Lynne's Journal

I'm now finally getting nurses to return my calls and so the journey will start in March. I need to get the blood work before I get the cardio Caths - through wrist and neck. It sounds painful and I'm dreading it. This whole journey sounds like lots of needles I'm also hoping to get the TEE done and then send all the paperwork to Cleveland Clinic. Does anyone know if the clinic insists that you have to have someone be with you during the preop, surgery and afterwards? I'm trying to figure out how to do this on my own, if possible.

I am now starting on the long journey of getting organised for my mitral valve repair(I hope) my emotions are all up and down. I am hoping to have the robotic surgery done at Cleveland Clinic but first have to sort out my bleeding issue. My surgeries never go as planned . I had back surgery hree weeks ago and still have a leak in the dura which the surgeon isn't sure will seal and the liquid be absorbed. The surgeon also asked my husband if I was taking aspirin as I bled a lot so my first visit will be to the hemotologist. Did you know that you can't just get a referral to see a hemotologist and book an appointment? The doctor's office has to send over lots of reports ( I've only see this cardiologist twice) and the co ordinater of new patients reads the reports and decides whether you can see the hemotologist. I was so angry and frustrated that I phoned and yelled at my poor husband who has no control over these matters except to tell me to see the hemotologist and tell him what we think the problem is. I'm hoping that Dr Gillinov will still be prepared to operate on me even if there is a bleeding issue as the operation is only to repair (hopefully) the one valve and the bleeding issue will be sorted out. I'm very stressed about the type of surgery I want as I really don't want a full sternotomy if at all possible. What is very interesting is that Houstob (where I live) is considered a major medical place and only the full sternotomy is fine here!

I now need to decide what procedure I want. Do most people still have the sternotomy or are more people going for the robotic procedure or the mini sternotomy? I was told that if the surgeon starts doing the robotic procedure and then sees that he can't repair the valve he has to convert the surgery to a full Sternotomy? Has this happened to anyone and how have you coped?

I live in Houston, Texas and need a mitral valve repair. Can anyone recommend a surgeon in Houston or in Texas who does the robotic surgery or a mini sternotomy?

I'm still in total shock that I need a mitral valve repair (hopefully) or replacement. I have had no symptoms . In the work up to my back surgery which I had two weeks ago, the doctor found a murmur which wasn't there a few months earlier. The cardiologist who read the echo told me that I would need surgery next year, 2016 (I saw him last year -December 14) or within ten years. There and then I decided to do it in August which gives me six months to recover from the back surgery. I don't know how to start the process of getting fit, etc. I really would love some advise and support. I am married but have no other family to help me.