My Heart Hurts But Heart Health is Important Right Now #hearthealth #heartmatters

11 days ago, no wait, probably 30 days ago, I kept telling myself I was not scared. Multiple times a day. You know what? I really wasn’t scared of open-heart surgery. I was going to get fixed! Sure, it was going to hurt but I am too young to die so let’s do this!

Then, nerves set in. Still not scared. I think the nerves were from so much to do before I had to be in recovery mode which includes six weeks of not driving. Six weeks! Somehow, I got what I needed to do completed, knowing I would be limited after surgery.

Now, 11 days post op, this is what I have learned:

Limitations and how to concede wisely

Humility and how to let things go and let someone help

Migraines and how to deal with the light auras so they don’t turn into pain

Naps and how to have successful ones (turn off smart phone!)

Oh, and how to get in and out of bed using only my quads and hamstrings

I am not in pain and do not need opioids; Tylenol works just fine

I was supposed to have my aortic valve replaced, but before surgery they scoped the backside of my heart and discovered my valve may not have been as bad as they initially thought. Nothing on the surgeon’s table was as good as the condition of my valve. However, my ascending aorta was enough of a mess that it required repairing. Thank you, Dr. Jones!

Luckily, discharge came five days after surgery, and I have now been home 11 days. 11 days of resting more than I thought I would, 11 days of no pain but definitely soreness at the incision site, 11 days of couching it and little to no television.

So glad to be home, glad my sister is here helping me out, and glad that my sweet dog is still a nut job.

This is what I want from you: listen to your body, your instincts when someone is just not right. You just very well may save your own life.

#HomeSweetHome #HeartSurgery #HeartCondition