Jim's Guestbook

Jim Hernandez  Ty Kevin...still here in Boston being monitored for my fluctuating blood pressure and now for onset of headaches and nausea and vomiting. Happy recovery aye....

Jim Hernandez  He was! I originally had Dr Byrne, but he went out on medical leave and switched to Dr Shekar with a couple weeks before surgery. We love Dr Shekar , he did a tremendous job with doing a repair and not replacement !

Jim Hernandez  Ty Allison!! We originally had met with Dr Byrne to do my surgery. However, 3 to 4 weeks out we got word he had to go on a medical leave of absence and needed to make a change. We consulted our cardiologist , whom has a brother in law working up here at Brigham, and put it out in social media. Within a hour, all results said Dr Shekar....we are very pleased. How was your recovery neighbor?

Jim Hernandez  Ty Mary, sitting here with a day and a half to go has got me a incredible case of anxiousness! Thus adding to my already case of ansomnia makes for a fun anxiety cocktail ha ha ha.
My sister in law will cover my page starting Tuesday afternoon before surgery as info comes available as deb will have to keep family apprised. And I hope to be back typing Wednesday or Thursday as I can. But Ty for the tips, I don't what to expect but at least with your help I have a fighting chance!

Mary Myers  Jim, By Tuesday will be here before you know it. I totally understand your anxiousness. You will be on the way to a healthy life once you get over these bumps in the road.
Mary

Nancy D  Tomorrow begins your journey to restore you to great health! You have done the work to assemble the crew to do it, the place to go to and the personal support team that will see you through! (yes even when you get a wee bit grouchy, or short with them, they will remain beside you!).....Turn it over to the team, spend a wee bit of time outside today(weather permitting) and eat well today! Praying for the most wonderful outcome tomorrow and a start on the road to total recovery!! You. CAN. Do THIS!!!

Jim Hernandez  Sounds like the tri-fecta! TY for the kind words of wisdom . It really helps going into my final weekend before surgery. Spent Friday doing all my pre-op labs and getting my heart cath, so stage is set for a Tuesday 2pm surgery . Hope your travels continue and we get to hear of all your exploits .....

Jim Hernandez  Ty Mary! Getting down to 8 days now and realities are starting to set in. I expect the days leading up to it will be the toughest, just looking to get into recovery mode! Hope everything continues to go well for you and your family!

Jim Hernandez  Ty for your thoughts LaDonna! It's great getting to know all your heart brothers and sisters on here and even better those who are having their procedures within days of each other! I go in on Friday the 27th for all my pre-op work then surgery the following Tuesday....kinda crazy how it is almost finally here! Hope the best for you and your family and look forward to keeping in touch to hear how your doing :)

Jim Hernandez  Ty Conrad for dropping a note and many thoughts to you on your upcoming procedure! I originally was looking at the 24th as well up at Brighams however my father in laws birthday is the day before and did not want to totally take away his birthday week. I just learned on Friday that my surgeon dr Byrne will be going on a medical leave so may have to start looking at different options. Unfortunately the ones I had researched were him, dr Cohn who I found out like you was no longer doing surgeries and now consults, and dr Davidson who lost his life last month at the shooting. Can you tell me how your consult went with your surgeon? What was his personality like? Friendly, outgoing? Open to hearing your suggestions and what you wanted? Just trying to get a feel if I get the chance to consult with him....

Jim Hernandez  Very great to hear! Like everyone else that goes thru this, quite nervous of everything regarding this up and thru recovery.....
How was yourmexperience of the surgery and right after?

Mary Myers  Jim, the surgery I slept like a baby and I do not remember any part of the surgery. I worried a lot about the fact that my heart would be stopped, and the heart lung machine would do the work. Everything went very well. Right after surgery the only thing I remember is being in ICU, I remember trying to tell the nurses to suction my mouth. I kept pointing to my throat. My husband said, that I actually wrote suction my mouth. That is truly amazing that one can actually write on a paper those words. I did feel like a mack truck hit me. Very tired, and couldnot keep my eyes open. I believe it was from all the medicines and the fact that I had a heart valve replaced. This was big! I ended up having AFIB
two days post op. At the time I thought, something was terribly wrong. Turned out no big deal just AFIB, as they told me. Medications helped the afib to settle. I ended up staying about four days longer than expected. The good news is I have been in sinus rhythm and no episodes since I went a few days without afib in hospital. So please do not worry if you have afib. It happens often.
I was very happy to go home and once home I tried to rest, and walk. Some days it was an effort to walk, but I pushed myself. I stayed off work for about 6 weeks. Then started back part time. So Jim, you will be fine. Just concentrate on healing and you will be there before you know it.

Jim Hernandez  Ty Mary! And glad things are in a continued great progression for you! Are you doing a cardiac rehab program?

Jim Hernandez  My thoughts are with you as you go for your appt on Tuesday. It definitely does a number on you when you hear you need open heart surgery, thinking that will never be me. However, it almost came as a sense of calm hearing it from the surgeon on what needed to be done and how. Up until now I have been comfortable with the fact of having to do this without reservation. Get me within a week and maybe I may start telling a different story ha ha ha....odd as it may seem- I am more concerned about items such as removing the breathing tube and catheter than actual surgery....I guess just fear of the unknown is what gets us all....hope your spot goes along splendidly!

Jim Hernandez  Ty..our gut is telling us to make a appt with Dr Adams at Mt Sinai after seeing one of Adams latest posts on here..glad the commercial shoot went well today with the crew!

  Glad to hear you have zeroed in on who you would like to visit with. My outcome would have been VERY different had I not done my research. The first surgeon wanted to do something VERY different than what Dr Allan Stewart was able to do. Good luck at the appt.

Janet R  Hi Jim, I agree with Christine, follow the surgeon with the most experience. Dr. Adams at Mt. Sinai is truly one of the best in the country.

Jim Hernandez  Hello neighbor and Ty Christine! How did your surgery go?? I keep reading good things of my Sinai, how was it logistically for you? It's in the city correct?

  It went very well. We are all different, but no blood transfusion, heart and lungs started up right away, surgeon saw me everyday after surgery, when he could not see me one day, he called and emailed same day to make sure I was doing fine. There is a video of him and Adam on this site. He and his assistant in the office are very responsive, very straightforward, and very caring. When I have a question, he gets back to me RIGHT AWAY. I just emailed him this morning and he already has gotten back to me. I strongly feel picking the right surgeon plays a big role in all of this, and I agree with Joseph, get on the phone and set those appts up. I stayed at a hotel close by the night before, I had to report at 5:30. My family stayed in the city in order to be with me everyday, so they did not have to commute back and forth. We ended up paying about $250.00 for a car service back to CT- I had no desire to get on a train to come home. It was worth every penny. He will tell you to Facetime him, call his cell or email him with any questions after the surgery...I remember he said if I had concerns about my incision to take a picture and send it to him, or just Facetime him so he could look at it. He does everything possible to make sure you feel comfortable since we are not local. He has no ego, extremely confident, extremely skilled, and very laid back. He was the ideal surgeon for me. Good luck with your research and pick. If you have any other questions, please let me know. He has an outstanding reputation. Google him and read about what he procedure he pioneered....he is a very smart man.

Jim Hernandez  What a ringing indorsement! I am glad you developed such a great chemistry with your surgeon and team and exactly what I envision. We are looking to see about adding additional interviews with Dr. Adams or even Stewart if they have the availability. Ty so much for the info! Taking a point from Adam's book- ask everyone for their thoughts and opinions.

Jim Hernandez  Ty Adam....we are just beginning the next step process of 2nd opinions with cardiologists then on to surgeons...i know i will have a ton of questions coming up!

Jim Hernandez  Ty again...I just went in for my follow up to go over TEE results and it is indeed time to move forward...a couple of recommendations my cardiologist made was not to stay local in my area because of no suitable surgeon in hartford hospital any longer he trusted but he gave me a couple of names that if I can run by you to see if you heard anything positive or negative. The first was Dr J Byrne at Brigham & Womens in Boston as well as from your book, Dr Adams at my Sinai...

Jim Hernandez  Hi Jim.. ty very much. I recently had a TEE done to take a better gander at my MV. It confirmed that both my posterior and anterior leafs are both damaged as well as my regurgitation has progressed to severe. As far as I know, my tricuspid valve is not affected so at least a good sign...my cardiologist is not referring me to anyone local and thus confirms my research elsewhere. One was Dr. j Byrne at Brigham and Womens in Boston and the other was dr Adams at mt Sinai....how was your experience at my Sinai and with dr Adams if I may ask?

Jim Hernandez  Ty...we are beginning our research into mitral valve replacement surgery. I am diagnosed with severe regurgitation.

Nancy D  Jim- please feel free to ask anything you may think of. Our stories are quite similar from what I read on your journal. Knowledge is power, and I found a lot of info on this site! I wasn't even sure what questions to ask while talking to the doctors, but came up with some good ones here. In 3 days I mark 3 months since MV replacement- had a couple minor bumps in the road to recovery, but I am doing quite well in cardiac rehab, and feeling very lucky to have found the reason for my fatigue, perhaps even the chronic cough and bronchitis episodes over the past 2+ years. The members of this group have a lot in common, yet the journey is an individual one, and they are so helpful with support and information!! Take good care, and good luck as you sort things out and get prepared!