Anna Thomas posted a note for Rob that says:
Hi Rob,
This is Anna Thomas. I happen to be on our Google account right now which I believe has my husband's name on it. I was just going through some of our old correspondence from people that kept in touch, donated, sent cards and such before my surgery.
I just wanted to check in and say thank you again for being so kind and to see how you yourself were doing! I hope all is well.
It was very kind of you to think of me and will never be forgotten. This site and people on here, well, hold a very special place in my heart. Big pun intended!
I sure hope this finds you doing great!
With sincerest regards!
Anna
Terrie posted a note for Rob that says:
Hello Rob . Just finished reading your Story, Journal and guestbook! Liked reading it as it and most of these posts become like reading a good "book", don't they?
I loved your attitude from start to finish and you taught me quite a bit in your writing(especially that you paid attention to your Wife! which is something I will have to do better with my Husband who lately has gotten a bit more frustrated with me! chuckle.
I read that you had an ablation not long after your surgery which is something I was scheduled to have before my latest tests showed it was time to schedule surgery for Aortic Stenosis. So I will be having an ablation in the near future after the surgery as well for SVT problem. I had a quick visit to the ER when they couldn't get a rapid heartbeat to back off. I have been on an added medication since that has seemed to work for now but will look forward to an ablation to hopefully erase the problem. Pretty awesome they can do such a thing. Congratulation on all your successes and continue to heal. Be patient and love to your wife for taking such good care of you too.
Rob Wigley Hi Terrie,
thanks for the note. This certainly is a long, strange trip.......and no ones is the same. I hope you have good procedures!
Rob
On July 12, 2014...
Bob Osmachenko posted a note for Rob that says:
Rob, liked your journal entry and pleased that you are positively almost there!
Could you explain what "EF" Is. Why is it important ?
I am trying to learn all of these indicators prior to my surgery because we live several hours away from my surgeon and cardiologist and we must be self reliant and problem solvers in many ways.
Take care.
Rob Wigley Hey Bob,
EF is ejection fraction, the amount of blood that's "ejected" by the left ventricle thru the aorta. Normal is 55-70%. Most of us with BAV's are 40 ... Read more
Rob Wigley Hey Bob,
EF is ejection fraction, the amount of blood that's "ejected" by the left ventricle thru the aorta. Normal is 55-70%. Most of us with BAV's are 40 or below. The cardiologist tech can measure this with the echocardiogram, or the cardiologist can measure when/if they do a catheterization. I've been told that 40 and under means surgery NOW. I didn't know until after my surgery to ask this question......I could have learned a lot here before I was opened up! Best to you!
On March 31, 2014...
Peter Willaqrd posted a note for Rob that says:
Rob that is a small world that your first name is Willard and I enjoyed reading about your family.I read a lot about heart valves and I never heard of a horse valve being used.I know Arnold S.and Adam Pick had the Ross operation that is suppose to last a long time.
Peter Willard posted a note for Rob that says:
Rob I had a bovine valve put in Feb 2010 at 67 yrs.old What is a pony valve and how old were you at the time you had this done.how long did they say it would last?
Rob Wigley Hi Peter,
My horse valve was put in on 11-18-14, I'm 56 years old. It's supposed to last 15-20 years. I pretty much left it up to the surgeon once I told him ... Read more
Rob Wigley Hi Peter,
My horse valve was put in on 11-18-14, I'm 56 years old. It's supposed to last 15-20 years. I pretty much left it up to the surgeon once I told him I wanted tissue, not mechanical. By the way, my first name is Willard......family legend says my grandfather's mother was an ardent prohibitionist (years later she blamed Hitler for the alcohol consumption in the USA) and there was a woman named Frances Willard who was an equally ardent prohibitionist at the time, and she named him Willard after Frances........of course my grandfather turned into an alcoholic.....
Rob Wigley Peter,
Well, actually my surgery was 11-18-13! Not 2014!
Rob
On March 19, 2014...
Anna Thomas posted a note for Rob that says:
Thanks for your response and I'm so glad to see that your wife was supportive and encouraged you, especially regarding your quality of life together. My husband is supportive as well, and I have to believe that makes a world of difference. I can't imagine going through these things alone. I am Anna Thomasq and can't figure out how to fix that. :) My best to you and your family and May God continue to provide you with an abundance of blessings!
Anna Thomas posted a note for Rob that says:
That was an amazing post. Some of the things you said hit home for me. I'm only 47 and struggling with what to do...it's a birth defect, I've gone this long without doing something, why shouldn't I keep status quo, etc. You talking about your family was all I needed to see to know that's why I can't keep things status quo. Thank you; it made a difference today!
Rob Wigley Hi Anna,
It is a leap of faith, in my case I'm very happy I did. I was easy to say that fixing it would lead to a prolonged recovery, but the long-term prognosis ... Read more
Rob Wigley Hi Anna,
It is a leap of faith, in my case I'm very happy I did. I was easy to say that fixing it would lead to a prolonged recovery, but the long-term prognosis was excellent. Harder to predict was what would happen had I NOT had the procedures. Best view was that I would start to deteriorate faster and faster and my quality of life would be reduced. I chose to believe initially that they were exaggerating, but my wife very honestly told me that she wanted me around for YEARS in better health, and that doing this procedure was our best shot at the quality of life that we both want. So for me it was a no-brainer after that. My procedure was fairly straight forward, I don't know if yours is. I read a journal post for Anna Thomasq, and if that's you then you have a bit more going on. My advice, if that is you, is to go to the biggest facility that has docs who know your issues. This is your LIFE, get the best that you and your insurance can agree on, follow their advice, once you're sure they're the one.......best to you! Rob
On March 18, 2014...
DVB posted a note for Rob that says:
Best post!
Happiness. Gratitude. To wake up after and see your family there.
Rob Wigley Hey DVB,
This was a good wake-up call to remind me what's important in life. All my life I have been extremely lucky, and the hits keep coming! Best to you!
Rob
On March 18, 2014...
Angela Creason posted a note for Rob that says:
You hit some excellent points in your journal entry. Im glad you're doing well!
I tried to keep the smile in the hospital as much as I could. To see my nurses come in each day, smiling, willing to do anything to help you do the simplest of tasks to the less desirable, why not make it at least a bit more pleasant for them too. I'm grateful for all the staff that made my stay truly amazing along with the help of my husband spending long hours by my side. I'm 33 and will see my cardiologist Thursday and am curious about rehab. I got the "baby of the bunch" honor at the hospital :)
Rob Wigley Ha Angela, baby of the bunch....no kidding! I read your story and though we have similar issues it manifested differently for you. I can't imagine having a ... Read more
Rob Wigley Ha Angela, baby of the bunch....no kidding! I read your story and though we have similar issues it manifested differently for you. I can't imagine having a cardiac at 32 or 33. I hope that didn't damage your heart! I think rehab has been awesome. The place here in Durango has a personal trainer on staff, and since I'm "so young" I'm getting personal attention for the next 6 sessions to get me back to working out and being healthy, while most in rehab are just doing some cardio, being monitored, and some light stretching and weights. I didn't work out for the past 2.5 years because I got so lethargic, but now I'm getting energized and this was EXACTLY what I needed! If you do the rehab, especially at such a young age, I encourage you to speak with them first thing about not just doing some cardio and being monitored, but ask for something like what I'm getting. I'm sure the big city places would offer this, I'm surprised Durango (pop 17,500) does. Our little town continues to surprise...
You have 50-60 years ahead of you with this new heart! AWESOME!
Rob
On March 18, 2014...
Ernie A.S. posted a note for Rob that says:
Welcome from another misplaced Texan. Good advice, you hit it all right on the head. I just turned 50 the day after my surgery in September, so I'm a little bit younger than you. I tell everybody to keep smiling too, and to be patient. It's not easy though. There can be some pretty darned frustrating times during recovery. I'm 6 months post op, and still having some memory issues, but my memory was a bit hit and miss before surgery, so it's hard to tell if it's worse.
Rob Wigley Hey Ernie,
One thing I had totally forgotten was I got the HICCUPS for 5 DAYS, starting about 4 days after surgery. It was constant, 24/7, and maddening! I ... Read more
Rob Wigley Hey Ernie,
One thing I had totally forgotten was I got the HICCUPS for 5 DAYS, starting about 4 days after surgery. It was constant, 24/7, and maddening! I could sometimes concentrate and suppress them for 30 minutes or so, and get a little sleep, but then back they'd come. Wow, here's where poor memory comes in handy! I'm happy you're doing well!
Rob
Uploading your photo!
This is Anna Thomas. I happen to be on our Google account right now which I believe has my husband's name on it. I was just going through some of our old correspondence from people that kept in touch, donated, sent cards and such before my surgery.
I just wanted to check in and say thank you again for being so kind and to see how you yourself were doing! I hope all is well.
It was very kind of you to think of me and will never be forgotten. This site and people on here, well, hold a very special place in my heart. Big pun intended!
I sure hope this finds you doing great!
With sincerest regards!
Anna