Jon's Journal

Jon Mircetich  A quick story about what it was all like....I had surgery February 4 this year and yes the anticipation was the worst part. My Surgeon; Dr. Castro and the team ... Read more

Jon Mircetich  A quick story about what it was all like....I had surgery February 4 this year and yes the anticipation was the worst part. My Surgeon; Dr. Castro and the team at Sequoia Hospital were phenomenal. I spent 4 days in the hospital before going home. My time in the hospital was uneventful, broken up with nurses and check ups etc. As soon as I got home I focused on my recovery. I walked many times a day, totaling 6-8 miles daily within the first two weeks.
Went back to work as a school teacher after week five but continued exercising because I had a goal...
At 6 weeks I was cleared to return to the gym to get back in shape. I managed to loose 25lbs after surgery, mostly muscle mass due to the body's desire to heal so it leaches from the muscles.
The recovery: the first few times around the block felt like a marathon, and blowing into that damn thing was grueling, my strength was far lower than I ever imagined.
Work was difficult for the first couple of weeks while I was getting used to the rigors. But continued exercising, I kept charting my progress; my walks, weight, BP, what I ate, etc...I had that goal...
On June 3 I was released by my cardiologist and surgeon to tackle my goal...I am a fly fishing guide for Lodge at Palisades Creek on the South Fork Snake River, other than my wife and daughter, it is my love and passion. I row a boat daily for a minimum of 14 miles sometimes as much as 18 miles. I successfully worked 69 days of 71 before returning home to teach.
So, dreams are achievable after heart surgery, if you are determined enough, rather shortly. After only 5 weeks I worked a rather sedate job of teaching high schoolers, 6 weeks I was in the gym and at four months was working a very strenuous, laborious job which I love.
The details....I am 47, and had sternotomy and mitral valve repair at (IMO) the best hospital and the best surgeon with the best team available on the west coast. Not to say that it was easy, there were difficult times, realities of being mortal and fragile are never easy. Exhaustion, but I kept focus on the positives and what I could do including progress...
Before you know it, you will be saying "that was not too bad", and "I'm Ok!"
YOU CAN DO IT!!!!!

Eddie Patton  Amen. I found that the more you are willing to do the faster you recover. A little more today than yesterday was what I lived by for six weeks. Now I am ... Read more

Eddie Patton  Amen. I found that the more you are willing to do the faster you recover. A little more today than yesterday was what I lived by for six weeks. Now I am four months out and am at least where I was before and in a lot of ways better than I have been in years.
It is a second chance and an opportunity to do what you thought you would never be able to again.
Let those waiting know that this is not an end but a new beginning.

Tammi Gunwall  Glad to hear you are doing well Jon! Take it one day at a time. This is the roughest part. You will be home before you kbow it. I know the hospital stay isn't ... Read more

Tammi Gunwall  Glad to hear you are doing well Jon! Take it one day at a time. This is the roughest part. You will be home before you kbow it. I know the hospital stay isn't the most fun but rest assured you are getting the best care and supervision during this time. Take it. Prayers to you for continued strength and that you rid the cough!!

Lenore Mitchell  Nice post, Jon. And yes, we all remember that darn first cough! But it gets better, thanks to the encouragement from each other on this site, from our lovely ... Read more

Lenore Mitchell  Nice post, Jon. And yes, we all remember that darn first cough! But it gets better, thanks to the encouragement from each other on this site, from our lovely families, and from the ticking of the clock - time heals!

Adam Pick  Jon, I'm so glad that the book and website have helped you along the process. You just made my night. Fyi, you are in incredible hands with Dr. Castro. So many ... Read more

Adam Pick  Jon, I'm so glad that the book and website have helped you along the process. You just made my night. Fyi, you are in incredible hands with Dr. Castro. So many patients from our community, have had great results with him and his team at Sequoia. Go forth. Get healthy. February 4 will be a great day!

Adam Pick  Jon, Emotions make us who we are. Try to enjoy feeling the feelings. As for concerns, please know that FEAR is just an acronym for Fantasized Experiences Appearing ... Read more

Adam Pick  Jon, Emotions make us who we are. Try to enjoy feeling the feelings. As for concerns, please know that FEAR is just an acronym for Fantasized Experiences Appearing Real. You and your wife are going to do better than expected. Sending you my best thoughts and prayers right now!

Tim Goff  Jon
I too was diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse (2001) which never caused an issue until recently. The atrial swelling it caused put me into AFIB which ... Read more

Tim Goff  Jon
I too was diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse (2001) which never caused an issue until recently. The atrial swelling it caused put me into AFIB which landed me in the hospital for 5 days. After that I went to another cardiologist, then the surgeon who said "not this month, but inside of 6 before it gets worse". The plan is to repair the valve and perform a MAZE for the AFIB. Are they suggesting a repair or replacement? I work out regularly with plenty of lap swimming and was asymptomatic for many years. I hear my story in yours and will be pulling for you!

Duane Beeman  Jon: I'm thinking this is kind of like stepping in the ring and having your trainer tell you to "keep your hands at your sides, take your opponents best shots, ... Read more

Duane Beeman  Jon: I'm thinking this is kind of like stepping in the ring and having your trainer tell you to "keep your hands at your sides, take your opponents best shots, fall down, and when you wake up, not only are you going to win the decision ....you're going to thank me."---------- (OK coach, if you say so)

Tom Elliott  Hi Jon. It's been a few months but I remember that last week, and it's definitely not fun. I agree with Emily that letting your health care team know of your ... Read more

Tom Elliott  Hi Jon. It's been a few months but I remember that last week, and it's definitely not fun. I agree with Emily that letting your health care team know of your concerns is important. They want the best possible outcome and knowing where you're at helps them.

If you're still looking for meditation suggestions, I got a lot of benefit from recordings from Belleruth Naparstek (healthjournies.com).

Best wishes to you - you're going to do fine.

Daryl McCallum  I was to nervous, but the night before something came over me that told me that this is only a bump in the road. I remember when they shaved me, it seemed ... Read more

Daryl McCallum  I was to nervous, but the night before something came over me that told me that this is only a bump in the road. I remember when they shaved me, it seemed forever but when the nurse was done I was whisked away with my wife telling me I will see you in 6 hours....lol just like going to work....well the 6 hours turned to 24 and she was right there. Had a few complications

Penny Prichard  I worked at Sequoia for over 20 years. My friends say Dr Castro is the best all around. Hopefully that's where I will go to have mine done. Wishing you the ... Read more

Penny Prichard  I worked at Sequoia for over 20 years. My friends say Dr Castro is the best all around. Hopefully that's where I will go to have mine done. Wishing you the best of luck and a wonderful recovery. Please keep us updated.

Wiliam Height  I am day 3 post op. Nerves will be there but you are surrounded by love and in great surgical hands. The morning of all kind of seemed routine, you'll do ... Read more

Wiliam Height  I am day 3 post op. Nerves will be there but you are surrounded by love and in great surgical hands. The morning of all kind of seemed routine, you'll do some minor prep--keep the conversation light, than you go to OR and be out pretty quick. At 45 you'll hear from everyone how fast you will be recovered. Stay in the present moment and at ease. You will do great!

Tammy Pilcher  Congratulations Jon on setting a date! When you start to doubt, remember this is going to save your life. My boys are both in their 20's, but I just kept reassuring ... Read more

Tammy Pilcher  Congratulations Jon on setting a date! When you start to doubt, remember this is going to save your life. My boys are both in their 20's, but I just kept reassuring them everything was going to be okay. To reassure myself I did a lot of praying and wrote favorite scriptures in a journal. That helped more than anything! You can do this!

Clare Auten  You guys have a little more time to worry than I did but I am not sure if that is a good things or a bad thing. My oldest was 13 at the time of my surgery and ... Read more

Clare Auten  You guys have a little more time to worry than I did but I am not sure if that is a good things or a bad thing. My oldest was 13 at the time of my surgery and I won't kid you, it was rough on her. It might have been her personality or the age. My husband and I made sure her life stayed as normal as possible. We found other people like my sister-in-law to do things I had planned before I knew about the surgery (only 10 days notice here). For example, my sister-in-law took her for the hair appointment we had scheduled so she didn't feel the heart surgery was controlling her life. My surgery and recovery were pretty good but not driving for a month was hard. I did make sure her teachers knew what was going on. Sorry that is kind of a jumbled reply. If you need more, let me know.

Cheryl Batzing  Jon, welcome here! I agree with Tammy...my best source of comfort was scriptures from the Bible written down on index cards I'd read through daily...some days ... Read more

Cheryl Batzing  Jon, welcome here! I agree with Tammy...my best source of comfort was scriptures from the Bible written down on index cards I'd read through daily...some days many times. I got many of the verses from sweet heart brothers & sisters from this site. If you want some suggestions, holler. I have a 17 year old boy who we also tried to let be as unaffected as possible. We kept his schedule the same, just kept him updated, and gave him the stats on my surgery & recovery. The stats really are fantastic for OHS! I was told for me personally mortality was less than 1%, which is better than driving my car. My son's take away was, "then what's there to worry about? You will be fine!" Easy enough for a 17 year old boy to say. But it did help us all. And I was/am fine. Just recovering and thankful it could be fixed!

Bob M  We are praying for a peaceful surgery and recovery for Jon. I heard the Cleveland Clinic has a section in their web site on visualization meditation. http://my.clevelandclinic.org/services/heart/prevention/emotional-health/stress-relaxation/guided-imagery-heart-surgery ... Read more

Bob M  We are praying for a peaceful surgery and recovery for Jon. I heard the Cleveland Clinic has a section in their web site on visualization meditation. http://my.clevelandclinic.org/services/heart/prevention/emotional-health/stress-relaxation/guided-imagery-heart-surgery

Wiliam Height  Jon, just reading your story--same thing here, watching waiting, and echo shows increase in chamber, move to severe leak, and starting to feel heavy breathing ... Read more

Wiliam Height  Jon, just reading your story--same thing here, watching waiting, and echo shows increase in chamber, move to severe leak, and starting to feel heavy breathing and heart beat pump. Will be thinking of you.

Adam Pick  Hi Jon, I've been lucky to watch Dr. Castro operate at Sequoia. Awesome surgeon and a great guy. I've also been lucky to meet many, many, many, many patients ... Read more

Adam Pick  Hi Jon, I've been lucky to watch Dr. Castro operate at Sequoia. Awesome surgeon and a great guy. I've also been lucky to meet many, many, many, many patients who had successful surgery with Dr. Castro. Here's 40 patient testimonials for Dr. Castro.  https://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/surgeons/dr-Luis-Castro-Redwood+City-California.php. I hope that helps!

Jason Leber  Hi Jon, welcome. I'm just north of you across the border. Feel free to read my journal and ask any questions. I was pretty nervous when I got the news but doing ... Read more

Jason Leber  Hi Jon, welcome. I'm just north of you across the border. Feel free to read my journal and ask any questions. I was pretty nervous when I got the news but doing lots of research, reading and watching videos really helped my understand the whole process. Honestly, it isn't anything to be worried about. Regards

Nancy D  I found some of my favorite music, and new meditation type music as well and listened to it daily in the time leading up to the surgery. Once post op, I also ... Read more

Nancy D  I found some of my favorite music, and new meditation type music as well and listened to it daily in the time leading up to the surgery. Once post op, I also used it in hospital and at home, to help relax, focus on breathing and still use it when doing my walking. The earphones do help drown out the constant noise in the hospital that make resting difficult at times. I read the journals and testimonies of people here who were ahead of me in the process. I had to do it in small spurts of time, as initially it was a bit much to take in. Best of luck to you, and if you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask. We all have answers, and hopefully some will resonate with you as something you are comfortable with. Take good care!

Suzanne Hunter  The more you are prepared mentally the better it will be. Power of positive thoughts got me ticking along. I had never been sick or in hosp so this does come ... Read more

Suzanne Hunter  The more you are prepared mentally the better it will be. Power of positive thoughts got me ticking along. I had never been sick or in hosp so this does come as a shock believe me. I am now 5 months post op had a few small bumps along the way but every day is good because I am alive and well. I was so pleased I could be fixed and get on with life. Hang in there this is a good site for us all

Tammy Pilcher  Jon, you are welcome to read my surgery experience post in my journal. I tried to give as many basic details without making it too long. I'll be glad to answer ... Read more

Tammy Pilcher  Jon, you are welcome to read my surgery experience post in my journal. I tried to give as many basic details without making it too long. I'll be glad to answer any specific questions you have in more detail. You may not be a spiritual person, but God loves you, will hear your prayers , and give you the peace and courage you need to get through this. I know this for sure. This is the scripture I took to the hospital with me: For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not, I will help thee. Isaiah 41:13.
And the one I keep close at hand now: The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise Him. Psalms 28:7. I hope this helps. You can do this! Best wishes, Tammy

Cris Dykeman  I was one who didnt know i was born with a bicusoid valve, so when i found out this summer it took me aback. People have many different ways with dealing w ... Read more

Cris Dykeman  I was one who didnt know i was born with a bicusoid valve, so when i found out this summer it took me aback. People have many different ways with dealing w things, but i may be one of the few to support medicstion. I was rcovering from pneumonia before surgery, so i was a bit. Of a wreck. I have a strong outgoing personality and started getting overly emotional when i would. watch an old show (because someone would have died since the airing) or when a Publix commercial came on. I went to the doc because i felt like a "6 year old girl". We decided to try Lexapro -id been on Ativan prn since. being diagnosed- since i am a former mental health therapist & knew copng skills plus had a strong support system (i will say therapy can be a great option too- it's all so individualized).

The low dose lexapro did wonders. Based on what i read in Adam's book i decided to up my dose right before surgery & ill ween off once im back at. Work.

Best of luck! Im hsppy to chat more.

Bob M  Jon, likewise, read our stories and journals. I believe you will see that all of us are both similar and different. Peace before surgery is both a personal ... Read more

Bob M  Jon, likewise, read our stories and journals. I believe you will see that all of us are both similar and different. Peace before surgery is both a personal and team approach. Personal means spiritual in my opinion. God is always there for you, even if you don't know it. Maybe just walk into a Church when there is no Mass, and just sit there. Just you and God. As your team, we are part of your team via the Web, but you need a local team: family, friends, etc. I would hope that someone in your circle of friends has experienced open heart surgery and could share her/his experiences. If not, we are here for you. In fact, someone here could be local for you?

Bob M  Jon, welcome to our awesome community! You have a beautiful family. God Bless! Many here are doorkeepers where we have been on the other side of open heart ... Read more

Bob M  Jon, welcome to our awesome community! You have a beautiful family. God Bless! Many here are doorkeepers where we have been on the other side of open heart surgery (mine was on Dec 10). We are here to pray for you, share our experiences and answer your direct questions.

Tammi Gunwall  Welcome to our heart family Jon! You will find this site a great help in your own personal heart journey. My story is fairly similar to yours in that I only ... Read more

Tammi Gunwall  Welcome to our heart family Jon! You will find this site a great help in your own personal heart journey. My story is fairly similar to yours in that I only recently founder out about my heart defect/disease a year ago and already am looking at surgery. It is a lot to take in in such a short amount of time! Feel free to ask any questions here. You will do great!

Joseph Ballett  Welcome we were and are all scared here, but with numbers you find support and strength we will be here for you like so many where here for me , and i have ... Read more

Joseph Ballett  Welcome we were and are all scared here, but with numbers you find support and strength we will be here for you like so many where here for me , and i have been for the ones that followed behind. If you have any questions please ask. I am around you age.

Mark Alafita  In the same boat...not just in the situation, but also the fear! It sounds like you keep yourself in good condition, which has got to be a plus during recovery ... Read more

Mark Alafita  In the same boat...not just in the situation, but also the fear! It sounds like you keep yourself in good condition, which has got to be a plus during recovery time. I learned of my bicuspid valve at the same age, 45. Never had a serious illness growing up, and now this! The Dr. gave me 5 years before needing surgery, which was accurate. The good thing with your situation is that the 5 years turned into 5 months. I can tell you, the last 5 years, it's been like a black cloud over my head with this heart problem, so maybe not having to go through that is a good thing. All my best, and I look forward to hear how your Jan 5 appointment goes.

Ole Bore  Welcome Jon! I was in the same boat as you, completely asymptomatic. Even ran my usual 6miles 3 days before surgery. Figured that I should get this done while ... Read more

Ole Bore  Welcome Jon! I was in the same boat as you, completely asymptomatic. Even ran my usual 6miles 3 days before surgery. Figured that I should get this done while I was healthy as a horse per se. 10 days post op today and feel fantastic.

Jeff V.  Hi Jon, I had my MV repaired on 12/4 in Cleveland. I am 51 but was not surprised by the need for surgery as I have been watched annually for years and new my ... Read more

Jeff V.  Hi Jon, I had my MV repaired on 12/4 in Cleveland. I am 51 but was not surprised by the need for surgery as I have been watched annually for years and new my day was approaching. In determining who does your surgery, the following are some questions I had for my surgeon: 1) How many valve repairs do you do every year? (Mitral repair surgeons usually perform a large number of mitral procedures annually, with the highest volume surgeons performing over 100 per year.), 2) What is the cause of my valve disease? (Is it ischemic, congenital, degenerative, rheumatic, infection, heart muscle dysfunction or something else?), 3) How many repairs do you do every year for the valve disease that I have? (You should expect that your surgeon does at least 25 repairs a year for the mitral disease you may have. The more, the better!), 4) What is your valve repair rate for my disease? (It is not enough to ask your surgeon for his or her overall repair rate. You will need to know his or her success rate for the specific problem that you have. A surgeon may be successful in repairing 90% of all valves, but on the other hand, may be successful in repairing only 50% of Barlow valves. You should go ahead with a repair only if the surgeon feels he or she can guarantee a repair with a high probability, especially if you are asymptomatic.), 5) How many valve replacements do you do in a year? (If the number of replacements a surgeon does is similar to the number of repairs, then chances are that he or she is not a reference mitral repair surgeon. Reference mitral repair surgeons would generally repair well over 90% of valves they encounter. You can also ask your surgeon how many mechanical valves he or she does in year – these operations are often done for degenerative disease which should have a high repair rate, so a surgeon who does a lot of mechanical valves is unlikely to be a mitral repair expert.), 6) How long does the valve repair operation take? (There is no role for quick surgery in a valve repair. Sometimes it will take several hours to achieve a good repair. You need to be certain that your surgeon will invest as long as it takes to achieve a repair if necessary rather than opt for the quicker valve replacement operation. Most surgeons can do a valve replacement in under 1 hour, but a complex valve repair can take up to 2 hours longer.), 7) What is your residual mitral regurgitation rate? (Residual mitral regurgitation refers to patients who continue to have a significant leakage after a repair. A good repair should eliminate all leakage - or leave a minimal inconsequential leakage. Expert mitral regurgitation surgeons know their residual mitral regurgitation rate, which is usually well below 10%.), 8) What incisions do you recommend for my surgery? Is this incision likely to result in a high certainty of repair? (The midline incision or median sternotomy is the standard approach and all reparable valves can be repaired through this incision. Many valves can be repaired through incisions at the side or under the breast, but this limits the options available for repair. Be certain that your surgeon can deliver a quality repair for your valve through a side incision before opting for this approach. The more complex your valve disease, the less the likelihood that a quality repair may be achieved through a side approach, unless the surgeon is very experienced in that approach. Minimally invasive approaches can be undertaken from either the side or in the midline and result in cosmetically appealing small incisions. Not all side incisions fall in the minimally invasive category, so before opting for a minimally invasive approach, ask your surgeon how long the incision will be and if there will be other incisions. A true minimally invasive incision should be less than 10cm, often much smaller. Ask if this approach will increase your risk or reduce the chances of repair. Ask the surgeon if you have a choice in the incision he or she uses.) I requested a median strernotomy as I wanted my surgeon to have the best access possible! Best of luck to you Jon and please let me know if you have any questions. Regards - Jeff V.