Patrick's Guestbook

Hi Patrick. Saw your post to Mitch. Am in STL too. & Thot I\'d say hello I go in feb 9. But still working. And keeping busy We prob don\'t have same dr. But wanted to say hello to fellow STL Are u having surgery ? Keep me posted Best. Nancy st Louis mo. AVR. 2-9. But I don\'t know if I have 2 or 3 cuspids. LOL.

Hey Patrick You are still dodging those bullets so way to go. I sincerely hope you feel as well as your echo shows. Even though you know surgery will one day come - know also that every day you are getting that much more prepared and your surgeon is getting that much better! Cheryl, Ontario

Hi Patrick Thanks for the sweet message left in my guestbook. I\'m glad to see you read Duane\'s message in particular and pray you find some solace in his words. Each of us believe our lives are precious but when I look here and see how many young people are on this site, it makes me feel very motherly with concern over what is at stake. Times and situations such as these can\'t help but make us just a little more fearful but our choices unfortunately are not many. Keep strong. Cheryl, Ontario

Hi Patrick Just stopping by to see how you\'re doing. Haven\'t read an update for a while. Could be there\'s no heart news to report and that\'s a good thing. Take care. Fran

Hey Patrick, don\'t be too concerned yet about that echo. I sent you a contact email through Trevor\'s blog, but then found your journal so thought I\'d go direct. As for your echo... I am 36 and have been following my valve it for 21 years. I have a bicuspid valve and I\'ve had many echos. They are different every year, sometimes better and sometimes worse. This is what I\'ve found, but realize everyone\'s different and blah blah blah (disclosure).... I exercise moderately hard to very hard around 6 days/week. I had switched from a primarily cardio type exercise to a more crossfit type about 4 years ago. If you\'re familiar with Crossfit or Gym Jones, then you know what my workouts were. I found that for the first couple of years my echoes improved, but then last fall - wham! Things went ugly all of the sudden. I talked to the Dr. about my exercise regimen and we agreed that I should lay off the isometric exercise for awhile. I changed to a much more cardio heavy plan and I hated it. I absolutely loved the buttkicking that I was getting from crossfit. Anyway, I followed through with it and my last echo was much better. Back into the normal range. It\'s too early to tell if it will stay this way for the long term, but for the time being I\'m still pounding the pavement and stairmaster/rower/airedyne. I mostly said goodbye to the kettlebells and other weights. I realize that was a bit long for a guestbook signature, but ..... Remember you\'re not alone. Travis

Hi Patrick Thanks for the posting to my guestbook. I\'m really glad you got your promotion. I\'m sure it must give you a good feeling to meet some of the younger people going through this because you can probably more relate to their feelings. You young people really should sail through because you are no doubt more fit to start with. At least I pray that is the case. With your surgery not exactly being elective, it\'s a difficult time to stop midway through your career for a health problem but you know, probably the patients with young children say it\'s not a good time for them and then you get us older folks and maybe we don\'t think this is such a good time either. There just isn\'t a good time. If you aren\'t into rugged sports a lot then probably the mechanical is a good choice. I know myself I wouldn\'t really want any part of a repeat of this surgery. Keep well. Cheryl, Ontario