Julia Hasbrook - Heart Valve Journal

My Journal

3001 days ago

HI all, Been so busy recovering that I forgot to update my post. I can't say enough how valuable it was for me to do a lot of research and be in control of ...Read more

HI all, Been so busy recovering that I forgot to update my post. I can't say enough how valuable it was for me to do a lot of research and be in control of my health. This website and Adam's book are indispensable. My surgery went perfectly and all the precautions we took regarding my unknown anaphylaxis during my last surgery put our mind at ease as best we could. I was in hospital 5 days (which was tough due to total lack of sleep) and now have a month behind me. I'm walking 2.5 miles a day and trying to put my life into a routine without having to get up everyday to go to work. It's all good, though. Dr. Richard Shemin at UCLA Ronald Reagan hospital is amazing. Please check him out if you have a mitral valve issue. Also, I have noticed in much of my research that there is not much written about recovering post Da Vinci Robotic Surgery. The incisions are different and the issues post surgery don't have much coverage on the web. Is that type of surgery still rare? I would recommend it to anyone that is eligible.

Rose Madura Great news. Glad you are doing so well.

Julia Hasbrookposted a journal

3036 days ago

Hi all, I've finished all my pre-op tests. Met with the anesthesia team. I'm high risk and have a lot of people watching me. Thank God! I'm ready and I don't ...Read more

Hi all, I've finished all my pre-op tests. Met with the anesthesia team. I'm high risk and have a lot of people watching me. Thank God! I'm ready and I don't want to think about the "what-ifs" anymore. Please, I have to know, truly how much does it hurt afterwards??? What have I not thought of to make my recovery as easy as possible?

Gerald Poulton i had a bioprosthetic aortic valve and aortic artery aneurism, full sternonomy, I was amazed at how l ... Read more

Gerald Poulton i had a bioprosthetic aortic valve and aortic artery aneurism, full sternonomy, I was amazed at how little it hurt after. Dont skimp on the pain pills in the hospital because they are there for you, but seriously they release you on just Tylenol extra strength and I only took them for about two days.
Two weeks post opp and basically no pain at all.
Less pain then a broken bone, by far and not as bad in my opinion as a spained ankle or tooth ache. But that said is in my opinion and people feel pain differently. Many people have agreed that the pain was not near what they expected.
Hope that helps, the biggest pain is not being able to do everything right away and I can deal with that.

Steve Farthing Right, a bad toothache or badly sprained ankle are definitely worse. I took 2 Aleve per day plus Tyl ... Read more

Steve Farthing Right, a bad toothache or badly sprained ankle are definitely worse. I took 2 Aleve per day plus Tylenol for about 3 weeks after mitral valve repair. That did not eliminate the pain, but made it very tolerable. After 3 weeks, no pain killers. (I'm 7 weeks out now.) I did not have a sternotomy, rather a right side 2 1/2 mini-incision. It may actually be more painful than a sternotomy, but I could sleep OK flat in bed and could sleep on my sides after about 10 days. I believe it was a good choice for me. Maybe get a second or third opinion to verify you actually need surgery this soon.

Barbara Wood I had a mitral valve repair 10 weeks ago & never had any pain, never took anything for pain after bei ... Read more

Barbara Wood I had a mitral valve repair 10 weeks ago & never had any pain, never took anything for pain after being released. But I was uncomfortable- I couldn't go to sleep on my back, had no appetite & was easily tired. Having a memory foam wedge pillow is helpful, some soft v neck tees & drawstring pants ( it wasn't painful but I hated the feel of anything touching the bump at the top of my incision & most of us come home with a few pounds of extra weight). The first couple weeks can be hard, but you'll be amazed how quickly you'll spring back. The very best of luck to you Julia:)!

Rose Madura I had surgery 12 weeks ago. Minimal pain. Stay ahead of any pain with the meds offered but get down t ... Read more

Rose Madura I had surgery 12 weeks ago. Minimal pain. Stay ahead of any pain with the meds offered but get down to Tylenol as soon as you can. I also had a heart hugger and not a pillow. I think that made a difference as well.

Cathy Zuber Hi. I had my mitral valve replaced in March. Biggest pain I had was having to let go of my independe ... Read more

Cathy Zuber Hi. I had my mitral valve replaced in March. Biggest pain I had was having to let go of my independence (I'm a widow), and have others help me around the house!!. A bed wedge helps..but I actually slept in a recliner for about a month. Make yourself some freezeable, quick, meals..get some soup, and a good book and yr comfy pillow. Best advice is to rest!!

Wanda Mroz I had a shoulder replacement and the pain was ten times worse! I was on regular Tylenol once home. ... Read more

Wanda Mroz I had a shoulder replacement and the pain was ten times worse! I was on regular Tylenol once home. Use a pillow to hug if you have to sneeze or cough... really the pain is not what you'd think it would be. You'll get through it. Prayers for a smooth surgery💞🙏🏻

Bob Fessler Pain was minimal for me and was controlled in the hospital. Take your pain medication and ask for mo ... Read more

Bob Fessler Pain was minimal for me and was controlled in the hospital. Take your pain medication and ask for more of it if you feel any pain. Felt no pain worth mentioning.

Marie Myers I agree with all the above. My shoulders and upper back muscles bothered me more than the full Stern ... Read more

Marie Myers I agree with all the above. My shoulders and upper back muscles bothered me more than the full Sternotomy. I took very few narcotic pain Meds the entire time. Like Barbara said, it is more just being uncomfortable than pain. I was very pleasantly surprised... You will be , also.

Rita Savelis Julia, I had no pain just lots of discomfort and incredible exhaustion. No matter what you do to be r ... Read more

Rita Savelis Julia, I had no pain just lots of discomfort and incredible exhaustion. No matter what you do to be ready, there will be things that happen to you in your specific singular recovery that will surprise you. Knowing that tiredness would last a long long time was helpful for me because at least I realised it was all normal rather than worrying that I wasn't normal.
But one has to give up some control after OHS. Much of recovery is not up to you, but happens to you...
Take care.

Laura Jacobs For me the sternotomy was more tenderness than pain. Like Marie, I found the aching shoulders and bac ... Read more

Laura Jacobs For me the sternotomy was more tenderness than pain. Like Marie, I found the aching shoulders and back muscles to be more uncomfortable, but i did have pain in my forearms from inflamed arteries from the IV's. I took Oxy on the two days after the surgery and then realized I didn't need it. I dropped down to Tylenol and took it whenever I felt I needed the support. Best of luck to you.

Julia Hasbrookposted an update

3057 days ago

Has anyone had Mitral valve repair done with the Da Vinci system and also been at severe risk for anaphylaxis? It almost killed me last time I was in surgery ...Read more

Has anyone had Mitral valve repair done with the Da Vinci system and also been at severe risk for anaphylaxis? It almost killed me last time I was in surgery for an SICD replacement.

Steve Farthing Have you obtained the surgery notes and itemized all the meds used during that procedure to find out ... Read more

Steve Farthing Have you obtained the surgery notes and itemized all the meds used during that procedure to find out their potential for bad reactions?

Michael Meyer Julia:

I had mitral valve repair at the Cleveland Clinic, Dr. Gillinov. No reactions. There is a p ... Read more

Michael Meyer Julia:

I had mitral valve repair at the Cleveland Clinic, Dr. Gillinov. No reactions. There is a pretty rigorous screening and to my knowledge they use the Da Vinci system. I was marked for an upper sternotomy in case they defined they could not perform the minimally invasive procedure.

Michael Meyer You are a west coaster so be sure and check out Dr. Trento and Cedars

http://www.heart-valve-surgery ... Read more

Michael Meyer You are a west coaster so be sure and check out Dr. Trento and Cedars

https://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/surgeons/dr-Alfredo-Trento-Los+Angeles-California.php

http://www.heart-valve-surgery/

Ed Ahern I had robotic MVR on July 24th at Weill Cornell Med in New York City performed by Dr, Sloane Guy that ... Read more

Ed Ahern I had robotic MVR on July 24th at Weill Cornell Med in New York City performed by Dr, Sloane Guy that was very successful. Would highly recommend Dr Guy.

Julia Hasbrook After my anaphylactic reaction, all meds, latex, foods, everything was tested not only with a skin pr ... Read more

Julia Hasbrook After my anaphylactic reaction, all meds, latex, foods, everything was tested not only with a skin prick test but also intradermal. My immune system was tested. You name it I tested it. All negative. I know there are pre-op and during surgery precautions I can take, but wanted to see if anyone actually had the reaction during surgery.

Julia Hasbrook And I did have a consult with Dr. Trento. He is very nice and answered all my questions. He was a lit ... Read more

Julia Hasbrook And I did have a consult with Dr. Trento. He is very nice and answered all my questions. He was a little stumped by the allergic reaction though.