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Bicuspid Aortic Valve

My final meeting with my wonderful surgeon

Tuesday was a tough day. We followed up with the pulmonologist and he insisted that I would need to have a second thoracentesis. He stated that there was about half of a liter of fluid in the pleural area around my right lung and that he believed all of the liquid should be gone. I…

October 18, 2012 in Bicuspid Aortic Valve, Fitness, Heart Surgery, Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm, Training, Transformation.

Finally, good news

(Warning: skip the part on the thoracentesis procedure if you are squeamish) If you have followed my blog, you know that my recovery from what doctors appear to call triple A surgery (Ascending Aortic Aneurysm) has been rocky. Energy levels have been low and pain high. I also seemed to have a wheeze over the…

October 13, 2012 in Bicuspid Aortic Valve, Heart Surgery, Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm.

Where my head and recovery are – 26 days after the surgery

I had every intention of blogging daily following my surgery. I was sure it would be interesting, insightful, and very therapeutic. And then reality stepped in. Pain, lethargy, lack of motivation, poor sleep, etc. have gotten in the way. True, the pain has FINALLY decreased and I should be off of the Percocet by the…

October 8, 2012 in Bicuspid Aortic Valve, Heart Surgery, Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm.

When can I just say no?

As I sit here at my computer, I feel a heaviness and a deep ache in my chest. In 5 minutes I can take two Extra Strength Tylenol. Three weeks ago it felt as though something with a huge hand was reaching into my chest, grabbing, squeezing, and pulling – hard. The pain is better,…

October 4, 2012 in Bicuspid Aortic Valve, Heart Surgery, Mindfulness, Narcotics, Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm.

Random thoughts from my time in hospital

Standing up for the first time: slightly graphic: You may know that when someone has heart surgery, frequently the hospital will give them a heart shaped pillow to hold against the chest when coughing, sneezing, laughing, standing up, sitting down, etc. Mine is red and and has a colorful diagram of the heart. Heart pillow in…

October 2, 2012 in Bicuspid Aortic Valve, Family, Heart Surgery, Nutrition, Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm.

Looking back: Day before and day of surgery

As planned, we left quite early on September 11, 2012 for California and were nearly halfway there by the time the sun came up. We had pre-op appointments at the surgeon’s office including ultrasound of my carotid arteries and vitals. We also talked to the PA who explained the process and that I would leave…

October 1, 2012 in Bicuspid Aortic Valve, Family, Heart Surgery, Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm.

18 days post surgery: Pain!

Warning: this may be more honest and blunt than you want to read. But to be dishonest would not serve my readers, nor would it be helpful to me. I had every intention of blogging daily once I returned home from surgery. So much for good intentions. I also had every intention of being off…

September 30, 2012 in Bicuspid Aortic Valve, Heart Surgery.

Quick note

I have been in great hands from my surgeon, to my family and the nursing staff. I am eating solid food, taking walks down the hall slowly and have been using my spirometer. I am a long way from healed, but the journey has definitely begun. More to come when I am up to it.

September 14, 2012 in Bicuspid Aortic Valve, Heart Surgery, Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm.

Tomorrow is the day…

I will be honest, I did not write this at 3am on Tuesday. I knew I would be rushed for time and did not want to try to make sense in the middle of the night. So I am writing this throughout the day on Monday. This will most likely be my last post before…

September 11, 2012 in Bicuspid Aortic Valve, Family, Heart Surgery, Love, Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm, Uncategorized.

Two days: More random thoughts

We leave tomorrow and the surgery is in two days. Tomorrow at this time, we should be more than halfway to the coast. I would like to say that I slept really well again last night. However, not so much. I slept enough, just restless and BIZARRE dreams. I have mentioned in previous posts just…

September 10, 2012 in Bicuspid Aortic Valve, Family, Heart Surgery, Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm, Uncategorized.

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© Dnoelle and The EnLightened Journey, 2012-2015. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to dnoelle, Dawn N. Riggs, Ph.D, and/or The EnLightened Journey with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
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La Isla Oeste

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News and commentary on Caribbean culture, literature, and the arts

Dave and Lauras Dream

Dreaming of early retirement & travel

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letters to my eating disorder

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Depression, Intuitive Eating, Spirituality. Semi regular musings.

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My wanderings off the map and into a world without diets

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Athletics, Motherhood and Other SuperFantastic Subjects

The EnLightened Journey
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