April 2025 S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 External Sites
Online Video
- Heart Surgery – Dr Oz.
- Mitral Valve Incompetence
- Mitral Valve Prolapse – Echo
- Mitral Valve Regurgitation
- Mitral Valve Repair – Baptist
- Mitral Valve Repair Video – Dr. David Adams
- Video of Mitral Valve Surgery – eMedTV
- YouTube: Heart Valve Surgery Channel
- YouTube: Mitral Valve Repair Center at Mt. Sinai Hospital
Related Procedures
Resources
Categories
Author Archives: Loren
First Anniversary
This morning I am rejoicing and thanking our Lord Jesus for a significant day today. It was November 28, 2011 when they rolled me into the operating theatre at Royal Columbian Hospital for my mitral valve repair surgery. One year … Continue reading
Posted in Blessings, Recovery
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Day 44
Last night I wrestled the “sleeping in my bed” monster to the ground… and I won. Well, I sort of won. I piled pillows under my head and shoulders so that I actually recreated my recliner position – but in … Continue reading
Posted in Exercise, Sleep
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Day 43
Last night I decided that after 6 weeks of healing I should at least be able to sleep on my side and in my own bed. Actually, for the past several nights I have given it the old 1-2-3 but … Continue reading
Posted in Setbacks, Sleep
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Day 42 (six weeks)
Surgery day plus 6 weeks This morning I celebrated this marker day with two brisk laps around the block. Last week I began to add a lap to my walk around the block and timed myself at 16 minutes and … Continue reading
Posted in Exercise, Recovery
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Day 39 (a red-letter day)
Today was a red-letter day as I regained some more “freedom”. After I dropped Bec off at work I went on to the clinic for my routine INR check. Then I spent the rest of the morning dropping in on … Continue reading
Posted in Exercise, Recovery
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Day 34 – New Year’s Day 2012
Once again it is hard to believe that we have closed out the old year and opened a new one! I wonder what 2012 holds for us here on this planet we call Earth. Will it be like other years … Continue reading
Posted in Blessings, Cardiac Rehabilitation, Meditation
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Day 33
This is the last day of 2011. Becky and I went out this afternoon and did a fairly brisk walk around our block. The sky was clear and the temperature was about 3 degrees C. It felt good to walk … Continue reading
Posted in Blessings, Recovery
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Day 23
As I approach the 4 week mark (next Monday) I am beginning to wonder about a rehab exercise program. All the literature I have read suggests that a heart surgery patient should enroll in some sort of formal cardiac rehabilitation. … Continue reading
Posted in Cardiac Rehabilitation, Exercise, Recovery
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Day 21
Surgery – three weeks ago today! Today marks three weeks since I underwent open-heart surgery to repair my mitral valve which was prolapsed and had severe regurgitation. These three weeks have had their share of ups and downs but as … Continue reading
Posted in Recovery, Sleep
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Day 20
Well, I made it out to church today – in Chilliwack. My grandson Ben was playing the part of a sheep in their church children’s Christmas program and of course I did not want to miss that. The 45 minute … Continue reading
Posted in Blessings, Meditation, Recovery
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“Mender of Hearts” – an open letter to the doctors, nurses and all other staff at RCH
To all of my friends in the Royal Columbian Hospital cardiac unit (surgery, CSICU and wards – 2 South particularly). I cannot even begin to thank each of you for your role in giving me another opportunity to enjoy Christmas … Continue reading
Posted in Royal Columbian Hospital
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Day 18
Lab day today – to keep track of how the Warfarin is doing in my system. My INR seems to be stable at the level the doctor wants it. I am very thankful for a dear wife who is willing … Continue reading
Posted in Blessings, Recovery
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Day 17
Today started out well enough with me working through my breathing exercises and stretching exercises. I did several round-trips up and down our staircase (14 steps) and was feeling quite good about my physical progress. Then at lunch I choked … Continue reading
Posted in Setbacks
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Days 13 to 16
I have not posted much these past few days as my progress has been a bit discouraging. I have had a number of ups and downs and may have pushed myself too hard that first week home. One of the … Continue reading
Posted in Blessings, CareGroup, Recovery, Setbacks
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Day 12
Well, the steri-strips came off today. They were holding my incision together since all the staples were removed on day 4 (my release day). They actually came off quite easily. So now I am left with a distinctive 20 cm … Continue reading
Posted in Blessings, Recovery, Setbacks
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Day 11
Surgery day plus 11 Now I know why they taught us to “hug ourselves” (or hug a cushion) when ever we were getting into or out of a chair and not to try to push off or set yourself down … Continue reading
Posted in Recovery
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Day 10
Surgery day plus 10 I started the day a bit more tired than I had been. I wonder if I pushed things too hard yesterday? More naps today seem to be indicated… However the sun was shining this morning here … Continue reading
Posted in Recovery
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Day 9 (sorry, I have been messing with different themes for this blog)
Surgery day plus 9 This has been the best day so far. I have kept myself reasonably busy with phone calls, Skype calls, exercises and a 2 hour nap right after breakfast – hmmm…. I wonder if I could get … Continue reading
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Day 8 (ok..boredom is becoming serious…)
Surgery day plus 8 For the most part this was a good day for me. I was able to bring Bec her morning hot tea in bed as has been my custom for many years. I also made contact with … Continue reading
Meditations on the heart
Since being at home it has been difficult to sleep for more than a couple of hours at a time. I don’t know why that may be but tonight I decided to use the wakefulness to do a little meditation … Continue reading
Posted in Meditation
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Day 7
Surgery day plus 7 This has been my busiest day yet. Bec and I were up at 6:00 in order to be at the medical lab by 7:30 so that my INR (Warfarin levels?) could be checked. After that Bec … Continue reading
Day 6
Surgery day plus 6 (Sunday) A lovely quiet day spent at home. A delightful surprise and definite reassurance was to receive a phone call from Susan at the hospital checking up on my progress. She encouraged me to get out … Continue reading
Day 5
Surgery day plus 5 My first full day at home. It has been delightful but also challenging. Last night I had a bit of a panic attack. I was sleeping in the bedroom while Bec and Esther were out in … Continue reading
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Day 4 – I’m home!
Surgery day plus 4 I’m actually home! I was discharged from the hospital at around 4:00 pm. Overall it was a great day despite the fact that I don’t think I slept a wink last night due to disruptions in … Continue reading
Posted in Recovery, Royal Columbian Hospital, Sleep
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Day 3 (ouch day)
Surgery day plus 3 I still needed some morphine at least once today – but I think that may be the last. I am definitely noticing a reduction in the intensity of pain levels. I was able to get around … Continue reading
Posted in Recovery, Royal Columbian Hospital
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Day 2 – I am now in 2 South
Surgery day plus 2 Again, I do not have a lot of great memories of this day. I think I was served breakfast sitting up in bed. I do remember learning to get out of bed later that morning (with … Continue reading
Day 1
Surgery day plus 1 I have to confess I do not remember much of the previous night or this day. I do remember, however, that the nursing crew that was on most of the previous night were predominantly Filipino and … Continue reading
Day 0 – Surgery Day
Today is the day! Barring any unforeseen hindrances I will be having the mitral valve in my heart either repaired or replaced today. Surgery is scheduled for 11:00 am and may take 5 or 6 hours. I am supposed to … Continue reading
Posted in Royal Columbian Hospital, Surgery
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Pre-surgery hair-do!
That ought to be a bit easier to manage. The family came over this afternoon and we had a very delightful time together.
Posted in Pre-surgery
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Caregroup! What a blessing…
What a blessing to be part of a Caregroup who really does care and really does pray. This was going to be the last Tuesday evening meeting at our house for a while – at least until I have recuperated … Continue reading
Chest cold! Is this a roadblock?
On Wednesday I began to feel like I was coming down with a virus infection. I worked from home for the afternoon (until after midnight) and then went in to work on Thursday for half the day. Today I have … Continue reading
Pre-Admission Clinic
I went in for my pre-admission assessment and meeting with staff at the hospital today. It was a cold (3 degrees C), damp day. Traffic was very heavy and the Port Mann was congested as usual. We made it with … Continue reading
Posted in Pre-surgery, Royal Columbian Hospital
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Angiogram at Royal Columbian Hospital
This was an all day ordeal. We arrived at RCH at 7:00 as instructed and then waited in one of the recovery rooms for several hours while various medical staff came in and out and assured us that we would … Continue reading
Posted in Pre-surgery, Royal Columbian Hospital
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Pre-angiogram lab work done
So, more blood drawn, another electrocardiogram and more time sitting waiting in line at the lab.
Posted in Pre-surgery
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Orcas Island and Camping with the Family
We were worried that my heart condition would not allow me to go camping with the family. But it did not and we had a marvelous three days of camping together on Orcas Island.
Posted in Pre-surgery
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Stress Test
Subsequent to the TEE procedure the cardiologist also had me do a stress test. I was hooked up to a electrocardiogram monitor and then put on a treadmill for 9 minutes. I passed that with no complications. The cardiologist is … Continue reading
Posted in Pre-surgery
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TEE or Transesophageal Echo
The Transesophageal Echocardiogram is not a nice procedure. Here is Becky’s account of “The Procedure”. That is not something I am likely to “want” to repeat – ‘nuf said! Just letting you know that Loren made it through his “procedure” … Continue reading
Posted in Pre-surgery
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Cardiologist
I met the cardiologist for the first time at 12:30 or so today. After a brief listen to my chest he had his receptionist set up an appointment for me to have a TEE and a Stress Test.
Posted in Pre-surgery
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Echocardiogram
The echocardiogram showed that I had something wrong with the mitral valve in my heart. It seemed that the valve was not closing properly and blood flowing from the Left Atrium to the Left Ventricle was being allowed to partially … Continue reading
Posted in Pre-surgery
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The beginning
Back in April, 2011 I was playing badminton regularly with the club and one evening I came in to do my warm-ups and found myself breathing very hard after only a few minutes of drills. I chalked it up to … Continue reading
Posted in Pre-surgery
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