Brent's Guestbook

Hi Brent, I have sleep apnea and find my self waking up in the middle of the night, which as happened and now that I\'m a recent \"valve job\" (as I call it, too) alumni, I find myself cruizing HVJ land. Looking at your Journal, I\'m inclined to share a Web Site I found while researching cardiac rehab, a Site that was inspirational to me, a not so old, old(er) young man...pushing 70 has got to be the new pushing 40 or so, right? Anyway the site is at www.ironheartracing.com. If you go there, you will see a photo on the right of the page of a fellow in bed after OHS, David Watkins, and if you put your cursor on the photo and click, a video will start that plays the Nike song \"Its Not How You Start, Its How You Finish\" in the background. That tune has a phrase in it that goes \"...everybody gets knocked down, how quick you gonna get-up...\". I will tell you right after I woke up from surgery and the nurse asked my how I felt...and I said \"I feel like shit\" (my wife says I used my full vocabulary, but I don\'t think so)...right after that in my head that tune phrase was stuck, like can happen with a song...and it just kept playing in my head over and over and over and over and over...and I was soon, with little tiny steps, doing laps around the ward, at first with my wife, sister, and daughter with me, but soon the steps got bigger and before long the wife couldn\'t keep up. My surgery was Mar 111th and I started rehab Friday, Mar 15th, five weeks after surgery...and they worked the hell out of me...perhaps my fault...but, you know, that sweat pouring from my brow as I did the treadmill and stationary bike felt so very good. The young cardiologist that takes such good care of me, the one that said exercise has a different meaning to some than to others...to some it means getting up and walking...and to others it means pouring sweat and maybe even vomit...and told me I would be stronger after my valve job than before...and that damn tune phrase comes back a lot, although not now like those first days when it haunted me...would not leave my head. Keep movin\', Brent...keep movin\' ...Barry on the mtn in New Mexico

Hi Brent, I am so glad to hear the surgery went well and that your recovery is also going well. Be sure to take it easy as directed. You may feel you have more energy, but don\'t be tempted to overdo it. I wish you all the best with your recovery. Tia Phillips

Hi Brent, So glad to hear things went so well for you. Keep up the great recovery. I\'ll be following your progress. I head to Cleveland on the 16th for surgery on the 21st and am beginning to get pretty scared. So was it as bad or worse than you expected? Ruth Howell

Brent, You continue to be in my prayers. I hope all went well with your surgery. Give yourself time and lots of it to heal. It gets a little better almost every day. You will feel so much better. I am 25 days post op and doing fairly well. I pray the same, with no complications, for you. Tia Phillips

Brent, I am glad to hear your surgery date has been set. That will give you peace of mind. All you can do is learn as much as you can or want to beforehand, do what your gut, God, and your doctors tell you to do, and realize that your surgical team has done this operation many, many times and has become very skilled at it. Ask any questions you have. I was able to take my healing CD\'s and Christian music on MP3 player in and listen to throughout surgery, and the doctors were willing to say the healing statements during my surgery as recommended by Peggy Huddleston\'s book and tapes. I think they helped to relax me. Do what you feel is best for you. If you want something, ask. The surgeons are there for you. You and your family remain in my prayers as you prepare for and head into surgery. I feel that all will go well for you as they went for me, and that we will all recover well together. God bless you!!! Tia in Indiana

Hi Brent, What doctor and hospital did you choose? I hope you get a date soon and can keep your diabetes under control - very important. And I hope your mom works out all her problems too. Right now just try to concentrate on yourself; get healthy and rest up. My surgery is April 21. It\'s been a long wait. My best to you and your lovely smile. Ruth Howell Maine

Brent, I hope your mom is feeling better. I hope you are making progress with your sugar. Don\'t give up. My surgery went well and now I must just be patient through the healing progress. I will check in on you. I am very happy that I chose the St. Vincent Heart Center in Indianapolis. I had Dr. David Heimansohn, who is one of the best heart surgeons in the country. Take care! Tia Indiana neighbor

Brent, I hope your mother is feeling better. Good luck with your blood sugar. Mine wasn\'t extremely high a little over a year ago--about 110, but one of the things One of the things I took was a nutrient called alpha lipoic acid. I also cut back on the sugar, etc., as well as taking my other supplements. I got my blood sugar down to around 90 and my insulin and A1C to normal levels. I wish the same for you. Thank you for the nice note you left in my guestbook. Tia P.

Hi Brent, I\'m getting close to my valve (heart) job day and again poking around HVJ, and saw your entry. Don\'t know where you are on your choice of a place for your procedure, but, for my 2 cents worth (I did considerable research), Ruth Howell\'s recommendation for the Cleveland Clinic is a truly good recommendation. It has to be one of the berst places available, if not the best, from what I\'ve learned. Good luck to you. Barry Stone from the mtn east of Albuquerque

Hi Brent, Were you able to get in to see your doctor this week? I hope all went well. You continue to be in my prayers. I am sure all will go well for you. Tia P.

Hi Brent, I am sorry you have had your dr. appts. put off. It has got to be frustrating. Don\'t let them put you off too long, depending on what your issues are. I finally got in to see my heart surgeon on Feb. 7, and he told me I have an aortic aneurysm. No one had ever used the term aneurysm to me before this. My surgery has been scheduled for Feb. 25. I will have my aortic valve repaired, if possible, or replaced with a tissue valve and have 3-5\" of my aorta replaced. I hope you get in to see your dr. very soon. Be sure to find a surgeon you feel comfortable with. Ask around in your area and talk to people who have had heart surgery. I requested the surgeon who did my mother-in-law\'s surgery, and I am confident he is the right choice for me. I will have my surgery at the St. Vincent Heart Center in Indianapolis. I wish you all the best and will continue to follow your journal. If I can give you any information that would be helpful, please ask. I do not live that far away from you. Do not hesitate to ask any and all questions to your doctors and other medical staff. I have found my doctors very willing to answer all questions and to accommodate many of my requests, if possible. This is too important to leave any questions unasked. It is your body and your surgery. Take very good care! You and your family are in my prayers! Tia Phillips Indiana

Brent, You might also check into the Heart Center in Indianapolis. My mother in law had her aortic valve replacement and bypass surgery there about 3 years ago, and they took excellent care of her. That is where I will be having my surgery sometime in the next month or so. Best of luck to you as you deal with your sugar. You might check out the website   knowthecause.com which suggests ways to deal with diabetes and other conditions by eliminating fungus from the diet and body. Take care. Tia Phillips Indiana

Brent, Go to the Cleveland Clinic!!!!!!! #1 Heart Hospital in the U.S. for past 16 yrs. That\'s where I went and you will not be disappointed. It is especially important to go to a big place like this when you have other contributing medical issues. My best to you. Ruth Howell Maine ruthjohnhowell@gmail.com

Brent, I understand the feeling of wanting to \"just do it\". But your overall health is soooo important before you go in. I had my surgery one week ago (same diagnosis) and just came home today. Feeling GOOD and looking forward to resting the next few weeks although that will be a chore for me too. May you find peace and keeping blogging through your decision making process. We want to know !!! Lori in Chicago

Hi Brent, I hope you get the news you are waiting for soon. I hope you have found a caring cardiologist. They are out there, so keep looking if you haven\'t found the right one. I will keep you in my prayers. I was diagnosed with a bicuspid aortic valve, too. That was in 2006 after several years of symptoms and no answers. I am now 54 and am awaiting a surgery date sometime within the next two months. I also live in Indiana, so we are \"neighbors\". Best of luck to you! Tia Phillips