Thursday, April 24, 2008

And I Lived!

Sorry I haven't posted since before my surgery. I know it was a bit suspenseful. I lived! I have a giant, slightly-crescent-shaped scar down the center of my chest but I lived!

My surgeon said my aortic valve was the worst he'd ever seen in his 20 years of doing this operation. Calcification had formed not only inside but outside my valve. It is a wonder I kept going as long as I did. Kids, when you are having heart problems, especially if you are a woman, it does NOT feel like you think it will feel. Sometimes it feels like a bad sinus infection. Sometimes it feels like you are depressed. It does NOT feel like a sharp pain in your chest. They need to get this information out more.

My ordeal was not all butterflies and flowers. But little by little, my life is returning to normal. I can walk about 8 blocks before I get exhausted and sweaty now. I still can't lift much but I went grocery shopping and was able to carry in all of the bags.

I think I was supposed to live because I have something I need to do. Not sure exactly what that is but I am open to suggestions.