Guestbook of Meredith Bray

My Guestbook

Meredith Braygot a new guestbook post

213 days ago

Meredith Bray reacted to this

Lauren posted a note for Meredith that says:

Thank you so much. Your experience was truly helpful. Appreciate you sharing it helped ease the stress .

Meredith Braygot a new guestbook post

213 days ago

Lauren Bongiovanni posted a note for Meredith that says:

Hi Meredith, thank you so much for reporting ding to my question on dealing with sleep apnea. The added complication just scares the hell out of me. Your ...Read more

Hi Meredith, thank you so much for reporting ding to my question on dealing with sleep apnea. The added complication just scares the hell out of me. Your comments were quite comforting. I did have a couple of questions regarding your experience with them setting up your CPAP if you would not mind answering. I assume you were on a breathing tube - respirator coming out of surgery so what was the timing of you using the CPAP. We’re they able to remove the breathing tube earlier and replace it with the oxygen enhanced CPAP? How long before you were able to use the CPAP without the oxygen? I am hoping to use your good experience to setup something similar. Thank you for all your posts And insights. Iam sure they are helpful to many more that fear their surgeries. Thank you. Lauren

Meredith Bray Hi Lauren,
The ventilator tube was removed before I woke up - I have no recollection of it at all (ve ... Read more

Meredith Bray Hi Lauren,
The ventilator tube was removed before I woke up - I have no recollection of it at all (very thankful - hope it works that way for you as well!) When I woke up I only had the oxygen in my nose. The guy put the cpap on me after dinner-time (I don't think I ate anything). I think there was oxygen on the cpap for the first 3 nights? The reason the guy put my mask on for me was because I couldn't lift my arms up over my shoulders. Surgery was on Wednesday morning, and I put it on myself for my Friday afternoon nap.
The waiting is the worst part of all because you don't know what to expect. Recovery was far less scarier than I imagined it would be. FAR less.

You're in great hands at CC, and you have youth on your side :)

Meredith
Clearwater, Florida

Meredith Braygot a new guestbook post

593 days ago

11/8/20 This is all a bit too new for me to feel in control of it or have my mind wrapped around it... but I loved your post and will re-read it multiple times! ...Read more

11/8/20 This is all a bit too new for me to feel in control of it or have my mind wrapped around it... but I loved your post and will re-read it multiple times! Thanks!

Meredith Braygot a new guestbook post

668 days ago

Kevin Bell posted a note for Meredith that says:

Hey Meredith Thanx , Being Totally Alone @ this Time is Tough. Kinnda funny Ur 1st Surgery was on My Aunt's B-Day,(3-5) 1 yr Later Ur post on 3-6 was My B-Day ...Read more

Hey Meredith Thanx , Being Totally Alone @ this Time is Tough. Kinnda funny Ur 1st Surgery was on My Aunt's B-Day,(3-5) 1 yr Later Ur post on 3-6 was My B-Day . The Lord Work's in Mysterious Way's. as for My story that was just the Tip of an Iceberg! LOL Being krazy is My Best ADD Trait . ( Robin William's is our Poster Child. ( Heck found him again in The Surgery Book ) LOL I have 2 Live Just to Tell The Rest of The Story ! Other than Living It -- It's hard 2 Believe other than God has a Plan. Still Trying to navigate this Site + anyhoo It's All GOoD ! ck out My Facebook Page Kevinwmbell lansing MI . p.s. ( my Echo was on My Mom's B-Day - Glad 2 know she is in Heaven. ) luvK

Meredith Braygot a new guestbook post

908 days ago

Meredith Bray reacted to this

Lori posted a note for Meredith that says:

Thanks for your reply Meridith. The surgeon I met with was Dr. Heric, whom I really liked. I am going to talk to my cardiologist Tues when I get my Cath to ...Read more

Thanks for your reply Meridith. The surgeon I met with was Dr. Heric, whom I really liked. I am going to talk to my cardiologist Tues when I get my Cath to see about getting a second opinion as I still have So much uncertainty & anxiety.

Meredith Bray Absolutely! If you feel you'd like a second opinion, by all means go for it! It looks like Heric is i ... Read more

Meredith Bray Absolutely! If you feel you'd like a second opinion, by all means go for it! It looks like Heric is in the same office as Rovin & Ofenloch. I know it sounds weird, but the worst part for me was the waiting. Once I had my surgery date I calmed down a lot. The day before my surgery, I almost drove myself to the hospital to see if they could get an earlier start. Everything will be so much easier once you have the date, and then once the actual surgery is over and you can focus on recovery.

Meredith Braygot a new guestbook post

914 days ago

Lori posted a note for Meredith that says:

Omg .. your a breath of fresh air. I live in Newport Richey FL and like you will be having my surgery done @ Morton Plant. I am 56 & very Healthy aside from ...Read more

Omg .. your a breath of fresh air. I live in Newport Richey FL and like you will be having my surgery done @ Morton Plant. I am 56 & very Healthy aside from having a bicuspid aorta valve. I met with my surgeon on 12/31 and my cardiologist will be doing a carb on 12/31. So many fears and right now my biggest concern is choosing the right valve for me. My surgeon recommends a newer bovine valve to avoid blood thinners but I Then become faced with a potential 2nd surgery @ some point. I am not a candidate now for TAVR but should a 2nd surgery be needed I could do. I think if I can choose a valve And be 100% sure of my choice I can Hopefully work through some of what I’m feeling. Your story gives me hope and so fantastic how well your doing and how positive and upbeat you have remained. I am thankful to have run across your journey and knowing you had it done in Clearwater. Have a Terrific holiday 🎅🏻

Meredith Bray Thanks for posting, Lori! I am incredibly thankful for having my surgery done at Morton Plant! The st ... Read more

Meredith Bray Thanks for posting, Lori! I am incredibly thankful for having my surgery done at Morton Plant! The staff there is amazing, and the food is decent too, ha! Just an FYI - 5 of my coworkers (that I am aware of) have also had valve work done at Morton Plant by Rovin and/or Ofenloch.

Also, whichever valve you choose will be the perfect one for you. My cardiologist suggest one type and my surgeon suggested the other, I did my research and choose what I thought suited me best, and discussed it with both doctors - who then discussed it with each other - and that's what I got. There is no right or wrong choice.

I hope you enjoy your waking up as much as I did!

Meredith
Clearwater, FL

Meredith Braygot a new guestbook post

985 days ago

Gina Perez posted a note for Meredith that says:

What an incredible story! I wish you continued happy heart beats with an ongoing active lifestyle! Gina

Meredith Braygot a new guestbook post

1177 days ago

Meredith Bray reacted to this

Amy Leonardi posted a note for Meredith that says:

Hi Meredith! Thank you for responding to my post! It’s especially helpful coming from someone in my age group and hearing about your journey. I teared ...Read more

Hi Meredith! Thank you for responding to my post! It’s especially helpful coming from someone in my age group and hearing about your journey. I teared up and also laughed when I read from your story about being afraid to lean on your left side and hearing your heart sounds prior to surgery. I’m feeling the same way right now. Lol!

Meredith Bray Please feel free though ask me any questions you have!

Meredith Braygot a new guestbook post

1385 days ago

Nancy Luth posted a note for Meredith that says:

Thanks, Meredith, for responding to my question. Your journal was very helpful especially your entries made on or about your day of surgery.

Meredith Braygot a new guestbook post

1504 days ago

Josie Saunders posted a note for Meredith that says:

Hi Meredith Got to have my teeth cleaned and a tooth extracted, my doctor and dentist don't no what antibiotics to give me and how much or when have I got ...Read more

Hi Meredith Got to have my teeth cleaned and a tooth extracted, my doctor and dentist don't no what antibiotics to give me and how much or when have I got to take them before treatment, I had a heart valve replacment and aorta repaired 14 July 2017 can you advise me please xx

Meredith Bray I would find a new dentist, actually! I, like Anna, am prescribed 2000 mg amoxicillin to take 1 hour ... Read more

Meredith Bray I would find a new dentist, actually! I, like Anna, am prescribed 2000 mg amoxicillin to take 1 hour before my appointment. Your dentist & hygienist really should know this. Please don't have any dental work done without a pre-med. Perhaps your cardiologist or their nurse can recommend a dentist that has had cardiac patients before.

Susan Lynn You definitely need to find a new dentist. Pre-medication for those with heart conditions has been c ... Read more

Susan Lynn You definitely need to find a new dentist. Pre-medication for those with heart conditions has been common protocol for decades in the profession.

Josie Saunders Been trying to get information from my surgeon, but keep waiting for someone to ring me back, a lot o ... Read more

Josie Saunders Been trying to get information from my surgeon, but keep waiting for someone to ring me back, a lot of the dentist keep saying they don't do pre med no more
But thank you ladies I will take your advise so you don't have to carry on with the antibiotics after treatment.

Susan Lynn I began my career working for a group of dentists and oral surgeons several decades ago. Over the ye ... Read more

Susan Lynn I began my career working for a group of dentists and oral surgeons several decades ago. Over the years, the American Heart Association, has changed their recommendations about pre-medication to eventually eliminating them - at least for people like me who had mitral valve prolapse. However, since I rarely take antibiotics and my dentist still believed in the value of pre-medication, I continued to do it before each appointment. Now, my cardiologist has informed me, since my surgery, that pre-medication is required and it didn't sound terribly negotiable.
I suspect with all the research about antibiotic-resistant strains of viruses, many people and dentists are opting to forego this process. I am fortunate that my use of antibiotics has been limited to my few dental appointments a year and I felt there was more upside than risk.

Susan Lynn http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/CongenitalHeartDefects/TheImpactofCongenitalHeartDefects/Inf ... Read more

Susan Lynn http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/CongenitalHeartDefects/TheImpactofCongenitalHeartDefects/Infective-Endocarditis_UCM_307108_Article.jsp#.WvxbPqQvzIU

Infective Endocarditis

http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/CongenitalHeartDefects/TheImpactofCongenitalHeartDefects/Infective-Endocarditis_UCM_307108_Article.jsp

Infective endocarditis (IE), also called bacterial endocarditis (BE), is an infection caused by bacteria that enter the bloodstream and settle in the heart lining, a heart valve or a blood vessel. IE is uncommon, but people with some heart conditions have a greater risk of developing it.Dental Procedures and Infective EndocarditisIn the past, patients with nearly every type of congenital heart defect needed to receive antibiotics one hour before dental procedures or operations on the mouth, throat, gastrointestinal genital, or urinary tract. However, in 2007the American Heart Association simplified its recommendations. Today, antibiotics before dental procedures are only recommended for patients with the highest risk of IE, those who have:

Josie Saunders Thanks for that Susan when you read about endocarditis it scares the life out of you, and my brain wi ... Read more

Josie Saunders Thanks for that Susan when you read about endocarditis it scares the life out of you, and my brain will look for all the symptoms after, so I'll pre med 1 hour before do I have to take any more after dental treatment .