Yes we miss you get better soon> so you can come back and join us!!!!!

Praying for you ms. sunshine..... we all are.....

Stephanie,

So happy that you made it through the surgery okay. I pray that the pain won't last long. Then it will be smooth and easy sailing downhill all the way to a complete recovery.

God bless and lots of hugs,
Donna

My prayers and thoughts are with you as you recover. Know you are thought of daily.

Stephanie left a message on FB that her surgery went well and she was finally out of ICU !!!!YEAH!!!!

I must have missed that one, Snowy --- great news though! Thanks for posting

god is good !!!!!!

I'm happy to hear that she is out of ICU and doing better this morning! Thanks for keeping us posted.

(((((((stephanie))))))
may the caring thoughts & heartfelt prayers of so many family & friends help to lift you on the road to healing.

xo, ellen

hi girls, it's steph with an update with the help of my good buddy, kym who has been by my side (along with my family) through this whole ordeal. since i don't really remember much about the first few days, she has been kind enough to summarize some of the details/highoints for me/you. later, when i get home, and periodically here, as i'm up to it, i'll post. as of right now, doctor says discharging may happen on thursday or friday. heeeeerrreeee's kym...

Ok, here goes, I will try to summarize for you a little of what she has been through these last few days. Thursday, the 10th was the day, she had to arrive at hospital at seven am. She did show up to the operating room with nails done, makeup on and hair done! Her spirits were exceptional, it helped all of us, but I am sure she was scared to de_ _ _! She was in surgery four and one half hours. And in recovery about five or so before being moved to ICU. We thought she would have quintuple bypass, but luckily only had to go quadruple if you can call that lucky:(. They took arteries from her leg under her right knee and of course she has a pretty scar right down the middle of her chest. Her color immediately after the surgery was amazing, that goes to show you what a little oxygen can do for your blood. All of the nurses keep saying how wonderful she looks and that she looks way to good to have just indured all that she has. I am sure she is thinking "yeah right". The day of surgery we could see her in ICU, she was still very groggy and could not open her eyes but could hear us, by a few hours later they had taken out her breathing tube and she could talk. Later that evening under the influence of some morphine she sang the Love Boat intro for her husband, at one other point he said she woke up, looked over at him and asked "Did we have a boy or a girl?" he told her they had quadruplets! She said oh ok...The next day she was sitting up and talking to us all and like I said we were amazed at her progress. The next two days were similiar in that she could get up and sit in a chair with help and visit for quite a while, she stayed in a chair for over four hours, she said she was so tired of lying down, and they would not let her lye on her side. She finally was moved to a private room out of ICU on Sunday evening a few hours after they took out the chest tubes. Once here, she was not connected to an IV or oxygen! WoW!!! She was up and walking down the hall today and can walk to the bathroom pretty much on her own. It has only been four days since open heart surgery! However she is feeling a little more sore today than she has been up until now. The nurses did say today and maybe tomorrow could be the worst, probably due to the soreness and the fact that the adrenaline is wearing off. I hope I have given you some idea how it is going, she has been through a horrible ordeal and is doing incredibly well, She can tell you how she really feels later when she feels like sitting and typing, I can only tell what I have seen from the outside and can no way even begin to comprehend what she is feeling or what she has been through, I will tell you she is the strongest person I know..Keep praying for her and we will keep you posted...

Kym -

Thank you so very much for keeping us posting and for staying with her and with us.
Love you Steph, and You Strong girl, The fight will be worth it. So glad to read all the good parts.
You are doing GREAT!!!!!!!!

Lots of Love,
MB

Thanks so much for posting that Kym...what an amazing friend you are and she is too. I'm so happy to hear this great news. Keeping her, her family and you in my prayers.

Thanks Kym for being there for Steph and for letting us all know how she's doing. Sounds like she's doing just great but I'm not surprised. She's a sweetheart and a fighter! I had faith she'd be ok because of her great will and spirit! Steph, when you read this thread, you'll know how much we've all be thinking about and praying for you. It's so wonderful to finally have some confirmed news that you are going to be alright. Thanks be to God!

Yes Thanks for keeping us up to date
I was away when this was going on
Hope that Stephanie makes a full recovery and will pray for that.

God Bless
Elizabeth

Thank You too,honey for that update
Wonderful that she is out of the ICU
All prayers coming her way.
We all look forward to hearing from her as soon as she gets her strength back.

Warm Wishes
Elizabeth

Sooooooooooooo, great to know you made it smoothly through the operation and that your recovery sounds positive, that good skin colour I'm sure is very telling. I hope it's uphill all the way from here on. Hugs Jill

wow great news, thanks for the update, when i have my little aches and pains i think of what shes been thru- very humbleling

Yes thank you so much for your post. Let her know we are ALL PRAYING FOR HER. Speak those things as if they are already are!!! Praying that you are already healed, and you make a speedy recovery..

Please keep us posted....

Thanks so much for the update, Kym. It is much appreciated!!

Continued good thoughts and prayers for Steph's speedy recovery!

Thanks for the update, Kym.

My computer has had two run-ins with a nasty virus so I've only been able to get online at work.


Steph, you rock sister! Keep up the good work and you'll be back with your PS sisters in no time! ((((gentle hugs))))

steph, it's WONDERFUL to hear from you...merely seeing words you've typed is like hearing your voice~~~sweet, sweet, sweet~~~music to my soul! i'm so glad the surgery is over with and the road to recovery is underway. i'll continue to keep you & your family in my thoughts and prayers. big hugs and much love to you doodlebug---be gentle on yourself.


kym~~~thank you soooooooooooooo much for being there for stephanie, her family and us. you, dear one, are our link to her journey and i'm very grateful she has you in her life. you two obviously share a special bond and friendship--the kind of friendship that warms my heart. thank you, thank you, thank you kym!

oodles of hugs and prayers to both of you ladies!

(((angel)))

Stephanie....just wondering how your doing? Please give us an update.

Hugs,
Karen

Dear gyzwyf83,
I haven't been on ps in a few days & didn't realize you were having surgery. I hope you are feeling better each day, & continue to gain strength. Wishing you the very best of health. Sincerely, Binsky

we still miss you - hope your having a good day....

hi my sweet sisters...

well, here we are, about a week after a quad bypass, valve repair and i'm wondering what happens next. now that i'm home (got here wednesday afternoon) i'm just trying to adjust to the constant pain, bloating to the point that nothing (and i mean NOTHING) fits, not being able to do even the smallest things, like reach up in a cabinet and grab a glass or take a deep breath due to the discomfort.

when i move certain ways, or even when i don't, i can feel the chest bones shift and that was quite unsettling at the beginning. again, they tell me it's normal...

all in all, they tell me i'm doing quite well and expect a full recovery for me, but there are times i wonder, 'what was i thinking?!?!' as long as i manage to stay on top of the pain, i seem to do well, but if i let it go, then i will pay for it later. as of today, i've had a pretty good day with being able to take a shower (with help), brush my teeth, get dressed (with help), receive company briefly and then sit here at the computer for a few minutes. btw, a few minutes is about all i can manage for the time being, which i'm sure will increase with time - not gonna let a little open heart surgery stop me!

i'm sorry i'm not up to posting more at this time, but i did want to check in, send ouf a big round of hugs to each of your for your prayers, thoughts, concern and care!!

i'm so thankful and grateful for each of you!!
love you much!
steph

Hey Stephanie! Glad to see you are up and about to some degree! From the people I know who have had bypass, recovery is a process that takes some time. Little by little

Continuing to send prayers and good wishes your way

Hugs, Retti

welcome back, gyzie!
glad you're back in the comfort of your own home where you'll probably want to do more than you can, but where loved one's are around to do it for you .

now's the time for you to be a turtle. slow and steady wins the race. think turtle, gyz, think turtle.

big hugs/well wishes,
(((angel)))

Hi Ladies Just checking in to see if anyone has heard anything from gyz since her last post on the 18th.....

Hope all is going well, Stephanie

I have been wondering the same thing...please let us know how you're doing!!!

Dear Stephanie
Lovely to have you back with us .
Am so very glad your surgery is over and sounds as if very successful but you went through a lot and need lots of time to get completely well.
Thank God you have kind family and friends to be with you.Doesn't that first shower and brushing your teeth feel so good?
Take your time and remember we are all still praying for you and wishing you all the best.

Warm Wishes
God Bless
Big Hugs
Elizabeth

wecome back, and take it slow, ive also read that deppression is very common after heart surgery so i hope your on top of that.......

hello again ladies...

some of you had asked for updates, which i'll gladly give, but there don't seem to be many. things are pretty much the same, except for going to the ER the other night due to gallbladder issues... does the fun EVER end??? guess there are stones/sludge, which caused it to flare up, but they're not planning to do anything with it at the moment. i will admit that the morphine shots given were quite nice, tho!

life at home is very quiet. doc's don't want me to have many visitors just yet, which is fine with me. i haven't been up to doing my hair or wearing makeup for about three weeks and it's not a pretty sight!! i wonder if i'll ever have the strength or energy to do things like that again. i've just begun making myself take little treks around the house, bent over and shuffling my feet like a little old lady, working up to going back to rehab in a couple of weeks. even two laps around the kitchen and dining room wear me out and i get so winded.

i just look so forward to feeling better. they keep telling me it'll come, but i'm still at the point of needing help getting up from a laying position, so being patient isn't at the forefront of my mind right now!

at the moment, i need strength, esp in my legs - they feel like jello even just walking across the room. i'm learning to get the pain under control a bit better, except that the meds make me sleepy so it's kind of like being between a rock and a hard place - i'm supposed to be walking, gaining strength, but how can i if all i want to do is sleep and lay around???

so far, this is my life. in future updates, i hope to be able to report some more positive progress.

take care of yourselves and listen to your bodies, ladies.

thank you for your care, concern and unending support!!
stephanie

Hey Steph,
It's GREAT to see your update!!! I'm sure you still feel wiped out but it will get better with time. The old conundrum of taking the medications to keep your pain under control and still being awake/alert enough to walk around...Ahh, yes, I am familiar! I found that the trick for me was to take the meds as soon as I felt the discomfort coming back and as soon as I felt an improvement, I got up and took a short walk. By the time the med really took full effect (I felt sleepy!) I had already done my stroll around the kitchen, dining room and living room and was back in the recliner. Nap time! You mentioned your legs in particular feeling weak. Have you tried using so light ankle weights and just doing a couple straight leg lifts here and there? I mean like 5 lbs. or less on each ankle and do a few leg lifts several times a day. It will help to strengthen your thigh muscles which are what you really need to do in order to feel stronger when you get up. You can also try using a couple little hand held weights, about 2 lbs. and just do a few "curls" with your arms. You know the ones that look like little dumbells? Anyway, just a thought. I know it helped me when I was recovering from major spinal surgery some years ago. Anywho, I"m so glad to see you are doing so well. It's slow but it'll come, honey. Hang in there, we're pulling for you!
xoxo
Jan

Hi Steph,

Just want to send (((HUGS))) and encouragement. I have two close relatives who had a similar surgery, and a couple of friends as well. They were all pretty wiped out in the early days of recovery, but ALL came back and were very active again! It takes time for the body to heal - you've undergone a very big thing indeed! A shock to the body, and it will do its job of healing - YOUR job is to let it do the work.
Hope you have things to keep yourself engaged with - TV, books, puzzles. And also that you're getting good support - if you can't have actual visitors, maybe phone calls. We're thinking of you, and sending lots of good energy and prayers your way!

Love and take good care,
JJ

Hey Steph, thanks so much for keeping us all up to date. I know this is very hard but I think we've all known someone to go through this and we all have good stories to report. My cousin had his quadruple bypass almost 10 years ago, he is badly overweight and a stress monster -yet he's still doing just fine. Go figure

It will take time but each day you'll get stronger. We're there with you in spirit!

Hugs gyz.....you are doing all the right things and I am so glad to see you here - I know it must be frustrating but come and visit us and we will cheer you on okay?

xxxoooCIC

hugs and big kisses for you xx

One Month Update:

This week I saw my cardiologist and then my surgeon a few days later. Both have said I'm doing wonderfully. The Mitral Valve Repair, they are quite sure, has taken care of the fluid buildup so... (doing the happy dance in my head) they cut my meds in half! My blood pressure is a bit on the low side so they've also cut that med in half - more happy dancing!! Apparently, with the valve issue, there was some kind of murmur they could hear. Now, neither doctor could hear it and both said that that was very unusual for them to repair it all to that point - really dancin' now!!

I began rehab today and it was pretty pathetic. I only did two machines and couldn't keep them going to the point of keeping then turned on, I was so slow! They're very encouraging there and weren't a bit surprised after going through bypass surgery. Afterward, I came home, ate a sandwich and then took a four hour nap! Enough said...

I've been released to drive now, but dh doesn't think it's a good idea since i can't really even open or close the car door, fully dress myself alone, wash my hair alone, etc. Honestly, I don't really think I'm ready to go it alone, either. My confidence is in the toilet in that area right now! Surgeon says it will take a full 8 months, at least, to fully heal.

Emotionally, I am having more good days than bad. Physically, the pain is still there, like a truck sitting on my chest, and the docs want me to start weaning off the pain meds, but I just can't even imagine doing that right now. All I can do is take it one day at a time and take it if I need it. One thing is for sure... after all this has finally gotten resolved and I'm full of vim and vigor, I'm picking up my camera again (I'm a photographer that had decided to quit the biz due to ill health and depression), hit the road and live the life I had only dreamed about for so long! I've been given a second chance for a reason and I'm not wasting it this time around...

By the way, I'd like to officially welcome my newest granddaughter, Abri Marie, into the world! She and I were both in different hospitals, in different towns when she was born so we 'webcammed' the birth - love technology!!! She's so beautiful and so precious! It's frustrating not to be able to hold and walk around with her. Worth the sacrifice, though!!

Also have to give a shout out to the best hub in the world! If we can make it through this, we can make it through anything and he is certainly proving himself more and more each day. Thank you, Lord, for blessing me with such amazing family and friends - and that includes all my PS partners!! I so wish I could meet each of you personally and give you a great big hug!!

Much love and thanks to each of you,
Steph

((((((((((((((Steph)))))))))))))))) Your post brought tears to my eyes. I'm so happy that you are doing well. I can't wait for you to pick up your camera again. Praying for the pain to subside.

Aw, Steph, so much good news!

It certainly does take awhile to come back from such a serious surgery, but you're doing so well, and wisely taking things in your own time. Your body has the wisdom to heal, so long as you give it rest, good food, and let all the friendship and goodwill of your Sisters here and friends and relatives, really sink in.

It does seem this will give you a wonderful new lease on life! Grab that camera and go!!! Heck, come to Maine - you should see the beautiful vistas here! I'll be your tour guide!

(((BIG HUGS))) and gently you go!

Luv,
JJ

Hi there, Steph It is wonderful to see you posting and keeping us all up to date! So glad that you are doing well and feeling better day by day! Congrats on the new granddaughter!!

Hi Step...just wondering how things are going. Haven't seen an update in awhile.

Prayers and hugs,
Karen

thanks for asking and your concern, kar...

latest update: it's been 6 weeks since the bypass surgery and i have to admit that somewhere along the way in the last week or so i think i've seen a turn for the better! i've noticed i don't hurt all the time in my chest, although the healing incision is tight and uncomfortable at times, i can deal with that! they tell me that i can now use my arms to lean on to get up from laying so i no longer have to stay in a stuck position until someone comes in the room to help. little thngs like that, and being able to open the refrigerator door and unscrew the medicine bottle lid by myself mean a lot!! now, driving, on the other hand is a totally different story... i tried getting behind the wheel but realized real quick that that one is going to take a little more time.

rehab is going great. i'm up to 8 minutes on each machine and it feels so nice to be able to do the treadmill without getting so winded or dizzy that i have to stop and sit for a minute! emotionally, i'm doing better also. i've realized that i just have to try to keep moving forward, one foot in front of the other without looking back and getting bitter about this situation i'm coming out of. not everyday is easy, but when i think back to that first week after surgery, it all seems so surreal and makes me thankful, even for those worst moments! like my dd once told me, "there's a purpose for the pain."

one other thing i'm thankful for... i've made it 3 1/2 months (when the heart attack happened) without a cigarette! there are times when i automatically go to look for my pack and lighter and then realize that i don't smoke anymore. it's a strange place for my head to be, really hard to explain unless you've been there - i'm not complaining, though!!!

and that's pretty much the latest going on around here. i'm so happy to be able to say that i'm finally on the upswing, not shuffling my feet when i walk anymore or hunched over. in fact, i'm babysitting the newest grandbaby on saturday night for a bit and really looking forward to some bonding time with her!

many hugs and thanks, again, for the care, concern and prayers during this time, girls! you're the best!

steph--

good, positive, uplifting update on your status.

keep it up g/f.

bundles of soft, gentle hugs!
(((angel)))

(((((((((Stephanie)))))))))) Thanks for the update. I'm so glad you quit smoking. I did too when I broke my neck in 2001...cold turkey. You got a second chance so hang on to that and be grateful for every day now.

Steph,

I'm so glad to read this update!
Recovery from surgery (especially such a big, intensive one) does take time, but all these little improvements you mention are signs that things are moving forward! The body goes on healing, even when we are doing other things, and I think we notice it more in retrospect, as you say, in realizing things like wow, I opened that screw-cap!
Congratulations on giving up the cigarettes! That's so, so hard, but you're doing it - BRAVO!
Hope it goes well with your little grandgirl tonight - go nice and gently. Give your body the time it needs for healing now, and you'll get to FULL recovery faster.

(((BIG HUGS))) - you're doing great!
JJ

Hi Steph,
It is SO GOOD to know that you have "turned the corner" on this recovery. As you've already learned, it will take time and lots of it to heal completely but every day some improvement will take place. You might not be able to discern the improvement from day to day, but over several days you will notice that things have gotten just that little bit better. You have fought your way back from a big stressor to your body...WAY TO GO, GIRL!!!! Just keep pluggin' and before too long you'll be back behind the wheel again along with being able to do so many other things. Congrats too on quitting smoking! That's HUGE!
xoxoxo
Jan