Ihn's Journal

Doran Herritt  Ihn, great to hear. I missed this post but came back through as I wanted to see how you fared. Looks like you got discharged same day as me. I am glad things are going well. I feel especially connected to you as we had surgery same day. You continue to be in my thoughts and prayers.
Take care,
Drn

Elaine Cutri  Good for you! Best wishes for a successful surgery and speedy recovery.

Like you, I live in CA. I was not in a hurry to fly back home the day after discharge (they may assume that). If you can, you might feel better waiting until after your first discharge followup appointment. You'll have a little more strength and confidence that you're in good shape for the trip home. The CC concierge desk was really helpful. I used their limousine service and wheel chair from the airport curb to the airplane. I was quite able to walk, but I didn't want to use up all my energy for that part of the trip. I also didn't want someone knocking me over. It just felt safer. Also save some pain meds for the day of the trip. Keep us posted!

Ruth Reshad  Hello Ihn. You and I are having pre-op tomorrow but my surgery is Tues. at Cleve. Clinic. Many blessings to you and your family. Glad you went to Little Italy! We may run into each other tomorrow and not even know it!

Doran Herritt  Ihn, still thinking and praying for you. Feel the same way as you. Confident in the crew and god's will. I'm not at the hospital yet. Had my pre op visit a week ago. Surgery wed. The visit made me even more confident. Best wishes. And I'll try to post wed. I hope I hear from you too.

Ihn Kim  Thank you Elaine for your kind wishes and tips! I'll definitely inquire what their concierge service can do. I wish you steady recovery too.

Ihn Kim  Hi Ruth, my check-in time tomorrow is 7:45am and looks like I have pretty tight schedule until ~3:00pm. My wife and I also hope to have chance to say good wishes for you in person tomorrow. Even if we don't meet tomorrow, I'll think of you and pray for you on your surgery date.

Ihn Kim  Hi Doran, thanks for your kind words and prayers. I also wish you the best on your surgery and send prayers for your quick recovery!

Betsey Osgood  That's the best attitude you can have! I had complete acceptance and peace a few days before my surgery and it makes such a difference. I'm 23 days post op and doing well! Walking 2 miles and feeling good. We'll all be thinking of you on Wednesday!

John Noriega  Be praying for you and your surgical team Ihn. Perhaps when you get home & are recuperating we might get together. Let me know what works for you. Onward & Upward!

Michael Bowes  Prayers definitely will be said for you today, may you have a peaceful surgery and a restful recovery.

Jacqueline Cook  Ihn. Sending thoughts and prayers as you move closer to your surgery date. Your heart sister, Jacqueline

Lisa Heinen  Thought and Prayers - put it in God's hands - he will guide the surgeon's hands and you will soon be on the recovery side as well.

Doran Herritt  I'm gonna try one last time.....my prior two didn't show.

Looks like we have the same day! I can't agree with you more on the stages. I would add one....anticipation. I'm ready to get this over with and get on with living.

Best of luck. I'll be praying for us both.

Drn

Ihn Kim  Thanks Doran for your kind wishes and you are absolutely right that we both are ready to get back on to our living! I'll be praying for you too!

W. Carter  No good reasons to panic, everything will go great and you will be better than ever after getting the ticker fixed. God bless you.

Mindy Currence  Inh,

I wish you the very best! You can do this! Just imagine how great you will feel when you are done! :) Thinking of you!

Mindy

Kenny Knox  You're in great hands at the CC, Ihn. The step down rooms are very nice and accommodating for family members staying over. I'd definitely try to check out the rooftop deck if your docs approve - may want to have a light jacket with you in case it's windy. Good luck with the surgery and recovery!

Elaine Cutri  Hi Ihn, I spent a few weeks at the CC in May/June of this year. Bring comfy sweat type clothes that can be layered. Zip open is easier to get on and off. A soft scarf was nice with a jacket in the breeze. You don't need a lot of things. As Kenny mentioned, the private step down room has a fold out futon. My husband stayed on the futon a few nights. The nurses are very helpful, smart and caring. The roof top terrace is nice (indoor/outdoor area). When I wasn't in the hospital, I stayed at the Intercontinental Suites on the CC campus (there are 2 ICH locations on campus). They have laundry facilities. They are use to seeing guests from CC. Best wishes.

Ihn Kim  Thanks Kenny and Elaine for your tips and kind wishes. I really want to get this over already, but there are times that some serious emotional rollercoaster kicks in as the surgery date is coming up quickly. Try to be stay calm and get ready both physically and emotionally as much as I can. I found light walking helps me a lot. I know anyone who have upcoming surgery date will understand what I mean. Praying those of us who are facing this right now can find faith in God, and those who already had their surgery done will recover steady and strong.

Mary K  Hi. You will be going to a terrific place. Frankly, you will not need much while you are there. The gowns are full coverage, thy wrap all the way aroud, but you may want some pj pants or boxers. If you wear slippers you may want them, otherwise they have rubber soled soks to wear. I was wishing that I had made a Playlist because I did not have the concentration to find my favorite music. The food is not great, there are snacks in the coffee room that your caregiver or a nurse can bring you,, graham crackers, pudding, etc. Yes, the nursing staff is fabulous. Stay ahead of any pain that you have with drugs, this is not a time for heroics. and you can stay comforatable. It is your right as a patient. All the best to you. This too shall pass.

Ihn Kim  Thanks Mary and Tammy! The most hard thing for me is accepting that I have no control over anything on this right now. It's really odd feeling for a rather young, control-freak male heart patient like myself. I hope this isn't the beginning of "cardiac blues" people talk about, I'm pre-op yet! But I have to admit, I'm a little bit down and anxious as the date comes up. At the same time, I know it's normal and expected to feel like this and yes, this too shall pass. Thanks for you prayers and kind wishes.

Kelly Weisgarber  Good luck Ihn. I'll be shortly after you, November 16th with Dr Svensson. I'll be anxious to hear all about your experience. Sending prayers.

Ihn Kim  Thanks Kelly, I wish you the best too on your upcoming surgery. I know you've met Dr. Svensson several times already, so you might know him better than me. Somehow I have good confidence in him and with him in the OR we won't need much luck hopefully.

Kelly Weisgarber  Actually only met him once so far, in May, and I'll talk with him again the 12th of November when I'm there for pre op tests. Everyone says he's great and we are in good hands. We have to trust that!

Jeff V.  Ihn, I had MV repair at CC in Dec. Check out my journal for more info. if you like and let me know if you have any questions! Jeff

Meredith Bray  I think I have a root crack as well. My dentist wants to avoid an extraction, so he drilled it out, packed with medication, and told me to come back in 3 weeks. I find out tomorrow if we're going to pull it or not.

Mary K  Congratulations, you are on your way. My experience at CC was thst the registration was sometimes a bit bumpy, non-native speakers and some repetition, but once I made it through that, the medical part is breathtakingly competent.

Mary K  Walking will be your friend after surgery. One receives an exercise plan at CCF to follow at home. By the way, do not expect to see too much of Dr. Svensson after surgery. He makes two or three minute cameo appearances with his team. His PA ' s do most of the post op care. They are very good.

Kenny Knox  Agree with all Mary said. The take home exercise plan is great. Get Dr. Svensson's autograph while you can. He is a very in demand guy. Rest easy, you'll do great!

Elaine Cutri  The treadmill is a good idea. That is my primary equipment for my cardio rehab program beside walking.
I'll be thinking of you. You are having a similar surgery that I had at CCF. I had Dr. Roselli and did not see him very much, but I'm so glad I had him in the operating room. His team did the rest and I felt that I was in very capable hands.

Tammy Pilcher  Sounds like you've done everything you can to be ready, Ihn. Great planning and I agree with everyone about the walking! Prayers for your surgery and recovery to go perfectly. God bless!

John Noriega  I joined Fitness 19 on Lichen near Raleys on Antelope Road. Great facility...good equipment...you might take a look at it. Tell them I referred you. Onward & Upward.

Adam Pick  Hi Ihn, Nice to meet you. Here's a free eBook all about timing surgery. Maybe it can help you? https://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2014/11/17/ebook-timing-heart-valve-surgery-webinar/

Adam Pick  Also, here's another free eBook about the latest advances in aortic valve and aneurysm surgery. I hope that helps. https://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2014/07/18/ebook-advances-in-aortic-valve-aneurysm-surgery/

Adam Pick  And lastly... Here's two patient success stories to inspire you. :) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFqrvLdyUik

Gerald Schaffer  For me its been shortness of breath that can't be attributed to anything else. Otherwise I feel fine. I did think I would be worse off when the doctors said it was time to do my replacement surgery which is scheduled August 26.

Pat Bluemel  I listened to the webinar today. I hadn't seen this before. I am 100% sure I made the right choice for me with the trifecta valve. Thanks Adam!

Ihn Kim  Thanks Adam for great information, particularly I liked the patient success story. I know you may have heard this too many times already, but I thank you for making this great community.

Daniel Spurgeon  Hi Ihm,

I had the David valve sparing procedure almost a year ago. I went back to work part time approximately a week after the surgery and was full time ten days after that. My job is not physically demanding, and I will admit I did not have my medical providers' approval to return so quickly. But I also obeyed all the lifting and activity restrictions. My scar is about 8 inches long.

Ihn Kim  Wow.. I've been doing some research but never heard of a case like you! You must have been very healthy and there must have been no complications at all. I do envy you, and hopefully I'll follow your path. Thanks for your comment, it is very encouraging.

Mary K  Dr. Svensson did my aortic valve replacement on June 19, 2015 with a three inch mini sternotomy. ..Now three months later I still have fluid in my lung from the procedure, and have persistent preventricular contractions. There is wide variability in recuperation times.