John's Guestbook

Hi John Wondered how you were doing since you left my favorite hospital (CC). Glad you got to the hospital so quickly and were treated. Even if we knew all the possible things that could happen post op, we still go through with our valve surgeries because we know when it\'s all over with we will be so much heart healthier. Okay, it\'s all going forward now, no backward steps! I assume they felt the small amount of fluid they found will be reabsorbed on its\' own. Continue to heal. As Duane said, coumadin for 6 months is no biggie. I\'ve been on it for 14 years and will always be on it. Fran

Hi John, Sorry to hear about your complications. But, it sounds like they have it under control now and your back on the road to recovery. There are some bumps, or hiccups I call them. For me, I had to take a trip to the ER a week after I was home, because of phlebitis in my arm from one of the IV sites. Its still there, 7 weeks later, but slowly is going away. At least it doesn\'t hurt anymore. I found the whole process to be a positive experience tho. And I continue to improve a little each day. I\'m feeling terrific and started cardiac rehab on Monday. Its all good. Diana

John, Sorry to learn that your recovery since coming home has not been smooth and boring like my post wishes on July 6. Wow, it\'s a good thing you went to the ER. This heart surgery stuff is certainly not for the faint of heart!! I had lots of bumps on my recovery road too. Before my surgery, I diregarded everyone\'s entries about coumadin, since I was having an MR repair and it wouldn\'t be necessary. Wrong. I too had an embolism, only mine was cardio and it caused a stroke two-days post-op. I am on warfarin for life. It\'s really not bad. Though I\'d, of course, rather not be on it, I haven\'t had any bleeding or bruising issues. It requires a few diet modifications, mostly just making your level of vitamin K intake consistent, nothing awful. I\'m praying and hoping for you again a smooth ride on the recovery road from this point. Take care. Duane Hunt, FL

Welcome home, LaDisas, welcome home! Isn\'t it indescribably wonderful to be back home? Praying that your recovery from henceforth is smooth and boring! Duane Hunt, FL

John, Congrats to you for making it home finally. Like you, my return travel plans changed a copule of times before I finally exited Cleveland, but you were in the best of hands while you were there. Take care of yourself and keep working on your recovery. The most challenging aspect is behind you already.. Best wishes, Mark Keller, TX

Hi John What great news. Eating solids and tolerating them well and I presume having a bowel that works was the key for discharge. And you did it. Be sure to navigate the airport by wheelchair, they are very accomadating at Hopkins as they know how many of us are discharged from the CC. Make sure to take your pillow with you. Once you are home your real recovery will begin and you\'ll do well after this setback. Fran

Hello John, Hopefully this is the day things start working for you! It is so disheartening to have setbacks when all you want is steady progress. I had a mitral valve repair on May 13th. I was back in the hospital for a second surgery on May 25th. I had herniated a lung with a severe coughing spasm. I had slow recovery and a lot of pain following the second surgery. It was a rough road but at six weeks I am feeling quite well and in rehab. Reading other journals tells me there can be a lot of complications. I can remember complications being mentioned before surgery but I put them out of mind as I was sure none of them would happen. Well...something that wasn\'t even mentioned happened - but thanks be, it was fixable and now I am doing fine. Patience is hard, but it takes plenty of it. Know others are rooting for you, Mary Ann of Sioux Falls SD

Hi John & Mrs! Wow, I\'m sorry your recovery has started out with so many bumps. Even with the miracles of modern medicine and being in the world\'s best place for it, heart surgery is far from routine. If you read the journals extensively, you\'ll find almost everyone has some pretty good bumps in the road. I certainly did. Like you, I had a mitral valve repair (1/28/10) and was completely shocked by the MVP and severe MR diagnosis last October. Two days post-op, I had a cardio-embolic stroke, requiring transcatheter intervention in my brain. Eight days post-op I was back in the OR for a pericardial window (to drain fluid) and cardioversion. After 13 days in the hospital, I went home and still had some problems with pericardial effusion. I tell you all this to assure you how normal it is to have some complications. Our complications are as individual as we are as persons. As your recovery progresses, don\'t expect every day to be better than the one before. Just take one day at a time and you\'ll see there is a gradual overall climb. Sometimes it will feel like you\'ve really advanced; sometimes it will feel lik your recovery has stalled, even reverted a bit. But if it\'s uphill overall, you\'re doing fine. I\'m offering up my prayers to God for you from central Florida. May today be a \"moving\" day for you! Duane Hunt

Hi John, I am so sorry that you have had these BUMPS in the road. Nothing to eat or drink...you poor thing. When I had my first mitral valve repair at CC in 1998, I was in the hospital for 9 days. My biggest problem was a-fib and the differing opinions of the treating Drs. as to how to handle it and not letting me leave until it was settled. I got so stressed and the pain meds made me so sick I couldn\'t even hold my head up... I was so ready to leave that when they finally discharged me I took off like a streak of lighting...out the door...never looking back and definitely not thinking I would ever be back. BUT the end of the story...12 years later I found myself back at CC...and ever so thankful I had a choice of where I wanted to go and knowing CC was the best place. :) As you recover and heal, I hope the memories of these frustrating days fade and the fact that your heart has been miraculously repaired will bring you much joy and a full recovery! Blessings, Carla H.

Good Morning John Now that it\'s a new month maybe you\'ll turn over a new leaf in your recovery. Glad to learn all tests so far have been negative. Are you thirsty at all? Maybe they are letting you suck on those swabs they have available post op? Looks like they\'ll start you off slowly with liquids and like so many others, pray you will have an active bowel sounds and things will have changed. Fran

John and Mary Ann, I know your recovery is starting off as frustrating from reading your journals. I pray it shows improvement, and you guys are heading back to Milwaukee soon. Hang in there, and it will get better.. Mark Keller, TX

Good Morning John Well, we know the CC is a great hospital, but really, enough is enough! One good thing is you were still nearby and able to have them diagnose and treat you. Have no idea how old you are but does your age factor into the bowel/bladder issues? Don\'t think so, but am asking. Well, praying your total fasting and bowel rest will work quickly. Fran

Hi John Glad to read there\'s some improvements, walking, urination, blood count, etc. Hopefully the pain will get under better control soon. keep working at getter better and stronger, our mind set goes a long way towards progress. Are you flying or driving to Milwaukee? Did I tell you we lived in Brookfield, WI for several years? Loved MKE except in the winter! Fran

Good Morning Sorry for all the setbacks. My only consolation to you is that you are in the best hospital and staff to deal with all that occurs. Is the NP\'s name Denise? She\'s good.There have been so many people on the HVJ who have gone thru afib post op and it finally resolved.Prayers continue for a smoother day today with progress being made to control the a-fib and getting rid of that darn catheter. Fran

Hi John Drink, drink, drink even though you don\'t feel like it. You\'ve got to get the urine moving. Same for walking and using that spirometer. This is the one time to really dig deep, pulling out all stops. Wishing you good luck. Cheryl, Ontario

Hi John Seems the anesthesia and pain hit you hard. It will pass and once that catheter comes out and stays out, you\'ll feel better. Continue to do what the staff tells you including the walking and coughing, it\'s all for a good reason. I can\'t praise the CC, Dr Gillinov and his staff for my care in March. It will get better, I promise. Fran

Uncle John, So glad to hear things have gone well and the hard part is behind you. We are thinking about you and checking your journal daily. I hope those nurses are taking good care of you! Love, Liz,Tim and Liam

Hi John Glad to hear you are doing well. It won\'t be that long before you are up and on your feet so work hard. The best is yet to come. Cheryl, Ontario

We are so glad you are recovering so well. You couldn\'t be in a better place than the Cleveland Clinic for heart surgery. You will be back soon, feeling better than ever. Love and prayers are being sent from us to you and Mary Ann Denny and Rosa Fitch

Good Morning Know it\'s going to be a good morning when you see John. Thank you for the detailed report post op. I imagine it must have been stressful to see John restrained even though you understood the reason. As the anesthesia wears off you will find the John you know. It is amazing the assault our bodies go through for this major surgery. Prayers for an excellent recovery. Know you are in the best hospital. Fran

Hi John and family, I am glad the surgey went well. I am praying for his recovery and for your support! This is a great family of support here for you on HVJ. Melany, NC

Hello, John, I will be in Cleveland Clinic having surgery with Dr. Gillinov in August, so I\'m following your story with much interest. Best wishes for a speedy recovery. Carolyn from Florida