At two weeks post op, I am a newbie to the \"aortic cascades\" you mentioned. That said, it is encouraging to read about what I have to look forward to. Thanks ...Read more
At two weeks post op, I am a newbie to the \"aortic cascades\" you mentioned. That said, it is encouraging to read about what I have to look forward to. Thanks for taking the time to post an update. It is very helpful to those of us in the early stages of recovery. -Mitch Friedman
Hi Rob, good to hear another success story! I wasn\'t around when you had your surgery, I\'ve only known since November that it\'s time for mine. I will be ...Read more
Hi Rob, good to hear another success story! I wasn\'t around when you had your surgery, I\'ve only known since November that it\'s time for mine. I will be having my aortic valve replaced and possible dilated aorta repair on March 13th. Here\'s hoping for another success story!
Linda Dixon
Rob Fairchild Linda - thanks so much for your kind solicitations. I hope your adventure turns out as well as mine ... Read more
Rob Fairchild Linda - thanks so much for your kind solicitations. I hope your adventure turns out as well as mine did. I think you can take sustenance from the fact most of us valve persons do make it through. But it is definitely a real adventure.
Hi Rob. It\'s wonderful to see how great you\'re doing in such a short time since the operation. That\'s great and very encouraging to someone like me that\'s ...Read more
Hi Rob. It\'s wonderful to see how great you\'re doing in such a short time since the operation. That\'s great and very encouraging to someone like me that\'s about to undergo the dreaded operation in 19 days.
I saw you talk about cardio rehab and being concerned that your insurance wouldn\'t pay. I too have those concerns. I have a medicare supplement and am also covered under my husbands insurance policy. You would think that would be great, right? Wrong! I pay more out of pocket than I would had I only the medicare supplement. Crazy! But they won\'t let me drop off my husbands insurance until the end of December. Anyway, my co-pay for cardio rehab (if they\'ll cover it) will be $50 EACH time. And my doc wants me to go THREE times a week! So that\'s $150 a week just in co-pays for the cardio rehab. Crazy! Add in my co-pays for other Dr\'s I have to see on a monthly basis and it\'s impossible. So how did it work out for you? Did you do the rehab at home or what?
Again, best wishes on a continued speedy recovery!
Warm regards,
Terri Grimes
Rob Fairchild Cardio rehab! After two sessions I realized they don't give me anything I don't get at home with my ... Read more
Rob Fairchild Cardio rehab! After two sessions I realized they don't give me anything I don't get at home with my treadmill and my exercise bike. Plus, like you, I have a significant co-pay. So I convinced them to set up a mini program for me - only two more sessions so I can learn the upper body exercises (which I do think are valuable) and then I will be through with it. Normally they want you thrice weekly for ten weeks - no way I said. And they went along. Maybe you can work something like that out for yourself.
Of course you have to have the operation first. And in that regard best of luck to you. Don't sweat it too much - I'm sure you'll come out fine.
Dear Rob. I am so happy you are doing so well. I am still struggling. My cardiologist told me that most people recover very well, but a few like me do have ...Read more
Dear Rob. I am so happy you are doing so well. I am still struggling. My cardiologist told me that most people recover very well, but a few like me do have some problems. So I will deal with it. I am on prednisone now and it should get rid of the inflamation in the the bag of fluid around my heart, and then the body is supposed to absorb the fluid.
I am anxious for the 10 days of prenisone to be done and hope and pray it will take care of it. Otherwise they will have to do surgery again and put in a draining tube, and I would not like that. Anyways so happy for you, and you will love cardiac rehab, I do.
Rob Fairchild Not sure who posted this comment. In any event I am sorry you are having some setbacks. It makes me ... Read more
Rob Fairchild Not sure who posted this comment. In any event I am sorry you are having some setbacks. It makes me appreciate more than ever that I have been very lucky in my recovery so far. Things can change. I hope they won't for me. But I do hope they change for you.
Hi Rob,
I\'m glad to hear you\'re doing so well.
At some point I will need aortic valve replacement, but so far we\'re in \'wait and watch\' mode, since ...Read more
Hi Rob,
I\'m glad to hear you\'re doing so well.
At some point I will need aortic valve replacement, but so far we\'re in \'wait and watch\' mode, since my heart is compensating for the blunt-force trauma that resulted in my severe aortic regurgitation. When my condition was originally diagnosed and I was told I would need open heart surgery, I decided Dr. Barnhardt was a great choice due to his minimally invasive technique. I met with him -- great guy! -- but before we got into discussing the exact details of surgery, he and a cardiologist determined that we could keep up with the wait and watch scenario for now.
Of course the inevitability of heart surgery is on my mind and your story has me curious. I was hoping that Dr. Barnhardt\'s minimally invasive surgical technique would be the \'between the ribs\' approach rather than a semi-sternotomy, which it sounds like you had. Do you know if he uses both techniques, depending on the extent of repairs needed (which I understand is determined during the angiogram)? Or is the semi-sternotomy the standard minimally invasive technique that he uses?
Thanks in advance for your thoughts and keep up the good healing. Get outside for a walk when you can to enjoy the wonderful weather you\'ve been having.
cheers, Gail
Rob Fairchild Gail - I did have a mini-sternotomy rather than 'between the ribs.' I'm not sure if Dr. Barnhart doe ... Read more
Rob Fairchild Gail - I did have a mini-sternotomy rather than 'between the ribs.' I'm not sure if Dr. Barnhart does the latter nor am I sure if I would have been eligible. In my case it was never discussed nor did my research bring up very much about it. I suppose it would have been the most desirable since there is minimal bone displacement that way.
I was in the 'wait and watch' mode for several years but for the past year I was pretty sure my time was coming. Sure enough, it came. And just in the nick of time I learned since, when opened up, my aortic valve was hanging by a thread, so to speak.
No doubt Barnhart is extremely good at this technique, if that is what you are going to have. He does seminars for surgeons around the country. I think the angiogram will determine what is the best surgical approach for anyone. I needed nothing done besides valve replacement (bovine pericardial) and so was a good candidate.
So far (knock on wood) my experience has been far better than I could have hoped for. Of course even with a mini there is plenty of discomfort and months of healing. But I think one does better this was than going 'whole hog.'
Whoo-hoo, Rob!
Way to go! Is your area still beautiful with no rain? Great walking weather, I hope.
Continue to improve. And, I agree, the recovery after ...Read more
Whoo-hoo, Rob!
Way to go! Is your area still beautiful with no rain? Great walking weather, I hope.
Continue to improve. And, I agree, the recovery after open heart surgery is a workout in its self.
Sheila Garrison
Rob Fairchild Thanks, Shiela. The rain, not the volume but the frequency, gives us the green rainforest mode that ... Read more
Rob Fairchild Thanks, Shiela. The rain, not the volume but the frequency, gives us the green rainforest mode that a lot of people find appealing. Including me.
I am from: Seattle, Washington
