Hi David - Here we are - one year later! Hard to believe. How are you holding up? I go back to Brighams on April 19th for my one year check up with Dr, Cohn. ...Read more
Hi David - Here we are - one year later! Hard to believe. How are you holding up? I go back to Brighams on April 19th for my one year check up with Dr, Cohn. All Ok on your end?
David Kelliher Hi Randa - I can't believe it is one year! I feel like a new man. My health is finally great, I'm o ... Read more
David Kelliher Hi Randa - I can't believe it is one year! I feel like a new man. My health is finally great, I'm off all meds, cardiologist is very please, i'm running again and enjoying my new found energy. How are you doing? Good to hear from you!
Hi David - Just wanted to see how it was going? Did you see Adam used our photos and quotes on the video with Dr. Cohn? :) Hope life is back to normal for ...Read more
Hi David - Just wanted to see how it was going? Did you see Adam used our photos and quotes on the video with Dr. Cohn? :) Hope life is back to normal for you! All is good here, It seems so strange to be on the other side of this - like it was a lifetime ago. Take Care, Randa
David Kelliher Hi Randa - Things are somewhat back to normal. I still don't have the physical endurance I had befor ... Read more
David Kelliher Hi Randa - Things are somewhat back to normal. I still don't have the physical endurance I had before, but I'm getting there. I'm in cardiac rehab and that is going well. I did have a stange episode where i lost 1/2 the vision in my right eye for about 1-2 minutes. The doctors say it is a sign of a small clot so i had to spend a night at the Brigham over the 4th weekend. Everything was fine but i will need to be on the coumadin longer than i hoped. Otherwise i feel great and life is great. I did see the quotes and pictures - he is a great man and deserves the recognition. glad to hear you are doing well!! Good to hear from you! - Dave
Hi David - I just wanted to check in to see how you are doing now that you have been back home for a while. I am doing a little better each day, although today ...Read more
Hi David - I just wanted to check in to see how you are doing now that you have been back home for a while. I am doing a little better each day, although today I was really tired - more so than in the last week. I may be over-doing it a bit - so I sat on the couch all day and watched tv. :)
I had my local cardio follow up Monday and I am back to Boston on May 2nd for a follow up with Dr. Cohn.
Are you still at home? Hope you are well.
Randa
David Kelliher Hi Randa - I'm feeling better everyday. I woke up this morning and really felt good. My wound from ... Read more
David Kelliher Hi Randa - I'm feeling better everyday. I woke up this morning and really felt good. My wound from the central line got infected and i'm on antibiotics for 10 days. I have been finding myself feeling good and then over doining it and crashing as well. I have been working from home and attending a couple meetings but have been taking it easy for the most part. Last thursday I definetely did over do it and crashed friday. I just started driving locally for very short drives (not ready for the highway). I'm getting very frustrated not being able to lift anything can't wait for 3 month mark! I'm going to go to cardiac pt rehab next week at a brigham sattlelite facility near my house. Are you going to do PT? I had my cardiologist appointment last week and he was very pleased with everything. How did your appointment go? I have my followup with Dr. Cohn on may 18. I hope all is well with you!
wow - I had no idea. I honestly thought you had left the hospital before I did. I am so sorry. Glad you are home now and hopefully feeling better. I am ...Read more
wow - I had no idea. I honestly thought you had left the hospital before I did. I am so sorry. Glad you are home now and hopefully feeling better. I am doing well. I was tired on Saturday but today I feel great. I expect some days will be better than others. They set me up with a visiting nurse 3 times a week and I am expecting her today. Did they do the same with you. Your family must be happy to finally have you home. Take care of yourself and let let me know how you are when you are up to it. Randa
Hi David - Randa here.... So glad we got to meet you and Michelle at the hospital. I was \"sprung\" on Monday and have been home since. Everyday it gets ...Read more
Hi David - Randa here.... So glad we got to meet you and Michelle at the hospital. I was \"sprung\" on Monday and have been home since. Everyday it gets a little easier. They do have a visiting nurse come by every other day to check bp, temp, heart rate etc... but overall okay. My voice is still not 100% better from the breathing tube - but that will go away too. I bet your family is thrilled to have you home.
Are you feeling Ok? How is your energy? Let me know how you are doing.
Randa
David Kelliher Hi Randa - I Finally got home on Friday 4/15. I did not tell you when I saw you the night before you ... Read more
David Kelliher Hi Randa - I Finally got home on Friday 4/15. I did not tell you when I saw you the night before your surgery (did not want to worry you) that i went into a VFib Arrest after my surgery in the ICU and they had to do chest compressions and had to use the defibrilators on me. They believe that all the swelling from the surgery cuased this. They had problems getting my heart rhythm normal and on thursday they went in to do a cardiac ablassion (similar to a cardiac cath - but more involved) to correct the problem. My heart rhythm seems ok now but only time will tell. I'm on beta blockers and blood thinners (hopefully for only a short time) as a result. At this point i am feeling very good and glad to be home. My energy is getting better every day and spirits are good. I feel good in the morning and then as the day goes on i get tired and need a nap (I guess this is to be expected). I just took a shower and finally think that all the tape glue is off me - great feeling! I'm glad we met too - it definetely helps to have someone to talk with that understands what you are going through. Keep me posted on your progress. Dave
Thinking of you Dave. I will tell my husband to look for Michelle as well. My husband\'s name is Cornel. I agree - I am glad I found your journal. It has ...Read more
Thinking of you Dave. I will tell my husband to look for Michelle as well. My husband\'s name is Cornel. I agree - I am glad I found your journal. It has been comforting to know that someone else has faith in the same surgeon and hospital and I have chosen. Try and have as good a night as possible, and we will look for each other at the end of the week and can compare battle scars and stories. Randa
David Kelliher Randa - I'm leaving work now and i am starting to have bad anxieties it is seeming very real now. Th ... Read more
David Kelliher Randa - I'm leaving work now and i am starting to have bad anxieties it is seeming very real now. Thank you and look forward to meeting you!
Hi Dave - Thought I would let you know that I don\'t think I will be in Boston Tues nite - but rather will come up Wednesday AM before my cardiac cath. I will ...Read more
Hi Dave - Thought I would let you know that I don\'t think I will be in Boston Tues nite - but rather will come up Wednesday AM before my cardiac cath. I will keep your restaurant i mind for when I have my 6 week follow up with Dr. Cohn. Coming to Boston is actually like coming home for me. I was born at Brighams (when it was the Lyon Inn) and treated for my Hodgkins there (and Dana Farber) about 22 years ago. That is one of the reasons it felt like the right place to be for this surgery too. Have a good and as relaxing as possible weekend. I will look for you when I get to the hospital on Wednesday. Hopefully you will be in step down quickly. My personal email is rgaalswijk@snet.net but I will check for updates on your journal too. Randa G
David Kelliher Hi Randa - I spent the weekend trying not to think about tomorrow. Did odds and ends (stuff i won't ... Read more
David Kelliher Hi Randa - I spent the weekend trying not to think about tomorrow. Did odds and ends (stuff i won't be able to do for the next few months) as well as spent time with the wife and kids. All in all it was a good weekend - hope you had a good weekend as well. I'm at work wrapping up a few things then off to pre op this afternoon. I'm about as ready as possible and at ease with everything (of course we will see how i feel after pre op when they they let me know all the risks). Not sure if we will talk again before my surgery but i hope we do meet (feel free to look me up on wednesday if you have time - My wifes name is Michelle). I hope everything goes perfect for you. It has been nice to have someone to speak with that is going through the same think - thank you! All the best to you! Dave
Prior to my surgury (dec 15) I had taken propranolol as needed for palpitations; very safe and very effective. Most likely you will be on this medication or ...Read more
Prior to my surgury (dec 15) I had taken propranolol as needed for palpitations; very safe and very effective. Most likely you will be on this medication or a variation for several months after the surgery. It\'s a beta-block which also lowers the BP in the heart. Beleive it or not I used to take it for anxiety attacks. Discuss with your cardiologist.
Terry T.
David we are goign to have to look for each other in recovery and have a big laugh that we have made it thru. I will make sure my husband has your name so ...Read more
David we are goign to have to look for each other in recovery and have a big laugh that we have made it thru. I will make sure my husband has your name so we can find each other. I agree - we made the right decsion. It was actually Adam Pick who put me in touch with Dr. Cohn when I was searching. I am incredibley stressed today - but some days are better than others. I just try and focus on my boys. We will stay in touch. Randa
David Kelliher Randa - We definetely will need to find each other to commiserate about our aches and pains. I will ... Read more
David Kelliher Randa - We definetely will need to find each other to commiserate about our aches and pains. I will be waiting for you when you get to the step down floor (hopefully i won't still be in the ICU when you get there). I understand the stress you feel....know that you're not alone....and know you will be better than new when all is said and done! i keep telling myself that the anticipation is going to be worst than the event (i hope this is true)! Feel free to reach out if you need a sounding board! II helps to have someone going through the same thing to talk with. Also if you are planning on staying in boston the night before go to the north end for dinner and a Mike's Pastry cannolli- it's the best part of going to Boston! lets defenetely keep in touch! Dave
David - What hospital and surgeon did you decide on. I am asking because I am in Connecticut and I am having my surgery at Brigham and Womens with Dr. Cohn ...Read more
David - What hospital and surgeon did you decide on. I am asking because I am in Connecticut and I am having my surgery at Brigham and Womens with Dr. Cohn on April 7th. I looked at Cleveland Clinic, as well as hospitals in Long Island and New York. The cardiologist at CC actually told him that Boston would be just as good for me as, like you, I was young and in good health otherwise. I too am asymtomatic, only having one episode with heart palpitations one November morning. And I too have 2 young kids. It is scary - but as you read more in these HVJ\'s - you really do see that the odds are way in our favor. Would love to hear from you. Randa Gaalswijk
David Kelliher Hi Randa - I'm having my surgery at the brigham with Dr. Cohn on Tuesday 4/5. With any luck i will p ... Read more
David Kelliher Hi Randa - I'm having my surgery at the brigham with Dr. Cohn on Tuesday 4/5. With any luck i will propobly be leaving the ICU when you are arriving there.
I am nervous; however, i'm confident that we made the best choice with surgeon and hospital. The closer i get to the date the more anxious and irritable i get. I had the worst palpitations last night . Work is very stressful (i own my own business) which adds much stress to this situation.
How are you holding up?
Perhaps our paths will cross. Regardless, i wish you all the best and will be thinking of you!
I am from: Boston, Massachusetts
