Hi I was scheduled in October for mitral valve repair after discovering my heart murmer had worsened in the last five years and was now critical?
I went into ...Read more
Hi I was scheduled in October for mitral valve repair after discovering my heart murmer had worsened in the last five years and was now critical?
I went into Sharp Hospital (san diego) the day before for the camera procedures up your leg and down your juglar to visualize the heart. It was also discovered I was 80% blocked so two bypasses were also scheduled during surgery. I went through the normal ICU drug induced recovery where you halucinate 27/7 but other than that I would say the heart was the easy part of my journey.
The second night post surgery I was feeling better and thinking...well this was easier than I anticipated??
Then I got hit with a surprise attack of diverticulitus which caused my colon to explode and sepsys set in causing me to rapidly decline. They said they had to get 4 security guards to tie me down as I was out of it and determined to leave.
I remember being on the ER table and the general surgeon there was trying to convince me to do surgery again?
At that time they were wiating for labs and he wasnt sure what it was and wanted to do exploratory? I had just been cut wide open for heart surgery so wasnt in a hurry to be dissected like a cat in high school if they werent sure why.
I was in pain and said "I think I will wait till morning and see how I feel".
At that time the labs came in and he pulled my family aside and told them I wouldnt be here if i wated any longer as the sepsys would kill me in the next two hours. The team was already dressed for surgery.
My son informed me of this and i said lets go and they wisked me in for an immediate emergency surgery. Unfortunately, they had to remove part of my colon and I woke up after a week of drug induced halucinations in the ER being incubated and with a colostomy bag?? Quite a shock to ones system and ego carrying around "extra luggage" but IT SURE BEATS THE ALTERNATIVE :)
I have to say they saved my life twice that week in November. I am one of the lucky ones where they can reverse the colostomy in a few months.
It took me a couple months to get strong enough to be functional and i forced the issue by going to a large mall here in san diego and walking laps every day and building up my strength, air and stamina.
I feel blessed to wake up every day now and thank all of those at Sharp Hospital in San Diego for their caring professionalism that got me through it and here to talk about it. I owe them my life twice now!
Im sure when i go back in November to haVE MY COLOSTOMY REVERSED I will take a couple months to recover again.
However, I feel very blessed to have the opportunity to share it with everyone.
The good news is IF I hadnt been in the hospital when my colon exploded...I wouldnt have lived! The other good news is I only had ONE copay because I was already in the hospital when it happened :))
I encourage EVERYONE to Be proactive with your health and make sure you follow up on all of your conditions. IF I hadnt asked my DR in October as I was leaving my annual physical "What about the heart murmer from a few years ago...shouldnt we check on that??" I wouldnt be here today! In multiple ways!
Sincerely
I and my entire family thanks ALL of you at Sharp Memorial Hospital for your professionalism and dedication and saving my life at least TWICE SO FAR.
Sincerely
Kimberly Biddick Wow!!! What a story! So glad you are here to tell it! :)
Lenore Mitchell Your story and your advice to be proactive about health serves as one very important reason this site ... Read more
Lenore Mitchell Your story and your advice to be proactive about health serves as one very important reason this site is so helpful. We do tend to take our health for granted, and then facing something like heart surgery gives us pause and brings us back to the reality that each day we're given is special and is a gift. You are so right is saying each of us needs to be an active participant in our own care, making sure to select the best doctors available, keeping ourselves informed and then doing our part as much as possible to stay healthy.
Tammy Pilcher I second what Kimberly said! Glad it all was taken care of and you were in the right place!
Jim Kelly-Evans Martin...that is a really horrible time that you had. I'm glad you're OK now. Best wishes for the fut ... Read more
Jim Kelly-Evans Martin...that is a really horrible time that you had. I'm glad you're OK now. Best wishes for the future.
Bob M Martin, you are exactly right, you are truly blessed. God bless and rise up! I pray that after your r ... Read more
Bob M Martin, you are exactly right, you are truly blessed. God bless and rise up! I pray that after your reversal, it will be the last time you have to stay at the hospital.
Well I am a triple A type personality and have learned to slow down to a tempered single A type:)
The last 4 years I have helped my wife through getting type ...Read more
Well I am a triple A type personality and have learned to slow down to a tempered single A type:)
The last 4 years I have helped my wife through getting type 1 diabetes ..then cancer a year later. She has shown me how to handle anything in life with class, style dignity, courage and humor,
Now it is my turn...Four years ago it was noticed that I had a heart murmur but no big deal. so I forgot it and forged ahead. This year during my regular physical all was fine...except on the way out...I suggested we recheck the echo as it has been 4 years? (We must be proactive!)
Good thing since as of NOW it is a severe mitral valve prolapse. I was sent to a cardiologist and a surgeon who both said..."You need to get this done NOW! It is very hard to submit to this as I don't have any symptoms?? I did all the research and wanted a minimally invasive DaVinci operation because I see where the surgeons claim we can play golf in 3 weeks?? However, even though my hospital group Sharp brags (on website and all over the internet) about the minimally invasive surgery using the Davinci Robotics...the 2 or 3 surgeons who specialize in that area for them (under contract) Do NOT do it that way anymore??
Instead they want me to be their Thanksgiving "Wish Bone":)) i.e. do a full sternotomy.
I am scheduled to do this on the 11th of November and thinking seriously about calling my insurance company (Blue Shield HMO) and asking if I can go outside the system for what I want the way I want it??
Any one else experience this? What is the significant difference in the two methods besides severe pain and much longer recovery time? Please advise?? thanks
Susan Ericsson For what it's worth, two cardiologists I spoke with would not recommend robotic for mitral valve. Th ... Read more
Susan Ericsson For what it's worth, two cardiologists I spoke with would not recommend robotic for mitral valve. They told me who did it, but would not recommend on basis of results they had seen. I ended up with a right thoracotomy.
MARTIN S Hi Susn and thank you for your reply. I am also seeking the best surgeon on the west coast?? I am i ... Read more
MARTIN S Hi Susn and thank you for your reply. I am also seeking the best surgeon on the west coast?? I am in San Diego. Anyone have any recommendations? sincerely
Tom Elliott Hi Martin. I also asked about minimally invasive alternatives for my mitral valve repair but the surg ... Read more
Tom Elliott Hi Martin. I also asked about minimally invasive alternatives for my mitral valve repair but the surgeon I was talking to (and wound up using) advised against it, primarily because my repair might - and did - prove to be somewhat more complicated than the average, and he wanted all the working room he could get. He also pointed out that a sternotomy, as opposed to any approach that goes between the ribs, doesn't cut any muscle to speak of, which may make for a less painful recovery overall. I went for the sternotomy and I've actually had very little pain, except for coughing and sneezing during the first week or two. The biggest nuisance is the restriction on lifting nothing over 10 lbs - there is a lot in the world that weighs more than 10 lbs.
Joan Napier Martin, I was told the very same things as Sue and Tom. I really wanted minimally invasive repair or ... Read more
Joan Napier Martin, I was told the very same things as Sue and Tom. I really wanted minimally invasive repair or the robotic surgery but he said it is more painful and it would not work for my situation. I am having the full sternotomy because at this point he is unsure if I will have a repair or replacement until he actually sees it. I have calcifications that he is going to try to remove. Either way, I trust him because he has been doing primarily MV surgeries for over 30 years.
Have you checked out the video on this site about Dr. Trento at Cedar Sinai in Los Angeles.? He was Florence Henderson's surgeon, and she does the video. He sounds like an amazing surgeon, one of the very best! Good luck. Joan
Susan Ericsson Hi guys. My repair was a simple one - I remember the TEE techs gleefully saying it was the simplest p ... Read more
Susan Ericsson Hi guys. My repair was a simple one - I remember the TEE techs gleefully saying it was the simplest possible from the surgeon's point of view. I had the "minimally invasive thoracotomy" for that reason. It is clear that it avoids many of the problems associated with healing the sternum, but it is more painful initially, as all the nurses told me. Not only the cutting through muscle, but it hurts every time you breathe at first. The overall recovery is supposed to be quicker, with less potential complications. We'll see. I trusted my cardiologists and surgeons to guide me to the right choice, and ultimately I think that's what all of us must do.
I am from: SAN DIEGO
