To my heart brothers and sisters, it's been a while since I've been active on this site, but I've always been a staunch supporter. Nine years with my valve, ...Read more
To my heart brothers and sisters, it's been a while since I've been active on this site, but I've always been a staunch supporter. Nine years with my valve, and I'm feeling fantastic alive and kicking! My heart goes out to all undergoing surgery; stay strong, educate yourselves, and lean on resources like this site. Adam, kudos for keeping this community thriving! Feel free to reach out with any questions I'm here to help!
Marie Myers Great post, and glad all is well for you!!
Rose Madura Great to hear from you Enrique. Glad all is well.
Rita Savelis Always happy to hear you are doing well Enrique! 9 years for me in April.
Isabella Heart Which valve did you choose? (biological or mechanical).
Sue Maize I really appreciate those of you who had your OHS many years ago, yet still check in on this site. It ... Read more
Sue Maize I really appreciate those of you who had your OHS many years ago, yet still check in on this site. It’s very encouraging and informative to know how others are doing long term. Thank you Enrique and Rita and so many others! 🥰
Civita Fahey Congrats Enrique.. so nice to hear from you and I hope many more years for you.
5 years and going strong 💪! The ticker is alive and kicking!
Everyone out there that is having or had surgery YOU GOT THIS!
Congratulations Enrique! Great post. Funny arm symbol. God bless you and continued good health.
Enrique, how is your friend George doing?
Rose Madura A positive post like this is always encouraging. I'm about 3-1/2 years into my OHS journey so good t ... Read more
Rose Madura A positive post like this is always encouraging. I'm about 3-1/2 years into my OHS journey so good to hear success stories for sure. Glad you are doing so well
TO ALL MY OLD AND NEW HEART BROTHERS AND SISTERS:
PLEASE SEND SOME PRAYERS AND HEARTFELT MESSAGES TO MY FRIEND GEORGE KARAMBINIS. HIS SURGERY WAS JUNE 25, ...Read more
TO ALL MY OLD AND NEW HEART BROTHERS AND SISTERS:
PLEASE SEND SOME PRAYERS AND HEARTFELT MESSAGES TO MY FRIEND GEORGE KARAMBINIS. HIS SURGERY WAS JUNE 25, 2020 AND HAD MAJOR COMPLICATIONS. HE IS STILL WITH A VENTILATOR AND UNCONSCIOUS.
THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART. AS, I GET UPDATES FROM THE FAMILY, I WILL LET THE COMMUNITY KNOW OF HIS PROGRESS.
PS: POSTING THIS IN MY JOURNAL SINCE THE NEWS FEED DIDN'T WORK!
ADAM PLEASE FIX THIS!!!
Adam Pick Thoughts and prayers going out!!! (P.S. Can you please tell me on what device and brand you experienc ... Read more
Adam Pick Thoughts and prayers going out!!! (P.S. Can you please tell me on what device and brand you experienced the issue with? That will help me fix it. Sorry about that!)
Janice Smith So many PRAYERS for George..............
Heart Valve Brothers and Sisters! On October 9, 2019 I completed 4 years since I had aortic valve and root replacement minimal invasive surgery. I feel 💯 ...Read more
Heart Valve Brothers and Sisters! On October 9, 2019 I completed 4 years since I had aortic valve and root replacement minimal invasive surgery. I feel 💯 never felt better. My advice to EVERYONE take care of your health both physically and mentally. Be with family, Slow down. Take a rest. Have a cookie. Have some green juice. Go to a concert. Go to a therapist. Go outside, in nature, put your phone away! Talk to God. Tell people and family you love them, Laugh until you pee your pants a little. LIVE your life while you still can.
Thank you to my miracle worker Dr. Joseph Lamelas!
Marie Myers Great post! I remember reading your posts as I was awaiting my surgery.
Mike Roskowinski He Enrique congrats on 4 years. That is amazing to hear and see. Great post and I agree with you 10 ... Read more
Mike Roskowinski He Enrique congrats on 4 years. That is amazing to hear and see. Great post and I agree with you 100%. Spend time with those you love cause you never know what will happen next. Enjoy your life to the fullest. And yes talk to the man upstairs each and everyday.
Civita Fahey Great to hear from you Enrique.. You are always so positive and I wish you many more anniversaries!
We are SO fortunate that Dr. Lamelas is back in Miami! He was my cardiac surgeon if anyone needs any feedback please let me know. They used to call him “GOD” ...Read more
We are SO fortunate that Dr. Lamelas is back in Miami! He was my cardiac surgeon if anyone needs any feedback please let me know. They used to call him “GOD” at Mount Sinai Institute! He is a true miracle worker!
http://med.miami.edu/news/uhealth-welcomes-internationally-renowned-cardiac-surgeon-joseph-lamelas-m.
The UM Miller School of Medicine serves South Florida, South America and the Caribbean in education, research and patient care.
Debbie Kelly Yes, those of you in the Miami area or nearby are very blessed. I live outside of Houston and was pl ... Read more
Debbie Kelly Yes, those of you in the Miami area or nearby are very blessed. I live outside of Houston and was planning on having him do my surgery if I don't qualify for a TAVR clinical trial. Needless to say, I am very deeply saddened.
Civita Fahey Doing well heart wise Enrique.. but, I took a nasty fall and crushed my right arm. .had some reconstr ... Read more
Civita Fahey Doing well heart wise Enrique.. but, I took a nasty fall and crushed my right arm. .had some reconstructive surgery and am counting the days until the brace comes off.. I'm a bit of a klutz.. but, thankfully had my Echo in late August and all looks good.. 1 and half years down, and hopefully many more to go!
I’m lucky to be alive and healthy to enjoy the 44 years today. I'm surrounded by people who will celebrate with me, who care about me. who see me and who ...Read more
I’m lucky to be alive and healthy to enjoy the 44 years today. I'm surrounded by people who will celebrate with me, who care about me. who see me and who love me. I thank my skilled surgeon and God for another chance in this earth! Our birthday is a chance to remember the day that a major event occurred, to celebrate and give thanks and to reflect upon how well you are still alive to celebrate the day you were born. I wish each and everyone a successful and upcoming surgeries. That's all for now time for a "Margarita" :)
Enrique K Thanks Susan, John and Meredith! Rita and Civita! how are you! How are you feeling these days? Alm ... Read more
Enrique K Thanks Susan, John and Meredith! Rita and Civita! how are you! How are you feeling these days? Almost 3 years since I had my surgery feel great! Take care and big hugs to you all!
Meredith Bray I made it to 47 years in August, and 4 years since surgery. I've gone farther than I thought I ever w ... Read more
Meredith Bray I made it to 47 years in August, and 4 years since surgery. I've gone farther than I thought I ever would - finished my college degree, moved up 2 job levels, and happy happy happy! Life is good! It's humbling to think where I would be without the surgery. And I met a fellow valve replacement guy today...just random conversation with a random stranger at the mall. Go figure!
Good evening to everyone in this community. If you are looking for the best surgeon in Baylor Houston, TX and one of the best in the world please do not think ...Read more
Good evening to everyone in this community. If you are looking for the best surgeon in Baylor Houston, TX and one of the best in the world please do not think twice. He replaced my aortic valve 2 years ago with a Freestyle Aortic Root Heart Valve at Mt. Sinai Hospital in Miami Beach. He is well known throughout the space and he is a true miracle worker.
Details are below.
https://www.bcm.edu/healthcare/care-centers/cardiothoracic/procedures/minivalve?utm_source=google&utm_campaign=lamelas&utm_medium=cpc&_vsrefdom=lamelas-google
Minimally invasive keyhole repair of the mitral heart valve at Baylor College of Medicine.
Joanne Siedhoff Hi Enrique - I haven't been on this site for some time but wanted to comment here. I had Dr. Lamelas ... Read more
Joanne Siedhoff Hi Enrique - I haven't been on this site for some time but wanted to comment here. I had Dr. Lamelas do my minimally invasive surgery 4.5 years ago when he was practicing at Mt. Sinai in Miami Beach. Aortic/Mitral replacement. He was highly respected in the area and referred by other medical professionals to me. Doing wonderfully now and would travel to Baylor if ever the need arises certainly hoping not. At the time I had surgery, there hadn't been any folks on this site that had been to Dr. Lamelas never understood why. Wonderful doctor and highly recommended.
Enrique K Same here Joanne in a heartbeat, thanks for your note in October I will be 3 years from my surgery. ... Read more
Enrique K Same here Joanne in a heartbeat, thanks for your note in October I will be 3 years from my surgery. Glad you are doing well! I met with 3 doctors and he was the only one who told me " Don't worry I will take care of you" and he did. I thank God for finding this doctor everyday of my life.
Greetings Heart Brothers and Heart Sisters,
Two years ago I had minimal invasive aortic valve and root replacement. My Freestyle tissue valve (Porcine) ...Read more
Greetings Heart Brothers and Heart Sisters,
Two years ago I had minimal invasive aortic valve and root replacement. My Freestyle tissue valve (Porcine) has given me a new lease on life. I’m able to live the active lifestyle I lived before and I'm extremely blessed to be alive. It has improved my overall outlook and my ability to do things and enjoy life to the fullest. I wish each and everyone of you a quick and successful recovery and if you are getting ready to have an upcoming surgery sending positive vibes and best wishes.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart Adam for this site! It helped me greatly through my journey.
Kathi Mancuso Congratulations and thank you for your positive. Outlook . It gives me hope !!
I am really scared !
Rose Madura Great report! Glad to hear you are doing so well!
Amy Steele Happy anniversary, Enrique! I too have a Freestyle valve and am doing great!
Rita Savelis The class of 2015 rules! Take care Enrique.
Civita Fahey I'm doing well Enrique.. I'm about 5 1/2 months post op and feel really good. I think I'm almost back ... Read more
Civita Fahey I'm doing well Enrique.. I'm about 5 1/2 months post op and feel really good. I think I'm almost back to normal now that I'm off the Metropolol. So far so good, BP and heart rate are great.. i like you feel very blessed to have had this chance. Thanks for asking.
Enrique K Hi Kathi, thank you! You will do great, trust your team of doctors and stay positive. Everyone in th ... Read more
Enrique K Hi Kathi, thank you! You will do great, trust your team of doctors and stay positive. Everyone in this site will assist you through your journey. Also, I recommend Adam's book "The Patients Guide to Heart Valve Surgery" as it provides step by step on what to expect before and after surgery.
Enrique K Thank you Rose! Hope you are doing well!
Enrique K Hi Amy, Thank you so glad to hear that you are doing well. My pig valve rocks!!
Enrique K Rita, how are you? Great to hear from you! Absolutely 2015 class rocks! How are you feeling these d ... Read more
Enrique K Rita, how are you? Great to hear from you! Absolutely 2015 class rocks! How are you feeling these days? Sending you a big hug!
Enrique K Fantastic News Civita! Stay well and keep in touch.
Rita Savelis Hugs to you Enrique! Two years is good. OHS is behind us, although always with us.
Hi Adam, thank you very much for creating this website. I would like to bring something to your attention. I have noticed comments from patients in this forum ...Read more
Hi Adam, thank you very much for creating this website. I would like to bring something to your attention. I have noticed comments from patients in this forum asking about website privacy. How secure is this website? I don't see any encryption or SSL Secure Sockets Layer which is the standard security technology for establishing an encrypted link between a web server and a browser on your site. You have personal information from each of us and having the site not secured is of great concern and should be to you as well. Please look into this with a close eye and I suggest to make changes and protect your site and your followers identity and from having your site compromised.
Adam Pick Hi Enrique, Thanks for your comment. As you might assume, security and privacy is very important to t ... Read more
Adam Pick Hi Enrique, Thanks for your comment. As you might assume, security and privacy is very important to the members of our community and me. That said, over the years, we have taken several steps to enhance the security of this website.
For example, we created a "Privacy Settings" function in our Community section that enables patients to opt in / out of select functions including the Patient News Feed, search engine indexing, and email notifications.
We have also taken steps to ensure data protection using SSL encryption -- where it is most appropriate. For example, when patients use our Surgeon Finder or Heart Hospital sections, SSL is deployed to protect that information. You can see examples of this at https://secure.heart-valve-surgery.com/contactsurgeon.php?profileID=326 and https://secure.heart-valve-surgery.com/hospital/index/contact/id/27
We also use SSL encyrption when patients purchase my book at https://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/checkout-35.php to protect their credit card information.
You should also know that on March 3, 2017, we concluded a 2-month Security Audit that was conducted by a third-party which specializes in website / enterprise security in the medical space.
The result of that Security Audit concluded that our website is in compliance with 50 HIPAA Security Rule Safeguard standards and specifications.
I hope this helps you better understand the steps we have taken to protect our community and secure this website. As you know, the process of securing a website (or anything for that matter) is a journey. We are on that journey and may leverage additional security features in the future.
Thanks for your question and raising this important point. If you have any other questions, please let me know.
Enrique K Hello Adam, thank you very much for your swift reply and clarification. I'm a late blummer in this ... Read more
Enrique K Hello Adam, thank you very much for your swift reply and clarification. I'm a late blummer in this community and just wanted to bring this to your attention. I will keep on giving support, encouragement, ideas and suggestions to the members of this wonderful community. I hope you are doing well and wish you the best!
Thanks Enrique for asking this question and also thanks Adam for your reply.
Adam, I have wondered ab ... Read more
Thanks Enrique for asking this question and also thanks Adam for your reply.
Adam, I have wondered about my privacy on the internet and why I am still coming up in an web search even though I am logged off, have deleted all my history AND my privacy setting search engine visibility is turned OFF. What am I missing in the settings?
Thanks again!
Hope this helps everyone else in this wonderful community who will undergo heart surgery now or in the future!
What happens when you wake up from surgery ...Read more
Hope this helps everyone else in this wonderful community who will undergo heart surgery now or in the future!
What happens when you wake up from surgery and suggestions.
I know some of you are terrified about the chest tubes and IV but let me give you an honest overview on my experience. You need general anesthesia for this surgery. When you wake up in the ICU you may feel confused and scared that is normal. You will have a tube in your throat for breathing try to relax and breathe slowly and deeply. (Some people don't remember this at all. You will not be able to talk until the tube is removed. This tube will be removed as soon as you are breathing on your own. Your throat might be sore for a couple of days after the breathing tube is removed. I experienced that when I got discharged from the hospital only for 1 day. You will have multiple IV Lines inserted before surgery so that they can monitor your condition during and after surgery ( this is the normal process). You will have an IV in your neck and one in your arm to monitor fluid intake and blood pressure. (Didn't experience discomfort or pain after they pulled them out). You will also have tubes in your chest to drain excess fluid after surgery. The chest tubes were very uncomfortable and that was the most painful for me especially when I stood up to walk. Some other don't experience these kind of feelings but that is what bothered me the most. Also, you will have a catheter in your bladder as well. (This was painful when they pulled it but then the pain stopped). All my tubes and lines where removed in 2 days since I was progressing well. If those tubes are left longer it doesn't mean that you are doing there is always a reason for everything that is done. I had a temporary pacemaker (small blue wires in your chest after surgery) this are hooked to a pacemaker. During the surgery, the manipulation of your heart can affect your heart and rhythm (I never experienced Atrial Fibrillation but 60% of the patients do get this after surgery. If you get this a surgeon will prescribe medication). They removed this wire after 3 days of surgery. I was given medication through and IV until my breathing tube was removed. Once I was able to drink fluid I was given pills for the pain control. Whenever I had pain i reported immediately to the nurse. Don't be afraid to ask your nurse for pain medication. I was given pain medication every 4 hours but you MUST ask for it ( it will not be given automatically). When I woke up from surgery I was in bed and moved to a recliner for the rest of the day. My nurse helped me reposition me for comfort. To help my circulation I moved my feet up and down like waving hello with my feet. I also had to wear a nasal cannula which provides oxygen for 2-3 days until I had enough oxygen in the body and use the Incentive Spirometer (this is extremely important to prevent pneumonia) . I was extremely thirsty when I woke up from surgery but the doctor told me not to drink a lot of water the first few days. A good suggestion is to have ice chips to keep your mouth moist, then the diet is advanced to solid foods. The first two day after surgery was my most exciting and challenging days. All the lines and tubes were removed and got out of bed. The surgery part was easy because I was sleeping and everyone was working for me! After I was doing the work. There was so many activities that I needed to do to prevent complications and be able to return to my normal routine. I had a physical therapist each day while I was in the hospital. When I went home the physical therapist gave me a routine to follow. My cardiologist/surgeon didn't recommend cardiac rehab but most do attend these sessions. I had a recliner in my house ( this one is a MUST) since you need to be in a chair most of the day and not lying in bed to prevent blood clots. I had trouble sleeping the first few days at home but this is normal because of the anesthesia, medications and being in the hospital. Staying in a chair is very good for the lungs and enabled me to sleep better at night. I have heard that some patience become aggressive and confused after surgery (that was not the case for me) this usually goes away after a few days. Since I had a minimal invasive surgery procedure I had less physical limitations after surgery. I couldn't lift more than 20 pounds for 2 weeks and no driving within 4 weeks. The first 4 weeks after surgery I didn't consider starting a diet since the body needs calories and nutrition to heal. I restricted my fluids to 1500cc a day. This is approximately 6 glasses of fluid in one day. I started eating a well balanced diet with poultry, Dairy products, Vegetables, high fiber, fish, and fruit. I did however reduced salt intake in my diet since you retain fluid and will cause extra unneeded stress in the heart.
There are many things that can happen after heart surgery, arrhythmias, atrial flutter, low hemoglobin levels or blood issues, and many more that could warrant a longer stay, but your attitude during any setbacks can make a huge difference in everything.
Stay POSITIVE because once you get home your real recovery work begins!
Ben Hyman This is a pretty accurate summary of what to expect.
I had Robotic Mitral Valve repair at Mayo Roche ... Read more
Ben Hyman This is a pretty accurate summary of what to expect.
I had Robotic Mitral Valve repair at Mayo Rochester, I did not wake up with a tube down the throat, but had the tube in the neck, an IV in each arm, 2 chest tubes for drainage and the catheter. All were removed in 2 days. I was hooked up to a PCA unit (patient controlled analgesic) and I could get an infusion of Dilaudid on demand. It really helped. You should ask for this before surgery. I was on Extra Strength Tylenol at home. I was discharged on day 3 and have been off work for 4 weeks. I go back to work next Monday.
I'm now 4 weeks post op and completely off pain meds. I'm on Warfarin until 4/26 and low dose Metropolol for 3 months.
This stuff can really lower your blood pressure and make you very light headed when you stand up too quickly. It made me faint once so be very careful when getting out of a chair or out of bed.
Robotic and minimally invasive surgeries generally heal faster and patients have fewer restrictions than those having full sternotomies.
Terrie Hodges Thanks, Enrique and Ben...does taking the beta blocker cause unsafe condition for walking alone?...or ... Read more
Terrie Hodges Thanks, Enrique and Ben...does taking the beta blocker cause unsafe condition for walking alone?...or once you are standing and moving , you aren"t dizzy and faint? Did you go home on statins or diuretic? I am sensitive to medications and am concerned about managing that big change in my life!
Civita Fahey Thank you Enrique. This is very helpful as I await surgery on the 24 th. The plan is minimally invasi ... Read more
Civita Fahey Thank you Enrique. This is very helpful as I await surgery on the 24 th. The plan is minimally invasive. I was told roughly 4". Is this what you have? How soon did you walk after surgery?
Enrique K Hi Terrie, I was given Metropolol for 1 month after surgery to regulate cardiac heart beat. This is p ... Read more
Enrique K Hi Terrie, I was given Metropolol for 1 month after surgery to regulate cardiac heart beat. This is pretty normal after surgery. Never experienced dizziness or fatigue during my stay at the hospital or at home. When I came home I was only taking Tylenol 800Mg as pain management.
Enrique K Hello Civita, I had minimal invasive aortic valve and root replacement 2 inch scar right side of my c ... Read more
Enrique K Hello Civita, I had minimal invasive aortic valve and root replacement 2 inch scar right side of my chest. Couldn't be happier with the result. I walked 1 day after surgery and was operated on Friday and discharged Monday.
Civita Fahey thats great Enrique.. The hospital I am going to (Brigham and Women's in Boston) routinely does all t ... Read more
Civita Fahey thats great Enrique.. The hospital I am going to (Brigham and Women's in Boston) routinely does all their AVRs with a minimally invasive.. I thought I heard a 4" in scar but that was back in November . I have pre op on Tuesday and I will ask for sure.. so far its just the replacement , hopefully nothing else is needed.. but like you I believe they would still do a root replacement through minimal sternotomy. I like the fact that you just had Tylenol.. thats my goal.. I had foot surgery a few years ago that is pretty painful and I just took Motrin, narcotics make me very sick.. hopefully its all I need.. thanks for your help, its much appreciated.
Barbara Wood Great post for those of us anticipating surgery...thank you!
Enrique K No problem Civita, let me know if you need anything else.
Enrique K Barbara, if I can be of any assistance let me know. I didn't have any complications and had a very sm ... Read more
Enrique K Barbara, if I can be of any assistance let me know. I didn't have any complications and had a very smooth recovery.
Good evening to everyone in this community. If you are looking for the best surgeon in Baylor Houston, TX and one of the best in the world please do not think ...Read more
Good evening to everyone in this community. If you are looking for the best surgeon in Baylor Houston, TX and one of the best in the world please do not think twice. He replaced my aortic valve 1 1/2 years ago with a Freestyle Aortic Root Heart Valve at Mt. Sinai Hospital in Miami Beach. He is well known throughout the space and he is a true miracle worker.
Details are below.
https://www.bcm.edu/healthcare/care-centers/cardiothoracic/procedures/minivalve?utm_source=google&utm_campaign=lamelas&utm_medium=cpc&_vsrefdom=lamelas-google
Good evening fellow Heart Brothers and Sisters, I'm switching employers on January 13, 2017. I will have a 3 month waiting period and need insurance that covers ...Read more
Good evening fellow Heart Brothers and Sisters, I'm switching employers on January 13, 2017. I will have a 3 month waiting period and need insurance that covers pre-existing conditions. I called United Health Care and the representative informed me that I would get denied. It it my understanding that all healthcare companies cover pre-existing conditions. Are they only referring to the Market Place insurance Obamacare? If I apply now the enrollment period will begin Feb 1st but I and the family can't be 14 days without insurance. I'm trying to get my employer to continue my insurance until April 14 hopefully he will accept. COBRA is not an option since we had less than 20 employees.
Any information/suggestions provided will be highly appreciated.
Thanks and wish each and everyone of you happy holidays and a healthy New 2017.
Phyllis Petersen I'm still on my old company's plan, although I pay a small fortune for my insurance, so don't know ho ... Read more
Phyllis Petersen I'm still on my old company's plan, although I pay a small fortune for my insurance, so don't know how the newer policies work. Good luck with getting this resolved soon.
Steve Farthing Have you researched at www.healthcare.gov?
Joshua Trimberger Pre existing conditions are no longer a "thing". No insurance company be it a market place plan or "p ... Read more
Joshua Trimberger Pre existing conditions are no longer a "thing". No insurance company be it a market place plan or "private insurance" cannot deny or charge you more based on pre-existing conditions. "Under the Affordable Care Act, health insurance companies can’t refuse to cover you or charge you more just because you have a “pre-existing condition” — that is, a health problem you had before the date that new health coverage starts. They also can’t charge women more than men. These rules went into effect for plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2014."
https://www.hhs.gov/healthcare/about-the-law/pre-existing-conditions/index.html
I had to do this once when my coverage didn't overlap because i missed a deadline so I just got a cheap "travel" insurance plan and knew not to use it unless it was going to be a dire emergency. If you only need it for 2 weeks then that might be your best option.
Under the Affordable Care Act, health insurance companies can’t refuse to cover you or charge you more just because you have a “pre-existing condition”
Enrique K Dear Cathleen, Joshua, Steve, and Phyllis thank you so much for getting back to me so swiftly and for ... Read more
Enrique K Dear Cathleen, Joshua, Steve, and Phyllis thank you so much for getting back to me so swiftly and for your valuable input. This really helps me immensely!
Cathleen Weed I went to add to my comment and it said "fatal error" and erased it. Lol. Anyway, you know what it sa ... Read more
Cathleen Weed I went to add to my comment and it said "fatal error" and erased it. Lol. Anyway, you know what it said 😊
On Oct 9, 2016 I completed 1 year since I had my Minimal Invasive Surgery to replace my Aortic Valve and Aortic Root. I can't thank enough Mt Sinai Medical ...Read more
On Oct 9, 2016 I completed 1 year since I had my Minimal Invasive Surgery to replace my Aortic Valve and Aortic Root. I can't thank enough Mt Sinai Medical Center and especially Dr. Joseph Lamelas he is truly a miracle worker. My scars are a daily reminder of how incredibly lucky and grateful I am to be alive. There is no way truly to express the depth of my and my families appreciation. Dr. Lamelas is an amazing skilled surgeon and a compassionate doctor. Its truly an honor to know him. I highly recommend Dr. Joseph Lamelas he is the pioneer of minimal invasive surgery and has done over 13,000 procedures. He is currently stationed in Mt. Sinai but will be transferred at the end of the year to the Texas Heart Institute. I wish each and everyone great success with your upcoming surgeries. Shout out to all the members of this group who gave me words of encouragement.
Civita Fahey Your story is inspiring to one who is still waiting for surgery. If possible can you tell me what the ... Read more
Civita Fahey Your story is inspiring to one who is still waiting for surgery. If possible can you tell me what the "requirements" were for minimally invasive surgery? looks like a parasternal approach.. I have a consult next month at Brigham in Boston who specialize in minimally invasive AVR. I hope when the time comes I also can have it done that way. Also, still debating over mechanical vs prosthetic.. go back and forth.. Im 55 still active, no athlete workout 3-4 x a wek, but do like to travel. The ticking of a mechanical valve would drive me nuts I think.. any insights from your end. Thanks.. and continued health.
Emily Rowley I am happy to hear you are going well one year on from surgery. You are very humble 🙂 I agree it's ... Read more
Emily Rowley I am happy to hear you are going well one year on from surgery. You are very humble 🙂 I agree it's incredicable hard to find words & ways to thank our excellent surgeons who save our precious lives, I too am very grateful not only to my Surgeon but that of our Heart Valve Brothers & Sisters 💞
HELP: What should be engraved on a Medical ID Bracelet. My Medtronic's medical ID CARD says "FreeStyle Aortic Root Heart Valve". I had minimal invasive aortic ...Read more
HELP: What should be engraved on a Medical ID Bracelet. My Medtronic's medical ID CARD says "FreeStyle Aortic Root Heart Valve". I had minimal invasive aortic valve and root replacement. Not enough space to fit what I want to add. Any help will be greatly appreciated;-)
Denise Campbell Mine says"mechanical mitral valve" next two lines "Coumadin". "Metoprolol succ". Fourth line "allergy ... Read more
Denise Campbell Mine says"mechanical mitral valve" next two lines "Coumadin". "Metoprolol succ". Fourth line "allergy to Penicillan". Last line "ICE my hubby a phone number". I couldn't fit all the letters in my first line so I left out the h. But they did correct it and fit it in. I used. On. Lauren's hope.
Kate Watson I struggled with this too. It was tough to figure out how to fit it all in. I ended up using medical ... Read more
Kate Watson I struggled with this too. It was tough to figure out how to fit it all in. I ended up using medical abbreviations S/P AVR and MVR (status post aortic valve replacement and mitral valve replacement). I also included "on Warfarin" of course. Then with my name and two ICEs, there was no room for anything else, including the aortic root replacement. But I feel it will give enough info for any medical personnel that may read it if, God forbid, I wasn't able to speak for myself.
Denise Campbell I got a card from the local EMT service. It lists meds and medical conditions to carry in your wallet ... Read more
Denise Campbell I got a card from the local EMT service. It lists meds and medical conditions to carry in your wallet. This works good since emts will look there if your unconscious.
Enrique K Thanks Kate and Denise for your input. Yes from all the sites I really liked Lauren's Hope. They shou ... Read more
Enrique K Thanks Kate and Denise for your input. Yes from all the sites I really liked Lauren's Hope. They should be able to make it so it fits everything!
Emily Rowley Great idea Kate using the abbreviations and Denise for keeping a wallet card. ☺ I too am unsure wh ... Read more
Emily Rowley Great idea Kate using the abbreviations and Denise for keeping a wallet card. ☺ I too am unsure whether I should get one with my artificial ring? What if things change like Warfarin is there a changeable one? I know some chains can be replaced & some you can engrave on both sides, but as long as it's not too tight the medical staff could see it. Is yours mechanical the valve? Artificial parts+meds would be important to list. You could get a medical necklace with AVR and bracelet with longer notes?
Denise Campbell Emily if u have a mechanical valve you should put it in the braclet. I didn't put the dosage of Coum ... Read more
Denise Campbell Emily if u have a mechanical valve you should put it in the braclet. I didn't put the dosage of Coumadin since that can change. Just list the drug
Sophia Ridley I wrote everything down, took a photo and have it as the screensaver on my iPhone. I moved most of th ... Read more
Sophia Ridley I wrote everything down, took a photo and have it as the screensaver on my iPhone. I moved most of the apps from the first screen so it's clearly visible. I'm going to get a bracelet but as hope to come off the thinner in July (had repair, on it in case of AFib) I didn't want to pay twice. I have the details in my purse too but as it's a tardis I think that the details on the phone will be better. On new iPhone, if you press emergency when locked there's a medical card option there too.
One of the lesser known -- but potentially most important -- features of Apple's newly released iOS 8 mobile operating system is a digital "Medical ID," which can provide important personal health related information in the event of an emergency.
Emily Rowley What can use for Mitral Annuloplasty Band for double repaired inc ASD? How'd it go with yours?
Hope this helps everyone else in this wonderful community who will undergo heart surgery now or in the future!
What happens when you wake up from surgery ...Read more
Hope this helps everyone else in this wonderful community who will undergo heart surgery now or in the future!
What happens when you wake up from surgery and suggestions. I know some of you are terrified about the chest tubes and IV but let me give you an honest overview on my experience. You need general anesthesia for this surgery. When you wake up in the ICU you may feel confused and scared that is normal. You will have a tube in your throat for breathing try to relax and breathe slowly and deeply. (Some people don't remember this at all. You will not be able to talk until the tube is removed. This tube will be removed as soon as you are breathing on your own. Your throat might be sore for a couple of days after the breathing tube is removed. I experienced that when I got discharged from the hospital only for 1 day. You will have multiple IV Lines inserted before surgery so that they can monitor your condition during and after surgery ( this is the normal process). You will have an IV in your neck and one in your arm to monitor fluid intake and blood pressure. (Didn't experience discomfort or pain after they pulled them out). You will also have tubes in your chest to drain excess fluid after surgery. The chest tubes were very uncomfortable and that was the most painful for me especially when I stood up to walk. Some other don't experience these kind of feelings but that is what bothered me the most. Also, you will have a catheter in your bladder as well. (This was painful when they pulled it but then the pain stopped). All my tubes and lines where removed in 2 days since I was progressing well. If those tubes are left longer it doesn't mean that you are doing there is always a reason for everything that is done. I had a temporary pacemaker (small blue wires in your chest after surgery) this are hooked to a pacemaker. During the surgery, the manipulation of your heart can affect your heart and rhythm (I never experienced Atrial Fibrillation but 60% of the patients do get this after surgery. If you get this a surgeon will prescribe medication). They removed this wire after 3 days of surgery. I was given medication through and IV until my breathing tube was removed. Once I was able to drink fluid I was given pills for the pain control. Whenever I had pain i reported immediately to the nurse. Don't be afraid to ask your nurse for pain medication. I was given pain medication every 4 hours but you MUST ask for it ( it will not be given automatically). When I woke up from surgery I was in bed and moved to a recliner for the rest of the day. My nurse helped me reposition me for comfort. To help my circulation I moved my feet up and down like waving hello with my feet. I also had to wear a nasal cannula which provides oxygen for 2-3 days until I had enough oxygen in the body and use the Incentive Spirometer (this is extremely important to prevent pneumonia) . I was extremely thirsty when I woke up from surgery but the doctor told me not to drink a lot of water the first few days. A good suggestion is to have ice chips to keep your mouth moist, then the diet is advanced to solid foods. The first two day after surgery was my most exciting and challenging days. All the lines and tubes were removed and got out of bed. The surgery part was easy because I was sleeping and everyone was working for me! After I was doing the work. There was so many activities that I needed to do to prevent complications and be able to return to my normal routine. I had a physical therapist each day while I was in the hospital. When I went home the physical therapist gave me a routine to follow. My cardiologist/surgeon didn't recommend cardiac rehab but most do attend these sessions. I had a recliner in my house ( this one is a MUST) since you need to be in a chair most of the day and not lying in bed to prevent blood clots. I had trouble sleeping the first few days at home but this is normal because of the anesthesia, medications and being in the hospital. Staying in a chair is very good for the lungs and enabled me to sleep better at night. I have heard that some patience become aggressive and confused after surgery (that was not the case for me) this usually goes away after a few days. Since I had a minimal invasive surgery procedure I had less physical limitations after surgery. I couldn't lift more than 20 pounds for 2 weeks and no driving within 4 weeks. The first 4 weeks after surgery I didn't consider starting a diet since the body needs calories and nutrition to heal. I restricted my fluids to 1500cc a day. This is approximately 6 glasses of fluid in one day. I started eating a well balanced diet with poultry, Dairy products, Vegetables, high fiber, fish, and fruit. I did however reduced salt intake in my diet since you retain fluid and will cause extra unneeded stress in the heart. I'm almost 8 months post-up, I have never felt better in my life.
There are many things that can happen after heart surgery, arrhythmias, atrial flutter, low hemoglobin levels or blood issues, and many more that could warrant a longer stay, but your attitude during any setbacks can make a huge difference in everything.
Stay POSITIVE because once you get home your real recovery work begins!
Amy Dorsey Wow! Thank you for all of this detail. It really helps to hear each person's recovery story. I have ... Read more
Amy Dorsey Wow! Thank you for all of this detail. It really helps to hear each person's recovery story. I have never been in the hospital for anything before this so I really appreciate this information!! <3
Joanna Prisiajniouk Yes, thanks! I am truly scared about all of this! Never been in the hospital either and worry about w ... Read more
Joanna Prisiajniouk Yes, thanks! I am truly scared about all of this! Never been in the hospital either and worry about what my heart will go through and how it will respond after surgery with everyone being a different case. I have no flutter, afib or pacemaker and hope to come out on the other side without these symptoms or needing a pacemaker. The agony is too much!
Kate Watson Nicely said, Enrique. After my first OHS, I remember waking up with the breathing tube in and freakin ... Read more
Kate Watson Nicely said, Enrique. After my first OHS, I remember waking up with the breathing tube in and freaking out because no one told me I'd have one in and I felt like I couldn't breathe. But once the nurse told me what it was, and told me to take deep breaths, I calmed down and it was fine. For my recent surgery, since I knew what to expect I was prepared for that. But I actually hardly remember it this time! I remember them taking it out which was an odd sensation but didn't hurt. The chest tube was very uncomfortable for me too and I was so glad to get that thing out! I also remember ice chips being the most delicious thing in the world for the first few days! I think it's great you wrote this because it is really helpful for people heading into surgery to know what to expect. Because for me the first time, I had no idea what I was getting into. But this time, I felt much more empowered because I knew what to expect. My surgeon's office was also great about telling me what to expect at each stage, which really helped me emotionally. Thanks for sharing and glad you are doing so well!
Amy Dorsey I love everything about this site!! Thank you everyone! I feel such a bond with you all <3
Cathleen Weed medicalert.org
I gave in and had one made for a surf trip to Indonesia a couple years ago. I got the ... Read more
Cathleen Weed medicalert.org
I gave in and had one made for a surf trip to Indonesia a couple years ago. I got the sports band style. It's durable and I like it. I mostly wear it on trips.
Kate Watson I got mine at Lauren's hope too Denise! That's because the others were all too ugly for me to wear an ... Read more
Kate Watson I got mine at Lauren's hope too Denise! That's because the others were all too ugly for me to wear and I wanted a pretty one. Not sure if you care about prettiness , Enrique :) But they had all kinds of options there actually.
Alan Lonsberry Road i.d. outdoor sports enthusiasts will like it.
Tina Maroon I would love to know where to get one too.
Denise Campbell Hey Kate. I figured if I have to be on Coumadin I deserved some pretty bracelets. So far I have ... Read more
Denise Campbell Hey Kate. I figured if I have to be on Coumadin I deserved some pretty bracelets. So far I have three.
Alina FH Enrique, I got mine at Things Remembered, of all places. I have used them a lot for gifts, over the y ... Read more
Alina FH Enrique, I got mine at Things Remembered, of all places. I have used them a lot for gifts, over the years, and they're very good. They don't have as many options as other sites, but I found one I liked. Here's a link: https://www.thingsremembered.com/catalog/search.cmd?form_state=searchForm&keyword=Medical
Gary Stripling www.laurenshope.com - very good selection and quality.
Enrique K Denise, Cathleen, Alan, Tina, Alina, Gary, and Kate, thank you very much for your suggestions, websit ... Read more
Enrique K Denise, Cathleen, Alan, Tina, Alina, Gary, and Kate, thank you very much for your suggestions, websites and links. I will be buying mine this week :). Take care everyone!
Steven A Husted i agree with medicalert.org i have had mine for over 20 years
Today marks 6 months post op for my minimal invasive aortic valve replacement and aneurysm repair, my valve is working like a pro stamina to the fullest, I ...Read more
Today marks 6 months post op for my minimal invasive aortic valve replacement and aneurysm repair, my valve is working like a pro stamina to the fullest, I want to check back to this site every now and then to see if I can lend a helping hand with a commentary and encourage everyone that will have or had surgery. I feel like a new man with my bionic pig valve "Oink" "Oink". I have to say Adams website was my lifeline when I was going through all the uncertainties of pre-op, post-op and the 'is this normal" kind of thinking. Would I do it again if I had to do it over? You bet I would. All the information and encouragement I found here was priceless. Education for me was the very key factor for my quick and uneventful recovery and also reading the encouraging words from other people here along with getting my mind right that things might be different, and YES it can even be better, was invaluable. Thank you Adam for creating and maintaining this website! And for those of you pre-op, life can and will be even much better for you if you set your mind to it and remain positive. I thank g-d for each and every day and my skilled surgeon for giving me a second chance to be live in this world. Life is very precious so enjoy it to the fullest. Good luck to everyone!!!
Mark Caswell Great post. I agreed whole heartedly :)
Eddie Patton Great to hear. Isn't it great to be back and better than ever.
Enrique K Thanks Mark! I truly feel 100% I have read your posts and it seems you had the same experience as I ... Read more
Enrique K Thanks Mark! I truly feel 100% I have read your posts and it seems you had the same experience as I did. Long, Live and Prosper. Eddie, yes it feels better than ever and getting a tissue valve was the best decision of my life. Do take care of yourself and thanks for all the encouragement and advice when i first joined this site!