Welcome to the club of \"Girardi successes.\" There are many in it, but each one is special. He is amazing, isn\'t he?!?!?! Glad all went well. Keep walking ...Read more
Welcome to the club of \"Girardi successes.\" There are many in it, but each one is special. He is amazing, isn\'t he?!?!?! Glad all went well. Keep walking and doing what you can. It gets easier and easier. Though as I was told by someone else, recovery is not always linear. Be well.
-Mitch Friedman
Hi Ira, the hard part is almost over...waiting. It really is the hardest part. You will be fine...tell your wife you are going to an excellent facility, have ...Read more
Hi Ira, the hard part is almost over...waiting. It really is the hardest part. You will be fine...tell your wife you are going to an excellent facility, have a very experienced surgeon that does this surgery EVERY day. She will still worry,,,but that\'s okay...that\'s her job. I will keep you both in my prayers.
God bless!
Linda Dixon, AVR 3/13/12
You got this, i look forward to seeing your progress on the other side. I don\'t remember much of anything from ICU except wondering why my pillow was not shaped ...Read more
You got this, i look forward to seeing your progress on the other side. I don\'t remember much of anything from ICU except wondering why my pillow was not shaped like a heart. Its my frist full day at home today, 5 days out from surgery.
Hi Ira,
It must be difficult for our loved ones to watch us go through this. Id imagine you\'d feel very helpless. It will all be over soon and your wife ...Read more
Hi Ira,
It must be difficult for our loved ones to watch us go through this. Id imagine you\'d feel very helpless. It will all be over soon and your wife will be able to show you how much she loves you by treating you like a king as she nurses you back to health.
best of luck on the 29th. Will be looking forward to your postoperative report.
Nancy B
I chose mechanical after discussions with both the cardiologist and surgeon. They both said that the catheter placed valves are only used on patients who can\'t ...Read more
I chose mechanical after discussions with both the cardiologist and surgeon. They both said that the catheter placed valves are only used on patients who can\'t withstand open heart surgery and that the replacement valve has a short lifespan.
I am 63 and would require another surgery in my late 70\'s which does not interest me.
They both said that coumadin levels are easy to modulate if you keep a consistent diet.
This is a difficult personal decision that all of us must make.
Hi Ira.
I am looking forward to following your progress as you are going in two days before me.
Jerry Vernhout
ira itzkowitz I'm sorry you were bumped but there are no accidents,so tell your wife all will be well.I will keep y ... Read more
ira itzkowitz I'm sorry you were bumped but there are no accidents,so tell your wife all will be well.I will keep you posted on my journey.By the way what made you choose the mechanical valve ?
We all fear/dread the breathing tube. Most likely he will not remember it. I had the 6:30AM surgery and was kept sedated until 9PM when I was ready to have ...Read more
We all fear/dread the breathing tube. Most likely he will not remember it. I had the 6:30AM surgery and was kept sedated until 9PM when I was ready to have the breathing tube removed. I woke up, they removed it and then I fell asleep again. I woke for good at 10PM and have almost no recollection of being on the tube. Most others had the same experience.
-Mitch Friedman
Hi Ira, welcome to HVJ. I had surgery with Dr. Girardi on 2-2-12, AVR and lower ascends aorta repair. He is amazing. Read other journals, they will help. ...Read more
Hi Ira, welcome to HVJ. I had surgery with Dr. Girardi on 2-2-12, AVR and lower ascends aorta repair. He is amazing. Read other journals, they will help. Read mine too, I am told it is helpful. Ask lots of questions, this community is amazing. If I can help in anyway, let me know. I am a fellow New Yorker. The waiting is way worse than te actually surgery. NYP Cornell is amazing. Good decision to go there and go with Girardi. Good luck.
-Mitch Friedman
ira itzkowitz Hi Mitch- thanks so much for your response,this is "the wife".Have read your journal and found your p ... Read more
ira itzkowitz Hi Mitch- thanks so much for your response,this is "the wife".Have read your journal and found your perspective on your experience very relatable and informative.Right now, my husband is in a pretty calm place, the thing that is totally freaking him out is the breathing tube!I have read so much about the procedure I think I can assist Dr.Giradi,he is kind of distancing himself from most details except THE BREATHING TUBE. Any input from you would be great. This site has been an a wonderful source of info for me,it's nice not to be a fly on the wall anymore! Thanks-Mary
I am from: new york, New York
