Eleven Years post op

It has been eleven years since my last open heart surgery. since then i have had one ablation to do a minor fix but other than that the meds have generally been doing a fair job. the last almost two years i have been noticing more issues rising like arrhythmias and dizziness, skipped or added beats. but the last few months even with getting out on the weekends regularly and going on walks in just not to where i used to be. i get winded so much faster, my heart pounds carrying things in from the car but not every time. i know if i am stressed that doesnt help either. im not blind to the fact that since my surgery in 2014 i have gained about 40 pounds but generally have been the same weight for the last two years so that shouldn't be too much of a change for my heart.. unless its become a strain.. but i dont know. i jusknow that i have a stress test coming up on the first and i am not looking forward to that and tB'she stress that comes with it.B's boss Had a stress test done a month or so ago and he said he only lasted about 10 minutes before they pulled him iff the machine. i woukd hope i can last maybe that long but it really depends on hiw my body reacts that day and what they have planned. i havent done a stress test since before my surgery. i have my cardiology appointment the following week for results and an echo. they are always polite but i have these anxieties that they will take one look at me and my results and chalk it up to me being an overweight woman, and that it will be the whole reason my heart isnt doing what it us supposed to be doing, not that the valve has lasted longer than estimated. last year they saw a slight change but decided nothing should be done yet so that technology can improve. even last year we thought that was odd but still kinda made sense.

6yrs post op

Well my yearly check up is coming. Since my last check up I have noticed new issues. I have been having more AFib with rvr. I only know this because of my cousin who is a nurse and witnessed an episode. It should be interesting to see what the drs say about it.

Feeling fine

Well I must say my heart has been doing wonderfully. I still have the random far apart arrhythmia and rapid heart beat. Maybe 4 times in the last year. I am not as active as I was at the beginning of the year but I am still doing good.

Today I participated in the American Heart Association Heart Walk

Today Ash Carol and I did the American Heart Association Heart Walk. It was such a great experience. We got to see all different kinds of people support and be supported. They had a wall to memorialize the loved ones we have lost and to support the ones living with heart disease. They even gave out hats to the survivors, I don't usually do hates but I work mine for most of the day. We walked the entire 5k, it was not as hard as I thought it would be. Can't wait to do it again next year.

Today's the day

Today is the big appointment. One yr. I know I feel better. Let's see what they have to say

Appointment coming up

My one yr appointment is next week. Tho technically it was a yr in January, should be interesting to see how my heart has settled in

Update

Well I know its been a while, but wow. The Surgery in 2012 was suppose to be a good fix, and it was for a while. The Melody Valve lasted almost a yr. and a half. In the Summer of 2013 I noticed my body was slowing down, changing, and not for the better. It was a stressful time of year. in July I went to the cardiologist and they noticed things weren't good but wanted to keep an eye on things. While I was dealing with quitting one job and finding another with health benefits, stress didn't help, I went in in September and they noticed things were changing still and planned for an ultrasound in November. That ultrasound and an MRI told them that what I was feeling was actually happening. my Melody Valve had calcified. Blood was barely getting through my heart. They told me I needed Open Heart Surgery immediately. Surgery was Scheduled for Jan 21 2014. I told my new boss, had health insurance, and they even agreed to keep me covered while I was out for surgery and recovery. Leading up to the surgery I was fine, I talked to the Dr, I knew what was going to happen. its not like it was new for me... it being my 5th heart surgery. I worked up until the day before. I was ok with everything, I talked it through with B and answered any questions he had. he seemed ok... a little scared but ok about everything. The Morning of the Surgery we got to the hospital we got there first. Ramona came a bit after and visited me in the pre-op room. the whole family took turns. I was ok I was terrified but I was holding it together. Then I got a text from B that he was there in the waiting room, and when he appeared around the curtain i burst into tears. I was relived, happy, feeling loved and terrified all at once. He came and was there for me. He even took the week off of work. He was there when I was wheeled into the Operating room. I was told later that a lot of family came. My surgery took a little longer than planned, which scared them a little. My aunt told me how precious B was and how relived he was when the Dr came in the room. Once I woke up he was there.. he was there even for his birthday. My stay in the hospital was fairly nice, i got xrays every day and had to take walks immediately to get me uo and moving. i was sick and in pain and not eating and throwing up. I had drainage tubes connected to me most of the days i was there and i remember the pain of them taking them out. I was discharged from the hospital January 29th. I took my own stitches out a few weeks later once they started to hurt and change colors. That's not even the best part. The Best part is that I no longer have an awkward bump on my scar, i have a new flat scar, that healed very well. I also have a brand new heart beat. A REGULAR HEART BEAT! for the first time ever! every once in a while it gets a bit wonky but its for minutes not yrs. Im still building up energy but i feel so much better. Im just hoping this one holds.

cardiologist trip this week

Wednesday I finally got to meet with the specialist. it went better than i thought it would. they only had to take an ecg test to see how bad my  heart has gotten. with that test and the charts from my last tests in april and how bad my body is doing physically they decided surgery in in the near future.. they are hoping by september.
they are going to attempt cathater surgery first and if they cant do it they will go for open heart. now all i have to do is wait for the surgeon to call and pick a day. i am soo ready, my heart has begun to effect my sleep. im waking up multiple times a night with my heart pounding  and its driving me crazy. the vein in my neck has been throbbing for the last 6 monnths and is only getting more frequent. i usedto go days or weeks in between feeling any pain or pounding and flutters. now its daily, its hourly. i am always feeling it everywhere. it is wearing me out, its breaking me down.. im ready for surgery to happen. ready for something to be fixed.

Meting with the specialist!

So I met with my new cardiologist and let's face it he is awesome and way better at telling me things ad showing me what I never knewabout my heart. He is so good he is sending me to the UW Medical center to see a specialist because he actually believes me when I say things are getting worse. I have an appointment on july 11th to meet with the specialist. Can't wait!

Well lately with so much stress my chest pains have returned.  Yes there have bee a few minor ones but nothing note worthy.  I learned that my cardiologist retired so I am still waiting to hear back as to who my new one will be while in the mean time here I am in pain with no one to turn to..

Update

So lately I have been having pains but nothing horrible. I recently learned that my cardiologist is retireing. This will be my third cardiologist to retire..  its frustrating. I hate the process of getting used to a new dr.. its annoying going through all the info and tests again.

Feeling off today. Big pressure in my chest that has been there for over an hour. Took some tylonol but its not helping

Had a super sharp pain. Only lasted a few seconds but the pain kinda lingered for a bit after it was more of an aggravation than pain after the effect

my heart has been fluttering and pounding but nothing painful, just seems to be slowing down..

So heart and chest pains are still there but not as bad lately..

Sharp pain just to the left under sternum. Very uncomfortable. Lasting atleast 10 minutes. Stretching doesn't work. Feels deep in

Having a lot of muscular pain today in the chest. Nothing seems to be helping it

Ow. Pain inside close to the back. Plus uncomfortable pressure.

Off to my MRI at UWMedical Center. I was ok but now I kinda want to throw up and cry. We haven't even reached Seattle yet. Stupid nerves.

Every day he breaks my heart a little bit more and more. can the monitor sense that? can it hear my heart breaking bit by bit?