jerry's Journal

Susan Lynn  Congrats on your first two weeks! You'll feel dramatically better in the next two, Jerry! Cardiac rehab makes a big difference, too! Continued success with your recovery!

Lisa Guinan  Susan is right. Seems once you get past the 2 weeks mark, you can start noticing lots of improvement. Rehab will be great. I graduate in a week and am 5 months post-op.

Rob Sparling  Yep, agree. Things will kick in about now (next couple of weeks?) and you will feel stronger and hopefully see meaningful improvement.

Louanna Miller  I checked in at 530 for my 730 surgery. It’s good to be first in the morning. It allows for less time to be anxious. You go in and they prep you and off to surgery! Praying for a successful surgery with minimal pain and a complete recovery.

Paul Pierce  I am scheduled for robotic Mitral valve repair consult on 12/20/18 Cleveland Clinic Cleveland Ohio. I have went from Moderate to Severe in 2 years time. I have to start my testing on 12/17/18 I really hope everything is still a go for the Robot. I am so nervous.

Paul Pierce  Oh forgot to mention i'm driving from Florida and staying in a hotel anyone recommend one near the clinic.

Rob Sparling  Paul, there are three located on the campus. InterContinental, InterContinental Suites and Holiday Inn. All are good choices. The Holiday Inn is the most practical unless you need a suite. In that case go to the ICon Suites next door. All are easily accessible via CC shuttle with the ICon being attached to the Miller Pavillion (“J Bldg”) where all the cardiac magic happens. Call the Holiday Inn for a discounted rate as a CC patient. Such a rate is not available over the online reservation process.

James A. Corbett  Hello Jerry Sonnabend. I'm having MVR on Dec 18th at Cedars in Los Angeles. I think the biggest question is how long did the surgery take, and how many days were you in the hospital? Dr. Trento said the operation could take around 4 hours or so, starting at 7:30AM. And I would be in the hospital from 5 to 7 days. I'm 78 years young and healthy. What about having a recliner chair. Is this a must have? Thanks, Jim

Phyllis Petersen  I had robotic MVr on 10/13/16 with Dr. Gillinov at Cleveland Clinic. I'm doing very well. The initial pain was a bit intense, but recovery progressed quickly. Four weeks after surgery, I was making short drives and 5 weeks after I was able to drive for an hour and a half, although I was really tired after. I didn't increase my walking as quickly as was prescribed, but my cardiologist was fine with my progress. Once I started cardiac rehab, I progress very quickly with interval training and strength training.

Louanna Miller  My surgeon told me that he would like to repair my own valve if at all possible. I was told my numerous physicians to have a repair if I could as it is better to have your own materials than foreign. My surgeon did have me decide prior to surgery what kind of valve I would want in the event that he needed to replace mine. I chose a calf valve as I did not want to be on Warfarin for the rest of my life, and that is necessary for a mechanical valve.

My valve was repaired and I did not have any regurgitation upon leaving the operating room. I am 7 weeks post surgery and my echocardiogram at 1 month still showed no leakage or regurgitation. My surgeon and cardiologist are both very pleased.

Phyllis Petersen  A repair is almost always better if you're a good candidate. I traveled for my repair (two years this Sunday!), because I wanted to have the most minimally invasive procedure I could have. I was cleared to drive 3 weeks later, but didn't feel up to it for another week. My time in the hospital was short and the only problem I had was one of my incisions split. There are so many decisions to make! I also had to choose a valve in case they got in and couldn't repair my mitral valve. Good luck with this.

Paul Lumbrezer  I had my mitral valve replaced with a porcine valve 8 months ago as they could not repair the existing valve. I was 69 at the time and feel much better but still not 100%. Good Luck and you are in my prayers.