best of luck tomorrow! I had the same thing done on February 3rd of this year and everything is great. Your in good hands and will be looking forward ...Read more
Dan
best of luck tomorrow! I had the same thing done on February 3rd of this year and everything is great. Your in good hands and will be looking forward to your updates
Dan Rhoden Robert, thank you, looking forward to giving updates!
Hi Dan, lifting you in prayer for a successful surgery and recovery. God bless you
Hey Dan! From Los Angeles to Indianapolis... I am sending you thoughts, prayers and healthy heart wishes for your aortic valve surgery tomorrow (Monday). ... Read more
Hey Dan! From Los Angeles to Indianapolis... I am sending you thoughts, prayers and healthy heart wishes for your aortic valve surgery tomorrow (Monday). You are in the BEST of hands with Dr. Gerdisch at Franciscan Health. You got this!!!
Best wishes tomorrow. You are in good hands. Godspeed.
Dan Rhoden Rose, thank you so much. Looking at your journals gives me encouragement I can get this done. Thank ... Read more
Dan Rhoden Rose, thank you so much. Looking at your journals gives me encouragement I can get this done. Thank you for your efforts to capture your journey for the benefit of others.
Adam Pick Love this patient-to-patient support!!! Rose, Thanks so much for helping Dan along his journey!
Wishing you all the best on your surgery 3/28. That happens to be the 5 year anniversary of my own AVR, ascending and root aneurysm surgery. Though not ...Read more
Wishing you all the best on your surgery 3/28. That happens to be the 5 year anniversary of my own AVR, ascending and root aneurysm surgery. Though not a walk in the park, it is doable. Be patient with yourself during recovery, and listen to your body. Someone on this this site called recovery an “enforced vacation” which I think Is a good description, especially for an active person. Looking forward to seeing your post-op notes!
Dan Rhoden Marie, congrats on your anniversary, go out and treat yourself on Monday, have some dessert for me. ... Read more
Dan Rhoden Marie, congrats on your anniversary, go out and treat yourself on Monday, have some dessert for me. Appreciate the support and advice. The enforced vacation is a good term. I'm not very good at extended down time.
From one Dan to another - I'm a mitral valve guy but we all seem to go through similar experiences. I was out of bed the day after, walking by day 2. A little ...Read more
From one Dan to another - I'm a mitral valve guy but we all seem to go through similar experiences. I was out of bed the day after, walking by day 2. A little bit of AFib, but they say that's common and since I'm just 10 days out it will self-correct. These days right before can be trying, but focus on the fact that by 2 weeks from now you will feel great, have little, if any, pain and you WILL soon be doing all the things you love again. And the fact that you've exercised before and are in good shape will have everybody saying 'You look great!" (I love when they say that.) Good luck to you Dan!
Dan Rhoden Dan, thank you for the good wishes and feedback. Glad all is going well for you. You're right in l... Read more
Dan Rhoden Dan, thank you for the good wishes and feedback. Glad all is going well for you. You're right in looking out a few weeks from now in the recovery side, can't wait to get there!
Hi Dan, my name is Marilyn and I had open heart surgery last fall. Like you I was hoping that the less invasive procedure was the one for me but I needed the ...Read more
Hi Dan, my name is Marilyn and I had open heart surgery last fall. Like you I was hoping that the less invasive procedure was the one for me but I needed the full open heart procedure. Replaced aortic and mitral valves and repaired tricuspid. A surprise since I had no symptoms. Good thing my docs got on it. Went to Cleveland Clinic
and they did a super job. Lots of horror stories out there about the surgery and the pain, but my experience was much better. First, some discomfort but no in the real hard pain at all. On ibuprophen on day 4 and out of the hospital morning of day five. I had a bit of A Fib but it went away on its own. Had to monitor my meds because the blood pressure meds they put me on just had too many side effects.
They get you moving right away so best if you are fit before you go in. I exercise moderately on a daily basis and always have. I do stretching and lots of deep breathing every evening and I think these were very very helpful in a fast recovery. They glued my sternum instead of external stitches. Wrapped inside with good thin wire. I never was bothered by this and my scar is barely visible. I do feel a difference in my breathing... just more oxygen moving through my heart and the rest of my body. Feels great.
I am 80 and am not restricted at all in activities. All in all I have no horror stories to share. Just a fast surgery and easy recovery.
It is natural to b nervous but if you have a lot of confidence in your surgical team just try to relax and turn it all over to them.
Good luck!
Dan Rhoden Marilyn, thank you so much for your experience and advice. You did awesome in your journey.
Hi Dan, I had an aortic replacement via OHS about 2 years ago and have enjoyed a terrific outcome as I’m sure you will. I’m stronger and healthier ...Read more
Hi Dan, I had an aortic replacement via OHS about 2 years ago and have enjoyed a terrific outcome as I’m sure you will. I’m stronger and healthier than ever. My advice for recuperation is to enjoy it, sort of like an enforced vacation. My days were anchored by 3 walks and in between I read, dozed, played cards, watched movies. In other words I didn’t place any pressure on myself to be “productive” just to heal. I had a goal to work towards to ge backpacking 3.5 months post surgery and that helped focus me. You will have insomnia, various aches and pains in your chest, fatigue and more. But know it will soon pass and you’ll be stronger and healthier soon. Here’s to your successful surgery and a stronger and more vibrant you!
Dan Rhoden Thank you Marc, appreciate the guidance. Patience and baby steps will be my àpproach. Hearing from... Read more
Dan Rhoden Thank you Marc, appreciate the guidance. Patience and baby steps will be my àpproach. Hearing from veterans like yourself is awesome. Glad you are doing well.
Best of luck for a fantastic outcome. I, too, ride my bike a lot and it'll be great to do hills again, won't it? It's hard to be asymptomatic! My ...Read more
Best of luck for a fantastic outcome. I, too, ride my bike a lot and it'll be great to do hills again, won't it? It's hard to be asymptomatic! My pictures certainly don't match the symptoms now, so I wait. Glad that this will be in your rear view mirror. Onward and upward!
Dan Rhoden Thank you Carrie, can't wait to get back on the bike. Just had the bike serviced today. It looks rea... Read more
Dan Rhoden Thank you Carrie, can't wait to get back on the bike. Just had the bike serviced today. It looks ready to go, just waiting on me now! Hope your journey goes well.
I had the exact same surgery/diagnosis 11+ years ago at UH in Cleveland, OH. I was 53 at the time and otherwise healthy. Recovery ...Read more
Hi Dan,
I had the exact same surgery/diagnosis 11+ years ago at UH in Cleveland, OH. I was 53 at the time and otherwise healthy. Recovery was tough 1st week, but by week 7 I was back at work and feeling 90%+. Everything is still going well and my valve is still not showing any problems. I'm sure outcomes are even better these days. Good luck.
Dan Rhoden Thank you Tony, glad you had great success with your new hardware. Looking forward to getting on the... Read more
Dan Rhoden Thank you Tony, glad you had great success with your new hardware. Looking forward to getting on the other side of this and work on recovery.
Thanks for sharing! What you have, is what I have and it's all progressing toward the same surgical remedy. Your profile photo leads me to believe ...Read more
Thanks for sharing! What you have, is what I have and it's all progressing toward the same surgical remedy. Your profile photo leads me to believe your are an active athlete, road racer or criterium lover? I'm a trail ultrarunner, with my situation slowing me down as time goes by. Wishing you only the very best outcomes, a very speedy recovery, and many podium finishes in your future! YOU GOT THIS!!!!!!!
Dan Rhoden Trail Head, yes, love the road bike, long rides, just everything about cycling. I too found myself s... Read more
Dan Rhoden Trail Head, yes, love the road bike, long rides, just everything about cycling. I too found myself slowing down, breathing was way off. Endurance dropped and very fatigued daily. I chalked it up to getting older and was actually okay with that. I sort of expected it. Looking forward to get on the other side of this, recovery, and hop back on the bike. Thank you for the good wishes. Hoping all goes well for you and your journey.
Welcome . It’s normal to feel worried and anxious before surgery . Try and distract yourself and keep your mind occupied . Get ...Read more
Hi Dan,
Welcome . It’s normal to feel worried and anxious before surgery . Try and distract yourself and keep your mind occupied . Get outdoors and see nature / the great outdoors ! Try and get yourself as physically strong as you are up to / able to to give yourself a head start post operatively . Try and eat as well as you can , even if your appetite might not be very good just now . Be kind to yourself .
Hi Dan! Wishing you well on upcoming surgery. I too was leaning towards TAVR but then after further discussion am going with OHS. I’m a nervous wreck as we ...Read more
Hi Dan! Wishing you well on upcoming surgery. I too was leaning towards TAVR but then after further discussion am going with OHS. I’m a nervous wreck as we just had to push it back 2 weeks soo now surgery will be in April. Like you stated very anxious at this point. Best of luck to you and I can’t wait to hear about your recovery!
Dan Rhoden Thank you Jessica, good luck in your journey.
You will be in great hands having Dr. Gerdisch do your surgery! I was really impressed with all the staff at a Franciscan Health and Dr. Gerdisch really cares ...Read more
You will be in great hands having Dr. Gerdisch do your surgery! I was really impressed with all the staff at a Franciscan Health and Dr. Gerdisch really cares about his patients. He’s personally called me yesterday from the airport to help me figure out how to manage some stomach issues and his APRN even offered to come to my hotel to check on me. Top notch.
Dan, I get the nerves. You are going to do AWESOME! Dr. Gerdisch has successfully treated many, many, many patients in our community. Great job researching ...Read more
Dan, I get the nerves. You are going to do AWESOME! Dr. Gerdisch has successfully treated many, many, many patients in our community. Great job researching and finding him!!! I know Dr. Gerdisch is going to use all of his amazing skills to help you achieve a wonderful result. Fyi, you might find comfort in the following videos I filmed with Dr. Gerdisch and his patients.
https://www.Heart-Valve-Surgery.com - A common concern for patients before-and-after heart surgery is pain management. Regardless of whether a patient is sc...
https://www.Heart-Valve-Surgery.com - How has the "Rapid Recovery Protocol" developed by Dr. Marc Gerdisch, a leading cardiac surgeon at Franciscan Health, a...
Dan Rhoden Thanks Adam, even more impressed with Dr. Gerdisch. Love his passion.
Hi Dan, did you already have your appointment with Dr. Gerdisch? If so, how did it go?
Dan Rhoden Hi Janet, not yet, scheduled for January 20th. Having a catherization on January 19th. Getting closer ... Read more
Dan Rhoden Hi Janet, not yet, scheduled for January 20th. Having a catherization on January 19th. Getting closer! I did meet with Dr. Advani last week, he's an interventional surgeon. Very impressed with him as well.