John's Guestbook

John Noriega  Hi Ihn.
Yes, I am in CH. I live near Antelope Road & Roseville Road. I would be happy to meet you and chat if you'd like. My surgery was at Sutter Memorial in Sacramento. They have one of the highest rated cardiac teams in CA & the USA. My surgeon was Michael Ingram who has a very good reputation and highly recommended by his peers. I didn't have any visiting nurses or therapists post-surgery. I did rent a hospital bed and my insurance covered it. I basically started walking about 1/4 mile and gradually increased it as I felt better eventually to 1 1/2 miles plus until my cardiologist prescribed my cardiac rehab. This was done at Sutter Roseville - 36 sessions in all. There they have you do cardio exercise and monitor your activity. We did recumbent bicycle, treadmill & elliptical. It is very well planned out and extremely helpful. As far as ER, I would go to Sutter Roseville, if necessary. They are very good there & my doctors are all affiliated. If you need extreme cardiac assistance, they will take you to Sutter General in Sacramento by ambulance.
The one thing I can tell you is follow your doctor's advice and all will be well. There really isn't anything to fear post-surgery as long as you follow doctor's orders. Again, if you'd like to meet & chat, I would be more than happy to do so. In the mean time, I will put you in my prayers as your date is rapidly approaching. Take care.
Onward & Upward,
John

Ihn Kim  Thank you very much John! I do appreciate your tips and warm wishes, and hope you well also. My email is ihnkim@gmail.com. Let's keep in touch.
Thanks again.

John Noriega  Thanks Adam! I will, but don't steal my tag line! LOL. As I have been writing the only way to face this is head on and that's what I'm doing. Also, thanks for your book and this site. It has all helped!
Onward & Upward!

Terrie Syvertsen  John. I have enjoyed your tag line since you came into the community like so many others and it is all yours! LOL. I think from the beginning it has set you up to show strength and character in how you will be able to face your oncoming surgery soon. Your wife and family will also be a great source of strength to you both during the hospital stay and the return home. I have seen you on your "Bike" and you look like a pretty rugged outdoorsy kind of person which is another source of strength you have had to draw from so you will have to just "lean into" what is about to happen to your body and tell yourself that you are in the middle of a group of "heart riders" who will be at your side mentally and spiritually all the way too. You have a lot of love, support and prayers going for you guy. I want to tell you that we all have the same feelings that you are experiencing and it comes down to each of us having to deal with all the inner questions and fears in the best way possible. It is important information you are receiving from Eleanor and others on the site who have been through it too and the good thing to note is once the surgery is here it is a short time until you are back home and saying to yourself, "Damn, so glad that this is over and I can move forward! I believe that if you just believe you will be ok based on all of the stories of others who have gone through it before you if nothing else you will calm down within. John, I would be happy to meet with you and your wife if you want to take a run to Manteca to meet with me as you might be able to see and hear in person someone who is just 6 weeks out of surgery. Perhaps take a short walk in my park as well. I think I might be able to help you with your nerves and perhaps help your wife with any questions she may have as your primary caregiver. Just let me know if you want to meet and I will make myself available but do it soon as I will have appts. coming up. email me at: tsysvertsesn1@sbcglobal.net and I will reply shortly. If not, just know all will be well/Terrie

John Noriega  Thanks Bob. I've already connected with some nice people. Thanks for giving me Adam's book - it has truly helped me!

John Noriega  Hi Ruth -- thanks for responding. I was told in 2013 that my valve was at 1.9cm which is pretty close to normal. Had an echocardiogram this past August and was told valve is now 0.9cm - close to serious. I will be having an angiogram in October. From chat with my doctor there was a sense of urgency so I expect a replacement to be done before end of year. Chest pressure is very noticeable and I do have most of symptoms of stenosis. So, just waiting.

Ruth Valenzuela  Do you know what your mean gradient is? My valve is at 1.0 in June so it could be different now which would probably be around .9. My cardiologist doesn't seemed to alarmed yet. He said my mean gradient was at 29 but it has been increasing every time an echo is done. I don't have any chest pressure and I'm sure that has to be very concerning for you. You also mention you have most of the symptoms. Can you share what they are? I get coughing spells that wake me out of a deep sleep. I keep thinking it's all a big lie and I don't have this. ha ha

John Noriega  He didn't share anything about gradient. He just expressed a sense of urgency. I think it is because of the sudden decrease of the valve. I had had a stress test done about 10 months ago and all seemed well then. In the past few months I have had the sweats, some shallow breathing after short walks. My wife and I recently went to Reno and Lake Tahoe. It was then that I noticed getting short of breath and experiencing check pains. I knew something was extremely wrong. When I mentioned this to my doctor is when he expressed his concern. We were going to go to Lake Tahoe this past week for our 47th anniversary and he said to cancel it, which we did. Besides sweats and breathing shallow at times, I have become more cognizant of symptoms. I have trouble sleeping especially on my back or left side. I am always fatigued and getting upset because I'm always tired. Actually when my doctor told me of possible consequences I took it to heart (pun intended) immediately. There is a history of heart disease on y farther's side of the family, so I am following doctor's orders. Relaxing, no heavy lifting, exercising, etc. I want to,live another 25 years or more, so doing what I have to do.

Ruth Valenzuela  Yeah, I thought the same thing with the decrease in your valve area. I'm glad you shared about the having trouble sleeping on your left side because I'm experiencing that also and wondered if it was heart-related. I also have been having sweats but didn't relate that to the heart at all. I have never been a back sleeper! I always think I'm not having symptoms and you bringing that out about the left side sleeping and the sweats shows me I am having some symptoms and I'll be able to share that on my next echo appointment. It's a shame you have to limit your fun activities but it's probably for the better. After you get your operation behind you, you'll be able to enjoy to the upmost. Thanks for answering my questions and keep on relaxing. I will keep watch as to what will transpire for you and know that you'll be in my prayers.

John Noriega  Thank you so very much. Just another thing to watch for is dizziness. I experience that as well at times. Either while walking or getting up from sitting or getting out of bed. I'll be posting as I learn more. I'll pray for you as well Ruth!

John Noriega  Ruth another thing I just thought about is excessive urination especially during the night. I know it's another symptom.

John Noriega  LOL! I thought some of these were symptomatic from the meds I take daily. After reading Adam's book a couple of times & doing some research via internet I realized that this is very real and I just want to get it taken care of. I am tired of being tired and experiencing the worthlessness of the other symptoms.

Ruth Valenzuela  I need to get Adam's book. Praying for you and all the others I'm reading about on this site. I'm so thankful to have found it.

John Noriega  FYI my cardiologist called today. He is going to try to move up my angiogram. Hopefully, he can. Surgery would probably be by mid-October. I also made my first journal entry today!

Ruth Valenzuela  Glad to hear things are moving forward for you. I've had an angiogram years ago and it was really not a bad procedure. I don't remember feeling a thing and I was awake enough to see them doing the procedure. It turned out really good because I had no blockage. That was years ago, so hopefully things haven't changed. Take good care.

Terrie Syvertsen  Hello John. Read your information that you have so far and want you to know that I am out of surgery a little past the one month mark now for Aortic stenosis. I am 65 years old. There are many people in the community here who will be able to help you and your Family make this journey by giving support and answering any questions we can. I see you have a large Family and you have Aggie at your side who will be the greatest supporter of you during this time. As we read your information we who have gone the route of surgery will be able to answer any questions you have(and that includes getting help from other caregivers so they are able to step up and be there as well. So any questions that pop up you need to pass along to the community here to see if we can help you. Take care and I will watch for more information or questions. Terrie from Manteca, ca.

John Noriega  Thanks Terrie...I look forward to asking questions prior to my surgery and getting answers. Right now I feel what I have read in Adam's book has helped me to have a better understanding of what to expect, but I will definitely rely on other sources and resources. The friend who lent me the book had major surgery this past June and will also be helpful. He had his aortic valve replaced, his aortic root and had a seizure during the surgery. He has survived very well and is back on his motorcycle. So I know that all will be well. Thank you again, I will be in touch.