9/21: GOOD NEWS!!!

Typing this from Boston: I'm exhausted. Saw Dr. Cohn yesterday with Chest X-ray in hand (literally!). He was very happy: no sign of CHF (heart failure, extra fluid in lungs). For over three years I have constantly had some fluid in there, so this is big. Had my echo later in the day, saw Dr. Baughman today. He walked in the room with the biggest smile I have ever seen. "I just looked at your echo...." Everything looks as good as it could possibly look. Now, keep in mind, my heart will never be "normal". But with the metal valve and the repair of the tricuspid valve the pressures look the best they have since those started increasing after the first surgery. Everything is in the low normal range, which is better than ANY of us expected, especially so soon after the surgery. Even the left atrium, which was enlarged from the increasing difficulty squeezing through the narrowed area, has returned to normal--just by .02-.04mm, but definitely out of the enlarged range. Everything is so good that I don't have to come up to Brigham again for 10 months--the year anniversary. Beyond outstanding!

Now that the good news is given, I have to be cautionary. The echo was done at rest. This is important because it was looking normal at rest after both the other heart surgeries. The problem was with exertion, and then deteriorated into problems at rest. And there is another inescapable fact that I clarified with Dr. Cohn: the valve annulus, or opening, that the new valve is sitting in is still only the size of an 8 year old. He tried to enlarge it, but couldn't. So blood flow will still be restricted. There will always be issues.

They are both very happy that I am almost up to a mile on the treadmill. They both want me to wait to swim until at least 3 months out from the surgery. They both want my weight down by 20-25 pounds. They both agree that my fatigue is normal, and also cumulative from the past three years. It is ridiculous to expect that I am going to recover from this surgery quickly because my body has to recover from three open heart surgeries and a thoracotomy in less than three years. It's going to take time to rebuild my stamina and my atrophied muscles. Time will tell what I will be able to do long-term.

My stamina is getting better, and the fatigue is less than it was. It's hard to compare, because I haven't returned to work and I'm not living in the same house. The plan is for me to return to work in October, going in three days a week. I did really well yesterday with getting up early, the flight up, to Brigham for tests and appointments and then to the hotel: nine hours of being up and about, although with sitting a lot. If I push it one day then I pay for it the next couple of days. I'll see how things are in January, but I'm prepared for it to take longer to go in five days a week because of the aforementioned issues. Trust me, my checking account needs me to work full time. Have I mentioned that my eight year old car has about 145,000 miles on it? And my savings accounts are gone; no surprise.

I am extremely happy and relieved at such great results this quickly after the surgery July 12. It really gives me some hope that I can return to a life that is somewhat normal. Not working seven days a week, however. But having some fun and socializing besides working full time. What a concept. I do have to give up my dream of underwater archeology or being the first PA in space. But I coped with giving up the dream of becoming a bikini model, so I'll make the adjustment!

Thanks for checking, Laurie