Jerry's Guestbook

Congratulations Jerry on your continuing journey. You posted a great message with sound advice. Hope you and yours are staying safe from the ravages of Covid-19. Next month I'm approaching my 11th anniversary and like you, am grateful for each and every day my surgery has afforded me. Adam's site was instrumental in my giving me the information and support I needed to help me through my surgery and after-care. All the best.

Similar to Sasha below, and to you, I was diagnosed with endocarditis after dental work under the new \"no prophylactic antibiotics needed\" guidelines. I eventually had AVR on 12/12/12 and just finished a 6 week course of antibiotics this past week. The cultures from the valve during surgery were negative, so it would seem that the drugs did their thing leading up to surgery, but I am also somewhat terrified of contracting it again. I am also trying to avoid thinking the worst as soon as any kind of symptom appears. So far, things seem good, except for the effects to my colon of being on antibiotics for the past 9.5 weeks, and 20 of the past 60. I hope you are still doing well and I am looking forward to the days when I post my 6, 12 and 24 mon th anniversary posts to this journal! -Derrick H

Hey Jerry, Just wanted to say thanks in giving me hope. Looks like we share similar stories, I was diagnosed with strep endo and currently am on antibiotics via picc line. As a 33 year old, I struggled how a simple dental cleaning caused such mess. I am a candidate for AVR, but I am scared to wits about the recovery, and returning \"back to normal\". Your journal gives me hope that this is \'overcomable\', and things can go back to normal. As you mentioned, I am scared about endo coming back, and another OHS - but I guess thats all of our fears. Regardless, I wanted to say thankyou. Your journal brought many emotions out of me, but most important emotion hope. Thanks again, Sash

Jerry, So good to hear from you and hear you are doing so well. This is Mary, Danny\'s mother, he is doing very well, too. He is attending college and working out like crazy and playing hours of basket ball, of course. I understand your need to back off from your journal. I ALWAYS have to be in a very good place (feeling confident about Danny\'s recovery) before I can come on and read other\'s stories. We\'ve had a few scares (like when he had strep throat and ran a high fever) but am trying to make peace that he is a normal young man who will occasionally run fevers and be sick like normal young men. Of course, you understand that we can\'t EVER let anything just slide and assume it is a normal fever. He is doing very well and seems to be in his best physical shape ever. Of course, he is just 22 now. I\'m a grandma for the second time and they both bring me great joy. So, so good to hear from you and that you are doing so well. Take good care of yourself and enjoy life. Sincerely, Mary

No way! We have the same surgeon, how cool! Sorry, I didn\'t realize I would be showing up as anonymous. Still getting used to the site. Hopefully it\'s not like facebook, where everytime you get it figured out they change it. LOL. My name is Terri and I started a journal on here this afternoon. My website is www.terrigrimes.com and has my email info if you want to drop a line. I\'d love to hear your experiences! Dr Pollock has agreed to do a paranormal experiment with me during surgery. He is going to say a word or phrase to me while I\'m on the heart/lung machine and after they pull the vent out he\'s going to ask me what he said. I\'m hoping to be able to tell him. If anyone can it will be me. I write paranormal romance novels and also belong to a local ghost hunting team. They\'re very excited about the possible paranormal aspect of this. I\'m so glad I can be their test subject and take one for the team. Ha ha.

Hi Jerry, I too am in Louisville and will be having my valve replacement at Babtist East. I was wondering which surgeon you used and also you mention something whihc leads me to believe you may have had \"an experience\" perhaps during your surgery. I\'m having my surgery Oct 19th and I\'ve discussed the paranormal side of things with my surgeon today-Dr Sam P. I firmly believe in the other side, having been in the white light before. And I embrace that part of the experience. I just wondered what other people are experiencing during this surgery. I don\'t mean to pry and if you\'d rather not discuss it I certainly understand. Glad to see a fellow Louisvillian have such a postive experience! Congrats on your 1 year anniversary!

Jerry, I so enjoyed all of your posts, and could relate to a lot of it. I wish you nothing but the best life is to give you, may you go through it uneventful for the remainder of your journey. I will miss your posts, your outlook on things, and your humor throughout it all. God speed my friend, and remember to sit back, enjoy the ride God has given you and enjoy the view.. Diana

Hi Jerry Thank you for sharing your journey with everyone here. It\'s actually a good thing when you can share your rocky road because it points out the possible reality of heart surgery recovery. While all recoveries are different the key is the word \"recovery\". Does it really matter how straight the road to good health is as opposed to the welcome at the end of the trail? Life is grand. Continued healthful success on your journey. Cheryl, Ontario

Hi Jerry, Wow, I just found your journal and read what all you\'ve been through. You have an amazing story to share and I am glad you have progessed so well. I\'m new to this site and I\'m trying to get some advice. I have Aortic Valve Replacement Survery set for 9/8/11 and still can\'t decide on what type of valve I want. I was wondering what type you got and if it\'s mechanical, how are you doing on coumedin blood thinner. I know the pros and cons of mechanical vs. tissue, but I can\'t seem to make a decision. My surgeon said either one would be fine. I hope you continue to recover to the fullest. Julie South Carolina

Hi Jerry, This is Mary James, Danny\'s Mom, it was very good to hear from you and to find out you are doing well. Danny is doing AWESOME, as well. In fact, at 21 he believes he is indestructable and seems out to prove it. He is back to his rigorous workouts (500 push ups and 800 sit ups a day) and hours and hours of basketball, of course. I have to be in a very strong, good place to come on hear and read people (especially yours) stories. Really Danny feels better than he ever has, even after his first surgery. They are not sure whether his endocaritis was lingering from the very first surgery and that is why he didn\'t feel as strong. I had him to the doctors (several different ones) in between that time and when they FINALLY diagnosed the endocarditis. A few weeks back he ran a fever and was starting with chills and we were both a physical, an emotional wreck. He got over it very quickly, however, waiting for the blood culture results (which I INSISTED they do) was very heart wrenching. I know that you understand this. Nothing showed up and he is fine. You are so right about BELIEVING that you are really recovered (and your love ones, too). We both know, however, that your can\'t let ANYTHING slide after what you both have been through. On a more positive note, Dan starts back to college next week. He is very excited and has a new girl friend. I want you to know that as much as it SCARES me to read your story; it really has helped me. Another positive new event is that I\'m going to be a Grandma again. My daughter, Aimee, who incidentally is a Cardiac Nurse, is expecting in March. She has a two year old, Tyler, who is one of the greatest joys of my life. So glad your doing well Jerry, You and Danny are my heroes. God bless you.

Hey Jerrry, Glad to see you are feeling good. As my year anniversary comes up {july 23} it does make you feel good that you made it a year and still feeling good! Talk to you soon Sean

Hi Jerry I think it\'s really great to see post-surgery postings, especially when one has overcome such obstacles. The postive results are great reading. It\'s great to be alive! Continued great health. Cheryl, Ontario

Hey Jerry, Yep doing the lawn again. No problems, actually feels really good. Bikes are in getting new tires and getting them serviced. Then we\'ll be good to go. Can\'t wait! I feel pretty darn fantastic. I still get those spells, but going to a new rheumatologist to see what they can come up with. I really think its Lymes, but guess gotta go through the process. Time will tell. But, for now, all is wonderful. Coming up on one year shortly, June 2nd. Amazing, absolutely frickin amazing, you know! Good luck with your rock wall. I\'m going to pull some weeds in our rock garden now. Beat the rain, I hope. Talk again soon, Diana

Hey Jerry, Good to hear from you. The flooding sounds really scary. I live on top of a mountain ridge, so no worries about any flooding here. We do get very strong winds tho. I have a doctors appt. on Monday and I will chat with him about thoracic outlet syndrome. I do feel that it just might be something to do with nerves. But, the fever has me a little stumped. Mowing the lawn was great. I actually enjoyed doing it. Sounds weird, I know, but has been the first since surgery and another step toward normalcy. I know you know what I mean. Enjoy your spring and summer, don\'t overdo, k? Take a little time to enjoy at a slower pace for a little while. Diana

Jerry, Oh yes my ribs still hurt sometimes. I could have weeks with no pain and then it hurts for a couple of days. Overall it does get better as the time goes by. Sean

Hey Jerry, No, haven\'t gotten the bikes out just yet. Soon tho, I hope. I live in Central PA, and old man winter just doesn\'t want to let go just yet. Probably will have them out in May. Looking forward to that. Its been a while since we have had them out. Miss it! Its good to take a slower pace for a little while. Just one of those hiccups you have to work through. Your doing great tho. Hang in there my friend, it keeps getting better with time. Diana

Hi Jerry So to the point. You said it just right. Yes, wise to take the time and smell the roses. This is a very emotional trip and I think we all see things more deeply after surgery. Cheryl, Ontario