Elizabeth's Journal

Mary Myers  Great news, you will love cardiac rehab.I found cardiac rehab gave me the confidence to get back doing everything that I did before surgery.

Jim Kelly-Evans  Sorry to read about the complication. I had an extraction also...a couple of weeks ago but it healed properly. I hope you can get the problem resolved quickly. Best wishes.

Kimberly Biddick  So sorry to read about the delay.. I am sure you are ready to get everything done and over with. Hope your mouth heals up quickly and you are back on track soon!

Mark Alafita  Best of luck in maneuvering through that bump. BTW, I'm day 7 post-op, had all the fears that you have mentioned, had a number of unpleasantries arise during my recovery, and I'm STILL ecstatic that I had the surgery. A great new road is up ahead!

Conrad Henselder  Elizabeth, I have been reading your journal, its quite a story. I too am having my surgery at Brigham and Womens. I am also concerned with all the snow, I will try to make the 80 mile trip from southern RI to Boston tomorrow for my consultation with Dr Cohn. I also need a tooth pulled which is scheduled for 23 Feb 2015. Yesterday my dentist cut the bridge connection from the tooth. I had a previous date of 24 Feb 15 for my OHS but with the tooth and info I gathered from this site I decided to talk to another doctor at another hospital. My mind was doing exactly what you said, racing. I havebeen through alot but this has really affected me. I needed a med to relax me and let me sleep, my GP perscribed a med and it has really help. My best to you your not alone.

Nancy D  A frustrating practice of the patience you will need. Hang in there, remain positive that this will happen as it is supposed to at a time best for you!!! Take good care!!

  Elizabeth, I won't say I know exactly how you feel as I have not entered the pre-op stage yet, but I am sure I can imagine the feeling quite well. I think that scared feeling is phase one of this surgery. My phase one has been ongoing since 2011 as my surgery gets closer. But I think when you reach that pre-op moment, it suddenly gets very real. Hang in there and know that you are receiving many, many, prayers and well wishes from this awesome community. Blessing coming your way. ~Karen

Lewis Garlisi  Try to look at this with some sense of relief that its finally going to happen. The Waiting period can be very difficult. I found that focusing on recovery helped. Best wishes.

Jim Phillips   Elizabeth I'm up for surgery right after you on Tuesday. You are not alone. God will watch over us.

Janet R  Elizabeth, You can do this, and soon you be on the road to recovery. Many prayers for you. It is scary but you are in good hands.

Tammy Pilcher  Elizabeth, I don't know if you're having symptoms yet, but I had been for two years and didn't know it was my heart. By the time mine was found, it was at the critical stage with a 0.39cm2 opening. I was so thankful it was found in time and that there was something that could be done to fix it. I read that once a person starts having symptoms there's only from six months to two years left. So, knowing that helped me to be actually anxious to have my surgery. It's been three months now and I feel so much better! You can do this and God WILL be there to help you! Isaiah 41:13 "For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto the, Fear not, I will help thee."

Cheryl Batzing  Elizabeth, fear is a natural feeling when you have OHS before you. But, I am so thankful we live in a day when these things can be fixed. Also, I think I'm the biggest wimp on this planet, and I had mitral valve repair surgery on Dec. 16. Am just past 6 weeks post op and doing well. Have had a few ups and downs, but mostly just thankful that they were able to fix something that has been hanging over my head for 22 years. Also, the Lord will be with you and lean on that. Will keep you in my thoughts and prayers on Monday. You can do this!

Ben Schraegle  Elizabeth-to be scared is normal. Been their like all the others on this site. Put your trust in the Lord, he will hold your hand and watch over you. I will pray for a successful outcome and a full and thorough recovery! All the best!

Edith Dim  Elizabeth, my surgery is not to be for quite awhile, and I am feeling jittery. As Ben said, being scared is normal. I will keep you in thought and prayer on Monday. Sending caring hugs.

Linda Crawford  Hi Elizabeth, when you finally get in the pre surgery holding area, try to just let them do what they do so well and trust that it will be over very soon. I, and so many others will be thinking about you.

Patricia Garcia  Elizabeth...I only saw my surgeon for about 5 minutes too. He was terrific and got me through it. It is normal to be scared and you are almost on the recovery side of this. I pray that you have a successful surgery and fast recovery.

Mark Alafita  Elizabeth, let me add my words of comfort to the long list. I don't have the experience yet, since you and I have the same surgery date, but I do have the same sense that I have to be strong. You are going to do great.

Judi Nunez  Elizabeth I had an appt with him yesterday when this all happened. It was chaos and so sad. I was hoping for him to do my surgery, such a loss.

Adam Pick  This is a tragedy. Dr. Davidson was such a nice guy who helped many patients in our community. I'm at a complete loss for words about this.

Jim Hernandez  My heart sank when hearing this..I was just there this past Thurs for a consult with Dr Byrne and Dr.Davidson was on my short list...everyone there is fantastic ...my heart goes out to his family and colleagues during this difficult time...

leo cicero  Thoughts and prayers go out to Dr. Davidson his family and all the great people at Brigham and Womens hospital. He was a great man.

Lenore Mitchell  Oh how sad. Life is so fragile, and we OHS patients are especially connected to the many wonderful surgeons who've dedicated their lives to 'fixing' us.

Susan Ericsson  What a terrible tragedy. Can't stop thinking of his wife and kids, and all of you who were looking to him for surgery.

Kathryn Waymire  Why do they think he was killed? I lived near Doctors Hospital in Columbus Georgia when a mental ill man came in shooting 3 people, because he never got over his mother dying. The man was in his early 70's .Killed a few nurses.