Aimee's Journal

Lauren Bongiovanni  Hi Amy, I am scheduled for mitral valve surgery with Dr. Gillinov on January 5th. I have no experience with the heart hugger but I bought one just in case because I am not a delicate sneezer. Maybe we’ll meet up during recovery. Good luck with everything.

Aimee Muhvic  Oh my gosh! What a coincidence. Good luck to you as well! Maybe I will see you when we are walking down the halls 😂

Ginny Turner  Hi Aimee, this is the best site ever. I'm another Dr. Gillinov patient with surgery scheduled for Jan 6. I'll be in the halls with you and Lauren while Esther is home relaxing! Another woman I met on this site from Houston had her surgery at CC at end of August. She has been so kind and answered all sorts of questions. She also had a full sternotomy, and was fine with only the red heart pillow that the hospital provides, not the Heart Hugger harness. I have ordered two types of bras from Amazon - some Fruit of the Loom cotton front close bras (3 to a package) and one my friend recommended that you step into and pull up - the Omisy V-Neck Cami Bralette (4 to a pack). From what I've heard, a soft bra that doesn't irritate the incision and gives some support is helpful. Best wishes to all three of you. We are so fortunate to have Dr. Gillinov doing our surgeries - I know we're in good hands.

Aimee Muhvic  Ginny, thank you for your response. It was very helpful. I’ll look into those bras and hopefully I’ll see you and Lauren in the halls and we can celebrate, together! Sorry we will miss you, Esther but I’ll be thinking about you and sending positive energy on the 6th. 🤗

Rose Madura  I was given a heart hugger at the hospital and it was very helpful. I don't think a pillow would be as effective but to each his own. They also gave me a surgical bra which I wore when I got out if I had a visitor coming or had to go out. Otherwise, I am such that I just went braless until I was able to wear my regular ones.

Aimee Muhvic  Thank you, Rose. I know Cleveland Clinic does not use Heart Huggers, just the pillows so I think I will order one. 😊

Marie Myers  Aimee- I had a full sternotomy and did well with just the heart pillow. And Like Rose, I just went braless until I could wear my own regular bras. (But then, I am not well-endowed...)

Phyllis Petersen  When I had my MV repair at CC with Dr. Gillinov in October 2016, I spoke to them about the weight of my breasts, which really was awful because I'm a D cup. They provided me with two different size surgical bras. After surgery, you will have a lot of extra water, so things change a lot in the first several days. I also had back pain from having to stay on my back, and they provided me first with stick-on hot packs and then a machine that provided wet heat to my back and that I could control. Ask everything you need to know or that will make you more comfortable. They really are great at taking care of their patients and they want you to recover quickly and thoroughly.

Phyllis Petersen  I'd wish Lauren, Aimee and Ginny good luck, but you're already upping your luck with an excellent surgeon and hospital! All the best for a successful surgery and quick and thorough recovery.