Patient Follow-Up: Surgical Bras, Heart Surgery And Vicki

Congratulations VIcki! I too had mitral valve repair surgery in January of this year at UCLA. I had my surgery done with the Da Vinci robot and so my 3 incisions are along the right side of my right breast, plus a small groin incision and a slight cut and a stitch in my neck. I am happy to hear you are doing so well in 2 weeks but may I make a suggestion? Sometimes the post surgical euphoria and surprise that one is feeling so well can lead us to think that our journey to recovery is complete. For some of us that may be so. But many of us have discovered that the road is longer than we thought, and filled with twists, turns and potholes. Take it easy on yourself, would be my advice, and let your body and spirit heal from this enormously traumatic experience. The anesthesia alone takes many months, up to a year, to clear out of your cells and system. Depression and anxiety can be companions that visit us after we think we are all better. As I said, I am 7 months out and I was very grateful for Adam’s admission that it took him EIGHTEEN MONTHS to feel like himself again. I agree, Adam. It takes a long time. The bra idea is great, btw. I am not a bra wearer, lol! But I do have a sports bra I have worn frequently since surgery because it just felt better on my incisions. Vicki I wish you the best! If you ever want to chat with me, or anyone has questions for me you can reach me at cnetwork@aol.com.
Leslie

Yay, Vicki!
So glad you are doing well! I am six weeks, almost seven, post surgery and doing well. I do find that I don’t feel progressively better each day, but feel better some days, not so good others. Take it easy and push some, but recognize when you are tired and rest. Wish I’d had access to a front closure Velcro bra. Wasn’t offered one or told anything about wearing a bra at all. Fortunately I’m not very large!
Take care and get better!
Becca

Hi Vicki,

So glad that you are making good progress. Thanks for writing in.

I am scheduled for mitral valve repair with the daVinci robot assist at Cleveland Clinic on Sept 17. I also have mitral valve prolapse, since birth. At 70 years of age it suddenly decided to degenerate and now I have severe regurgitation with symptoms of heart failure. I need both leaflets repaired and my tricuspid valve repaired, also. Possibly the chordae repaired.

As the date draws nearer, I have also been wondering about wearing a bra. I will inquire about what CC uses, especially as I intend to be using the pain pump system that uses local anesthetic at the incisions. (I cannot tolerate narcotic pain meds.)

This website and your book such valuable resources. Thank you, Adam.

I plan to use caringbridge to stay in touch with friends and family back in NH (my husband and daughter will be in Cleveland with me).

BTW, I love the pillow!

Winona Blake

Hi Vicki,

Congratulations on a successful surgery!! It is nice to hear that your recovery is going well so far and hopefully your sleep patterns will get better soon. I am planning to have mitral valve repair surgery this fall, I have had mvp all my life (I am 31) and now the regurgitation is so severe that it has given me other symptoms. I am told that I have bileaflet prolapse and that it will be complicated (but not so complicated that it cannot be done) to repair. I was wondering if you had/have a similar condition and whether you had your repair done from the chest or the minimally invasive approach from the ribs. I am trying to make this decision now and any advice or thoughts you may have on this would be appreciated.

Congrats again and Good Luck!!! = )

Sanjana, I too had mvp my whole life. In the last year I developed more symptoms and the regurgitation progressed to over 60%. I started having a cough, little stamina and short of breath. The valve was bi-leaflet. The surgery took about 3 or 4 hours and was done through the chest wall. The valve was restructured and annuloplasty was done with a
Cosgrove band. I have had very little pain. I have done 2 sessions of cardiac rehab and I am shocked at how well I did. I recently went back to a staircase outside a movie theater that I could not climb prior to surgery. Drum roll please, I went up the stairs without stopping, coughing or getting out of breath. I still have good days and bad days but most of that is emotional. i am so glad that I did this. I know that everyone is different but I sometimes wonder if I had been watching this more closely and had done it sooner if my quality of life might have been better at a younger age. Good luck. I know that it is a very hard decision. I too struggled.

Adam, feel free to pass on my email address to Sanjana if you want.

Hi Vicki,

So glad to hear of your success. I was born with an aortic bi-cuspid valve and will need replacment someday. I try hard to keep up with all the new developments. I’m so happy that people like you share their stories. It really makes a difference for those of us who will someday need to have surgery. Thank you

HI Adam
I am 30 year old male and have been diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse with both leaflets. I am exploring different surgical options. I would love to go for the easier way of robotic surgery if that is suggested to me looking at my age. I have sent my reports to Dr. Chitwood and Cleveland Clinic and waiting for their responses. Fortunately Cleveland clinic is near to me and my sister lives there.
I would appreciate if you can connect me with Sanjana so that I can share experiences. My email address is chupbe@gmail.com. Thanks.
Ashish