Wendy's Guestbook

Hi Wendy, Just checking in to see if you are back on a regular running schedule. I last wrote in your guestbook March 16th. Hope you are doing well and making great progress. I'm back on a 4 mile run routine (though a very slow one!) Paul

Hi Wendy, Glad your home and doing better. I am writing on behalf of my husband Tom he is going to need surgery on aortic and mitral possibly tricuspid valves. We are considering C.C. Our cardiologist is in the wait and come back for repeat ECO in May, meanwhile his numbers are in moderate to serious for aortic and mild to moderate for mitral. would you be kind enough to email me at polukas1@hotmail.com when you are up to it as I would love to talk to you or feel free to call me. My phone number is 570-929-2689. Prayers to you for a speedy recovery. Shelly Poluka

Hi, Wendy! Found you via your hubby, on AchillesBlog.com ! I\'ve torn BOTH ATs playing competitive volleyball (at ~56 and ~64) with a bunch of folks your age and younger. And I had my BAV replaced with a Medtronics pig valve at 65, 2+ years ago. I\'ve been back to competitive volleyball -- including some indoor beach 2-on-2! -- since 1 year post-AVR-op, almost to the day. My story is laid out at valvereplacement.org, in a long series of posts with a title like \"Norm\'s Story So Far. . .\" All the best for a smooth recovery!

Wendy, I was discharged home to Maine from Boston (about 5 hour drive) and saw my family doc two days later, then my cardiologist 2 weeks after discharge. I never did see my surgeon again, but I stayed in touch with him via e-mail for several months. He was great about answering any questions that I had. Wish you the very best with your surgery! You\'ll be running agin real soon! Paul

Wendy I had my surgery in cleveland in sept. I stayed a couple nights ina hotel before being discharged. I saw a nurse practicioner the day before I left and then followed up with my primary care two weeks later. The nurse practicioner at the hospital in cleveland called and helped set up the appointmment with my primary care. I was glad I had a couple of days in a hotel because I would not have been ready to go through the airport and fly that day. The nurse practicioner suggested I use a wheel chair at the airport which I didn\'t want to do but I was glad I did. Flying was tiring after just having surgery. Good luck! Natalie tucker Aortic valve repair/dacron graft-9/10/12

Wendy, I had me AVR at CCF and they gave me an option of staying around a couple days to get a check-up or I could go home and see my local cardiologist. I think I had my plane tickets booked and I was half out the door as they offered the option to go home. The last thing I wanted was to be isolated in some strange hotel room. They paid for my limo to the airport and arranged for me to be wheeled to the plane. They advised me to see my local cardiologist 1-2 days after I got home and to see my primary care physician within a week. FYI - the flight home was not bad at all. Eric Rovin AVR 12/11/12 CCF

Wendy-- I too was a CleveClinic patient. I had NO surgeon follow up, but did have a local Cardiologist anxious to assume that role. Just check your cardiologist first. In my case, the Clinic co-operated, and shared records. (About 25 miles travel). John Teeftt AVR 5/4/12 Dr. Lytle

Hi Wendy, When I had my surgery at CCF 15months ago, I was given a choice of going home or sticking around for the follow up. I chose to go home as I had been in the hospital 9 days, but they made me sign off on a form stating that I denied the follow up. It\'s a little unnerving to sign off, but I think a lot of people do it. I was sooooo ready to go home! I would just wait and see how you feel. Don\'t go if you don\'t feel comfortable or ready. Godspeed and good luck! Deb Ziegler