Gregory's Guestbook

What a journey you've been on! You and your wife have been through so much. What an inspiration you are as I contemplate ohs no.4! Great to see you exercising and getting back to golf. All the best.

Greg, Incredible story. I am going in for a Ross Procedure this Monday, and can only hope to be swinging the wrenches in 12 weeks. Thanks for sharing.

HelloMr. Gregory and wife and family... I want to first commend you for sharing here. I just was on the internet and looking for some kind of help and found this amazing community. I read alot if stories and been getting great opinions and help from good people.. But.i mist say this.. I read your comment to my earlier post then read your story.. I re read it to my wife.... We both cried for about 10 mins... Word for word symptom to symptom... Feelings to feelings.. It is all i have been trying to express to my OHS doctors since my second OHS in 02/2016.. I gained 30 poinds of.water weight.from my CHF and finally found a surgeon to do the second surgery.. I have not lost one pound since. I felt okay for.a month and doctors said.it.was normal.. Then more.time and a millon test and.blood work and all they said was double up.ur water pills..lasiks.. Thats 160mlgs a day. Would sleep.couple hours and wake up and filled up my legs with water and just went through the motions. The whole time we ask my cardiologist and he would say my lungs and organs worked harder before my fix so they were damaged and cause it.. So then my wife.talkes to my pulmaonary doctors and they would say because of my initial endocarditis in 2011(my first tricuspid valve transplant) that my lungs suffered and makimg my.heart. that us weaker now work harder so that was my problem.. 2 and ahalf years later i literlly lose it in my appointment and beg for answers.. So then all the testing again..ct. Tee. Ekg. Ehco.. And kidneys issue to now because of all the water pills i have been taking.. Plus because i was in tears and.begging for a quality of life more.then a quanity of life they added depression to my medical records..So now 6 months later is now the present time.. I cant walk 1 level of stairs without total exhausting and breathing.. I cant walk a half of block and need to stop for a break. I am weiging and watching my water intake and my wife always cooks a low sodium and low fats dinner.. I.dont ear breakfast .. A asnack for lunch and a normal dinner.... My weight now.is 340lbs.. I never been over 250 in my whole life.. Again doctor says its normal with my CHF and COPD.. Just give it.time.. So then he suggested gastric bypass surgery so my body would not keep storimg water.. It was just a fix for their lack of aftercare but nobody would say that.. My own neighborhood pharmacy even told me i look like a balloon ready to pop. She knew me before and after . so now.we decided to go to another hopital doctor system in the morning that has great heart experience and reviews.. Its Kennedy hospital affiliated with Jefferson and a cardiac rehab center named "The Heart House" great reviews. I tried.to get my cardiology doctor to send me.to a heart rehab place but.he said there was no.need....   Im.sorry this is so long and dragged out but your story is one i can relate alot to.. I was a master plumber for 22 years..8 years my own busn. I couldnt do.it anymore and feel.like half a man because of it.. I am grateful for your story and just wanted to.see if i update daily starting tomorrow to explain what doctors are suggesting or doing..if.u have time to check when u are free a.nd leave ur opinions and wisdom that would be great. Again God Bless u and ur family for.all u been through and still here. And thriving..hope you have many years of good helath.. Thank u for reading

Hey Gregory just wanted to say I read your story and am blown away, you are one hell of a fighter and to be doing so well after your 5th OHS is astounding.. It also sounds like you had no regrets with having the tissue valve instead of the mechanical valve as your replacements, congratulations on the fast healing anyone coming up for surgery should read your story as it would them at ease.