Michael's Guestbook

Congratulations on your 4 year anniversary, I just hit mine as well! I think you and I might have been at the Cleveland Clinic at the same time. As painful as my recovery was, I am doing great now... I had the robotic MVR with Dr. Gillinov as well... thanks for your updates Michael! Paul V.

Hey Michael- Congrats on your 4 years! I went to Lafayette High School-graduate in 95. Used to live off of 109 and Manchester Rd. I used to work at the Pizza Hut in Ballwin it was in the Schnucks plaza back in the day on Manchester as well. Small world.. Glad your doing well.

Hi Michael, I was searching for pericarditis and your post came up. It seems we had the same surgeon, except my surgery was on August 16, 2016. I also had robotic surgery btw, and my recovery was extremely painful, not only from the surgery but a long standing episode of pericarditis. It was so painful! The good news is through taking colchicine and malaxicam eventually the inflammation subsided and I started to feel human again. Unfortunately my local cardiologist didn’t treat me for the pericarditis aggressively enough so I suffered longer than necessary, and he eventually sent me to a pulmonologist who stopped the malaxicam and put me on colchicine, which by itself didn’t work. I finally about five months into it made an appointment at CC in West Palm Beach, with a cardiologist there and she put me on both for three months. That worked, but it was a miserable road to get there. I, like you had robotic, and frankly, in retrospect I wish I had just had a minimally invasive sternotomy. I still have lots of numbness in my rib cage on the right, and I cannot go to sleep on my left side or my right arm falls asleep. This has been since the surgery. I agree that the distance is a real inconvenience after surgery. I went to Dr. Gillinov too and was set on doing robotic after all the reading I had done. Anyway, I get the impression it worked out well for you, but for me, hmmmmm. I have just this week been hit with another bout of pericarditis, I’d been doing well for about 8 months, exercising, feeling well except for the above mentioned nerve problems, and I caught a mild cold and it triggered the pericarditis again. Grrrrrrrr!have you had a continuous problem with this? I hope it’s not going to last this time, I caught it early and immediately started the meds. Any feedback at all would be appreciated! Thank you, Lise Bowles btw, I am now 63...

Hey Michael; I read your journal and had to respond as I'm in the same boat. I'm having a robotic mitral repair on March 15th at Mayo Rochester. I chose them because they're 90 miles from home as opposed to needing to fly to a provider. Dr Joseph Dearani is doing my surgery as Rekesh Suri left to work for The Cleveland Clinic in Abu Dhabi of all places. It sounds like you had a quick and uneventful recovery. Would love to compare notes sometime so I know what to expect. Ben Hyman

I just reread your last journal entry after seeing you comment on another post. I'm glad I did! My BP and HR have been all over the charts, even slowing me down a bit on my intervals in rehab. It's very hard to know what the new normal is and what will go back to the old normal. At least now I understand why the cardiologist doesn't seem overly concerned. Only once did it go very high (180/100) during exercise. I'm learning to bring the speed down more on the treadmill when the HR doesn't seem to be adjusting on intervals. Comments from "old-timers" on here really does make a difference to us newbies. Thanks!

Hi Michael. I spent some time reading your journey. I too have mitral valve prolapse and am considering CC as an option. I am early on in the process. I was in "watch and wait" status until June 3. I am now doing pre-op work-ups and researching hospitals / surgeons. I just wanted to introduce myself. I was wondering if I might chat with you (here on the website or by email) sometime in the future about your experience at CC, with Dr. Gillinov, and the minimally invasive approach to repairing your valve?

Michael my husband received an AVR in April (On-X valve) and has been doing really well apart from the elevated heart rate reaching 90 by the end of the day. His blood pressure is good along with good blood work results. I really do not want him back on metoprolol ... did you have any success with the electrophysiologist? Thanks so much!

Hi Michael, Seem to have identical situation to you, including Dr Gilinov and CC trip, from Dallas for me. From your updates, I assist too optimistic on how quickly I can get back to work and heavier exercise. Would be interested in talking more when your back online. Hope your elevated pulse is improving for you. Don

Thank you Michael Meyer. I replied to my original post to you but you must have missed it. I would really appreciate it. I have every confidence in my cardiologist and I'm sure she is sending me to one of the best. I've heard great things about him. I'm hoping he can do minimally invasive or robotic on me but with my lung issues due to my radiation for my Hodgkin's lymphoma in the past I'll just have to see what he thinks is best. I've researched on the internet probably more than I should have. Some of it has been very informative other not so much. I must admit I find the surgery videos very interesting. I would love any help or information you could pass along. My e-mail is mymustanggt2005@aol.com. Again thanks in advance!

Hi Michael, I had my mitral and tricuspid valves repaired by Dr. Gillinov three years ago, and I have been experiencing arrhythmias ever since. I had bad palpitations before surgery, and Dr. Gillinov warned me that the surgery may or may not relieve them. I was fine the first two months after surgery, but as soon as I got off the metropolol, I started to get the palpitations again. While they are not dangerous ( I have lots of extra and skipped atrial beats as well as some a fib runs), they do make me feel anxious whenever they occur. And they were occurring pretty much all day. I spent the first year trying to ignore them, but my cardiologist wanted me to try a low dose beta blocker, and that helped tremendously. I did not want to be on any meds, but I felt so much better that I changed my mind and have been taking a half tablet of bisoporol for the past two years. It does slow everything down (including metabolism), so that is a real down side. I do boot camp six days a week, and it is difficult to get my heart rate up there no matter how hard I work. I also gained about 10 lbs the first 3 weeks I was on it, and then it leveled off. From what my cardiologist told me, people who have a lot of mitral regurgitation and then surgery to repair it, are likely to get arrhythmias because the electrical pathways of the heart get messed with from the regurgitation and surgery. Sometimes they go away and sometimes they do not. Mine were really bad all summer, but for the past three weeks, I've had hardly any. I keep trying to figure out what makes them better or worse, and the only things I know that make them worse are dehydration and lack of sleep. I have cut out refined sugar from my diet that past three weeks, so I'm wondering if that is making my heart more regular. Guess I'll find out as soon as I give in and eat some junk! Anyway, just thought I would pass that along. Hopefully, your heart will settle down be just fine on its own. Godspeed and good luck!

Hi Michael. I am starting my pre-op testing tomorrow and meeting Dr. Gillinov on Monday. How have things been going for you. Probably rehabbing to get back in shape. Do you remember who did your heart cath?

Hi, Michael. I believe we had surgery the same day (July 14th). Mine was to replace the aortic valve. Like you, I am in cardiac rehab. I saw my cardiologist after the surgery, he prescribed rehab after doing a stress test in his office, and I will see him in November when he has said he will take me off Metoprolol and probably put me back onto Norvasc which I took presurgery. I hope at that time to be released for six months or a year. Congratulations on your great progress, I hope you continue well, and do limit those work hours! I am glad I am retired, although I do miss the work colleagues, even two years after retirement, but going in and having lunch with them is a good substitute for working! Keep well. Eleanor

Thanks for the link. I didn't know that about the lung. I am learning things everyday. Just got my packet from Cleveland clinic and they are pretty organized. Hope things continue to go well for you

Glad to hear you are doing well from surgery. I just heard that Dr. Gillinov will do my surgery Oct 22 . I haven't had my heart cath yet(something I dread) but considering the robotic method. Trying to educate myself on all alternatives

Michael, You left me a message some days ago about an phone app that monitors the heart. I do see that they also have the app for the Android phones. I wanted to thank you again for letting me know about that. I'm looking into it and will speak with my Cardiologist about it too. Best wishes to you and good luck with your rehab. Karen Pineda

Michael, Congrats on starting cardiac rehab I am 3 weeks one day post op..I hoping to start cardiac rehab soon. Keep up the great progress. Let me know how rehab goes. Hugs from your heart sister,

Michael, I will be following you before too long. I am scheduled for surgery at CC on July 31. It seems close and far away at the same time. My incredible son-in-law is from outside of Jeff City and one of my closest friends here is Wichita is from Springfield. And we have some very close family in St Joseph. So very glad you are getting in as you clearly sound ready. I wish you all good things and will keep you in prayer!

Go for it, Michael, You have a bunch of us cheering you on. I am still waiting to hear about the when's etc. Pretty severe stenosis but no symptoms yet -- must be my stubborn, er, assertive streak! Blessings,

Hi again- I was active before surgery, ate healthy and without any pain so I did not use the services you mention. I was also very anxious about surgery and despite being a sceptic tried CC 's relaxing tapes. For me they were wonderful. I still remember the music when I feel stressed. I think it's good to prepare your body to be at its best so whatever helps is worth a try and CC is there to help.

Hi Mike...I had Dr. Gillinov at CCF for my severe mitral regurgitation. Amazing surgeon, hospital, and staff. Mine was done with a sternotomy. You made the right decision, a true "no brainer"! Healing went very quickly!! We stayed at the Courtyard University Circle for a couple of weeks (it's new)...the location, shuttle, and hotel service were exceptional. Don't worry, you will be taken care of masterfully at CCF and by Dr. G!