Ralph's Guestbook

I too had surgery a few weeks before you by Dr Gillinov. I met him the day before surgery and then never heard from or saw him again. Interesting that others are having a different experience.

Good luck tomorrow Ralph! You will be in all of our thoughts and I will be keeping tabs on you because I have the exact same condition as you. Take it one day at a time and place your confidence in the great professionals at the Cleveland Clinic.

Ralph, I am 16 months post Open Heart Surgery by Dr. Gillavov at Cleveland Clinic. I had 2 valves repaired, Mitral and Tricuspid. I am almost 67 years old and feel great! He is absolutely wonderful. The post surgical floor had the best staff, from the cleaning crew, the CNA’s, to the nurses. I am a nurse myself and not that easy to impress. My brother in law came from California to stay with me, he is a doctor and he was so impressed he was ready to come out of retirement! Just try to have someone there with you. My daughter stayed with me, what a gift. Just walk as much as you can and use the device they give you to breath into every hour as ordered. The APRN in the ICU whispered that in my ear as I was leaving, and it was great advice. You are in great hands. My prayers are with you, you chose the best surgeon and hospital, the healing will follow.

I had minimally invasive surgery to replace bicuspid aortic valve at Cleveland Clinic in May of this year. Dr. Per Weirup. Was in the hospital for six days. Really had no symptoms prior to the surgery but valve was getting worse and was never going to get better. Very scary process but having gone through it, was not that bad. I had very little pain and only took Acetaminophen when I got out of hospital. People at Cleveland Clinic really know what they are doing and you are in good hands.