Barbara Wood  Love your blog Valerie! So fun! What's with this intubation clearance?? I haven't had that! ( my date is now after yours- May 22- put off because I caught bronchitis:))xo

Phyllis Petersen  Another delightful blog. Humor is still the best medicine ... to a point. If you need fixing, you need fixing. You'll do fine!

Valerie Archual  Thank you both ladies. Barbara the intubation clearance was just because I had had esophagus surgery at birth- so it's just a "me thing" And wow- I'm before you now?! I have you in my daily prayers. Hope you are feeling better !!!

Jeanette Davidson   I had the same question today Valerie. I had a very successful Aortic Valve replacement and triple bypass in July 2015. I'm now developing fatigue, shortness of breath, and some lightheadedness. Seeing cardiologist on April 11. Feeling a little anxious 😚

Valerie Archual  Wow- really? Please let me know what they say! I will be praying for you!!!! Malihe, I thought I'd ask for both of us! ;)

Cathleen Weed  My most recent was done with TAVR after 11 years and it was amazing ❤️. It's the future for re-do tissue valves 😊🌟.

Phyllis Petersen  Such a wonderful story about a once in a lifetime event. Growing up in Brooklyn, my dad took us to the parade when we were young (we were right across from the TV cameras and my friends saw me), but it would be years before I went again. My twirling group almost made it into the parade, but were bumped at the last minute. We did march in the St. Patrick's Parade. To this day, I still love parades, although all the strictures in NYC for many years now made them a bit less fun. I still haven't gotten to any here in Tucson, but there are a couple on my list. If we looked back on these kind of special moments more and less on the tragedies, we'd all be a lot happier.

Barbara Wood  I like your story too Valerie...fun to remember going to the Macy's Day parade( & St. Pats). I lived in NYC before I was married. I like your therapy!:)

Valerie Archual  Wow guys!!!!? How awesome you both got to live and experience NYC!!!!! I love it there! Would love to go back soon!!!! It was quite the experience!!! I'm so thankful my daughter and I got to share it!!!! Thanks for reading and thanks for being such sweet "heart sisters!" My prayers continue for your upcoming surgery on the 10th Barbara-how are you feeling??

Patty Garrard  Valerie, If you are talking about TAVR, then yes. My small artery has been an issue with my heart health and surgery. I am extremely small(4'11") and my small artery/aortic root caused my first replacement to fail after 4 years. I will have another new valve with a graft to the aorta to remedy the pressure my heart placed on the valve as it pumped to the small artery. I had a ct way before my first avr. The surgeon had to use a different route to hook me up to heart/lung machine during surgery after viewing the ct.
Best of luck!

Arif Butt  Today , it's been 6 weeks since surgery, and 31/2 weeks since getting discharged for the third time. Drove yesterdatcfir a blood work appointment, went on two walk today outside totaling 3 miles . Feel such a improvement in my energy level.

Kathy Blank  I am small framed at 5'3" and my arteries were fine- hope yours are also and you are a perfect candidate for robotic mitral valve repair!

Ben Hyman  I hada CT Angiogram as a qualifier for robotic mitral repair 3 months before the actual procedure. (March 15th 2017)?I knew the same day that I was a good candidate. While there is a very slight risk that they might have to convert to a sternotomy due to any unforseen complication, they should know with a 99% certainty that you are a good candidate for a robotic approach. personally would not agree to a procedure if I wasn't crystal clear on the type of approach they were going to use and a 95% or greater chance of success

Phyllis Petersen  Hahaha! Wonderful way of explaining your process. I hope the results are good and you can move along with less fear.

Phyllis Petersen  My cardiologist didn't seem concerned. I don't know why yours is more concerned about that location rather than others. Speak with your surgeon, who may offer better insight.

Steve Farthing  The odds are pretty good that your mitral valve will be repaired and you will not need another mitral valve surgery. But if you wanted to avoid using the femoral artery now, your doc might want to go with a sternotomy approach instead of robotic.

Kathy Blank  I just had robotic and did a ton of research and never came across anything about the femoral artery being a problem for the bypass.

Phyllis Petersen  I spoke today with my sister, who is a cardiac cath nurse. She hasn't heard of there being these problems. If there's an issue, you can always use the other side. I'd want to know more about the problems the doc foresees and written confirmation that this is a problem worth worrying about.

Civita Fahey  Yes waiting is def hard. I find it want it over and done with though I'm scared to death.. just have to keep thinking positively and keep our Faith.. best of luck on your surgery..

Steven A Husted  yes i was scared to death of ohs but i knew something had to be done and after it was over i am glad i had it done it was really not that bad

Steve Farthing  I'm curious...From your blog, it is not clear whether your mitral leak has progressed to severe regurgitation. You said it was 'teetering' on that. If it is not yet severe, what was the reason for going forward with surgery? Or maybe I just missed something?

Barbara Wood  I really liked your blog post Valerie! I reacted to the tee anesthesia the same way you did :). I'm in for mitral repair 2 weeks before you- yep, the waiting is nerve racking!

Cathy Zuber  Great blog!! Thanks for the humor..especially for the TEE! I also like your idea for getting your money's worth from the surgery!!

Valerie Archual  I'm trying to make light of all this, and like I said before, writing is my therapy! Thanks so much for reading guys <3 Steve keep reading the blog, lol- but it is moderate to severe. The experts are saying to get it done while I'm young, healthy, and there's a chance of repair... more to come...

Catie B  You're a very engaging writer, Valerie!
I know the waiting is hard. It takes awhile with Cleveland, but they're excellent! My surgery was there last September. Best to you...

Tracy Simmons  I just checked out your blog - very touching. I think it's a great way to cope with all the emotions that come with this "path" and share what you're going through with your friends and family. I wish you the very, very best. God bless.

Valerie Archual  Thanks Tracy! I just started it last week and hope to update every week, bout to post a new one now. I am going to get on your journal and read more- but you had mv repair? Again I am going t get on your story in a bit. Any major problems after? And you had open heart or robotic?

Tracy Simmons  Hi Valeria. Yes, I had mitral valve repair through a minimally invasive procedure, but not the robotic procedure. End result was about a 2 inch incision between two ribs on my right side. My biggest hiccup was a scary trip to the ER about 1 1/2 weeks after surgery for what I later learned was pericarditis (sp?). It's not too uncommon after having heart surgery and was treated with some higher dose aspirin. Any questions, please let me know.

Valerie Archual  So what was your procedure? Similar to the robotic? How did you know about the pericarditis? What were the symptoms to know something wasn't right?

Barbara Wood  That's a great idea Valerie & a nice way to keep friends & family informed-nice work, you're a talented lady!

Valerie Archual  It's just a bit more detailed as to what's happening with me, plus writing keeps me sane! Have you had a surgery yet?

Barbara Wood  No, like you I'm waiting for a mitral valve repair or replacement. I have a surgeons appointment this week, so I'll see how fast he wants to move! The waiting can be hard, writings a great way to stay" sane"- good luck to you & your blog. ( I bookmarked it:))

Michael Meyer  Valerie:

I had mitral valve repair surgery at Cleveland Clinic July 2014. Dr. Gillinov was my physician. I thoroughly researched this procedure and had an excellent outcome. Please check out my journal and if you drop me an e-mail address I can send you my assessment along with some research articles.

Stephanie Jones  Im 45 as well just had surgery for mitral valve repair. Had severe leak. Heres a link to my video diary explaining my situation. https://youtu.be/nN7aSkjHDwE

Robert D'Aurora  My surgeon recommended a bovine valve because if and when it would need replaced in 15-20 years, the hope is that the technology will exist to allow the valve to be replaced through the artery in the arm without an open heart surgery. Plus, the bovine valve did not require blood thinners, which I was not a big fan of. Fortunately, my mitral valve was able to be repaired and I did not have to get a replacement valve.

Valerie Archual  That is the way I am leaning too. Praying mine can be repaired. Thank you for your insight! I am sure I will have more questions, I have surgery scheduled in Spring. How long recovery did it take for you? And did you have open heart surgery or robotic?