May The Lord guide your surgeons hands tomorrow. I will definitely be praying for you. Your in good hands!

Brian W.

Welcome to NC. It's always better to visit as a tourist but we'll take you as a patient too! My daughter lives in Greenville-the hospital will take great care of you. I am 30 minutes from Duke (Durham) and that's were I had my surgery but Greenville was my backup. We look forward to your updates.
Debbie Argetsinger
AVR 04/02/12

Scott

Dennis and I will be there with you in spirit and in prayer. All will go well. In God we trust.
God Bless.
Amber & Dennis

Scott
Will be remembering you-and the Physicians and staff as you prepare for this adventure. It is amazing what they can do. it has been just 6 weeks since my Mitral Valve Chord repair and placement of the ring. Tho' not able to do so robotically it was min/invasive, so I am healing well. Walking about 1 mile now and sleeping in a bed not the recliner. I have been discharged at 5 weeks by the surgeon and the cardiologist from the hospital stay there in Leesburg also -had a problem slowing the heart beat down-had to stay in hospital total 13 days so am on coumadin for first while--- they do not need to see me again-I keep in touch with the coumadin clinic for 1 more month--- I checked in with my local cardiologist-He was pleased with the results- and my primary Dr.( and they don't need to see me again until Jan.)-Allowed to drivenow ---but still with the heart pillow @ my chest. It all comes around as things get stronger-- heart strong...no regurgitation...sound sinus rhythm-- BP much lower things are looking up
So take heart-even with a few set backs things are going to be better very soon. Rest easy--- Trust in Him --- He will be in charge
Because of His Love for us
Later
Terry.

Hi Scott, I wish you the best and lots of people will be praying for you. You are in His hands guiding your surgeon. Will be 4 years for me next April 17, 2013, funny how you remember the date. I am now 77, and my brother, 85 just had his aortic valve done along with double by-pass and he is doing well. Try to think positive.
Sylvia Woolworth

Hey Scott, I just wanted to let you know that I've been praying for you. I hope you will be able to enjoy Thanksgiving so soon after surgery. What are you expecting your recovery to be like?

Hi glad to hear it's all sorted and will be over by the time we see you, which is fast approaching.

We'll all be thinking of you over here, sending you all our prayers and good wishes.

Really looking forward to a HUGE hug when we see you in December.

Take care, lots of love from the Crabb family x x

I had a similar experience to Deb. My energy level dropped tremendously the month before my surgery. I could hardly walk ten feet without getting out of breath, longer than that I'd get chest pain and dizziness and I'd fall asleep immediately after work without even eating. My echo didn't change at all. I found the chronic section of this article particularly helpful http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aortic_valve_insufficiency. I think and I both experienced this latency period. Mine was a result of Aortic valve but I'm sure the mitral valve is similar.
Carolyn Stone
AVR 9/25/2012

I've been very grumpy and scatterbrained and I'm not normally - though for me I think for me it's more a sign of me being stressed with the news rather than the condition itself.

Hi Scott,

Yes, I felt very fatigued the last couple months before my surgery. I would feel okay in the morning, but I had an overwhelming urge to lie down in the afternoon. I asked my surgeon about this prior to my surgery, and he said my echo didn't show any deterioration in the last few months, so he didn't know why I was so fatigued. However, after the surgery, he said my mitral valve was far more damaged than the echo indicated, and he could understand that I would be fatigued.
Godspeed and good luck!
Deb Z

Scott,

This is very, very normal. I had a difficult time with concentration and exhaustion at work for sure. I'm a big planner / list maker so I was distracted with surgery preparations, "what if's," etc... Someone else gave me this advice and I will pass it on to you: "Try to enjoy the ride as best you can because this experience will change you forever." I didn't understand it till I was on my way to recovery but it's SO true. I've most certainly made lemonade out of lemons! :-)

Talk soon,

Chris

Hi Scott,
Without a doubt my mood and energy level was affected prior to my surgery. I was exhausted after working a full day and would go homeland nap prior to going to bed. :)
The whole ordeal is extremely stressful as only the person going through would know. Give yourself a break, you're having open heart surgery!

Dear Scott,

I am a doctor from Sydney, Australia. I was diagnosed with Mitral Regurgitation. I must have Mitral Valve Repair surgery. I need your help to get a cardiac surgeon with the best experience in Mitral Valve Repair. Please tell me what is the cost for your surgery, because all my expences are out of pocket (my insurance will not cover overseas surgery).
If you ever come to Sydney, let me know: I will take you around and buy a drink.
God bless you. Best wishes,
Joseph Georghy, MD

Thanks again, Scott! I'll be keeping you in my prayers! Looking forward to hearing about your successful surgery outcome!

Melanie

Bless The Lord, O my soul, and forget not his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases. Ps. 103:2-3

Hi Scott,

Just wanted you to know that I'm thinking about you and praying for you. 11/20 is easy for me to remember -- that's my wedding anniversary! :-) This site helped me SO MUCH during my Dr search -- Adam has done an amazing thing here and we all love him. Hang in there brother, you're almost there.

"Be still and know that I am God" (Psalms 46:10)

Godspeed,

Chris Dixon
(Ross Procedure 2/27/12)

One more question Scott? Is Chitwood doing yours robotically? I have been given the impression that this can't be done.
Thanks again for your encouragement and response.
Melanie

Thank you SO much for your response! I didn't expect to get a response, so I truly appreciate it. I have been praying for some answers and this looks like the beginning of some answers. If it were only the one, I don't think I would be so concerned, but having both leaflets needing repair, I am a little weary with looking for someone that has the experience to do both. Thanks again for your kind resp

Hi Scott,
Have just found this page. I too am facing bi-leaflet repair of the mitral valve. Got the shocking news just yesterday that it would most likely have to be done open heart due to its severity. I've only begun the search and just met with the first surgeon. I'm from Alabama, so if you or anyone else have a suggestion for a surgeon here, I would greatly appreciate it. I'm believing God to lead me to the right one. You are so blessed to have the process of choosing your surgeon over with. Praying for the ultimate healer to heal you through the surgeon's hands.
Melanie

I had an aortice heart valve replacement August 22 and feeling fine. My situation was somewhat similar in that I felt fine but all of a sudden an echo comes back sayiang I'm in serious condition. Next thing you know they do an angiogram and they wanted to opperate immediately I was in such bad shape.
You'll be fine. Probably appreciate every day of your life more. Hope to hear from you in a couple of weeks or so.

Hi Scott!

I just caught your feature in the Adam's HVJ email newsletter. Glad you have felt God's guidance in making your decision. I remember just praying that God would put me in the right hands. After making that decision, God gave me His peace (Phil. 4:6-7) throughout the whole process.

I am a pastor who lives in Winter Haven, Florida. Three years ago last week my doctor detected (first time in my life) a heart valve murmur. That led to tests including an ECHO. Severe mitral regurgitation. What? Who me? I'm a runner! Long story short, I had a mitral repair done by Dr. Accola at Florida Hospital in Orlando on January 28, 2010. Going on three years. Had many ups and downs, but God has brought me through. I'm doing well now, though my aortic valve in under watch.

If you get really bored and care to, my journal has a lot in it. Regardless, if there's any way I can encourage, support, and pray for you as you approach Nov. 20, I'm in. If you'd like to talk with another patient, I'd welcome your call. Just let me know.

Praying for you as the day approaches.

Duane Hunt

Scott, what di you mean by dr Chitwood checked all the boxes? What were your questions during your interview? Sal

Scott,
I saw your surgery date and just had to commen in your guestbookt. My 15 yr old son Ryan will undergo his first surgery to replace his aortic valve also on November 20th. Setting the date for surgery was such a relief to me as a parent that I can only imagine what that feels like as the patient.
Best of luck to you for a successful surgery and a speedy recovery!

Ryan Kukawski's Mom

Scott,

We are excited that you have chosen us for your care! The East Carolina Heart Institute is ready to treat you and provide you with excellent care!

Dr. Chitwood and Amy Etheridge

Excellent! So glad that your surgery date is set! We continue to pray for you!

Miguel Ferreira

Glad to hear you have everything scheduled. I will certainly be keeping you in my prayers.

Brian W.

Scott,

Great to hear you completed your surgeon selection process!

Keep on tickin!
Adam Pick

I, too, live in FL and I will be following your journal entries. Your prayer requests mirror mine as well. I have met with one surgeon in Orlando who says I need a replacement valve and will definitely choose him if another doctor tells me there is no way for a repair on my valve. "Now unto Him who is able..."

Hi Scott,
I remember choosing the surgeon as being the most stressful part of the whole process.....that, and the waiting.
It's a huge decision, but you are doing your homework, and you will feel much better once you have made a decision. I traveled to Cleveland for my mitral and tricuspid repairs with Dr. Gillinov, and while it was a long way to go, it was worth the extra effort and expense. Dr, Gillinov is not only an amazing surgeon, he is also a genuinely kind and humble human being. He is booked pretty far out though......you will have to wait two months or more if you choose him. I'm sure the others on your list are awesome too.....they all have great reputations. Just trust your gut and stay strong and positive. It's a scary process, but also a pretty amazing one when get to the other side.
Godspeed and good luck! You will be in my thoughts and prayers.
Deb Z

Hi Scott,
Thank you for sending the link to your journal. I am here for you buddy. Let me know if there is anything I can do to help you through this difficult.

I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers. After reading some of the other comments there seems to be a lot of positive energy.

Everything should go well and I look forward to diving the deep depths soon!

Trish

Hey brother, praying the news is at the good end of the bad spectrum.
Colyn

Hi Scott,

I can empathise with the difficulty in choice of Surgeon, I went through four before I was referred to Mr Wells at Papworth. Probably not much help to you as he is in the UK. he hase over 10,000 surgeries under his belt with a phenomenal success rate. You are doing the right thaing looking for experience, in this case there is no substitute, also look at success success stats at repair.

I gained comfort from Mr Wells belief that he had a high probability (99%) of repair for my MVP and held good to his word. most of the others thought the chances where 60-80% and that was something I just was not interested in.

Mr Wells was very clear about the sterniotomy as it let him have the best view and repair all the problems, he does not do minimally invasive. It is agood job that he did the chest crack as mine was complex and required P1, P2 & P3 segments repaired, plus Chordia etc! I am pleased I went for it, the pain is not that bad with an appropriate pain management program.

Good luck with your decision, and fair winds for your recovery.

Paul R. (ex regurgitator and zipper club member)

Scott
I also can say that I understand that angst caused by the decision-making process as I have been 1 year + since they listened and said "you will need this fixed"...however we just this week found a
Christian Dr-Highly qualified for Min-invasive /repair of the Cords of the Mitral valve and the leaflet that is leaking...
and in Leesburg ---affiliated with Leesburg Ocala Heart Institute. We had prayed for God's leading in our decisions. The Ins had no Dr in network that was qualified for the delicate repair. I contacted Cleveland Heart Clinic -sent all my records myself-had a phone consult with Dr Gillinov and have a date set aside with him for Nov Surgery, but Ins will not authorize the process-
So we said "Lord is this door closed?"
Then my Ins contacted us with Dr Moore for consultation last Mon. the 10th.
A friend sent an Illustration that shows someone standing in front of 6 doors, one opens and the caption says "When you are waiting for the right door to open- PRAISE the Lord while standing in the Hall!"
My story and page is shown @ the "Search For A patient " Tab see listing below-
I'll be remembering you as you approach this decision in your life
In Him
Terry

Terry's Heart Surgery Update---
Posted by Terry Brooks
Dear Interested associates, friends and family …

Found your journal. With prayer and support all will go well. I too praise God for the amount of resources we have at our hands. While I like you expecting to wait till I was much older. Getting it done now is probably best as our body can handle it. To God be the glory. Keep me posted I've provided my email to you in my other response, but will delete it in a few to avoid future spamming.

Brian Walsh

Oops I forgot to sign my name. :)

Matthew van Voorthuijsen

I'm praying for you Scott. My hope and prayer is that as you heal from surgery you will be stronger than ever before.

Scott,
Thank you for sharing your journey with us. You are in our prayers and our thoughts. If there is anything you assistance with, do not hesitate to ask. We are here for you in whatever capacity you require.
God Bless
Dennis & Amber

Thanks for emailing me the link to your page.

Sending you lots of love from England.

Shanny - bo - telle x

Hi Scott,

For me finding the surgeon was the hardest part. Then the waiting to have surgery was also hard. The surgery itself and the recovery is very manageable and every day gets better. I'm 4 weeks post surgery and the surgery seems like a dream.

Adam's book had a list of questions to ask the surgeons. I used this list and added my own.

Good luck with your journey and ask any and all questions you can think of.

Regards,

Lee Castro

Hi Scott,
I can identify with the shock of finding out you need open heart surgery. I had no idea there was anything wrong with my heart until a routine physical revealed a murmur. I then found out I had three leaky valves and would need them all repaired or replaced. Hearing that sucked the life right out of me......I was terrified. I spent the next year doing research and going to doctors. Finding the right surgeon was the hardest part.......after all, he/she is going to cut your heart open. I ended up traveling to Cleveland Clinic to have my surgery simply because they do more of them there than anywhere else in the country. Believe me, they have it down! That place runs like a well oiled machine, and I don't think I could have been treated better. My surgeon was Dr. Gillinov, and he is an amazing human being in addition to being an outstanding surgeon.
As Trent mentioned above, the surgery wasn't nearly as as bad as I thought it would be. Yes, it is scary, but if you find the right surgeon, your mindset will improve tremendously. And God will be with you every step of the way. My only regret is that I waited a whole year to get the surgery. I wish I had done it sooner just so I could get on with my life. It pretty much consumed my thoughts for an entire year. Once you find a surgeon, be prepared to wait a couple months to get on the schedule. The good doctors are booked pretty far in advance.
Younwill be in my thoughts and prayers in the days ahead. Godspeed and God bless.
Deb Z

Hello Scott,

I had almost the exact story, except replace FL with TX. I heard about MVP about 8 years ago and it was never an issue. I even got my pilots license after jumping through a few extra hoops. Then I learned in march of this year I would need surgery, and had it on June 18th at Baylor Heart Hospital in Plano, TX and my surgeon was Dr. William Ryan.

As for the surgery and stay, I haven't been able to think of anything the staff or surgeon could have done better (other than making me not have to do it in the first place). I had the minimally invasive (it is stil heart surgery so don't kid yourself about the "minimal part") right thoracotomy surgery. I was scared to death, spoke with God often, and was worried non-stop since March. Now I am ~3 months post-op and it doesn't even seem like it ever happened. Honestly the most painful part of the whole experience was taking the tape off of my last IV. Everyone's experience is different, and I certainly am not interested in doing it again, but it wasn't even close to as bad as I had it worked up in my mind as being.

Read the pages of others on here, ask any question you can think of, be 100% confident in your surgeon or find another one.

The gang is here to help,

Trent V

Hi Scott, Welcome to HVJ. You have come to the right place. Personally I think God brought me here. I don't know what I would do without it, I have meant so many and wonderful people here. I loved your journal. I can relate to everything you said. Prayer is very powerful. Its been exactly one year that I heard Aortic Stenosis. On Sept 11th already a holy day I joined my church and in Nov was baptized. After I did that I felt a lot of stress from this being lifted off me. It is so wonderful. Now I have 9 days to go before I really put it all in his hands guiding the surgeons. My doctor said that Gods hands would be there helping. That made me feel real good espically when he said this is going to be complicated. So you hang in there you will be fine. Sounds like you are ready. So keep climbing this mountain and soon you will be going down the other side too. I will follow you. The wait is the worse part and I am really finding that out. Good luck to you.
Mooving on up
Linda H