Michael's Guestbook

Hello Michael and Sandy. Sorry for your leg trouble Michael and hopefully you will have not to difficult a time getting them in better shape. There are many things that can be done to correct the circulation in the legs and I hope yours turns not to be so difficult a fix. I know this is not what you were wanting to run into after surgery but when you look at it---look at all you have already experienced and pushed past you two? You will get past too. Just a note. I had blood clots in both of my legs after surgery just above both knees where I thought I had gotten in great shape from all of my bike riding outside for a full year prior to surgery. I spent the first two months home dealing with superficial phlebitis(clots) in both legs which eventually worked themselves out but boy it was a pain to deal with that something extra so early on. Hope all goes well with your tests and you can get back to your healing soon.

Hello Michael and Sandy. Just a note to say I was thinking of you two and hoping that things were getting better for you both. I haven't caught a post from you of late and maybe I missed it but thought I would check in. So, here is hoping your healing time is going well and things have gotten better with work, etc. If you feel like an update that would be nice! Take care....Terrie

Hi Michael, Thanks for the encouragement. I use a product on my forearm because of severe nerve and skin sensitivity. I really didn't put much faith in it but to my surprise it actually brought down the inflammation and soreness fairly rapidly. It is called LivRelief Pan relief cream. It contains Rutin 0.4% made from the Asteracaeae/Compositae/Daisy family. I get mine in Toronto at Shopper's Drugmart. I don't know if you can order on line bt I would think any major drug in the US would/should carry it. It is expensive but you use so little to work. Hope you can find it and try it. Who knows. It doesn't say anything about open skin but you can look at their website www.livrelief.com. It is manufactured for Delivra Inc. Burlington, Ontario, Canada.

Hi Michael, Just checking with you to see how you are doing. How is your arm? I hope your recovery is going well now. You started out with it going really smoothly so I hope you are back on that smooth track again. Be well...take care....Karen

Hello Michael. Just a quick note before I head to bed myself. I am so glad to hear that you are home and doing so well. I guess now isn't the time to tell you I mailed you an envelope filled with black pepper, chuckle!!! I bet you remember that first sneeze for quite some time to come! I never walk without this little pillow that I have as if I have to cough I want it right under my arm pit as I walk! I get it out pretty darn fast when I am outside in the fresh air as the grass always makes me want to sneeze. I bet Sandy is happy for you being home and the stress level is going to drop soon! It is good you are getting around and I like you got out with just the use of Tylenol on a good steady schedule and that is all I have needed as well. I think It is easier to get up and move if you aren't having to fight so many medications after surgery. if you are lucky this will continue to be at a pain level you can handle. How is the sleep going? For both of you? I kept Gary awake having to get up and down during the night at first. I have been home 14 days today and it is getting better every day. Hope it goes well for you too. Just be careful not to try to do too much as it Is easy to do with the excitement of having things done and out of hospital. You two take care of each other and know things will just keep getting better. Looking forward to reading about all your progress. Good night from one more of your heat Sisters! Terrie

Best wishes for tomorrow Michael, and many thoughts and prayers to your wife, who will have the hard part of waiting to hear while you're asleep. The surgical team will do their magic and when you wake up, you will do your part of breathing, waking up, and before you know it, up and walking with help from the nurses. I wish you the very best, a smooth and uneventful surgery, and a strong recovery. Then you can be offering information and encouragement to those still waiting for their surgery. Know that you two will be in my thoughts and prayers this week. Best wishes, Eleanor

Michael and Sandy, We will be thinking of you tomorrow and saying prayers that all goes "according to plan!. Have faith and think that this will be over soon and you will be waking up to those ice chips we are all "bragging on"!. Everything from that waking up is a step towards home and being able to say "wow I am so glad to be home and let the healing begin!!! You will be fine and look how many people are going to be waiting with Sandy to cheer you and your recovery on! The wait is the worst and it is almost over. Try to get some sleep and have some great gentle hugs and know you both are going to get past this and become healthier for it. Lots of love, Terrie and Gary

Best of luck to you tomorrow Michael. I will keep you in my prayers. May you have a successful surgery with no complications whatsoever so you can get back home and enjoy the next chapter in your life. Karen Pineda

Wishing you a safe and optimal outcome with your surgery tomorrow!! Soon, you will be in recovery mode, resting relaxing and insentive spirometry!! You will do well, just have faith..... nancy

You got this! I'm looking forward to your first posting saying, "Well, it wasn't as bad as i expected!" Hopefully by this time tomorrow your wife will be holding your hand and you'll be struggling to keep your eyes open. Enjoy the ice chips! -Meredith Bray

Michael, Wanted to give you a heads up and let you know that you are and will be in my prayers for at least the next week. I am just one month out with a tissue valve. The best thing one can do for themselves when surgery is this close is to decide there is nothing left to do that is so important that it must be done now. Give yourself a break, relax, rest, and store up energy for the surgery and healing process. You will be fine and are in good hands, Ginger

Hello, Michael. You are in my prayers as you prepare for and go into surgery. The surgeons and staff can do miraculous things. They have done these surgeries many, many times before, and they are excellent at what they do. I am sure that all will go well. You also have a very loving and supportive wife in Sandy. You are truly blessed. I had open heart surgery in February 2011, and it went well and was not nearly as difficult as I had anticipated. I healed well, and I now have a healthy heart because of that life-saving surgery. You will look back on this and be thankful. Your life will be so much better. I hope and pray that your surgery experience is at least as good as mine was or even better. I am so glad you found HeartValveSurgery.com. It is indeed a blessing. God bless you and your family! Tia Phillips

Hello Michel and Sandy. I am just heading for bed and thought of you two again and wanted to add these thoughts(most that were passed onto me right before my surgery on Aug. 20th. When your thoughts stray to what if's and what can happen during and after your surgery please try to remember these things. One. Your life is in the hands of a higher power whatever your belief system is. God or just a vast Universal Power or BOTH! Whatever is going to happen, will happen and you can pray and have faith that the Team you are going to be in the hands of Knows exactly what they are doing or they wouldn't be at the front lines when your surgery takes place. I remember my surgeon kind of sauntering into the pre-admitting area and smiling down on me saying "How are you doing?! It was in that moment that I told him just that. I said smiling right on back at him "I am doing very well and was ready and knew that I was in the greatest of hands and had every confidence in him and his work" He gave me his wonderful smile back and I didn't see him again until hours later. This is similar to what you hopefully will feel at your time to "head in to the game". There isn't one person more than another of that(YOURE) surgical team that wants your surgery to be a success than that Surgeon who has decided to do all that He can to save your heart and give you and those you love a second chance to do just that. Please spend the next hours believing that even after surgery the team is in place to make sure your every need is in place to be met. You will be under the greatest of trained professionals who will guide your way through. Much love to you tonight and have a great day tomorrow. Love, Terrie One of many of your heart sisters.

Hello Michael. Just fresh from having my Aortic Valve replaced on Aug. 20th. Had all of the feelings one would expect to have, all the questions, doubts and fears but let most of them go when encountered the site here of ours (Thanks to Adam Pick) and once able to engage with people who were headed towards or coming from the same valve surgeries was able to put things in perspective and move forward. I know you are already starting to feel you are not alone and there are many of us out here ready to offer our love, prayers and support to you and those you love. Keep the Faith new Heart Brother and keep at heart that we are here for you, your loved ones and Family. Thinking of you and wishing you a smooth journey from here on out. Terrie from Manteca and all of your other Heart Brothers and Sisters

Hello, Michael. I would guess that most people on this site have gone through the same type of questioning that you are regarding which type of valve, what the surgery will be like, and how you will do in recovery. I'm 68 and six weeks post-surgery. I chose a tissue valve, but either type of valve will serve you well, both have pros and cons. I love what my surgeon said to me when I was fretting about which type to choose: "Either valve will be better than the one you currently have". Since I had severe/critical aortic stenosis, my original valve was not very useful any more. He also said that whichever I chose would be perfect for me, as it was a chosen valve and I would adapt to it. The surgery is do-able, for me it was not as traumatic as I had anticipated, and the recovery has been steady. You will definitely need some assistance the first couple of weeks, but even in the hospital they will have you getting up, sitting down and up by yourself, walking around, and in my case, learning how to go up and down stairs before I was released. Best wishes to you and your family. Eleanor