jonette's Journal

Rose Madura  Hi Jonette, can you get a second opinion?  My Afib issues went away after 6 weeks but I feel your pain. It's awful.  You don't want to start on Amiodarone for a long period.  Please keep us updated.

Richard Munson  My only contribution is that i gave up on the patch monitors due to short term and skin issues from the glue. I now have an implanted under the skin loop monitor made by medtronic that is invisible to see and it lasts 3 years. Send a signal to doctor if any incident arises plus you get a small hand held device you can activate if you detect something. I did however get the maze procedure and recently dropped eliquis. I never had symptoms before or after mitral valve surgery but still had a fib. 

Delise Becker  Hi, Jonette. I am just four weeks post-op, following sternotomy to replace my mitral valve and repair my tricuspid valve. I went into A-fib and A-flutter while in the hospital, so they started me on amiodorone and connected my pacing wires to a pacer box. They removed the pacer box after about 1 1/2 days because they didn't want my heart to become too reliant on it. I continued to experience A-fib and A-flutter and was miserable. They scheduled me for a cardioversion, but about an hour or so before the procedure, the nurse came in to tell me that I was back in sinus rhythm so they could not shock my heart. But then a few days after I got home, I was back in A-fib again. I saw my cardiologist at two weeks post-op, on Oct. 12, and I was in A-fib. He scheduled me for a cardioversion Oct. 31. However, I have felt so much better (no pounding or racing) for the past week and a half that my cardiologist has ordered another EKG for Oct. 26. If I am back in sinus rhythm, he won't do the procedure. My cardiologist said that A-fib is very common post-heart surgery, because the heart is irritated and inflamed. He also said that it can take anywhere from six weeks to three months to get back into rhythm. My heart rate was never as low or as high as yours, but I did have lots of pounding and racing, with heart rates in the mid-100s, which made me very tired and unable to sleep. I was taking metoprolol (50 mg) prior to my surgery, but they did not give it to me in the hospital, nor did my cardiologist restart it. I am still taking amiodorone (200 mg) and Elequis, and my heart rate continues to be in the 90s, sometimes in the 80s. I share all of that to say that everyone is so different. Have you asked your cardiologist about doing a cardioversion, or has he not done one because of the readings he's received from your Zio monitor? If you are in sinus rhythm most of the time, maybe that is why he has not suggested a cardioversion. Have you shared your concerns about stroke and/or heart damage with your cardiologist? Talk to him and ask him if any of the treatment options for A-fib would be right for you, and if not, why not. A-fib can be very disconcerting. I hope you can get some answers soon.

Jill Porter  Hi! I have a similar story to yours in that I have been diagnosed for years with anxiety and depression. When I was 33 I had an ectopic pregnancy and my anxiety really started after that. My heart would race and I would occasionally get SOB. The cardiologist said i had Moderate MVR and we just monitored it yearly. When I was 58 my symptoms worsened but the echo apparently still showed moderate leakage. BTW I also would have bouts of Afib a few times a year but they would go away in a few hours after taking a metoprolol. My psychiatrist attributed my worsening symptoms to the anxiety/dep and increased my psych meds. Turns out the valve had progressed to a severe leak which is why my symptoms were worse. The MVP and anxiety do feed off each other I think and sometimes I feel like had my valve been fixed earlier, my anxiety would have greatly decreased. I'm glad your Afib episodes are short and hopefully they will go away all together. I did have an ablation in 2020 but the Afib came back shortly after. At that point they put me on Multaq and Cardizem which did the trick for 3 years. I stayed in Sinus Rhythm with no Afib. This year, when I had the valve repaired I went into Afib for several weeks. Very rough time. After about 5 weeks either my heart had recovered enough or the Amiodorone they had me on finally kicked in and I converted back to sinus. I don't know if this has helped you at all. But I understand the need to gain control over it and since it happens briefly and occasionally, I think you will.

jonette kruk  Thank you everyone for your responses! I have decided to seek a second opinion and find out if cardioversion or ablation are options. 
I have suffered from anxiety and panic attacks for many years and now believe they had a lot to do with my heart disease (MV) which is so unfortunate bc they both have consumed a large part of my life. I appreciate everyone for taking their time to answer my questions and suggestions.  Much love, Jonette

Delise Becker  When you seek your second opinion, you might want to try an electrophysiologist. My understanding is that they are cardiologists who specialize in the heart's electrical system. That type of specialist may be able to provide you with answers and/or other options for your A-fb. Best of luck to you. 

Klara Čičić  Yes Jonette, I was thinking cardiologist electrophysiologist also! They do wonders nowadays, but it is hard to find a good one. Keep looking. Anxiety and MVP do feed eachother, I am another living proof. I would certainly recommend having a mental support of some sort every now and then. Also try and find some technique that helps you, whether it be breathing excercize, sport of some sort, conversation with someone. We must learn how to make all that a little easier for ourselves by learning how to relax more (easier said than done). It is frustrating, no doubt! I am glad you reached out. Keep us updated! 

Richard Munson  I keep reading about folks having post surgery a fib and hearing doctors saying normal for a time. How long a time is the million dollar question. A fib can cause a stroke which was why i was on elliquis and now i wear an implanted chip to detect it, but i had the maze during my surgery. Knock on wood so far no recurrence. You probably did not which is why no maze. Should you be on elliquis or equivalent as a precaution is a fair question to ask your doctor

Patricia Miller  Jonette- Sorry you had another episode of Afib.  Did it resolve without any intervention?  I am coming up on a year s/p MVR and have had brief afib episodes (lasting 3o mins or so.) every couple months since August.  I had Afib day 6 post op.  Admitted and had IV Amiodarone then oral amiodarone for a month along w/ Eliquis.  My cardiologist has told   me PVC's and afib aren't too unusual.  Hopefully will continue to fade away.
It's definitely unnerving and frustrating.   My heart rates were scattered also early on.  Much more stable now although too low due to Metoprolol.  Just had my dose decreased.   Are you on a beta blocker?  
Cardiac rehab will be helpful.  You will be making steady progress while being monitored.   

Andrew Dial  I don’t have Afib but I do have PCVs and PAVs?! Which r like irregular beats that I can feel in my chest. I know that for me, consistent exercise and staying HYDRATED helps me. Not sure if this helps you or not, hope it does ! 

Rose Madura  I had Afib off and on for about six weeks and then it went away. I was hospitalized each time I had it because I was very symptomatic.   There are videos on this site about how it is common for first six weeks and disappears in 95% of cases.   Hang in there!

Greg Lewis  The meds didn't get me back in rhythm.  Cardiversion Did. They say it works well if surgery causes the afib. 

Rose Madura  Yes, I had Afib and/or Aflutter off and on for about 6 weeks after my surgery. I had to be hospitalized each time because I was very symptomatic.  They treated it with Amiodarone and Metoprolol. It went away finally after about six weeks. It's common.  There is at least one good video on this site about it.

Greg Lewis  I had Afib that was first treated with meds like Amiodorone. When that did not help, I had cardioversion. That fixed it. The next step would be ablasion, if that hadn't of helped. I think that is the normal steps taken.

jonette kruk  Thank you so much for your responses. I await a response from my cardiologist. I had one episode in the early am hours today (1:00 a.m.) and haven't had anything sense. I am currently taking metoprolol for HTN. 

Patricia Miller  I went into AFIB w/ tachycardia day 6 post MVR.  Admitted to hospital.  Felt like my heart was doing somersaults.   Took about 18 hours or so after starting IV Amiodarone drip w/ a couple boluses to get back into normal sinus rhythm.  Was on oral Amiodarone w/ a taper for 4 wks.  I was told before surgery there was a 30% chance of going into AFIB after MVR.  
I hope you are feeling better Jonette.  

Klara Čičić  I had short episode few weeks after my mitral valve repair, actually a few short episodes, took then and am taking now bisoprolol 2,5mg, the episodes resolved spontausly quickly. 

jonette kruk  Dr. started me on Amiodarone 200 mg 1 tab daily and Eliquis 5 mg 1 tab twice daily and I have an appt with him in 4 weeks. This kinda bummed me out, I have been having ups and downs and so emotional lately. One minute I am crying and in pain and then a couple hours later, I am doing a lot better. Everyone says I look so great, but instead I feel like a train wreck. My block has almost worn off entirely and the edges of my ribs and breast from the MV repair robotic surgery is very sensitive and tender. I keep telling myself day by day. It is difficult for me at times to listen to my body to rest, as I was a go, go, go person. I feel I am suffering from depression. I was hoping this would not happen, but the more I read, it is very common. OHS is no joke! At times, I can't believe what my body has been through. I just have to learn to be patient with my body and mind. 

Rose Madura  Jonette, I understand your feelings and they are valid. You are early still in your recovery. For me, it was 3 months before I felt like I turned a corner and would be ok.  And actually, many people say, myself included, that it takes a full year before you feel better than you ever have. I'm trying to say that it takes time but once you get there, you will feel great. Try to be patient with yourself and don't rush the recovery. Your body has been through a lot! God bless you.  

Klara Čičić  Oh how I can relate to your feelings Jonette. I felt exactly the same. 5 months and now I finally  feel somewhat 100% (well, still not 100....). 5 months. You are still in those really early stages of your recovery which are pretty hard. Our bodies have been through a lot, your body is working overtime now to compensate for everything it went through, red blood cells replicate rapidly for the loss, lungs recovering from deflation and most importantly - you have a scar on your heart muscle which is still healing! Please take it easy and trust me that it WILL get better!!! 

Louise Moore  I went into Afib 15 days post mitral valve replacement and tricuspid repair.  Started a front load of Amiodarone 400 mg. twice a day for one week, then 200mg daily.  By the third dose my IWatch ECG registered that I was back in sinus rhythm ( yay!)  I had a cardioversion 14 days after starting Amiodarone and Afib stopped immediately.  Two weeks after the cardioversion I wore a monitor for six weeks, stopping the Amiodarone two weeks after starting the monitor.  Never had another bout of Afib.  It's not uncommon after OHS - though unpleasant, and many people shift back into sinus rhythm naturally - I couldn't bear it!  I'm a year post surgery now and have had no other reaction or set back, I'm doing great!

Jason Hyrup  Hi Jonetee

What a awesome recovery story. So nice to hear you are doing so good. Sounds like your heart team is awesome. Keep it up, and dont rush it.
You are blessed

Klara Čičić  Jonette, this sounds amazing!!! I am very happy for you. You are so blessed to have Dr. Chikwe as your surgeon. Enjoy the success, but still remember to take it easy

Tom Everson  Hi congratulations. Great post. I suggest you sign up for rehab when you are ready .Insurance should cover it . You and your  great attitude may help others while you keep on getting stronger 

Angela Meletiadis  So glad it's behind you, Jonette! Time to pace yourself, don't overdo it and build yourself up slowly!!! 

Donna Casaletto  Yeah!! So wonderful to hear everything is going so smoothly!! 21 Days post op for me and so far so good here too 🙏🥰 

Ana Brusso  Hi Jonette, thank you for updating us on your successful surgery and recovery. Yes, God is good always. Continued good health and recovery and God bless you 

Grace Mason   Hi Jonette,
I can say that I do feel that way with some of my family seeming to not understand the gravity of the surgery and I don't think they really can since they are not the one who will be most affected.




I try to remember that the process is probably stressful on them as well in different ways and I know my husband is not good at expressing his feelings either.
Adam's website is so wonderful to have to connect with others who are feeling all the same or very similar emotions.

I have also reached out recently to try and find a local support group and if I don't have luck with that I hope to also connect with others during cardiac rehab.


Sending you hugs! Hang in there, do some meditation, take some walks, keep talking about your fears to us. Let us help get you thru to Wednesday. Sending prayers and good vibes to you

Thomas Brusstar  I see what you're saying.  On my heart valve and other things, it's fine to put up a brave face, but there is a real disorienting and upsetting aspect to facing something this serious.  I'm not sure my wife understands it.

On the one hand, people think "you'll be fine" is helpful; but sometimes you need affirmation that you're not making this up, and that you are right to be stressed.

A friend of mine was going through radiation for Hodgkins years back, and lost weight.  Everybody told her how good she looked from the weight loss - which I think, in their minds, was helping.  I told her the truth, that she looked terrible (she's a great friend, and she looked gaunt and not happy), and I could see how the radiation was stressing her:  she was so grateful to hear affirmation of what she was feeling.  She felt terrible and was tired of hearing people say she would do great.  (And I think she was tired of hearing that weight loss was a good side effect, because she heard "you were always too heavy anyhow.")

It is definitely easiest for others to say "chin up, you'll be fine."  I think sometimes a person needs to find a way to ask a significant other to stop "fixing" all concerns with good news on hopeful treatments, and to sometimes just listen and understand how disorienting and worrying something is.

You have MVP, which is what they fixed in me.  Totally fixable, mine doesn't leak at all 5 years later.  As serious medical issues go, MVP is nice and physical.  It's just plumbing, not some mysterious microscopic disorder they are trying to track down.  But they will stop your heart for a couple hours, and you are right to be stressed!

Klara Čičić  Dear Jonette, this was a topic here a few times and your feelings are definitely understood. I had similar situation, as many here. Men are generally more emotionally closed if you know what I mean, this is a huge burden on them and they often don't know how to express themselves, let alone be the right support we want and imagine them to be in this given moment. This is totally normal and I would rely on people from this page, it brought me the support and peace I needed from people who truly understand. Others can have best intention and try their best but that is just not it. 

Timothy Andre  Hi Jonette, that is why this community is so special. We all share a unique connection through a shared experience that is not for the weak. Remember, we are fighters and warriors. God will never give you more than you can handle. Take a deep breath and try to see from your friends and families perspective. They must have a strong feeling of helplessness. I am so thankful that it was me having OHS rather than anyone I really care about, I couldn't imagine how to cope from that perspective. You are no doubt in the most difficult stage of this journey, the waiting stage. Go easy on yourself and try to calm your mind. Soon you will be in recovery and then you can begin the healing process. These feelings are temporary and will change as you get better. May god bless you and protect you during your heart journey.

Richard Munson  I must be lucky, my wife understood my pain and trepidation, my dog did as well and when she told me i looked great, i agreed 100%. We just had a visitor who we have not seen for 5 years and she said i look great after my surgery. Again i agreed. The more i think about it, i do look great. Lol. 

Rita Savelis  It's hard to be a care-giver/partner. Maybe harder than being a patient. A patient can be angry, sad, shout, whatever and they're the patient. But a caregiver has to be solid. They are usually not allowed to breakdown.
I hear you on people saying the wrong thing. "Everything will be alright" is not very helpful.  Very few can sit in the moment with you and be in that dark place and verify that's it's hard and awful and scary and unfair.
Surgery itself is easy because you are not in control. The surgeons do it. It goes well. Then everyone says: That went well. And you are left picking up the pieces and recovering. My husband was solid then. I just needed him to be quiet and be present. I wrote about my experiences to get over them (lots of posts in my journal here) and I talked to a therapist.  I try to be honest and real when I talk about surgery. Thank you for admitting things that many don't want to talk about. It's hard. One day at a time. Those days just before surgery are unreal, as if you are floating and it's not all happening. I am thinking of you. Take care.

Kenneth Southard  There are things that others will just not understand.  A lot of those things will also come about in recovery.  I developed pretty severe anxiety.  However, I would also say that in fairness, that I would not have understood it either the day before I developed it.

Rose Madura  My husband was surprisingly calm (at least in front of me) and that helped me.  And I was thankful that he was supportive in every way. If he or my family got tired of my talking about it, they never said anything to me  It is hard on our families and loved ones.  One time, after my 4th readmission, he mentioned that he just wants his wife back and my sister-in-law bit his head of because "I was the one suffering". That hurt because I knew he was suffering too.  So we all handle things differently and I'm thankful we have each other on this site to share concerns like this.  We can't keep hearing, "you'll be fine".  It really doesn't help and it minimizes the scary surgery.  Validation helps and is deserves. You were brave for asking the question.  God bless you. 

Pamela Gregory  My husband didn't seem to get it till I was getting very close to surgery. I honestly think he just didn't know what to do or say because I was such a mess but it took a long time till he understood fully the magnitude of the experience I was about to undergo. He was an amazing care giver after and very over protective. When the time came he definitely stepped up and I could tell it weighed on him. He does not always say the right thing but I know his heart is in the right place. I agreee with everyone that being told "everything will be fine" made me angry. I wanted everything to be fine of coarse but it made me feel like whoever said it didn't think the surgery was going to be a  big deal

Susan Lynn  Jonette - We can only speculate why significant others don't get it. You've already been given some great reasons, but that's the value in communicating with other heart patients- we do know what you're going through. I don't think anyone can really understand unless they've been in this position. I will say, when we tell you that you'll be fine, we mean it! It helps to know that heart warriors do get on with their lives after OHS and you will, too! It's ideal to have your family's support, but if they're less than enthusiastic, don't worry - you have us! We'll get through this together! Team effort!

Klara Čičić  I just want to stop for a second and acknowledge this amazing group. Without sounding too cheesy, this is really extraordinary group. Look at all these anwsers, Richard's humor, Thomas's male perspective wisdom, Rita's always straight and honest advices, Kenneth's honesty, Susan, Pamela, Grace and Rose's gentle empathy...Timothy's huuuuge heart (hopefully not literally haha). You are all just amazing guys! 

jonette kruk  Thank you so much for your amazing responses! As Klara said, this is an "amazing group" and I feel so connected as no one has really understood my thinking as everyone on here has. As soon as I read the responses, I started to cry and had to take a break to wipe my tears and take a deep breath to continue to read. The love, kindness and responses on here have helped me so much. I am so blessed that this site has made me feel so comfortable to share my deepest thoughts and feelings. Thank you for helping me understand from all views,  I seem to get caught up in myself at times and become selfish and forgot to look at things through my fiancé's view. He must be so scared.....I couldn't imagine.  He loves me so much and I know he will be there for me through the thick and thin. He is trying his hardest by keeping me smiling and laughing every day. 

Boy, I thought I was the only one frustrated with the statement "you will be fine." It was so good to hear that others felt this way as well. The responses regarding this were amazing. Thomas, thank you so much and congratulations on your 5 year anniversary with no leakage (awesome, awesome). 

Richard, you are so sweet and made me smile from ear to ear and I sure needed that. Thank you! 
Thank you Klara, Susan, Rose, Pamela, Kenneth, Timothy, Richard, Rita, Alice, Thomas, and Grace you have no idea how much all of you have helped me! I am forever grateful and can't wait to start my recovery process and I will definitely rely on this site for support, encouragement and friendships for life. God Bless! 

Alex Sagan  This is such a moving and beautiful thread. So many of us have been through versions of this. People have great difficulty just hearing you talk about our real fears. I know there are many who go through this without a partner. Don’t know how they do it. But when a spouse has trouble relating, that’s hard. And, yes, a thousand times yes, about the “you”ll be fine.” I have a friend who lost her daughter after years battling cancer. She is wiser than the rest. The night before my OHS she wrote me “you will either be given a new life, or you won’t.” This probably won’t be meaningful for everyone, but I appreciated her ability to acknowledge the extent of my fear, and to frame the meaning of a good outcome as well. Now that I am in recovery, I again find that most people gravitate to an optimist narrative of steady and straightforward recovery, though the reality is so much bumpier than that. 

jonette kruk  Alex, I so appreciate your honesty and response. I am a no fluff type of person and I love honestly. I watched an awesome video today on MV repair with the Da Vinci Robot and it was amazing (this the procedure I am having).  The doctor was so calm and specific with what he was doing and why, believe it or not, I feel a lot more settled after watching it and my fiancé actually watched it with me and I can sense he is now understanding my fears. I really appreciate your comment "...though the reality is so much bumpier than that." 

Roy Yoder  Jonette

I had both mitral valve and aortic replaced in 2022. I'm praying for you!  Fortunately, My wife has been my rock through this entire experience. AS Grace mentioned, I hope that you get involved with a support group to help you cope and lean on their strength.  Much support was offered to me through programs at cardio rehab.  I find so much strength when I pray and put my burdens on the Lord.

Alex Sagan  I want to echo…”my wife has been a rock..” she is and amazing person
and support to me. But there were times before surgery when the thoroughness of my process, my level
of fear, and the choices regarding surgeons and procedures were “a lot” for her. At one point
it was determined that an “option 3” was better. She admitted “you know, I would have just taken option 1.” She recognized that I have a different process and that it has benefits. 

Alex Sagan  Jonette, I think it is great that you watched that video with your partner. It helped me to visualize what would be done. 

Alex Sagan  Good luck and G-d bless tomorrow. Any luck with guided meditation. I listened the night before surgery and in the ICU. 

Heidi Donohue  Hi Jonette, I have suffered with panic attacks too.  Some methods I have used in the past is to close my eyes and slowly count backwards from ten and the other method I have used is to cover one nostril and breathe is slowly for a count of 5.  Cover alternate nostril and breath out for a count of 5.  You can also google this method Nadi Shodhana used in yoga practices.  Hope this helps.

Heidi Donohue  going on a walk to help take your mind off things and to  just focus on watching your feet or just watching the ground as you walk the uncomfortable feeling does pass the less you focus on it.

Klara Čičić  Oh dear Jonette, I am so sorry you are experiencing this. I've heard it can be very unpleasant and debilitating. Although I didn't have them, I've read about connection of mitral regurgitation and anxiety. I would talk to an expert, a psyclogist if it is possible for you.... I am currently seeing psychologist at the cardiac rehab centre. My rehab centre provides mental as well as physical support. It is so helpful and reassuring...  She helped me immensely during these 2 months!  More than I could ever help myself! I can not recommend it enough. It ain't easy being a heart warrior. :) Hang in there! We are here for you!! Keep us updated please. 

jonette kruk  Hi Heidi, thank you so much for your suggestions, I will definitely try them. Today is a good day, anxiety seems to be low so I am going to try to take a walk and focus on the good and positive blessings in my life. 

Hi Klara, I read your post early this am and it gave me so much comfort. I will be seeing my surgeon in the next week or so and will definitely ask for psychological support. I definitely will and need it now for calmness. I never thought of myself as a "heart warrior" and you are so very right, we are warriors and will conquer. I will keep you updated and thank you immensely. I joined this site 2 days ago and it has already helped me so much with such kind words and encouragement, sometimes only patients understand vs family. Family wants us better right away be we as patients have a hard time with this. God Bless!!

Greg Lewis  My cousin was just telling us about his panic attack problems.he said he finally gave in, and now they are controlled with a med.

Klara Čičić  Jonette, you are so right! Me and my husband are both doctors, we have wonderful family and support, but this site.... I can not find words how much it helped me before the surgery. It is completely different being a patient. And talking to another patient who is going through exactly the same experience... invaluable. No one can understand you better than us. Not to mention those little things you can not find in textbooks, like those neck bumps after having catheter (a few days ago someone asked a question here). When you hear others also had it....what a relief! There are countless things like that.... frequent visual auras (ocular migrains...) after the surgery that some of us had. Wasn't a surprise for me since I've read it here through other people's experiences :) Rarely your cardiologist/cardiac surgeons knows these details. Hang in there!! We are here for you on this path. In the end it will make you stronger, that is FOR SURE!! :)))

Donna Casaletto  Klara, I had no idea both you and your husband are doctors! I have been super impressed with your medical knowledge and now I know why! We’re so lucky to have you on this site! Love that you can relate as a patient and doctor  sharing your experiences and knowledge! 

Greg Lewis  Me either! I just thought she was good with Google! (Kidding)  Very ultra cool Klara!!! 
Free doctor advice for all!!! Woo-hoo....lol

Klara Čičić  Hahaha Greg and Donna, I have a long way to go yet to finish my residency, this surgery and three maternity leaves slowed me down... I am happy to help, although medicine is so broad and one simply can not know everything.

Donna Casaletto  Lol Greg😂‼️You’re so young Klara you’ve got this and thank you for all your help answering my many questions 🙈😉😂‼️

Lilly Black  I had panic attacks for years. I thought they were seizures they were so bad! I'm good now. Breathing, meditation, walking, not listening to news, and not taking life so seriously. If I feel a panic attack coming on, I am fully aware of it. I do deep breathing, positive affirmations and it goes away after a few minutes. At times, I also take anti-anxiety meds when I feel my anxiety build up. One pill can help me for a couple of weeks. I realize everyone is different, and the triggers can be quite different!

Grace Mason   I have never heard about a link between mitral valve and panic attacks before now but I find that interesting. 
I struggle with anxiety as well, and I was struggling with panic attacks when I was first diagnosed with my aneurysm years ago. I ended up in the ER multiple times. Eventually I was given some anxiety meds to help but I couldn't function on those long term and found other outlets for my stresses.
Now that surgery is on my horizon I am struggling again but trying to manage it with a free app called Insight Timer that my psychologist recommended to me several years ago. It has thousands of meditations and music, chants, etc that I find helpful.  
My other go to to relieve some anxiety is exercise if it is safe for you to do. 

jonette kruk  Thank you everyone! My panic attacks are doing a lot better, I finally have made it to the "acceptance" stage and the fear has subsided a bit as well as the attacks. Everyone on here has helped with my fear so much, this site should be mandatory for every heart warrior. The knowledge, love, respect, and kindness on here is unbelievable and the mere fact that I am not alone helps me daily. 
I really like one of Greg Lewis' comments and I have written it down in my journal to help me through every day...."Show up, take a nap, they perform a miracle, you wake up, you dangle, then stand up, do a bit of recovery, go home ....easy peasy!" 

Klara Čičić  Hahaha that is great quote from Greg!! He is right. I shall write it to my journal, too, for my next surgery one day :)

Donna Casaletto  Lol love the Greg Lewis quote too! I am writing it down to remind myself this Thursday 😳😬🙈😉👍‼️

Lee Tanner  I would like to connect with patients who recently had minimally invasive for mitral regurgitation to hear about their experiences 

Richard Munson  Lee, here is the short version, lol that maybe the lady from wareham can also read. I never found this site till after surgery. Around 70, my pcp who is also a trained cardiologist heard a sound during routine physical. He suspected mitral valve but gave me an echo. It was minor/ moderate regurgitation. Basically a leak. No symptoms. They also discovered a fib, also no symptoms. Put me on eliquis. He found me a mitral valve cardiologist guru at mass general in boston for 2nd opinion. Same diagnosis. I began seeing him for yearly echo and it went from mild to moderate to severe up till age 78. No symptoms. I finally pushed the envelope and suggested surgery as i approached the big 80. He agreed, contacted a mitral valve surgeon friend at mgh who specialized in minimally invasive. I had no knowledge about robotic until after surgery. I might have checked it out. He operated 2 years ago january, also did maze procedure for a fib and replaced some chords. My room mate at mgh had the zipper and i think i had less pain but everyone is different. I will be 81 this month and feel pretty good. My scar is under my right breast and is about 4 inches long and there are a couple of little ones for instruments. Hey, i had some pain but i am a wimp anyway. I always say, its heart surgery not a hangnail. And keep in mind, once they get inside, by what ever method, it becomes open heart surgery. The difference is how they get there. I can take a photo of my scar if you want. Like a male playboy bunny lol. At 80 i have no shame. Hope this helps. 

jonette kruk  I haven't had surgery yet, but it should be within the next 3 weeks. I'm an RN and in this case, I don't know if this is a good thing or not. Sometimes knowing too much is not the best thing. My biggest fear is waking up in ICU and freaking out. Unfortunately, I do not do well with pain. I never thought I would be the patient in the bed. :(

Klara Čičić  Dear Jonette, we have all been there, the fear is real and is totally normal. But statistics are on your side! If you chose good hospital and surgeon, I am sure everything will be fine. Just keep reading this website and other people's experiences. It was great anxiety alleviation for me.  Dear Lee, I am 4 months post minimally invasive mitral valve repair. I think pain is greater that sternotomy from everyrhing I have seen and heard, but after 2 months pain went completely away. And it was manageable with painkillers. You can read my journal and ask me anything! 

Richard Munson  Jonette, i have posted numerous times about the fear i endured right up to the minute they knocked me out. Its all normal my dear. Nothing i can say will ease your mind. You can only try and realize that the odds are in your favor but it will still remain the elephant in the room. I have had my share of surgery and was nervous but not like this. Something about heart surgery brings out the worst.  I recall my wife trying to make me feel better by saying 99 out of 100 people come through just fine. I think i said, yes, but one didn’t. Good luck and please let us know how well you did. 

Klara Čičić  Waking up in the ICU was truly the easiest part from me. Anestetics still work, you don't feel any pain, waking up with tube was absolutely not a problem, they take it out very soon, you are still so groggy and drugged...even happy if you wish, happy that you are alive...Pain started later... And those first days are really challenging. But we all did it, so will you. I have really low pain tolerance and I survived it :) now after 4 months it seems like it was a dream. 

Richard Munson  I think you are right about the icu. Not much pain but drugged up. Think i recall seeing a beautiful nurse at the end of the bed and I thought i went to heaven. 

Adam Pick  Hi, Here is some info and facts about the safety and risks of heart valve surgery that might help ease your fear. https://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/valve-mortality-surgery-repair-replacement.php

Terry Tannenbaum  Fear is not only normal but perfectly natural, so feel what you feel and understand that the very first day of post op is the easiest day. One minute the anesthesiologist is talking with you and the next thing you know it will be over. After that it's all about patience and learning to pace yourself. Yesterday marked 16 weeks post op for me and I'm functioning at 99.9% The only physical activity I've yet to resume is weight lifting and that is mostly due to my herniated disks. 

jonette kruk  Thank you so much everyone for your wonderful responses and encouraging words, they mean more than you know! Hearing from actual patients who have had the same surgery gives me so much more hope and reassurance. Family is trying their best, but, of course, they are not in my head with all the mind-racing. I think the worst part is waiting for the day to come. I have finally gotten over to Cedar-Senai with Dr. Chikwe and await consultation for surgery, I see things moving very quickly, but, of course, today hasn't been a good emotional day for me so it seems like it will never get here. Thanks again! 

jonette kruk  Adam, Hi! For some reason, the link is not working. 

PS. I love your YouTube videos regarding mitral valve repair/replacement. The videos are very informative and the doctors are so knowledgeable. 

Frank Giovanniello   Jonette, you'll do fine. Anticipation and knowledge is getting to you. Ease up. Before you know it, you'll be in recovery.