I have been diagnosed this week with a heart problem called Stenosis of the Aortic Valve. It is rather serious as the aortic valve is rigid, calcified, and leaking and will require open-heart surgery to replace the valve. A heart catherization is scheduled for Wednesday, October 19, and if all looks good with the artery health, surgery will follow either that day or within the next couple of days. This will all be done at the Oklahoma Heart Hospital in Oklahoma City which has a great reputation of having competent surgeons working on cases like mine on a regular basis. It is also less than ten miles from our home, which makes it very convenient for my family.
Please keep my family in your prayers, especially on Wednesday, as we face new experiences with the medical world. This is a whole new ballgame for us that we never expected to have to deal with, but I have faith that God is in control and everything will go like clockwork.
I've asked Marcia Moore to keep up with the Obits starting on Wednesday as she has done so well in the past, along with any other contributors who become aware of things that need to be posted. I'll look forward to getting back on the Forum after this ordeal is completed and recovery is on its way.
Karen I.
You should do very well. It's getting to be a fairly common procedure so be very optimistic. Perhaps Jo can tell you more. In the meantime, prayers for all and big hugs for you.
Karen, you just hang in there and remember that you are not the first or only one that has had to go through this. We are pulling for you and our thoughts and prayers will be beside you and your family all the way.
Isn't it wonderful that we have the technology to do this type of surgery, and that it can be done so close to your home. I hope you have a fast recovery and be able to feel so much better afterwards.
One of my uncles that was born in Howard in 1907 had open heart surgery when I was very small. His was the third open heart surgery to be done at the Medical School in Washington and since they were still expermenting he didn't have to pay for it. He did very well and didn't have to have any more surgery until I was in high school. I wish I knew more about the surgery he had then.
Will have you in my prayers.
Karen, you will be in my prayers and praying for God's guidance with your doctors and for your complete and fast recovery. I am learning so many new things in the medical field. I've been diagnoised with Spinal Stenosis and didn't realize that Stenosis was a term for a lot of things. So far I am under control (to a degree) with pain pills and muscle relaxers. Just not ready for any cutting on my back. :o( Good wishes and prayers to you. Flo
Karen, may your angles be with you.
In November 2008 Fred had his aortic heart valve replaced... and,yes, it is a very serious procedure.
His recovery from that was awesome...Good surgeons, competent medical staff and God's healing
powers will get you through this.
The "following orders" will be your task to recovery.
You are in my prayers.
Blessing to you,
Jo
Karen, we were sorry to learn that you were undergoing heat surgery. I'm sure you are in a good facility and competent doctors and nurses will be taking care of you. Please be sure to follow instructions after going home and/or rehab. We will keep you in our prayers.
Myrna
Lots of prayers coming your way.
You will be in my prayers and on my heart...Hang in there.
Prayers and good thoughts coming your way.
Karen, I will be thinking of you. You will be in good hands.
Now who did you set up to play games with me while you are recovering? lol
Prayers, Alice
Karen, I will be thinking of you and praying all will be well.
My mother had this surgery about 15 years ago........maybe more,
right now brain isn't remembering dates well, I know you will do fine.
Trust the doctor's and follow the instructions after surgery and one
day at a time, you will get well.
Attitude is a good thing with any surgery. Trust that Jesus will be with you
in your trials and that He will continue to support you. God be with you
and your family. My heartfelt prayer for you all.
Karen.. You are a strong woman and in good physical health so hopefully healing will be speedy. Good luck. :)
Thanks for all of the kind thoughts. We met with the cardiologist again today and the heart cath is still on for Wednesday with surgery to follow when it can be scheduled, hopefully Thursday or Friday. The doctor is amazed I can even function with the amount of damage to the valve shown on the echo cardiogram, so I am ready to get it replaced before further symptoms surface to slow me down. I appreciate the prayers for me and my family and also the medical team!
Prayers from here sweet lady :-* :-*
Still thinking of you, Karen.
Larryj
Karen, Dale and I send our prayers and best wishes for a full and speedy recovery. Take care...we care. Dale and Barbara
Onward and upward! We'll be praying for you and your docs too. Good thoughts will be coming your way until you are up on your feet again.
Well, it's almost midnight in Edmond, Oklahoma and I am taking the last allowed sips of my Dr. Pepper. They moved my heart cath up two hours earlier tomorrow, so that means two less hours of no food or drink and that is BETTER news. Good night all. Talk to you later when I know more. Rodney will have his laptop at the hospital, so hopefully we can keep in touch!
Good Luck and God Bless. Will be praying that everything goes in your favor.
Continued prayers for you and your family, Karen.
In spirit, that room will be full! Hang tight and think positive thoughts. We all will too.
Heart cath yesterday revealed excellent artery health, so surgery is on for Saturday at 12:00 noon. Dr. Randolph, the surgeon, is known to be one of the best in Oklahoma, so on we go! My aortic valve is barely letting any oxygenated blood through, and no
one can figure out how I have been functioning at such an active level. God is good and obviously has been watching over me!!! Thanks for all the support from my family and friends!
Prayers continue.
Thank you for the udate. The prayers will continue. MJ
Great update. Thanks! Sounds really good for an easy surgery. Prayers across the weekend for sure.
Hello Elk County!
This is Amanda, Karen's daughter-in-law. She is out of surgery and everything seems to have gone great! The surgeon said he couldn't be happier! Thank you all for the thoughts and prayers you have sent her way! We will give another update when we have more information.
Thanks again!
Thanks so much Amanda for letting us know. Prayers are still being offered for all! :-*
Still in my prayers. Thankful everything has been good so far and you are now on the uphill road.
OUTSTANDING! WONDERFUL NEWS! Thanks, Amanda, and give her our best wishes.
Larryj
Hooray! Thanks for the good news! Looking forward to hearing from her when she is able. Prayers continue for all affected with special prayers of thanks for her surgical team!
Praise the Lord, the news is great and He will keep you and your family and your doctors in His
care.......Just keep holding on to Him and trust that you will soon be home and the best advice
I can give is Follow the doctors orders. Don't just sit down and hope all will be back to normal.....you
will need to do each step of the recovery...........and knowing your stamina, You will be better than
normal....LOl what is that........sooner than later.
God bless you
It's good to hear that Karen got through the surgery. Praise the Lord.
My thoughts and prayers continue. (hug)
Hello again! This is Amanda with an update...
Karen will be going home today! Before we know it, she will be feeling better than ever!
Thank you all for the continued prayers and support!
Yeah. Glad to hear it and thanks for keeping us updated.
Ditto from me!
Hello all - I am home and so thankful for all that has gone on this past week. It has been a grueling week, but with the love and support of my family, friends, and the medical world, things are going to get better each day. We have found out I was in serious need of this aortic valve surgery - the surgeon said in twenty years he has seen only two more in worse shape than mine, and those two belonged to people in their 80s with multiple health problems. He predicted this one would have lasted only two or three more months before totally shutting down. The early calcification is a result of the overwork of the valve from birth (totally undetected previously) which contained two leaflets (flappers) as opposed to the three leaflets needed in a normal heart. I now am the proud recipient of a cow valve which hopefully will take me into the next 20 or 30 years of my life.
I'll have an 8-12 week recovery period starting very slowly, but with my otherwise healthy body and heart system, there should be a complete recovery. God is good - he watched over me and my family with no diastrous results. Thanks to my Forum friends for good thoughts and prayers to carry me through!
Hello! It's so good to hear from you.Thanks for all the good news!
So good to hear everything is okay and glad you are back home. I am sure you will recuperate much faster at home. Just remember to take it easy and don't over do.
Karen, so glad all went well. The power of prayer is great. Just take it easy and rest. Look at all the computer time you are going to have! And a special thanks to the cow that gave it up for you!
Larryj