Debbie's Guestbook

Debbie, they worked on a bleed at my groin site for 2 hrs. How did they rule out hematoma on you? Nurses and doctors kept feeling the area afterwards to make sure there was no bump and it was soft. I don't know if that was enough

Hello Debbie! I think about you often and wonder how you are doing??! How the heck are you doing??? I’ve been trying to catch up on so many things in my life that I haven’t gotten online much. 😕 Are you on Facebook? There is another version of this group on Facebook! If you do have a Facebook account you should join. Every time I get on my phone, the feed pops up and it is easy to comment! Hope you are doing okay after this last storm!! The Energy Corridor where I live got pelted all day Thursday and part of Friday!! How about y’all??? Happy Mother’s Day tomorrow! 🌺

I been reading alot of OHS stories and can relate to alot of them after i felt so lost..anyways. I had to get a permanent pacemaker after my second OHS in 2016. I get it checked every 6 momths. Tje Doctor says it runs 40% of my heart. Could you explain that in a normal understanding way? If not please dont stress it.. I just saw you talked about it and thought i would ask.. Thank you and God Bless..

Hi Debbie!! I am anxiously awaiting an update from your surgery today!! I have said many prayers for you today!! I know you won’t feel like posting for a while, and that’s okay!! Just focus on recovering!! I can’t wait to hear about everything!!! 😊🥰

Hi Debbie. My name is Renee and we are neighbors, I live in Cypress, TX! I too have Aortic stenosis and regurgitation. I was just referred to Methodist Valve Clinic by my Meth Willowbrook Cardio Dr. Bree. I may still have a while before my surgery! I'll be thinking about you on the 6th! Maybe we can meet for coffee sometime! I had 1st valve surgery in 2000 with aortic bovine valve. It's lasted 19 years! Anyway good luck to you! I don't know if we are allowed post our email address here. I'll see til then, Cheers

Thank you for your responce. As I mentioned I get my semi-annual echo on Monday and at last years echo I was moderate. I'm hoping nothing has changed in my condition because TAVR is expected to be approved for everyone by year end , and that way I stand a very good chance of getting it done by TAVR, when the time comes. I'm happy you are able to get the procedure and wish you the best.

Hey Debbie! I saw your post and actually Dr. Lamelas emailed me back in October about his move. He is now the Chief at U of Miami so big move for him. I would travel to the moon and back to have him do anything to my heart. I saw your January date and I hope that the TAVR works out for you!

Hi Debbie, sorry this response is tardy. I just saw your post on my guestbook. I don't come here much any more. Surgery with Dr. Lawrie was very good. He did a terrific job, but he only does full sternotomies. He does not do minimally invasive surgery. So, no matter how beautiful his incision and closure, you will still have a line going down your body. I am very proud of it and show it off whenever I can, but not everyone feels that way :-) Dr. Lawrie has been doing the surgery for a long time and my opinion is that he thinks you know things just because he knows them and has said them so many times. He didn't tell me to wash with antibacterial soap prior to the surgery. I knew to do it because of this website. When I signed in for my surgery that morning I was asked if I had washed with the special soap, and my surgery would have been cancelled if I hadn't taken the initiative to buy Dial antibacterial and use it the night before and morning of. The surgery was pretty painless. The anesthetist was fantastic. He saw I was frightened and he knocked me out as soon as I had completed all the paperwork! The nursing staff, for the most part were wonderful and attentive. I was kept in the hospital for 7 days which is longer than most people are kept in because I had no one to help me at home. The food at Houston Methodist is horrid. I barely ate and lost a lot of weight because of it. The fruit plate and cottage cheese is good. The grilled cheese sandwiches are so rubbery they bounce if you drop them. The bed was comfortable. I had some issues with my heart rate and blood pressure. I had migraines. All of that cleared up after about 6 weeks. Because I didn't have any a-fib, I wasn't put on any blood thinners. And after week 6 I was taken off the blood pressure medications I had been on for the last 3 years. So, I am off all medications. I had no trouble taking care of myself when I left the hospital. I slept a lot. I had made and frozen soup before I left and I ate that, and had delivery of pizza, Chinese food, sandwiches, because I felt I deserved it. But that was very bad of me. I was able to shower by myself using a shower chair. I was able to wash my hair, do the laundry if I carried light loads, and let the dogs out to do their business. I was able to dress myself and use the bathroom without help. Mostly you will sleep. Feel free to let me know if you have further questions. Sending best wishes and the assurance that the fear really is worse than the experience.

Debbie you asked about minimally invasive and I’m getting that with Dr. Lamelas. I would encourage you to watch some of his videos. He is very confident and continues to advance the procedure for the benefit of the patient. He performs his at Baylor St. Lukes.