Hi Mike. I am glad to hear you are in good spirits in spite of the complication you had with SAMs - I had not heard of that before now. Please keep us all ...Read more
Hi Mike. I am glad to hear you are in good spirits in spite of the complication you had with SAMs - I had not heard of that before now. Please keep us all posted on how the tests go with your cardiologist. I slept in a reclinder the first 2 weeks after I was released from the hospital and that worked well for me, but it was nice finally being able to sleep in my own bed again! Take care! Denise K
HI Mike,Hope everyday gets better for you. My doctor years ago told me to lay off salt. He said everything you eat has some salt in it and some more than others. ...Read more
HI Mike,Hope everyday gets better for you. My doctor years ago told me to lay off salt. He said everything you eat has some salt in it and some more than others. That was my triglycerides were high. So I dont use salt in cooking at all and when I go out sometimes you can taste it. Its like licking a salt block, yuck. I try and get everything with low sodium or none at all. You get use to it real fast. There are a lot of other seasonings out there you can use just as well. Keep up the good work
For the long haul
Linda H
Hi Mike-
Keep up the progress.
I had my mitral valve repaired 7 wks ago yesterday and I too had never heard of SAMS. Thanks for the educating.
The diet ...Read more
Hi Mike-
Keep up the progress.
I had my mitral valve repaired 7 wks ago yesterday and I too had never heard of SAMS. Thanks for the educating.
The diet in the hospital sucked. Even the items that we were supposed to select tasted salty in a bad way.
Admittedly I am not following any diet now, but do look at nutrition labels for sodium contents.
Will look forward to your future posts.
Karen Campo
Hi Mike..
It was good to hear from you. I was wondering how you were doing. I will be at CC on Monday for my pre-ops.
I have never heard of SAM\'s before. ...Read more
Hi Mike..
It was good to hear from you. I was wondering how you were doing. I will be at CC on Monday for my pre-ops.
I have never heard of SAM\'s before.
Was wondering how long they were thinking your physical activity will be limited. Maybe that is something you do not know yet until cardiologist does more tests. I wish you well with that.
I have been doing a \"practice run\" with the 2000mg of salt. I have had problems the last two weeks retaining lots of water...real scary for me going into surgery. But you are right....salt is EVERYWHERE....does it make you wonder how much we consume when we have a \"celebration\" dinner like Thanksgiving & Christmas!?! Scares Me..
I hope your recovery finds you getting stronger each day....and I will remember NOT to lie flat in bed when I come home. :)
Take Care!
Connie T
Mike Powers As I understand it, I need to avoid having exertion and dehydration at the same time. The example th ... Read more
Mike Powers As I understand it, I need to avoid having exertion and dehydration at the same time. The example the cardiologist at CC used was "running a marathon in 90° weather." I do like running, haven't run a marathon, but I was hoping to work up to a 10K race once I was recovered. I could also imagine heavier yard work could be a problem. I do have plans to put down a brick walkway in our yard, and I could see that being a no-no when the weather is too hot. I believe the plan is to use a stress test and cardiac rehab to figure out what the "triggers" are and then to have me avoid them.
Good luck at CC. Despite my personal complications, they really are great. For instance, when my SAMs developed, the cardiologist who showed up by my bedside was one of the people who published one of the first (the first) research on this condition back in the late 80s. I don't think I (or you) could be in better hands!
Yup, getting up and moving really works. Your body is designed to heal, but needs the stress of mild exercise for it to really kick in in high gear. As my ...Read more
Yup, getting up and moving really works. Your body is designed to heal, but needs the stress of mild exercise for it to really kick in in high gear. As my GP said, our ancestors couldn\'t just lie around while for weeks to get better. Or rather those who did are not our ancestors. Evolution at work.
When I was in the hospital at UCLA I managed to go 1, 2, and 3 miles around the ward on the first, second, and third day. Pushed myself. Had to carry a whiteboard marker and put a hash mark on my door each time around the ward to keep track. Made me pretty motivated to get all the tubes out! Also got to meet and chat with other patients doing laps. That was a big help too as we got to support each other during our initial recoveries.
It\'s an adventure! -- DVB
Hey Mike....
Great to hear you are up and walking...and on your way...
A room with a great view??? Heck could you have them reserve that one for me? I will ...Read more
Hey Mike....
Great to hear you are up and walking...and on your way...
A room with a great view??? Heck could you have them reserve that one for me? I will be there hopefully about July 18th....& maybe stock the freezer with some popsicles... I.have a serious addiction since my right knee replacement in Feb!..
Mark is eating chicken & rice dinners out there in Cali after his OHS....but I just want popsicles!!!......So give them a heads up ok.....with all this hot weather here in Ohio...we may have a shortage....and that will make for a very long stay @ CCF!...lol..
Take Care.....and keep walking & breathing....(and of course...tickin)
Connie T
Hi Mike-
Great news on your successful repair. Friday will mark 5 wks post-op for my valve repair. The walking is good therapy. Keep up the good work and ...Read more
Hi Mike-
Great news on your successful repair. Friday will mark 5 wks post-op for my valve repair. The walking is good therapy. Keep up the good work and keep us posted.
Karen Campo
Goodness Mike...I\'m impressed!! You are doing great! Keep up the good work, just remember...slow and easy does it! Yay!!! It\'s over!!!!!
Linda Dixon, AVR ...Read more
Goodness Mike...I\'m impressed!! You are doing great! Keep up the good work, just remember...slow and easy does it! Yay!!! It\'s over!!!!!
Linda Dixon, AVR 3/13/12
Hi Mike,
So glad to hear everything went well. I wish you all the best in recovery, and thanks for your kind and helpful words in response to my earlier note. ...Read more
Hi Mike,
So glad to hear everything went well. I wish you all the best in recovery, and thanks for your kind and helpful words in response to my earlier note.
Best,
Tom
Way to go Mike! Now let the healing begin. One secret is to push yourself physically. Just a little bit more than you think you should do is just right. ...Read more
Way to go Mike! Now let the healing begin. One secret is to push yourself physically. Just a little bit more than you think you should do is just right. The activity jump starts ancient healing pathways hard won by your ancestors through billions of years of evolution. Your ancestors form an unbroken line of winners - including you! -- DVB
So glad to hear all went well with your surgery and you got a perfect repair! I am 4 weeks post surgery and enjoying a week on Hilton Head Island, SC with ...Read more
So glad to hear all went well with your surgery and you got a perfect repair! I am 4 weeks post surgery and enjoying a week on Hilton Head Island, SC with my husband, children and grandchildren this week - can\'t believe how good I feel at this point in my recovery. Wishing you a speedy recovery. Take care and God Bless!
Good luck Mike! Unless you are taking some sleeping pills, guessing it will be near impossible to sleep tonight. Don\'t worry though, time accelerates at this ...Read more
Good luck Mike! Unless you are taking some sleeping pills, guessing it will be near impossible to sleep tonight. Don\'t worry though, time accelerates at this point and it will be morning before you know it!
Will say a prayer on your behalf that the great doctors and staff at CCF successfully repair your mitral valve. You are in great hands!
-Thomas H.
Hi Mike,
I\'ll be thinking of you on Monday. I\'m just starting this journey - consulting with the surgeon in a couple of weeks - and it\'s really great to ...Read more
Hi Mike,
I\'ll be thinking of you on Monday. I\'m just starting this journey - consulting with the surgeon in a couple of weeks - and it\'s really great to be connected (electronically anyway) with so many people who dealing with the same stuff. Thanks for journaling!
Best wishes,
Tom
Mike Powers Hi Tom. Thanks and you're welcome! I've found Adam's book and this community very useful. Over the tw ... Read more
Mike Powers Hi Tom. Thanks and you're welcome! I've found Adam's book and this community very useful. Over the two days of pre-op testing, I felt very informed about what was going on and why different procedures were being done. Some of what they told me was so basic—I had to remind myself that most of their patients have not read Adam's book, so of course they need to lay out everything for you.
Good luck with your treatment, whether it leads to surgery or not.
Mike, its Tiny again..thanks for replying. I have had extreme fatigue and shortness of breath, edemna, constant fluttering, I feel like iam walking around with ...Read more
Mike, its Tiny again..thanks for replying. I have had extreme fatigue and shortness of breath, edemna, constant fluttering, I feel like iam walking around with weights hung over me...I was diagnosed three years ago with mvp with regurgitation (mild) but since my symptoms have gotten worse. i had an echo this week just waiting on results..she did mention it looked as though i had an extra heart beat. I dont know if thats the mvp or something new. I do have chest discomfort as well..so who knows. I was just curious to see what your symptoms were...I am 37 and was diagnosed at 34.Good luck on your surgery..I will pray for u and your family. Should I need to have surgery I know where to start...Here!
Mike Powers Hi Tiny. I hope they figure out a course of treatment for you soon! One thing I've learned is not to ... Read more
Mike Powers Hi Tiny. I hope they figure out a course of treatment for you soon! One thing I've learned is not to listen to what the echocardiogram tech says about what they see. Some of them mean well, but I've had techs tell me things that they saw that turned out not to be true—like saying my ejection fraction was much worse than it turned out to be. Of course, if that was your cardiologist doing the echo him/herself, that's a different matter.
Mike,
Yes, Chris had the robotic the first time 9months ago, but we found out on 3month post echo that the repaired had failed. This time Chris had it done ...Read more
Mike,
Yes, Chris had the robotic the first time 9months ago, but we found out on 3month post echo that the repaired had failed. This time Chris had it done full sternotomy. He is pleasantly surprised however that the sternotomy is less painful then the robotic was. If you want his story is under Chris Hanson.
Sam
Best of Luck, Mike!
It is currently our 2nd visit here to CCF in 9 months for mitral valve repair with Dr.Gillinov. Our first visit we were impressed with ...Read more
Best of Luck, Mike!
It is currently our 2nd visit here to CCF in 9 months for mitral valve repair with Dr.Gillinov. Our first visit we were impressed with CCF and how well it\'s run. Our second visit (we are currently here) has been much the same. Chris my husband had his mitral valve re-repaired on Wednesday 20th. He is doing very good, he made it to step down unit on thursday around 2pm exactly 24hrs after surgery. He is free of all wires, tubes, and IVs. He has been on several walks around floor.
Just note heart surgeons here are some of
the best. Best of luck to you. Just remember to up with pain med\'s and coughing and deep breathing. We will say a prayer for you and your family.
Samantha Hanson
Mike Powers Thank you, Samantha. Sorry to hear about the re-repair, but I'm glad your husband is doing well. Soun ... Read more
Mike Powers Thank you, Samantha. Sorry to hear about the re-repair, but I'm glad your husband is doing well. Sounds like he'll be out before I make it to step down! Did he get the robotic surgery?
Hey my nae is Tiny..what were your symptoms any any? If u dont mind me asking.
Mike Powers My symptoms are chest pain, shortness of breath, and tiredness. My heart is getting larger, although ... Read more
Mike Powers My symptoms are chest pain, shortness of breath, and tiredness. My heart is getting larger, although when they measure the leakage it isn't as bad as they expect, given the size of the heart. It may be that my mitral valve leaks more under conditions that aren't laying on a table for an echocardiogram.
I am sitting waiting on discharge update, and had my MVP repaired on Monday. It really wasn\'t as bed as I had thought it was going to be...waiting WAS really ...Read more
I am sitting waiting on discharge update, and had my MVP repaired on Monday. It really wasn\'t as bed as I had thought it was going to be...waiting WAS really the worst part (not to jinx myself before discharge).
We have two boys (1.5 and 3.5). If for some reason I am not out of here tonight, we MIGHT bring upholder one since i have all my tubes out.
Best of luck,
Trent V
Mike Powers We are sending the kids back home before surgery, and they probably won't come for a visit as home is ... Read more
Mike Powers We are sending the kids back home before surgery, and they probably won't come for a visit as home is three hours away. But I'm glad to have them here, not least because they give me something to think about besides the surgery!
Hi Mike, isn\'t Cleveland Clinic just amazing? I was there in March for aortic valve replacement by Dr. Gillinov and I was completely pleased! I will have you ...Read more
Hi Mike, isn\'t Cleveland Clinic just amazing? I was there in March for aortic valve replacement by Dr. Gillinov and I was completely pleased! I will have you in my prayers on Monday, I know you will do great! The hard part is almost over!
Linda Dixon, AVR 3/13/12
Mike Powers Thanks, Linda. I'm REALLY. Looking forward to having the hard part over!
Hi Mike,
Just read your journal about younger kids and thought I\'d answer your question and share what we did. I had surgery in September (Mitral Valve Repair). ...Read more
Hi Mike,
Just read your journal about younger kids and thought I\'d answer your question and share what we did. I had surgery in September (Mitral Valve Repair). We have two boys 7 & 9 at the time. Our \'plan\' was not to have them come to the hospital. I didn\'t want them to have that memory etched in their little sponge brains. Our plan was also for me to be home in 4 or 5 days. Turns out I was in the hospital for 8 and the boys came to visit at day 5 and again on day 6. It was absolutely joyous for me and a big relief for them to visit and see me. We talked with them in a very \'matter of fact\' way leading up to the surgery and they got extra big hugs throughout the ordeal. I wish you and your family the best wishes and a very successful surgery!
Debby T.
Mike Powers Thanks for the info. I think we'll have to remain flexible and see how the kids feel about everythin ... Read more
Mike Powers Thanks for the info. I think we'll have to remain flexible and see how the kids feel about everything. I'm going to have a weekend between pre-op tests and surgery, and right now the plan is for the kids to join us for some fun stuff then, then send them home to stay with friends.
I am from: Indiana, Pennsylvania
