Deb's Guestbook

Hi Deb. I just read a guestbook entry of yours where you say: "I was downhill skiing at 12,000 ft above sea level with no problems at 16 weeks". To which I say: MONSTROUS! These bodies we have are such awesome gifts.

Hi Deb! How are you? I can't believe I had just had my one year anniversary. I have to say, 2013 was very hard year. Although I did not have any major complicatons, I still struggle with fatigue on most days and lightheadedness which my doctors cannot pinpoint as the cause. Would like to know how you are doing!

Deb, Went to L'Albatros for dinner last night, Thanks for the tip, it was fantastic. I had to skip the bar next store that would have been to much of a temptation for me to handle but the dinner was OMG good. It was restaurant week here in Cleveland and they had a great four course dinner for $33.00 which was very reasonable for the quality and quantity of food. Met Dr. G. yesterday, you are right about him, he is great. Cath today, Surgery tomorrow. Take Care!

Deb, We set the date for Toms surgery at C.C. with Dr. Gillinov for Aug. 12th. I found your journal to be very helpful. If you dont mind I would like to speak to you at sometime before the surgery, as I have a few questions concerning hotel accommodations and restuarants.

Deb,I know it\'s Fathers day but I just read the post your daughter wrote you a few months ago.Beautifully said! Your insight and kind words have been an inspiration to me. I have a very silly question.I wear gel nail polish(it stays on whether I am gardening,or cooking).Will they let me have it on?(it requires special stuff to remove) Also having read 411,Adam\'s book,and many journals,I get mixed signals about pain management.I mean the Dr.says they really stay on top of it,but most people\'s journal entries do not sound that way.Any advice on dealing with this?

Hi Deb, Thanks for responding so quickly to me regarding the Amioradorone. I\'m also concerned about the Prevastin. My Pharmacist told me it could cause severe muscle pain. I hadn\'t really noticed anything until Wednesday when my shoulder began to really hurt. At the time I attributed to moving a bag of potting soil and plants. My sternum didn\'t hurt afterwards but my shoulder is killing me so now I\'m wondering if it is due to he Prevastin. Hopefully all of the medication will be removed in a few weeks. I guess this site changed again because I couldn\'t respond to your message from guestbook like I used to. Anyway, to answer your question, I am very glad to have the surgery behind me. Take care!

Hi Deb, I was reading the message you left for Sherry Bradford and you mentioned that the medication Amirodarone could be causing many of her symptoms. I am having many of the same symptoms as Sherry and was put on Amirodarone to prevent A-fib after my surgery in mid-March. I didn\'t realize it had those side effects. I am also taking Prevastin and Metropolol. I will be seeing my Cardiologist in two weeks so I am hopeful he will take me off all of those medications. Thank you for your info and hope you are doing well.

Mom, I just found the notice in my junk mail that you updated your journal. I love what you wrote. It\'s so genuine and real and your positive attitude and outlook on this experience is inspiring. It\'s inspiring even though I\'m not getting heart surgery! It makes me smile so much and so happy to know you are sharing your experience with strangers and supporting people who need it. Keep it up. I know it meant the world to you over the last couple of years. I\'m proud of you for being persistent throughout this entire process because i know it\'s been a roller coaster at times. I love you so much and feel blessed every day that you are in good health after such an intense experience. Love, Josie

Deb, My daughter set up a journal for me as I am finding this site very helpful. My husband and I read Adams book , lots of valuable information. We are looking at C.C. will see cardiologist for a repeat echo in May and will precede from there. Please pray for my husband as he has three valves involved. Happy Easter Shelly Poluka

Thank you for the update! I am just a little over five months post surgery. It is so helpful to hear how folks are doing further out. I so agree that every day is a blessing. I am so sorry about your palpitations and hope that eventually these will get better and the feelings of being not well dissipate. It is hard for me to explain that feeling to those who have not had the feeling. Life is still very good - but hoping it continues to get better! :-) Sherry Bradford AVR 10/23/2012

Deb, Thank you so much for calling me. I appreciate you taking the time and putting my story concerning my husband Tom out there. I am finding the Heart Valve Journal very helpful, as well as Adam Picks story. Please, keep in touch with me and have a most blessed Easter ;)

Hey Deb! What a great post! Really enjoyed reading all your updates. If I hadn\'t been so busy at work the past couple of days, I\'d have posted here sooner! Glad you are getting at least some of those crazy rhythm issues addressed. I still have some minor issues of my own. The ongoing research study by CCF that looks at my weekly monitoring (1 min reading per week) and has relayed back to me that my junctional rhythm is getting much better over time, but still not fully back to NSR. Every once in a while I can feel a series of PVCs or PACs, but luckily they haven\'t been often and haven\'t stuck around for more than a few seconds. Really hope things keep improving and you can get back to skiing next season. And I completely agree with you on this open heart surgery being a life changing event. I often relate future or past time back to that day my heart was stopped. May 17th does feel like a second birthday. All the best to you and your family. Please keep in touch and will do the same! -Thomas

Deb, I do feel anxious when I have a great deal of PVCs or especially when I experience SVT and my rate gets close to 150 or so. I have had a couple of episodes of irregular beats and I almost passed out. They were very transient and I did not go out, thankfully. My heart trade is usually in the 50s and can get in the 40s at rest. When it gets close to 40 I feel like I am hypoglycemic- pale and I tremble and have a feeling of impending doom. I am on the lowest dose of bistolic, a beta blocker, because my rate is so low. Mitral valve repair and tricuspid repair is a risk for irregular beats because of the electrical system pathways tissue integration in the heart. Some doctors want you to stay on beta blockade forever, because of risk for these irregular beats. I hope that with healing they will improve and I can be off all medications. It may not be an achievable goal, but I continue to hope. The beta blockade can help you to feel better, but it has the side effect of fatigue. It could contribute to your bad days, but irregular beats can be fatal if not controlled properly. So I would follow my cardiologist\'s recommendations. You can also call your surgeons office to ask his nurse about your concerns. Just because it has been a while does not mean that he won\'t help you. You are still his patient. You may not hear back right away, but he will want to make sure that you have no issues with your repair. I hope you get back to all days are great soon! Keep us posted! Amanda Bracken

Hi Deb! Thank you for your journal. You sound so brave now and before surgery. I am so scared of a sternotomy. The pain is what everyone dreads. I hope that I improve as quickly as you. I hope that your heart beat stabilizes out and becomes regular soon. I am very tuned in to mine, as well. I have SVT and PVCs despite beta blockers and no caffeine. Those irregular beats definitely decrease your blood pressure. Try to stay hydrated, too. It\'s a delicate balance that our bodies maintain. Beta blockers can decrease your blood pressure, but if they regulate your rhythm then your cardiac output should improve and your blood pressure increase. You are on antiarrythmics I am sure. There are many available. Beta blockers are some of the older ones. I hope that I will be off beta blockers about 6 months after surgery. We will see. I may have more after! Steve is right about everyone\'s recovery being unique to their own. I will pray that your rhythm stabilizes. Amanda (B) Bracken

Thank you Deb! My wait is about to be over. I hope to make it through my surgery. My biggest concern is that I am symptomatic and have been for sometime. The odd thing was that my tests were coming back moderate but I was starting to show signs that things were changing. At this moment I am incredibly exhausted all the time and feel lightheaded every morning, not to mention the shortness of breath. I have not felt like a \'normal healthy\' person for a long time. I am ready to get this done and am hoping that I will feel better than this. Thank you for your encouraging words and prayers. God bless you too! Steve B.

Hi Deb, Thank you for all your support. It has meant so much to me. As I read your story and journal entries I realized that every heart patient\'s recovery is different. I have heard of some people almost having an event free recovery to others going through more things. I am preparing myself for whatever might come my way at this point. I think my biggest concern at this time is that all go well and that I am on the other side starting my own journey of recovery. Thank you for everything! Steve Bond

HI, I had mitral valve replacement and tricuspid valve repair at CCF Dec. 6, 2010. I also have problems with palpitations, and PVCs. I just had my 6 month check with my cardiologist here at home and he says, it is nothing to worry about, that a lot of heart valve patients have this occur and they also are highly aware of their heart beats after surgery. I want to trust him, as he also says, that meds and ablation could make it worse. I just found your journal tonight and it was so good to hear I am not alone. Your description of your heart jumping all over the place...and that you feel EVERY irregular beat made me feel so good and that just maybe I am not crazy Thank you so much for sharing all this. I will continue to read. Good luck with your house situation, I hope we can keep in touch. Carol

Hi Deb, Sorry to hear about the heartbeat issue. I do hope it improves for you real soon. Having gratitude, like you do, helps so much. Keep up the good work. Jeff Shebovsky