Patricia's Guestbook

  Hello Patricia, you have gone through a lot at such a young age. As Laurel said, hope all goes well and you won’t need any more interventions. God bless you and keep us posted. 

Susan Lynn  Welcome, Patricia. I'm a fellow Pennsylvanian and mitral valve heart warrior. I'm sorry you have to go through this, again. You're in good hands at Penn. Wishing you the best!

Patricia Garcia  Dr. Thomislav Michaljevic. He is a brilliant surgeon, very compassionate and he has some YouTube videos. He cut out a huge blood clot from my left atrium. I think he is Chief of Cardiology in Cleveland Clinic in Dhabi. That was my porcine valve replacement in 2007.

Patricia Garcia  Not sure if he is in the Ohio location anymore but I believe he is still with the CC. I would have went back to him but they did not take my insurance. My surgeon from UNPENN was outstanding also.

Michael Meyer  Patricia:
Dr. Michaljevic is in Abu Dhabi as well as Rakesh Suri. They do come back to Cleveland to do procedures. Dr. Gillinov is also at CC. Dr. Gillinov performed my mitral valve repair.

Patricia Garcia  They are great doctors in the Cleveland Clinic that is for sure. This time around though the University of Pennsylvania and Dr. Michael Acker took great care of me.

Patricia Garcia  Hi Emily and sorry that I am just getting back to you. Since you have had a previous surgery there will be some scarring, but everyone is different in how their body heals. I had and have keloid problems with my scars, but I really don't worry about it anyone. My repair failed after 5 years because the ring they used calcified with scar tissue. My replacement valve was predicted to last 16 years and only lasted 8 years. It was extremely stenosed and was open the size of a pinhole when the surgeon got in there. I also had a huge blood clot in my left atrium since the blood had no where to go but backwards. I was severely out of breath and quickly went into congestive heart failure. Within 2 month I had my valve replacement. This time I opted for a mechanical valve. My surgeon never even mentioned another tissue valve. Why is this not your last? I know no of us can really predict the longevity of these valve and anything can go wrong, but the mechanical valves seem to last for over 30 years. I have a friend that has one over 20 years and carried mail around with it. She actually has two replacement valves. I believe that your lifestyle places a key factor in the longevity of these valves. Older less active people can get these tissue valves and may never need another. I was and am very active. I am a busy mom of 4 although one is on her own. My two children were born after the repair so pregnancy is stressful on the heart. Then I had the tissue valve, without thinking I would ever have any more children. Well surprise here came my last and I must say my poor porcine valve keep us both alive, but we struggled. I had afib/flutter my whole pregnancy. All my children were born via C-section. Two years later my valve just deteriorated with calcification. I am back at it again running around like nothing was ever done to me. I do have afib/flutter that is rate controlled and I have learned to live with it. Any more questions just ask and I will help you the best I can.

Patricia Garcia  Thanks Gladys I hope it is my last too. Recovery was not to bad for me on the first or second surgery, but a little harder this time around.

Loren Sealey  Hello Patricia, the Lord bless you with speedy recovery and double strength to go back to what you love doing. I adore you for being such a brave and courageous woman. You encourage me too much . I had my valves replaced 3 years ago and its a tissue valves and my doctor said that i will need to have another surgery in the future when the tissue valves deteriorates and I dreaded the thought of it. God bless you more and more.

Patricia Garcia  Thanks Loren I really appreciate your kind words. I am happy to know that what I went through has inspired you. It is not easy but I take each day each as it comes and yes the Lord has blessed me in so many ways. I pray that your valves continued to work successfully for a very long time. Take care of yourself physically and mentally and that will help preserve your tissue valves. God bless you.

Patricia Garcia  That is great news Clay. Mine has been under control since I was put on Amiodarone. It has been 14 days since my last event and trip to the ER. I was on it twice a day and have been dropped down to once a day as of yesterday. In 3 months I will come off of it and hope it does not return. I have mild palpitations that go away quickly, but no Afib. Praise God is right, for all of us.