So, interview over with. My ticker coped quite well mainly because I wasn’t too stressed out. There weren’t any questions that really stumped me so all was good. I thought that would be the worst kind of situation for me to be in after major heart surgery, but it appears I was wrong. The next day I found out I had 2 more interviews...one of them involving a presentation. Now I’ve always found these stressful! Being up there forced to talk about something will definitely make me go red, and get my heart pumping. But I know, I should really stop complaining! I’m back on my feet doing exercise so a little presentation won’t really do too much harm!
I started to some weights as well against the advice of my cardiologist. He told me that when you do weights it can put an added pressure on the heart because of the blood vessels in the arm (you can tell I’m not medical doctor!). He said that based on this, although there was no evidence to support his theory, that it could end up making my aortic root grow slightly larger than the valve. Now if there was evidence for this I would have listened to him... But on a forum I visit dedicated to people who have had valve replacement, there are plenty of people doing weights with their doctors’ knowledge and doing just fine! I think I have to exercise some caution in the things I do but I’m not just going to limit myself off from activities. I’m only 23 after all!
Oh, and thanks for the comments guys, nice to know people are actually reading the blog!
I was browsing the internet and came across this little piece of information. The average heart rate should be around 70-75 for most people. Which is where I seem to be falling at the moment. My aim is to get it right down to the 60s (lower heart rate is better!).
I'm also beginning to check my INR less often. INR is a number that tells you how fast your blood clots. 1 = normal. With someone on anticoagulation (Warfarin), the number rises meaning the blood takes longer to clot. My INR seems fairly stable now and exactly within my target range of 2.5. So at the moment I'm checking it once a week now (initially it was every 2 days!). So that's another weight off my shoulders. In terms of icreased bleeding or bruising...I really haven't noticed a difference. I don't seem to get bruised any easier than I did before I started taking the Warfarin so I'm happy with that too!
Saturday 25 July 2009
Saturday 18 July 2009
Interview, Job Offers and a Racing Heart
I went to see my cardiologist and all seems well. The only issue is that I have developed something called a keloid scar. A keloid scar looks elevated and as it’s been bloated right up, and is very pink. But I can live with that. The cardiologist says that some people are just prone to developing it after surgery and that is should heal on its own. However, a quick search on Google tells me it might not be common for keloids to heal...-gasp- lying doctor! Well either way I’m not too worried because as long as my heart is functioning then the scar can look however it wants!
Now for the big question – swine flu. Rest assured people, swine flu is not more risky for people with valve replacement! However, my GP did say that if I do feel any flu symptoms they will put me straight on the medicine as a precaution. And in terms of normal flu, it now seems that I have to be given a flu jab every winter just like my granddad! I actually don’t mind this either because I hate getting the flu so bring on the jab!
Now another topic. In terms of any dental appointments. For those of you that are new to this topic, it’s common for heart patients to have antibiotics before any type of dental procedure because the nasty stuff in your mouth can go straight to your heart and cause an infection. Now for some reason the guidelines have been changed saying there is no evidence that antibiotics help and your dentist will probably tell you that you don’t need it. Don’t listen to him! There is a lot of criticism about this decision to say antibiotics aren’t needed, and there doesn’t appear to be any clear evidence either way. So until some researchers out there give some hard evidence, just take the extra precaution. Especially if you have a mechanical valve.
I feel like I’m writing a blog for the NHS...so let’s add a personal touch before I bore you all. My heart rate seems to be going down. On leaving hospital it was stuck around 90-100 bpm. What I’ve noticed for myself is that with exercise, the resting heart rate seems to go down. Half an hour on the treadmill every few days or so does the trick. Anyway, right now it’s slipped down to the 80 point (high 70s on a good day!) which is great. The only problem I had was being thrown into a stressful situation – a meeting with a researcher and his team to discuss a project. My heart was racing throughout – partly because this researcher can be very intimidating at times, but also because I was offered a job! He has money to throw at a project I’ve developed, however he wants to take control and turn it in to something else with a different focus. I think it will benefit the clients I see but I’m going to turn down the job (I’m mad I know). And on the job front I also received my first interview!! That also sent my heart racing but I haven’t noticed any problems. My interview is next Tuesday and I just hope I can stay calm and not have anything strange happen – e.g. suddenly get chest pains and get distracted because of my worries!
P.S. For the person who found this blog wanting to know about sex... Yes you can have sex after valve replacement. As soon as you can handle stairs then you can go right ahead...just use your common sense.
P.P.S. Anyone with any questions about the whole surgery experience, feel free to leave a comment and I’ll answer it in my next post if I can!
Now for the big question – swine flu. Rest assured people, swine flu is not more risky for people with valve replacement! However, my GP did say that if I do feel any flu symptoms they will put me straight on the medicine as a precaution. And in terms of normal flu, it now seems that I have to be given a flu jab every winter just like my granddad! I actually don’t mind this either because I hate getting the flu so bring on the jab!
Now another topic. In terms of any dental appointments. For those of you that are new to this topic, it’s common for heart patients to have antibiotics before any type of dental procedure because the nasty stuff in your mouth can go straight to your heart and cause an infection. Now for some reason the guidelines have been changed saying there is no evidence that antibiotics help and your dentist will probably tell you that you don’t need it. Don’t listen to him! There is a lot of criticism about this decision to say antibiotics aren’t needed, and there doesn’t appear to be any clear evidence either way. So until some researchers out there give some hard evidence, just take the extra precaution. Especially if you have a mechanical valve.
I feel like I’m writing a blog for the NHS...so let’s add a personal touch before I bore you all. My heart rate seems to be going down. On leaving hospital it was stuck around 90-100 bpm. What I’ve noticed for myself is that with exercise, the resting heart rate seems to go down. Half an hour on the treadmill every few days or so does the trick. Anyway, right now it’s slipped down to the 80 point (high 70s on a good day!) which is great. The only problem I had was being thrown into a stressful situation – a meeting with a researcher and his team to discuss a project. My heart was racing throughout – partly because this researcher can be very intimidating at times, but also because I was offered a job! He has money to throw at a project I’ve developed, however he wants to take control and turn it in to something else with a different focus. I think it will benefit the clients I see but I’m going to turn down the job (I’m mad I know). And on the job front I also received my first interview!! That also sent my heart racing but I haven’t noticed any problems. My interview is next Tuesday and I just hope I can stay calm and not have anything strange happen – e.g. suddenly get chest pains and get distracted because of my worries!
P.S. For the person who found this blog wanting to know about sex... Yes you can have sex after valve replacement. As soon as you can handle stairs then you can go right ahead...just use your common sense.
P.P.S. Anyone with any questions about the whole surgery experience, feel free to leave a comment and I’ll answer it in my next post if I can!
Sunday 12 July 2009
Please Let Me Jump Out of a Plane After Life Threatening Surgery...
So I was curious to see what the main reason was for visitors stumbling upon this blog (other than being a regular reader). To my surprise...nearly every person who finds this from Google is wanting information on swine flu and aortic valve replacement. Now I’m not here to mock anyone but I did find how one person found this site funny: “Will having a pig valve give me swine flu?” That did put a smile to my face but I felt it was important to say that you will not get swine flu like that! If you catch it, it will be from another person. You have nothing to worry about having a pig valve if you choose that route.
The rest of the people seemed to want information on swine flu and valve replacement in general. Now I don’t have the answers concerning the risk to valve replacement patients yet, but I am seeing my cardiologist tomorrow and plan to ask him this question and will put the answers on here for anyone curious.
My appointment tomorrow is the usual follow up to check how my sternum and scar are healing, and to see how my heart is. I thought it was a good idea to make a list of questions I wanted to ask:
• Will I be able to do sky diving?
• Is the yellow gross puss normal (I only have a tiny bit left on the scar)
• Will I be able to fly a plane? No, seriously. (I want to get a license for that!)
• When can I start running? (I’ve only been doing brisk walking now)
• When can I do weights?
I don’t plan to ask when I can go back to work. I already know that I can, but plan to visit my GP and give a sob story of how the supermarket I work for makes me pull heavy cages and life heavy things. Hopefully I can get a month extra off! Oh...by the way, don’t call me a cashier! Whenever someone asks what my career is I casually say Research Assistant (and conveniently miss out the voluntary part!)
As an update of where I’m at 8 weeks post-op...I feel no pain really apart from when I wake upin the morning. Even then, this is usually minimal. Sneezing can still make me feel like a bomb has just gone off in my chest but apart from that, it’s okay! I’m also walking very briskly now (at a speed of 6km an hour). I tend to walk about 3km a day – gets you very sweaty after all that work. I feel like I can if I wanted to but want to wait to see what the doctor says first tomorrow. I think I’m recovering quite quickly but that might be down to my young age. I can’t wait to test myself on the treadmill to see if there’s an improvement in my stamina like I was promise! Oh, and before I forget, my pulse tends to rest around 90bmp. I’m not happy about that, but have noticed if I do regular exercise it will come down. If not, then it goes back up. Need to ask the cardiologist about that.
The rest of the people seemed to want information on swine flu and valve replacement in general. Now I don’t have the answers concerning the risk to valve replacement patients yet, but I am seeing my cardiologist tomorrow and plan to ask him this question and will put the answers on here for anyone curious.
My appointment tomorrow is the usual follow up to check how my sternum and scar are healing, and to see how my heart is. I thought it was a good idea to make a list of questions I wanted to ask:
• Will I be able to do sky diving?
• Is the yellow gross puss normal (I only have a tiny bit left on the scar)
• Will I be able to fly a plane? No, seriously. (I want to get a license for that!)
• When can I start running? (I’ve only been doing brisk walking now)
• When can I do weights?
I don’t plan to ask when I can go back to work. I already know that I can, but plan to visit my GP and give a sob story of how the supermarket I work for makes me pull heavy cages and life heavy things. Hopefully I can get a month extra off! Oh...by the way, don’t call me a cashier! Whenever someone asks what my career is I casually say Research Assistant (and conveniently miss out the voluntary part!)
As an update of where I’m at 8 weeks post-op...I feel no pain really apart from when I wake upin the morning. Even then, this is usually minimal. Sneezing can still make me feel like a bomb has just gone off in my chest but apart from that, it’s okay! I’m also walking very briskly now (at a speed of 6km an hour). I tend to walk about 3km a day – gets you very sweaty after all that work. I feel like I can if I wanted to but want to wait to see what the doctor says first tomorrow. I think I’m recovering quite quickly but that might be down to my young age. I can’t wait to test myself on the treadmill to see if there’s an improvement in my stamina like I was promise! Oh, and before I forget, my pulse tends to rest around 90bmp. I’m not happy about that, but have noticed if I do regular exercise it will come down. If not, then it goes back up. Need to ask the cardiologist about that.
Sunday 5 July 2009
Kindness, Samaritans, and All that Type of Jazz
Going through a major operation makes you realise how kind people can be. From the time in hospital people who you might not have thought gave a damn about you will turn up to give you support. Now I’m not complaining about this at all – it really is wonderful to know people care and it certainly has changed the way a view different people and made me appreciate distant family members more. And out of hospital I’ve received cards from so many people I don’t even know. For example, my mum’s work colleagues got together to write out a very nice card and give some gift vouchers. Now the cynic in me just thinks they’re doing that because they have to, but no. It doesn’t stop there. Some of her colleagues have actually gone on (religious) fasts when I was in hospital as a kind of prayer for me to get better. Now that really is touching – people you don’t even know doing that for you. I used to think people like this were few and far between but this experience has shown me there really are lots of nice people out there. God, I sound like a tree-hugging hippie full of love now!
Apparently my friend said that people at the place I volunteer at have been asking about me too. The next time I go there I need to make sure to say hello to everyone I pass because I don’t want to offend these people who I don’t know, but know me. Is that a bad thing? I really don’t know how they know me because I’m sure I’ve not met them – maybe I’m one of those terrible people who forget people. Oh damn, that has to change if that’s the case!
Also, in an entirely unrelated bit of information, I’ve applied to volunteer at the Samaritans. And no I’m not seeing the world in a new light now before you start rolling your eyes! I actually think it will be a good perspective to help people who have/are going through things a lot worse than me. And hey, it should help me develop as a person and maybe get one of those elusive Assistant Psychologist jobs!
Apparently my friend said that people at the place I volunteer at have been asking about me too. The next time I go there I need to make sure to say hello to everyone I pass because I don’t want to offend these people who I don’t know, but know me. Is that a bad thing? I really don’t know how they know me because I’m sure I’ve not met them – maybe I’m one of those terrible people who forget people. Oh damn, that has to change if that’s the case!
Also, in an entirely unrelated bit of information, I’ve applied to volunteer at the Samaritans. And no I’m not seeing the world in a new light now before you start rolling your eyes! I actually think it will be a good perspective to help people who have/are going through things a lot worse than me. And hey, it should help me develop as a person and maybe get one of those elusive Assistant Psychologist jobs!
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