on my I had a typeo it was this year. not this your.
happy boating
captain bill
ps dont forget to arrange for your complementry limo to pick you up in cleveland
On February 8, 2010...
Hi Fran
I took the Cleveland Clinic guided imagery mp3 file and added my own mix of classical, country and a little rap music. I'll share it with you when we get to Cleveland. I was impressed with Dr. Gillinov's Q and A last week, no one stumped him, which is a good thing. I have a Cath on Thursday and hope to be recovered for a big dinner out on Saturday. We have a very specal Valentine's Day this your. I hope Cleveland has something for my alligery to pain.
happy boating
captain bill
On February 7, 2010...
Fran, our Florida friend, you are such an absolute sweetheart! There are not words enough to thank you for all your enouraging posts and prayers. I am really feeling more like my old self today since I entered the hospital. Know of our gratitude, friendship, and prayer support with you as March 18 approaches.
Love,
Duane & Peggy
On February 7, 2010...
Hi Fran
The heart monitor is about the size of a pager and has long enough leads that sleeping with it is easy. I put it in my night table drawer. I'm really happy that I have it for two weeks.
Yesterday I did some housework and nothing - and then I was up on a chair rewiring my door chimes and it beeped. I'm up and down the stairs no less than 20 times in any given day and it may pick up one or two of those occasions.
We went to my granddaughter's hockey game last night and once I got into the car it beeped. When I was sitting at the rink video taping I was sitting beside a woman who must have received 20 text messages so she was beeping constantly and my beeper went off a couple of times. She looked at me and I just said I'd get it later. I felt right at home!
We've got plenty of sunshine today - totally blue sky but our temperature is about 6F. How does that grab you? A sunny day is a great day here and to be enjoyed. Cheryl, Ontario
On February 6, 2010...
Hi Fran
That Hospital has thought of everything, doesn't it? I think what you are doing is a great idea and if it works for you, got for it. I enjoy my cd's very much and made sure I had my I-Pod filled. Cheryl, Ontario
On February 6, 2010...
Hi Fran,
Just read your latest entry re: guided imagery. I used "Meditations to Promote Successful Surgery" by Belleruth Naparstek, which I had heard was recommended by the Cleveland Clinic. I don't know if that's the same one you've got, but I really believe I was helped by that guided imagery CD before and after my surgery. I'm still listening to the affirmations every day now that I'm home recovering.
hile my mitral valve surgery was not an experience I'd want to repeat, I had no nausea from the anesthesia and my general pain level was quite low after the first day post-op. I honestly think that the guided imagery helped me on a sub-conscious level. I started listening to the CD a couple of weeks before my surgery and sometimes I would have it playing in the background without consciously listening to it.
It seems that my biggest challenges have been since I got home from the hospital, with a couple of bad dizzy spells and some painful muscle cramps. I had some lab work done this past week that showed my potassium level is low, so I've been prescribed potassium pills. I haven't had any of my episodes since I started the pills, so maybe low potassium was the culprit. I'm also having some irregular heartbeats, pvcs, but nobody seems too concerned about that at this point. The docs and nurses say my heart is still getting "tuned up" and getting used to the new electrical pathways from the Maze procedure.
Sounds like you're getting very well prepared for your upcoming surgery. Let the guided imagery go to work and it will help ease the way for you.
Susan Murphy, Overland Park,KS
On February 5, 2010...
Hi Fran
Got fitted with my heart monitor and it will be my closest friend for the next two weeks. It beeps when least expected and this afternoon carried on quite a sing-song when I was talking business on the phone. I won't be sneaking up on anybody, that's for sure. I feel really good about having it for two weeks though and hope my heart isn't going to be on it's best behaviour for that time. Hope you are hanging in there okay. Cheryl, Ontario
On February 5, 2010...
Hi Fran, thanks for the words of wisdom as a soon-to-be patient and a retired RN. Actually I have already gone down and talked with family relations. She has been here since 1972. She was extremely nice. She started the conversation with something like when people have complaints or concerns - I stopped her right there and said that I would like our conversation to be nothing about "complaints" that I merely wanted to express my concerns for my husband's emotional state and what it made him feel like because if he has this emotional state there are likely others too and that I wanted to offer concerns on how process might or could be improved in the future - which is why surveys are sent out, etc. We had a very pleasant conversation and I did make sure to give plenty of accolades on the staff - from day one walking into the admissions and family center and ICU, etc. I said I can give you names of wonderful staff members (and I did rattle off half a dozen names quite easily) and even the hotel her department sent me too, etc. She asked in the end what she/the hospital could do and I said nothing really just making sure my husband feels good about the end of his stay so that he can continue to feel good about having come to this hospital without feeling a little jaded in the end. I told her when we ended our conversation that just sitting here with her and her concern and the way she handled me - that she obviously had a wonderful way with people - was already making things so much better. She said she would like to meet my husband that he sounded wonderful and would come up later just before she left for the night - if I did not mind. So hopefully I did handle it well. I do know that I feel better and my sadness/anxiety level is better and I know Richard is feeling much better - getting his spirit back!
It has been a series of unfortuante medical events coupled with the last things that happened to get me upset - and sometimes being able to vent these things on line like this may not be the best - because it still truly is a great hospital and neither one of us wants to make trouble for anyone - but I guess this is just the most stressful thing we have ever been through.
Thank you for your concern and advice - it all helps.
Richard's wife, Susan
On February 2, 2010...
Hi Fran.
What a wonderful gift! There's nothing better during the hard times of life than having a few good friends to share it with.
I know you'll do well with your surgery. You'll be in all our prayers.
Joel Bryan, Iowa
On February 2, 2010...
Hi Again Fran
Thanks for your posting in my journal. I really appreciate your comforting words of encouragement. I'm trying to see the positive side but there are times it just gets your down. We'll see how it goes. Are you a good patient? Eric is a nurse also. I think it would a little more difficult for someone in your position because you know what the doctors and nurses are talking about and sometimes it isn't all that good. Cheryl, Ontario
On February 2, 2010...
Hi Fran
What a lovely gift. Obviously you must be someone very special to have a friend put so much time and effort into that quilt. I hope you are managing to keep your spirits high during all the drama of this past week. Most important though, there is a bright side to their anguish, thank the Lord. Cheryl, Ontario
On February 2, 2010...
Hi Fran,
Thanks for signing my guestbook! I really appreciate it. I should find our tomorrow if/when my surgery will be scheduled. I am a control freak so am feeling OK as I cover all my bases. I am more worried about Steve and Georgie and how they are internalising their anxieties. Steve tries not to think about it, that's his way of staying sane and Georgie is exactly like me. She will be next to me every step of the way checking and monitoring! Over here in UK my TEE is scheduled for 9am tomorrow morning, then I'll be in a private room to rest up for 4 hours + then into consultation before discharge around 5pm. I'm dreading the TEE - I have read in Adams book about 'the place in your head' that you go to and I taught progressive relaxation for many years. I just hope that I can practice what I preach!
I'll stay in touch and look for your journal updates.
Warmest wishes
Penny (Scotland)
On January 26, 2010...
Hi Fran, thanks for the words of encouragement - I should be getting better along about when you go in - so I will be available for words of encourgement to you as I will be feeling "great" by then! My wife will keep my journal up to date the best she can while I am recovering.
Richard - Maine
On January 26, 2010...
Hi Fran,
I kind of figured that you were a nurse. So am I, 15 years ER and the last 5 Supervision. It was and still is very strange being "on the other side of the fence", so to speak. You will understand why your patients looked at you with horror when you made them cough and deep breathe. Just remember that your incentive spirometer is your best friend for awhile. Good luck to you, you will be fine.
Eric
Southold
On January 26, 2010...
Hi Fran,
Thanks for signing my guestbook when I was in the hospital and afterward. I really appreciated hearing from you.
I had a maze procedure done as well in the OR, at the same time I had my mitral valve replacement 2 weeks ago. I was in normal sinus rhythm when I left the hospital and I haven't noticed any irregular beats since. I will see my primary care doc later this week and have an appointment with my cardiologist in a couple of weeks.
I started feeling a lot of irregular heartbeats last summer and in Sept. ended up spending a couple of days in the hospital after an Afib episode. That's when they did an echocardiogram and found that my mitral valve regurgitation had gotten severe.
Good luck, Fran, as you prepare for surgery. I have heard such wonderful things about Dr. Gillinov at Cleveland Clinic. You will be in the best possible hands!
Susan Murphy
On January 26, 2010...
Hi Fran!
I'm getting ready to leave tomorrow for my mitral valve repair surgery. Honestly, I'm glad it's finally here. You can only hold your breath for so long. Thank you for your posts to my guestbook. I appreciate your kindness, your prayers, and your faith in Christ. I have signed up for your updates and will pray for you and follow your progress toward your March 18 surgery @ Cleveland Clinic. Are you and Captain Bill gonna have a party? Do take care, and God bless! Off I go...
Duane Hunt
On January 25, 2010...
Hi Fran,
I guess it was you who had signed my guestbook a couple of days ago. You didn't sign your name so I didn't know who sent it. Anyway thanks. As for your questions regarding a maze procedure and the surgery. I'll give you my experiences, I developed intermittent Afib last July. It would come and go, lasting anywhere from a couple of minutes to several hours. Anyway, when I finally got around to getting checked, I discovered that I had severe mitral regurgitation. No magic pill for that so I had a mitral valve repair and maze procedure in 10/09. My cadiologist put me on Coumadin in August 09 and I did the usual blood work to check the INR levels and adjust the dosage. The maze procedure was done during surgery so you don't even know its been done. Post op I was put back on Coumadin with the usual blood work and dosages adjustments. I had several repeat EKG's between different vists to my primary MD, my cardiologist and the surgeon's offices. Everytime, it was noraml sinus rhythm with no irregular beats at all. The doctor had said that if I stayed in sinus rhythm for 3 months post op, he would stop the Coumadin. I did that last Friday. Now I'm on Plavix 75 mgs daily instead. He had wanted to have me take a Baby Aspirin daily only but I'm allergic to Aspirin so this is the next best thing. I didn't mind the Coumadin but disliked the weekly or biweekly blood work. Obviously the maze procedure was a success with me. I hope this helps.
As for your up coming surgery, keep your self busy in this pre-op period so you don't dwell on what is about to happen to you. That is what I did and it helped me alot. As for post op, just take your time in healing and don't push yourself. You will hurt but that was pass quickly. I have 2 small boys (8&3), they were my rehab and when I look at them it made everything worth it.
Eric
Southold
On January 25, 2010...
Hi Fran
I had mitral valve surgery on Oct 1/09 and am 60 (going to be 61 next month). I only just started blood pressure medication last spring, just to give my heart a rest I suppose but am still taking it. I have never taken blood thinners before but am now on Warfarin (Coumadin)and might be on it for a while more. It's not so bad, just a little inconvenient because of the blood testing but now I'm going every 2-3 weeks. Eventually I believe your body must get used to it and you become a little more regulated as to what and how much of certain things you are eating such as spinach (Vitamin K). I'm a salad fanatic so I've decided to regulate the medication around my normal lifestyle rather than change my lifestyle and for me, it works. If you've had children then I wouldn't worry about the pain because you'll tolerate it just fine and the pain part is very short lived. (I'm sure reading that sentence has just put a pile of fright into some of the men so smile at that.) I couldn't prepare much physically because I was so short of breath so I worried about packing, reading material, music and how I was going to manage my home and business. Friends popped up and even looked after that so I only had to worry about me. I returned to work (in my home) 13 days later. I laid in puzzels etc. and still haven't had time to open them up. I'm still milking the vacuuming out of my husband though. He's doing an excellent job but in another two months I won't see him for dust - he'll be back on the golf course. Our lives are returning to normal. Your's will too. The waiting is tough. Cheryl, Ontario
On January 19, 2010...
Hi Fran. Looks like I'll have my UPS Red package form Cleveland today. I'm not doing much to prepair. I better start walking and quit drinking beer! We are staying at the Crown Plazza downtown, so my wife can "get away" from all the excitement if needed. Just booked our airline tickets and Cleveland is not easy to get to from Tulsa.
I'll go easy on Dr, Gillinov so he will be rested for you! We are in good hands
happy boating
captain bill
On January 16, 2010...
Hi Fran,
Nice to meet you and thanks for sharing your story with all of us.
Thrilled to hear you connected with The Cleveland Clinic and Dr. Gillinov. He's a great guy and a highly recommended surgeon.
If you need anything, let me know.
Cheers,
Adam
On January 16, 2010...
Hi Fran,
I live in Tulsa and will be having Aortic Valve replaced on March 17 in Cleveland by Doc Gillinov. I have not recieved anything from Cleveland Clinice yet, I spoke to them yesterday and they are still processing Febuarys intakes. The waiting game can be dreadful. Hope to see you in Cleveland.
Captain Bill
Tulsa
happy boating
captain bill
ps dont forget to arrange for your complementry limo to pick you up in cleveland