Kaaren's Posts

Diagnosis: Mitral Regurgitation

Member Since: January 18, 2019

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Kaaren Carone posted an update
6 years ago (July 19, 2019)
All done! New tissue valve a week ago today, no complications. Time to heal. Best wishes to you all.
Hi Kaaren, glad you had a successful surgery and had no complications.
Awesome news! Nothing better than being able to rest at home!
You said it - time to heal. Glad you're home.
Kaaren Carone posted an update
7 years ago (June 28, 2019)
Two weeks from now I will be done waiting and beginning recovery. Can't get there soon enough, I'm tired of second guessing myself and wondering "what if". To pass the time happily I am spending a week visiting my only child who is pregnant with her first—a son. He's due... Read more.
No better motivation to power through this difficult time. You will come out the other side with an even greater appreciation for life and improved health and longevity. Enjoy your time with your daughter, get your game face on and put faith in your medical team to get the best... Read more.
The waiting is the hardest. At one point, my surgery got postponed and that really threw me for a loop. I cried all day and ended up watching a you tube video about JFK's assassination to get my mind off of it. Going to see your daughter is a great... Read more.
Kaaren - You're exactly where you should be - mentally prepared to put this behind you. You're going to do just great and have so much to look forward to! ❤
Dear Kaaren. I can so relate "I'm tired of second guessing myself and wondering "what if". I think the medical community could do a better job of acknowledging that the waiting and worrying is very difficult and somehow offer better support. I don't even think my primary physician "gets me"... Read more.
I agree! That's why Adam was so wonderful to start this website! Truly there is more support & wisdom here, than I've found anywhere else.
Kaaren Carone posted an update
7 years ago (June 25, 2019)
At last pre surgery surgeon visit today I learned I will be having full sternotomy instead of minimally invasive MVR. My CAT scan was a little more detailed/clear than echo and showed presence of interfering calcification where just heart muscle should be. .. Anyway I had thought initially I'd probably... Read more.
There are a lot of curve balls, aren't there? Don't fear the full sterotomy. I had one , and experienced surprisingly little pain.
Karen sorry to hear about the changes in surgery. As Marie said dont fear the sternotomy. It is not as bad as you would think it is. The waiting game is the worst part of all of this. Plus all the pre-tests and getting ready for the surgery are over... Read more.
A friend with breast implants just had a sternotomy, although kind of a mini-one. She actually had her hospital arrange for a plastic surgeon to be in the vicinity so he could close, making her scar not just small but clean. So if the scar is a major stressor for... Read more.
Sometimes they need to have a full view of things & it seems that's what they've decided for you. For my 2010 surgery there was a point where the surgeon thought I could have a minimally invasive procedure, another point when he thought I could have the Ross Procedure. Neither... Read more.

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