it easy. Just wanted to mark the prior anniversary...... Thanks for checking in, Laurie

Oct 14: Sat

Hi all! It's a good thing that I don't go by comments left, or else I would think that no one but Deneen was reading this anymore! But, since many people tell me that they check regularly and don't leave a comment, I will keep on updating.

In a better mood than last post (that wouldn't have taken much). Pain in the front from the costochondritis seems to finally be improving, although bending over still very painful. Shoulder, side and back all have decreased in intensity, although frequently rear their heads. I drove 2 miles yesterday to test out my ability to drive stick shift (to and from pedicure: the important things in life!). Couldn't push the shift down and in to back up, but used my left hand to help. While I don't want to drive for long periods, it wasn't horrible, although the pain did increase some, especially in the front. Tomorrow I'm going to try driving Mom to the grocery store, which is less than 2 miles, and see how things go.

I'm concerned about not leaving the house in that I don't know what my stamina will be. I am shooting for returning to work part-time the week of October 30, so I need to know if I can shower, dress, drive and do anything at a location before I can return to work. I've already discussed with my boss, and I will start out in the office doing stress tests, which is physically much easier. At least there are two full weeks before then, so I can hopefully build up strength. I am walking for 20 mins on the treadmill, up to .65 miles as of this morning. I will either go again on the treadmill or go for a walk now in the afternoons to continue to build up strength. As the pain decreases, I will be able to do more. Main accomplishment of late has been almost finishing cleaning out and reorganizing my filing system--a real chore!

So, better than last week and hope to start improving more in the next couple of weeks.

Thanks for checking in, Laurie

Sunday pm, 10/8

Hello, all. Quick update for the beginning of the week. Nothing dramatic. Still in pain, but overall seems better. The front chest really hurts and keeps me from bending over, which is one of those things that you don't miss until you can't do it. Did do 1/2 mile on the treadmill and then took a walk with Mom, so I'm doing what I can. Still not sleeping well.

Have to admit that being in constant pain has affected my attitude, so for those of you who were expecting to hear from me by now: count yourself lucky. Pain = bad mood. Coughing, hiccuping, sneezing: all bad. Hole from chest tube looking better. I am making progress, but seems very slow. Yes, I know, "hang in there". A lot easier said then done. Thanks for checking in, Laurie

Oct 4: I'M HOME!!!

Hi all! Finally doing this from my own computer.

Arrived yesterday, home about 4:30 pm. Ellen came over and did food shopping for us, which was great.

Unfortunately, I am still in a lot of pain. Is even worse today, because I seem to have developed costochondritis (inflammation of the cartilege attaching the rib to the sternum) on the right side. Probably from all the packing and movement involved in getting ready to come back. Constantly painful, even small movements are excrutiating. Couldn't sleep last night, did nap today. Didn't call/contact anyone that wasn't urgent because I'm not exactly perky when I feel lousy, and I'm sick of feeling lousy.

The kitties, however, were ecstatic to see me and have been with me constantly since I've been home. Who says cats don't care about human contact? Anyway, still taking antibiotics, and the chest tube hole is looking better.

On to another topic: there was apparently a glitch in the blog system last week, which was why there were no updates for several days. Brenda tried without success, as did I, to get something up.

While they told me that I could drive once I was off narcotics I can't picture driving a manual shift with my right side this painful, and I think I'm going to treat myself to something stronger than Tylenol tonight. Time to sign off: Lost is on! TTFN Laurie

Oct 2: Delay in returning home

So much for easy.... Last night developed some more problems. The chest tube site, which was supposed to be closed, suddenly started leaking sero-sanguinuous stuff. Then it started coming out more and more. Soaked through several gauze pads, then through a much folded washcloth, then seemed to stop. Called the thoracic service, agreed to wait until today to be seen (it was after 9 pm and interfering with Desperate Housewives!).

Soaked thru another washcloth overnight. Seen today at 11am, and they think I developed a fluid collection under the area, hampered with a local infection from the suture material. X-ray looked better than Friday, which was good. It could have shot out of the side, which would have been more dramatic, but more upsetting, so glad I avoided that.

Then to fill the presciption, discovering that in the past 3 days my coverage had changed and they couldn't get it to go through. Paid $13.89 for three pills of generic Cipro while they straighten it out. Had to delay the flight with the ever co-operative USAir, who doesn't care that it is medical necessity and will not waive the change fee or the increased cost, so now costing $280 more to come home plus another hotel night at $130 a night. (Mom didn't think she could pack in time to make today's flight. I just want to come home.) But I am now so thoroughly over-extended financially from all of this that it really doesn't matter. It's going to be a lean Christmas, folks.

   So, I am now tired and cranky, didn't sleep well last night, and have to keep checking the oozing hole in my side for dressing changes. Don't I sound like the perfect dinner companion?! Poor Mom and Fernando, who has just been the best. Did do some site-seeing with Mom on Saturday, then had a tasty dinner at Fernando's, then he came with me to a historic church for where there is a Unitarian  Fellowship on Sunday, followed by coffee and chatting. Fernando's on his way over for a last dinner with us, and to pick up his laptop. So, next time I write it should be from the comfort of my home! TTFN, Laurie

Sunday,Oct 1: It's Laurie! ?Coming Home?

FINALLY!!! Seemed to be getting the hang of this lap-top on the last day!! Still not as comfortable as my home computer, but let me get the important things out.

 Planning on coming home tomorrow, Oct 2, in at 6:30 pm, USAir. The surgery was horridly painful. Still in a fair amount of pain from the thoracotomy site. The chest tube area has improved since they took out the sutures on Friday, but the back area hurts a lot. About a 6 inch surgical scar. Still taking narcotics around the clock, which should give you an idea of the pain, because I wasn't using anything besides Tylenol from the time of discharge after both heart surgeries. This has lead to another problem: constipation. Really is bad. Why am I mentioning this? Because last night, bearing down, I felt something coming out in the back area, and I seem to feel a bulge at the thoracotomy site whenever I blow my nose.... I will call tomorrow and see if I can be seen at the surgeon's office, but I know it will be tough because my surgeon, along with a lot of the department, is off for Yom Kippur. Sigh. And I'm eating tons of fruit, taking softners, drinking water.... you get the idea (probably more than you would like!). Doubt anyone would give an opinion before 6 weeks of healing, can't even contemplate another surgery like this. Really was brutal.

Barbara reports that the kitties miss me terribly. Haven't talked to Brenda since she has hit the surf and sand. Well, Mom says it's stopped raining, so off to dinner. Japanese, I think she wants, with lots of vegetables for me! Hope to be home soon. Laurie