Thanks for your inspiring words and good luck to both of us.
Having been born and raised in Cleveland made going home a no brainer. There is a certain calm when you make a decision and move fast forward. Not that I am looking forward to the next several months but I am comfortable where I am.
I'll keep my eyes open for you, if I can.
All the best.
Sandy Gilbert
On March 13, 2010...
Hi Carla
Thank you for your kind post to me. Interesting that we are on the same schedule but a month apart and I hope it goes quickly for you. We are in Ohio right now and staying at Pete's brother's home about an hour south of Cleveland. We will be going to Cleveland tomorrow and checking in to our hotel We have booked a room at the Intercontinental Suites hotel. It is on the CC campus. We booked there because it is a suite and room for 4 of us before I am admitted. They have a free shuttle to go back and forth. Last night was my last coumadin.My cath is Tuesday, so that's their protocol and it works. I have had to go off my coumadin a few times thru the years (colonoscopy, etc). I have labs, ekg, xray, echo and CAT scan all on Monday, a marathon day. Tuesday is devoted to my cath/angiogram.
Wednesday several meetings and last one with surgeon. I do believe the protocol for the valve surgery is pretty standard especially if you haven't had some of these things done at home. Will be in touch again from the hotel before the surgery. Thank you for the bible verses. I have written down Joshua and have it with me to read. Be strong.
Fran Zilko
On March 13, 2010...
Hi Carla
Thanks for dropping by. You have really had a busy winter there with your mom. Hope she's on the mend and now you can take the time to look after yourself.
I think Cleveland Clinic would be my first choice as well. It will be really interesting to watch our friends from HVJ go through their surgeries and see first hand what they have to report.
My other two valves were having the same slight problem at the time of my mitral valve repair but the surgeon said the aortic wasn't anywhere near ready for surgery and even though the tricuspid was leaking mild-moderate - it may never need surgery either so they were just left alone. My rehab has me taking things slowly so I'm still not allowed to lift weights over 5 lbs each but am encouraged to walk. Because of the state of the other two valves, I may never be lifting much in weights in the future either. I do lift some heavy things but just not for long periods of time or on a regular basis.
I had the full surgery and from what I had read, it sounded easier to recover from that then have the ribs spread apart to allow for the less invasive one. When I woke up in ICU I remember reacting to the pain and saying I needed more drugs. That first day I was kept under until the breathing tube was removed and then I had enough morphine to dull the pain. I remember everything more from the second day when I was able to get out of bed and sit in a chair and start making phone calls etc. The pain was quite manageable and on day three I reverted to Tylenol Extra Strength. The scar isn't a huge big wide thing and as pale as I am through winter it's hardly noticeable. I wear many scoop and v-necks and honestly, it's not glaring at all. I think I was glued.
I guess you have yet to find out what your surgery choices are. Does having to go through the pain process again bother you at all? I would be terribly upset the repair didn't hold but comforted by the fact time has made in the progress of techniques and the expertise and choice of doctors you have there.
Here in Canada where all our health care is paid for in full by the province, we cannot travel out of province for surgery unless the surgery isn't available in our province. We can travel around the province but that isn't even something I needed to look at.
I'm really happy about the surgeon I had and feel very lucky to live so close to a renowned heart hospital so travelling was only a 40-45 minute drive to downtown Toronto. Our biggest expense was parking.
Hope your mom contineus to improve. It's so great that these things can be re-repaired. Keep in touch. Cheryl, Ontario
On March 11, 2010...
Hi Carla,
Another fellow Floridian here! My husband had his MV repair in November 2009 and was just given the all clear/restrictions lifted a couple weeks ago. I couldn't have managed without this site, between family and friends and our young daughters and all the stuff to keep track of.. without the support of the people on the Heart Valve Journals. Hopefully however, unpleasant you'll find this repair to be a much more informed,and peaceful journey because of the support of the people here. I wish you all the best and send prayers for your successful repair and recovery!
Tara (wife of Ken Crosby)
On March 11, 2010...
Hi Carla
Glad you signed in and told your story. You are one of the "old time survivors", not old, age-wise of course. You will be traveling out of state like Capt'n Bill and I are doing. You'll get to experience spring and as you may remember it is a glorious season that we Floridians don't get to see. I have family in Palm Beach Gardens so seems that there could be a possibility to meet in person one day. You are a spirit filled person as I am and that will make a big difference as we face these challenges. You will meet some very special people on these HVJs. So willing to experience their journeys, with the end goal of having a healthy heart. I will follow your posts as you wait till next month.
Fran Zilko
On March 11, 2010...
Hi Carla
Nice to meet you. I had my mitral valve repaired in Oct/09 so am still in recovery mode doing rehab and getting stronger. I think mine was first noticed in 1974 but no one thought to mention it to me and it was many years later before I started to suspect something. Some day I'm going to requisition my 1974 hospital papers to see if I can't figure out who knew what when. It's just for my own curiosity.
I'm sorry to hear you are looking at a re-repair of your repair! When did you really start feeling it again? I think it's great that you too are going to be at the Cleveland Clinic so you'll be anxiously watching Fran and Bill's journals as they go into surgery next week. Just yesterday there was a new gentleman joined the journal who is going to Cleveland as well. From what I have researched here from Canada it's certainly a hospital I would have felt comfortable in.
Can you just imagine all of the improvements that have been made since your last surgery? I hope that gives you some comfort knowing how much more advanced things are and better yet, the doctors have gained that much more skill.
Much like you, my journal friends have become part of my everyday conversation with family and close friends. Sometimes I get asked how so and so is doing. Just last week I told my brother and 3 of my closest friends how to get into the journals and now that they've read some of it, they are all quite impressed with the content of what goes on here.
I'll be following your journal to watch for further developments. Good luck.
Cheryl, Ontario
On March 11, 2010...
Hi Carla,
Nice to meet you and thanks so much for sharing your story with us.
You have found a great surgeon and a fantastic clinic to help you through this experience. Give my best to Dr. Mihaljevic.
Thanks for your inspiring words and good luck to both of us.
Having been born and raised in Cleveland made going home a no brainer. There is a certain calm when you make a decision and move fast forward. Not that I am looking forward to the next several months but I am comfortable where I am.
I'll keep my eyes open for you, if I can.
All the best.
Sandy Gilbert