http://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2009/09/11/patient-advocacy-brazil-cleveland-gillinov/#comment-14956 Fri, 11 Sep 2009 16:53:56 +0000 http://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2009/09/11/patient-advocacy-brazil-cleveland-gillinov/#comment-14956 I had been having Heart problems for ~ a week, it started Monday morning, 8/17. I have had an irregularity in my EKG for ~ 30 or more years. No one knew what it was but I was able to function OK. On the morning of 8/17, I woke up at 12:30 AM, could not go back to sleep. When I went to work, I stopped in at the nurse's office and she pointed out that my pulse rate was between 130 - 150/min. Blood pressure was low. Not a good combination. I started working with my Doctor at the clinic and he finally sent me up for an Ecocardiogram about 2 hours away. (I live in rural Arkansas.) The Cardiologist saw the results that day (Friday 8/21) and put me into the hospital right then. An arteriogram on Saturday, then open heart on Sunday, 8/23. The surgery was reshape of the Mitral valve and a Maze procedure for the Atrium. Four days later they decided that a pacemaker would be required shortly (2 - 4 years) and they put one in on Friday, 8/28. Mine was not minimally invasive, my chest was split down the center but I don't think so terrible. I fact I think I had an excellant team. (But what do I know, I slept through the whole thing.) I had been having Heart problems for ~ a week, it started Monday morning, 8/17. I have had an irregularity in my EKG for ~ 30 or more years. No one knew what it was but I was able to function OK. On the morning of 8/17, I woke up at 12:30 AM, could not go back to sleep. When I went to work, I stopped in at the nurse’s office and she pointed out that my pulse rate was between 130 - 150/min. Blood pressure was low. Not a good combination. I started working with my Doctor at the clinic and he finally sent me up for an Ecocardiogram about 2 hours away. (I live in rural Arkansas.) The Cardiologist saw the results that day (Friday 8/21) and put me into the hospital right then.
An arteriogram on Saturday, then open heart on Sunday, 8/23. The surgery was reshape of the Mitral valve and a Maze procedure for the Atrium. Four days later they decided that a pacemaker would be required shortly (2 - 4 years) and they put one in on Friday, 8/28.
Mine was not minimally invasive, my chest was split down the center but I don’t think so terrible. I fact I think I had an excellant team. (But what do I know, I slept through the whole thing.)

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