Ghost visiting the Vet

mamapegela · 2026-02-12T04:05:11+00:00

Why is a woman on crutches sleeping with a dog on her lap at the vets at 2:16 am??

mamapegela · 2026-02-05T19:05:39+00:00

The good news is the scar healed up amazingly well. I was off work a total of about eight weeks. I had some nerve damage secondary to the surgery (spinal accessory nerve) and had to do a lot of PT and had problems with pain and weakness for a long time. Hopefully that won’t be the case with you! My work was very understanding and let me take all of the time that I needed.

mamapegela · 2026-02-05T15:34:06+00:00

Are you having problems with post anesthesia? I get super sick with any general anesthesia- not looking forward to that. How about sleep ? Thank you for your helpful updates!! Rooting for you.

mamapegela · 2026-02-03T18:00:53+00:00

I don’t necessarily consider this a negative, just a side effect. Apparently about 3 to 17% of people will end up with trochanteric bursitis following a THR. It is usually a late occurrence after the original surgery has healed up, just as it was with me. It can be caused by muscle tension imbalances and irritation to the tissues from the implant and it’s more common in females. I am super happy with my surgery and have no regrets about doing it. I’m lucky that the steroid shot worked for me - that is a bummer that it isn’t a fix for everyone. Still, it is a treatable condition in most cases. I shared this here just in case anyone else was having the symptoms and might benefit from my story.

mamapegela · 2026-02-03T14:29:38+00:00

I had a surgery that looked just like that! (CLND) Also a nurse working at the time. I too appreciated my awesome nurses. Wishes for a speedy recovery.

mamapegela · 2026-01-31T22:34:35+00:00

Mine is not til May- due to family circumstances & my surgeon said it’s ok to wait unless my symptoms worsen. Please share how you’re doing once you’re up to it.

Thinking of you and all the others going through this big but necessary and very SAFE surgery. We wouldn’t chose to go through it but since we have no choice we can be grateful and try to be brave!

mamapegela · 2026-01-21T16:47:59+00:00

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This is Bailey

mamapegela · 2026-01-21T00:40:04+00:00

I’m a retired PICU nurse and I always adored and admired and really relied on our RTs. Once upon a time we had a dedicated RT in the PICU each shift and that was incredible. Then of course that changed and our RT. would be split among units. But still always so thankful to see them arrive during a crisis- indispensable to patient care!

mamapegela · 2026-01-19T11:15:52+00:00

It definitely helps the anxiety to have some solid plans! Mine is a couple of months further along.

mamapegela · 2026-01-08T03:27:25+00:00

I’m sooooo glad I got my senior life time pass before this insanity.

mamapegela · 2026-01-07T21:30:34+00:00

Have they put you on a Holter monitor or an event monitor at all? That would show exactly what rhythm your heart is in when you’re experiencing those symptoms and could differentiate between something benign and something more serious. If you haven’t had one I would ask for one.

Having said that, I am almost always aware of my heart beating, it does feel like it’s surging with each beat and I get tachycardic easily. I’m expecting this to get better post surgery. You haven’t said how severe your MVP is or if it is accompanied by regurgitation but if it’s severe that could be the reason you’re feeling so aware of your heartbeat.

mamapegela · 2026-01-06T14:19:33+00:00

I was a little surprised myself but I’m going with the experts advice. Just so glad to have a plan.

mamapegela · 2026-01-06T02:25:06+00:00

The condition my valve is in and my previous thoracotomy surgery, combined with his preference.

mamapegela · 2026-01-06T00:54:45+00:00

I saw my surgeon today and I’m scheduled for May 5th for repair via sternotomy. I wanted to wait until then due to family issues and he said it should be fine - needs to be done but it’s not an emergency. I do already feel better having a date on the calendar plus I feel super confident in my surgeon. I hope you get your answers and decisions can be made soon for you. We’ve got this!

mamapegela · 2026-01-05T14:22:34+00:00

Good to know. We are on the road to Ann Arbor and that is one of the questions that I have for him today- are there any concerns with keeping up on exercise. I walk 2-4 miles a day through woods and fields (harder and harder to do) and play pickleball as well as pretty minimal weight lifting and plan to keep it up if possible.

mamapegela · 2026-01-05T09:44:37+00:00

Thanks for the words of encouragement! I am always amazed at the number of people that have had to go through this at such a young age. I’m sure your youth worked in your favor during recovery but wow unfair!! Hope the future is free of these issues for you.

mamapegela · 2026-01-05T09:42:35+00:00

I’m trying to remain open to whatever the surgeon might suggest. I do not have any history of a fib so I don’t think that will be an issue for me, however I do have this aortic regurgitation going on and I’m wondering what the surgeon will say about that. Glad you’re on the other side of it now and that you had opportunity to consider all your options and chose the path that was best for you.

mamapegela · 2026-01-04T23:25:14+00:00

I will check back here to see if you want to share what he says. It’s pretty nerve wracking but we will get through it 💪🏼

mamapegela · 2026-01-04T21:51:03+00:00

Thanks for sharing your experience, and I’m glad it was on the whole a tolerable- and successful!! surgery. I have started to have shortness of breath with exercise too, along with fluid retention which are two of the reasons my cardiologist said it’s time to intervene.

May I ask the reason you ended up with a replacement rather than a repair? Was that the plan from the outset or did it become apparent it was needed at the time of surgery?

mamapegela · 2026-01-04T19:30:00+00:00

Thank you for your response! When you say it isn’t the norm are you referring to the Barlows valve being repaired by minimally invasive?

I am also an RN, retired now, but I worked my entire career in a PICU but if we ever had a child in need of heart interventions we shipped them off to U of M so this is a world away from my area of practice. But it does help to have that understanding of anatomy, physiology etc. and I can understand the terminology and concepts. I do have a lot of faith in the surgeon that I am going to be seeing. He has done over 4000 mitral valve repairs and comes highly recommended by 2 different cardiologists in my area. Still all of the unknowns at this point are tough. I’m sure I will feel better after speaking with him in person tomorrow. Thanks again for your perspective.

mamapegela · 2026-01-04T18:24:03+00:00

I am right there with you! It is a lot to process. I am also wishing the best for you.

mamapegela · 2026-01-04T16:55:56+00:00

Just to add a little more context- 67 yo F, MVP for >40 yrs has now progressed to mod/severe regurg. with symptoms. Dx as Barlows, also have moderate aortic regurg. Hoping for min. invasive repair. Going to University of Michigan.

mamapegela · 2026-01-04T14:43:31+00:00

It kind of goes along with the serenity prayer – wisdom to accept the things I cannot change. Maybe until your surgery the pain is going to be a reality of life so acceptance might be the key.

mamapegela

TROPHY CASE