Jean's Guestbook

Jean Raber  Every pilgrimage blesses three times: It glorifies God, it heals the pilgrim, and the pilgrim's prayers heal the world. I wish you joy.

Jean Raber  Thank you, Sue. I appreciate your recommendation. I'm encouraged to know that you were able to have a minimally invasive repair. I really need to get with my insurance company to see if they'll cover procedures through U-M and how much. How long were you in the hospital? Did you have to drive to U-M for rehab? How are you feeling a month out? I would like to keep in touch with you as I get more info, if you wouldn't mind. Really appreciate your writing.

Susan Wozniak  I was in the hospital for 5 days counting the one day of surgery. I haven't started rehab yet. I just had my first follow up appointment yesterday and she is giving me a referral for rehab. She said you can do it wherever you like. I have to research that still. I live in Northville so the UM facility isn't too far from me. A month out I feel really good. I have some pain and she explained to me it probably isn't my heart but the muscles they had to go through with the minimally invasive surgery. The first two weeks were rough- I would suggest the electric recliner if you don't have a recliner. Ours was too hard for me to recline back in by myself and not big enough to sleep in. I think that would have really helped! I was off pain meds within two weeks- I had a bad nightmare and I decided to try the motrin! I think I could have gotten off sooner even but I thought it would help me sleep. My biggest problem was water retention which was miserable but eventually has worked out. Feel free to e-mail me or contact me through here. I really liked Dr. Romano and I know Dr. Bolling is very good too. He is mentioned in Adam's book. My e-mail is wozsue@wideopenwest.com. Have a good day!

Jean Raber  Thanks for that info, and so good to hear you're feeling well. I really need to get Adam's book in paper copy so my husband will also read it.

My mother had the open-heart surgery and no pain to speak of. Yes, I suppose going through all those muscles in the less invasive surgery would cause more pain.

Good to know rehab can be scheduled locally. I think the place over in St. Johns near me would do it. Something to check.

As a former Yooper, driving long distances doesn't bother me as much as driving in metro areas, especially in winter with a bunch of downstaters who don't respect the dangers of snow and ice. Unfortunately, there are no rural hospitals who do this type of fancy surgery. So if I went to Ann Arbor, I'd like to have surgery done in late spring/summer/fall.

Thanks for your e-mail address. I'll put it in my contacts.