David's Guestbook

David Pearl  I am struggling the most with detaching from the safety and love of the hospital and nursing home to going back home...Only been hone 2 of the last 44 days..At the end of a bad relationship and no family...No structure no job feel utterly lost and sad and struggling to re enter regular life

Shaun Bloodworth  That is incredibly hard, and I can understand why you’d feel lost right now. After spending so much time in hospital where you felt safe, supported, and cared for, stepping back into regular life—especially without much structure or connection—can feel overwhelming. It makes sense that you’re struggling to find your footing.

Be gentle with yourself through this. Open heart surgery isn't a small surgery, your body has been through a huge change, and healing takes time, both physically and emotionally. Maybe start small—build a bit of routine each day, even if it’s something simple like going for a walk, making a meal, or connecting with one person who listens. You don’t have to have everything figured out right now mate.

If you can, reaching out for some professional or community support might really help too—someone who can walk with you as you rebuild your sense of safety and direction outside the hospital. You deserve that same care and support, even beyond those walls.

You’re not alone and its ok to feel this way, even if it doesn't really seem like it right now.  Hang in there David, baby steps and IT will get better.

David Pearl  I am afraid to leave the nursing home after 5 weeks...... I don't have a home to go back to..I am afraid I will end my life.....I am looking for in patient mental health services...Online groups, psychiatrist, psychologist is not enough..I am in Thailand and there are limited to resources here.......I will find a way to end my life by own hand..That's the end game...Death..it is always and always will be..I will be at peace when I am dead

Shaun Bloodworth  I am here for you David.  Don't feel like you are alone.  Have you sourced any help from the hospital?  Here are some sources that I found in Thailand.  Small steps my friend, we will get through this.  And I also want to let you know you are stronger than you think.  The ability it reach out and tell somebody, like me or anybody else is not a weakness - it is a strength beyond any strength.  It is over 50% of the battle to overcome.  The fact that you have been able to be aware of what you are going through on all fronts and to be so  vulnerable is something not enough people let themselves acknowledge, and without that type of acknowledgment we cannot begin true healing.  This is where you are right now and it is understandably overwhelming.  But you are also not superhuman and your awareness is telling you it is time to change the direction of your life toward something new and better and it can only happen with baby steps.  You can do it - you truly can. Keep reaching out to me, to professional help and breath.  Your life is precious and you are worth it. 

David Pearl  Sorry to hear about doing it during the coronavirus and that's why they pushed it out because I didn't want to end up doing emergency surgery and you were doing very poorly and dying. That's where I was probably heading towards I've been flagging severe since 2025 and finally it got to me I've also got high LPA which is why I've got the disease so early I've got a family history of heart disease my calcification stores score is over 4,000 and I was trying to get really bad left ventricle hypertrophy just still like dysfunction I was firmly in the severe Camp I thought I was asymptomatic I still think I am but I'm probably early symptomatic anyways

David Pearl  Thank you Michael John Smith  ! Who is rooting for me ? wishing you a speedy recovery and the chance of a long and fulfilling life ahead ! Wow thanks ! How goes things for you ?

Fidel Martínez Ruiz  Hey David, I´m wishing you a good result from your surgery and a good recovery , you´ll see  you´ll do great!!

David Pearl  Thanks Ana !  I am going to the doctors I am very depressed and I can't do the surgery. I am too depressed, mentally ill, anxious to do surgery.  I am cancelling the surgery. 

Kimberly Eisenhut  David, please reconsider and get it done now. You will do just fine. We all have the same anxiety and concerns going into this type of thing, but you can get through this. You had things very well planned and have the means to pay for it all. Please let us know if there is anything we can do to encourage and support you I have suffered with anxiety my whole adult life and if I can do this, you can too. Try to see if maybe some anxiety meds may help you cope with everything and help you through this.

David Pearl  Going out of ICU was horrific Monday - the grief was brutal. Now getting ready to leave the  hospital for the nursing home in less than one day. Any good advice in regards to this major transition/loss/grief ?  Regards

Kimberly Eisenhut  David, It is surely a struggle after surgery, but please know you are not alone. I'm trying to get on every day even for a few minutes to check on things here. I will look for posts from you and try to help when I can. How is your recovery going to far; bloodwork, pain, etc. Wishing you a peaceful day today and for calm and peace for the future . You're doing amazing👍🫶

David Pearl  Mine has been cancelled--the doctor was arrogant and couldn't handle my questions and cancelled the surgery just 5 days before the surgery so I am looking for a new surgeon/hospital

David Pearl  Thanks Dan !Very upsetting..I plan to handle the surgeons in the future with kid gloves, ask less questions and walk on eggshells

Dan Fouratt  I would continue your current approach.  We are our best and sometimes our only advocates. I have spent enough time in Asia to know the customs are different, so your approach might change but still seek to get the same answers. Good luck on your journey.

David Pearl  Hey Dan I'm pretty careful you know I've been here almost 7 years but I guess I got a tone it down even more the doctors and surgeons have been uniformly really great to me overall so I'm a little bit horrified about what happened but yeah I like the thing about being our own Advocate one of my friends in the states who did the surgery talked about that but unfortunately in this part of the world everybody is very docile and follow the leader and people are afraid to ask questions here but you know I was going to a hospital that was frequented by a lot of foreigners so I thought the doctors ego can handle my questions and not from moment that I doubt him I just had a couple of questions that weren't any answer that I felt like he was sweeping away.. I was also seeing other warning signs for example the Cardiology Department never responded to any of my messages I didn't even get much responses from customer service when I asked Cardiology what happened they simply said we're busy I'm thinking you're that busy you can't answer emails? Why even have an email account for your department? Unfortunately they don't have a website you can't go in there you know like in America access your profile look at what tests have been done what procedures what you should be doing you can't reach out to your doctor it's even the top private hospitals don't have that access you also don't have direct email access to your physician again even at the best hospitals. Sometimes I wish I was in America but I've been here for 7 years I have almost Euro infrastructure in America no family I've never married no kids never had a career just kind of didn't really pull my act together in America and it's 61 going back to the States now start over would be a nightmare frankly but thanks for caring

David Pearl  My surgery was cancelled 3 days before I was to enter the hospital. No reason was given. The hospital did not say anything about a rescheduled date or referring me to another surgeon. I am looking at other hospitals. I gave up on them. Shocking but it's Asia--wild west/wild east.

David Pearl  Ruth--thanks--no excuse was given, nothing about a new date, didn't refer me to another surgeon..Very upsetting disturbing hurtful.  Top ranked hospital in Bangkok...I am very distraught

Susan Lynn  David - Glad you decided to put this procedure behind you! We can all think of reasons not to have OHS, but procrastination is not without consequences. You'll have a repaired heart by this time tomorrow and feel great that you didn't wait any longer! All the best!

Ana Brusso  Lifting you up in prayer for your successful surgery tomorrow. Keep us posted. God bless you 🙏👍

Rose Madura  Best wishes for a successful surgery and uneventful recovery. Please keep us updated when you are able.

David Pearl  No date set yet, not sure which hospital, not sure which valve, not sure which surgeon..Bummed out that I have to oay for the whole things and that I didn't move back to the USA

Kimberly Eisenhut  There was a date in the upcoming surgery section, that is why I posted. Is it possible for you to move back? If not, maybe you can share some more info so we can do a little research with you.

David Pearl  Hello everybody I must have miscommunicated I don't have the surgery set nor do I know where I'm going to do it which surgeon or which valve I'm going to get also I'm self-pay so I'm still not sure what amount of money I'm comfortable budgeting I'm also verge of break up with my girlfriend I don't have any living family and Asia or America some absolutely paranoid about going through the surgery and recovering a long plus going through the grief of ending my relationship I was never married no

 kids I have no living family

David Pearl  I'd love to hear from anybody who had a small valve opening. I know it requires additional surgery and could put you under for at least an extra hour. My physician also told me there's higher risk of death and bleed out. My valve opening is only 20. Would love to hear about other people who've had their valve opening expanded and what the surgeon told in regarding risk. Also what valve you chose based on this situation. Thank you

David Pearl  Thanks everyone--it seems the site forced me to put in a date..I don't know the date, type of valve, surgeon or location as to where I will do it. As I am a cash patient I am still shopping around.

David Pearl  I am clear that I will never move back to the USA..So it's finding the intersection of cost and quality. I am also single, maybe going through a rough break up soon and am worried about being alone and going through the major grief of a break up at the same time as surgery. I am never married no kids no family. My life has went to so badly...

Richard Munson  Kim, i am sad to hear your family has no interest in your health. Assume not immediate family or dogs. So my only hug of the day ( except for shadow) goes to you. My wife is on her way to babysit my daughters dog for 4 days so i am hoping for the fast food industry to come to my rescue. There is spam of course. Maybe patsy can airship me a cake. 

Kimberly Eisenhut  Richard,
Thank you, right back atcha'! My daughter calls every day and cares, but I do not like to burden her with my stuff since her husband had a large tumor removed from his spine about 8 years ago and has been in severe pain since and uses a cane, and it has put a strain on their lives. I do keep her updated, but she is so strong and already does so much to make sure her family and my granddaughter are taken care of.  They are in my pic with me, and are my sunshine in this sometimes difficult life. Hope your boat project is going well and you are able to find food during Nancys absence, LOL! You and so many others here have made life just a little more bright, and for that I will be forever grateful! Hugs and scratches to Shadow too :)

Kimberly Eisenhut  My granddaughter and I having fun with Snapchat filters, LOL :) I like the way it takes all wrinkles out of my face, but stops at the neckline!

Richard Munson  Sounds like your daughter has a full plate and you get some enjoyments from your grand daughter. Hopefully there is more time for you in her life especially with no wrinkles. I happen to be an only child and had the greatest parents ever. Sometimes i wish i had spent more time with them after i started my own family but of course now they are gone. A day does not go by that i don’t think how great they were and how much i miss them. 

Klara Čičić  "You and so many others here have made life just a little more bright, and for that I will be forever grateful" Kim, I sign these words also...especially Richard and his humor :)))

Richard Munson  David you need a dog. Or as a poor substitute a girlfriend. I’ve seen some pretty attractive thai ladies at my wifes nail salon.

Kimberly Eisenhut  David, sorry my huge face is taking up so much of your feed! Did not realise what I was doing. At least you have a gf and the cats you visit. Give them extra hugs and pets and know we are here for you too :)

Patsy Stewart  My son is constantly reminding me that everyone needs something to look forward to, something to do and someone to love. Kimberly and David, I’m sorry for the loneliness you are experiencing. My prayer is that someone will take an interest and fill in the gap. Richard, you’re too late on the cake being delivered in the mail on time. You need to go to the grocery store and learn how to cook before Nancy gets back home.🥦🌽🧀🥕🥩🍳🍎🍓🍞That fast food is going to make you feel horrible by the time she gets back! You need some real food. Poor Nancy!! Ha!!! Have you figured out the buttons/dials on the washer and dryer? You’ll be an ole’ pro by the time these four days are up. Go, Richard!! 

Richard Munson  Patsy, you are funny. Grocery store? Washer/dryer? I checked them out on line and they sound repulsive. I put a cup in the dishwasher and i could not wait to close the door. Tonite i fried up some libbys corn beef hash and it was yummy. I ate a few olives for a vegetable. I want to be heart healthy. I got smart, paper plate.i asked nancy to make me a trifle when she comes home. Vanilla pudding. I think pizza tomorrow nite. Lloyds frozen ribs the next nite. Then hopefully ( please god) she returns. Right now shadow and his dad are going to read a book before nighty night. I need my beauty sleep. Boys just wanna have fun. Was that madonna? 

David Pearl  Richard--I live overseas--I don't want to commit to a pet in case I move back to the USA or another country...Condos are small in Bangkok and rarely allow pets;

David Pearl  Richard--I live overseas--I don't want to commit to a pet in case I move back to the USA or another country...Condos are small in Bangkok and rarely allow pets;

David Pearl  Richard--I live overseas--I don't want to commit to a pet in case I move back to the USA or another country...Condos are small in Bangkok and rarely allow pets;

Richard Munson  My only point was what they bring to the table for me. Not for everyone of course. I understand that. I hugged my wonderful dog a lot before and after surgery. Even though she is no longer here, what she provided me cannot be expressed adequately in words. Just her picture laying next to me an hour after i returned from the hospital and refusing to move for 4 hours tells the story for me. There is no doubt in my mind that she aided my recovery and provided me some solace before the surgery. No words of encouragement, just quiet companionship that even my wife could not provide in the same manner.  Good luck with your surgery. I wish you the best.