George's Guestbook

George, thank you so much for reaching out! I just read all of your posts and I am so glad that you were able to document your journey. On a side note, I grew up in Philly also! I was diagnosed in 03' after an infection in my wisdom tooth. Became symptomatic within a few months but my regurgitation was mild so I have been doing yearly echo's since.  Three weeks ago my echo showed that it progressed to stage 3 severe, I had a meltdown. I have been fearing this surgery since my 20's and I always hoped I would stay moderate and never need intervention.  Gillinov already looked at my echo from this year and last and his nurse called and said I could do robotic. 

I was concerned with all of the Fellow's that you mentioned, especially in the OR.  My mom passed in 21' at Jeff in center city Philly, that too is a teaching hospital. I had the worst time with the doctors there because there were new people every few days. 
Also, how soon can you get your phone in the ICU and I know that you were there during the pandemic, but did they force a vax on you before surgery?

Thank you again for all of the information you posted. 

--Maria

Hi George, I was home for one day and ended up in our local Rochester Hills Michigan Hospital with a fib. I was admitted Tuesday afternoon, have been here all day Wednesday and they’re planning to discharge me tomorrow morning. We’re heading out to Cleveland late tomorrow afternoon for Friday’s recheck. I realize that 30 to 40% of valve repair/replacement patients have a fib…. But it’s very scary.!

Hi George, I just finished reading your notes about pre testing leading up to surgery. It was so incredibly helpful. I had no idea what to expect. My info from Cleveland Clinic gives me dates and times of each procedure in my 2 days of testing. Your journal has given me time to process each test. I’m hoping my heart catheterization can be done through the wrist and not groin. I understand with smaller women like me , the wrist isn’t possible. My stress level is a bit high ! Very aware  I’ll be intubated but but happy and relieved when I wake up in recovery .🥰

Hi George, it looks like my first response to you did not go through. So, I am re-sending. Thank you for directing me to the specific section of your journal that addresses my query. I just read it and found a couple of your comments particularly reassuring. Please correct me if I didn't get it right.
1. I got the feeling that you did not find the drainage tubes sticking out of the body too bothersome or painful
2. Even taking out those tubes was not quite painful 
3. That the need to cough (I assume you were referring to the need to cough after each round of breathing exercises as part of the recommended spirometry routine) was difficult and painful. Can you please help me get a sense of :
(A) How difficult was doing the breathing exercise using the spirometry?
(B) How painful was it to cough after each round of the breathing exercise (on a scale of 1 to 10)?
Lastly, you mention that the "tube came out at 4:30" - I assume by that you meant the "breathing tube"?

Look forward to your reply
Thanks

Hi George, 
I am new to the site and a little unfamiliar with the way it works, so am not confident that the my last reply to you even got posted. If I don't hear from you I will re-send.
Thanks

Dear George...I have spent hours reading...and re-reading your accounts...and also have used it as a discussion outline with my wife.  Before I even read it in your commentary, I knew you had to be an engineer.  Every time I visit with a medical professional, after about about 2 minutes, they say, "You must be an engineer" "Nobody ever asks us the questions in such detail as you!!"  Well...I knew immediately that you too had to be a member of the fraternity...and I thank you sincerely for your detailed commentary.  You have no idea how much it has helped.  Actually, I went to CC in Feb to have mitral valve surgery (Barlow's etc.) with Dr. G...and everything went absolutely terribly.  Perhaps with stress...and perhaps due to the extreme cold of procedure rooms...long story short, developed severe pneumonia.  Was literally at the door of the OR for the surgery, all prepped, and my wife, who is a Nurse Practicioner called an audible and said we simply couldn't proceed.  Thank God!!!  Plus I had developed some allergic reaction to the tapes they use for the cath, and had large bleeding ulcers on both my arms and groin.  Trust me, I'm not exaggerating.  It took many days for me to gain enough strength to return home to Denver...and even then had to have wheelchairs in airports, etc.  Ironically, I'm a strong, fit, otherwise healthy 78 year old.  So now, I think I'm recovered enough to make a second try...and scheduled for late May with Dr. G.  Finally, I too am asymptomatic.  Walk 2-3 miles/day, Pilates, swim, climb stairs, etc. etc.  So hasn't been easy to become convinced that I even need to do this.  And, I too told that has to be open vs robotic.  Bummer.  And I too didn't find my cardiologist and heart surgeon in Denver very enthusiastic that I was "going out of town" rather than have surgery done in Denver at the huge University Hospital.  So on and on with many parallels...perhaps this will help you understand how appreciative I am of your narrative...both its info...and it's reassurances.  Again, thank you sincerely George, clearly you are a wonderful engineer (but like me, probably drive your wife and kids crazy) and even more importantly, you are a wonderful person .  PS:  like the gazoo idea...I've got about 20 patents.  We should collaborate!  John Klug, Denver.  303-921-9240

Thank you for posting all of your details about your experience! I’ve read it all and I’m very grateful. My mitral and tricuspid repair is scheduled for April 4 at CC with Dr Gillinov. We live just west of Cleveland so it was never a question of where I would I go. I had so many other questions in my head about so many things and I feel a bit more at ease after reading. I wish you the very best in your recovery and many happy years ahead!! Thanks again!!

Hi George, I wanted to wish you well with your surgery this week. I will also be having mitral and tricuspid valve repair with Dr. Gillinov - mine in January. Everything I have read and heard about Dr. Gillinov has been so encouraging, as well as so many positive reviews of the whole Cleveland Clinic experience. You and I are both in great hands, I know. Extra prayers for you this Thursday and wishes for a smooth recovery to follow. So many former patients say that waiting is the hardest part, and your waiting is almost over!