Mark Sherwinsky - Heart Valve Journal

My Journal

3864 days ago

i was on this web site along time ago when i had my surgery 2005. I was to crazy then trying to find myself and maybe saying why me. Now after all these years, ...Read more

i was on this web site along time ago when i had my surgery 2005. I was to crazy then trying to find myself and maybe saying why me. Now after all these years, pushing my buttons to get back to my life as it was. Still to this day i have problems but push on. I see many people here that are nervious a littel scared. I now i can help you and maybe even make you laugh. I sure hope so. Mark

Mark Sherwinskyposted an update

3864 days ago

Good morning everyone. I really love this site and if you read my story i have been to hell & back with my 2005 heart operation. I know we have are own beliefs. ...Read more

Good morning everyone. I really love this site and if you read my story i have been to hell & back with my 2005 heart operation. I know we have are own beliefs. I am a roman chatholic church person. This time i want everyone one to listen. My blogs hear are truthful, sometimes funny. What is going to get you through your surgery is You, if the man upstairs want you he is going to take you. If he doesn't he will leave you here for bigger and better things. Don't worry he is above you watching over you threw all this, not a problem. But if you are depending on him to get you through that shows that you are not strong enough. Here is a reminder of one thing i said and did the day before my surgery. ( I went to my dads grave site. Sat there put my hand over his foot stone, looked up at the sky and said: Dad i will either see you tomorrow or not, wish me luck.) well as you can see i am still hear so it is not my time. Maybe writing this and helping people is why i am still here. When you are all done with your surgery and you see the people you love around you. Then thank the man upstairs. Or you my be greeting the man downstairs. Either one just say Hi. (that last part was a joke ). Good luck Everyone. P.S If you wake up from your surgery i would buy a lottery ticket no questions asked. If that isn't luck then i don't know what is. Don't worry you will make it thru.

Carlos Ortiz Thanks Mark! Those are tough words that I needed to hear. I'm scheduled to go in next Wednesday and I ... Read more

Carlos Ortiz Thanks Mark! Those are tough words that I needed to hear. I'm scheduled to go in next Wednesday and I've been feeling a bit down but your words woke me up. I must have a fighters mentality to get through this! Thanks and God Bless!

Mark Sherwinsky You will be ok. believe in yourself first. If i can make you laugh, i can tell you alot of ways i do. ... Read more

Mark Sherwinsky You will be ok. believe in yourself first. If i can make you laugh, i can tell you alot of ways i do. i love to make fun of myself. I never blame anyone. in the very beginning i said why me. That was just being selvish. Here's something funny. I can't spell correctly anymore thank (God) for spell check. Wait a minute he doesn't need it. He speaks to you without writing. That's kinda funny.
All things kidding aside. It does make me feel like an idiot not spelling the right way anymore. That is a minor trade off.

Mark Sherwinskyposted an update

3875 days ago

Mark Sherwinsky I would like to thank you all for the response. I want everyone to look up what pump head means after surgery. (google it). Also did everyone ...Read more

Mark Sherwinsky I would like to thank you all for the response. I want everyone to look up what pump head means after surgery. (google it). Also did everyone look up Bills Clinton Madness? I got alot wiser after my surgery. I am not afraid to see the man upstairs. I am a chatholic but, i have done so much research that i reaaly don't need the man upstairs now. i am not afraid if i see him tomorrow or in 20yrs. I am going to change my profile pic. i ski, i lift wieghts, & i am a leader not a follower. I want to give everyone near information so that maybe it will help. My surgery lasted 9hrs. i develope carpatunal syndrome in my right hand that night. Rushed to surgery again or i would have lost my hand. at that time i had 6 incesions left open in my ahnd to relief the pressure . they also damaged my thoratic outlet in my right clevical . that is where they put the heart lung machine thru. i developed nerve damage in now left arm, right shoulder. so basicly i consider me a tough person that will not give up. so if i can help anyone out here with how i deal with this. i guess day by day. it's been 12yrs. now. there are days especially when i forget stuff with my kids that i wounder if it was worth all this. i have believe it or not, cheated death 5 times now. my wife say's i am like a cat.

Mary Myers Don, so glad tho hear you are doing well. I had a mitral valve replacement five months ago. I also ex ... Read more

Mary Myers Don, so glad tho hear you are doing well. I had a mitral valve replacement five months ago. I also experienced afib. Wow was that scarey.I was on coumadin for three months. The other meds were discontinued two months after surgery. Finished cardiac rehab three weeks ago. I feel absolutely wonderful. Am so glad to be part of this wonderful heart family. Rest when you can. The best advise that I can give is d
do not go back to work to soon. I returned after six weeks. Am a preschool teacher. Make sure to check out cardiac rehab.It made me confidence to return to my fitness program as t the gym. I will remember you in my prayers. (Also my afib was only in the hospital.

Mark Sherwinskyposted an update

3877 days ago

John Noriega reacted to this

I would like everyone to google in this: Bill Clinton's Madness. He has everything i have. i really tried to contact him but you know what the chances of ...Read more

I would like everyone to google in this: Bill Clinton's Madness. He has everything i have. i really tried to contact him but you know what the chances of that are. I am 57 yrs. old. surgery in 2005. I am still screwed up and probally will be for the rest of my life. Now after all these years i say to myself, was it really worth it. i keep alot of things to myself even thou my family doesn't think so. as i am writing this i can't stop the tears. i am such a strong minded man, a strong person, a leader. now i feel like a loser, i can't control my life, memories that are so precious gone. i have used spell check 3 times with this little story. if anyone wants to talk & respond please do, as i have know one out here that i can relate to .

Bob M Mark, I have read your story. I pray that your life can be turned around. I have been to Shelton, bec ... Read more

Bob M Mark, I have read your story. I pray that your life can be turned around. I have been to Shelton, because my cousins grew up there and I visited there years ago. Mark, I know you are physically and emotionally challenged, but are you a spiritual man?

Elaine Foster Mark, thank you for sharing your heart. I am sorry you have been going thru a bad time. Like, Bob, ... Read more

Elaine Foster Mark, thank you for sharing your heart. I am sorry you have been going thru a bad time. Like, Bob, I can only offer you what has helped me in my life, and that is a personal relationship with Jesus. Please reach out to those who love you. We are here to listen, and share what has helped us. God Bless you

John Noriega Mark, I just googled the article you mentioned. I am totally surprised that this is not told to any o ... Read more

John Noriega Mark, I just googled the article you mentioned. I am totally surprised that this is not told to any of us before surgery. I wondered if something like that could happen and now I know. I have noticed that I have some minor lapses of memory at times, but chalk it up to my usual self. Now, I know it could be something different. All I can write at this moment is to concur with what Bob M & Elaine Foster have written. We need to hand it over to our LORD who is the Great Physician and pray that His healing touch be upon us. I am going to share with you what my wife wrote on my heart pillow when I was discharged. This means a great deal to me. God bless.

"Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. (‭Psalm‬ ‭51‬:‭10-12‬ NIV)"

I will be praying for you! Onward & Upward!

Cheryl Batzing Mark, I applaud you for sharing here. The one thing that has give me encouragement and hope in this l ... Read more

Cheryl Batzing Mark, I applaud you for sharing here. The one thing that has give me encouragement and hope in this life is my relationship with Jesus as well. Please let me know if you have any questions about that. I will lift you up in prayer that God will reveal Himself to you in your difficulty. Blessings.

Hey Mark. You probably get frustrated because of the things that you can't do like you could before, ... Read more

Hey Mark. You probably get frustrated because of the things that you can't do like you could before, right? My priest (who is a retired surgeon from Indiana) warned me of this post surgical effect). Two anesthesiologists I came to know in the hospital alluded to this "effect" as well. They believe it is from the heart-lung machine as it may introduce new compounds to the body and/or chews up the hemoglobin that is your blood. Whatever the cause it is one of the downsides of heart surgery and a biggie as well. We have the gift of life but there is a cost to at least 2% of us.
My wife says I have changed a lot since my surgery in that I am more emotional and quick to anger. Not sure of my memory yet because she says I have selective memory loss. Tsk Tsk.
This is one area that is not discussed very much on the site but I'm glad you brought it up and are talking about it. Good on you to talk and explore about it. I often joke about having a chip on my shoulder prior to surgery but that chip got filed off from the surgery and I am all the more wiser. I want to know the downsides because that is how we learn from new information and the challenges people face. If all goes well we don't learn anything. Keep on searchin and keep on believin. Merry Christmas and Best of the season to you. Bob O.

Tammi Gunwall My heart is with you Mark. I can only imagine what an emotional and physical struggle these past year ... Read more

Tammi Gunwall My heart is with you Mark. I can only imagine what an emotional and physical struggle these past years have been for you. I appreciate your honesty here on this platform as I always feel better when I have all the facts in front of me and there are no surprises. But I'm also grateful that there is such a platform like this so that you can vent, express vulnerability, and get lifted up and encouraged by your heart family. No one will ever know your struggled like those who walk the same journey. Continue to share as I believe that is what keeps us going. If you hold it all in, your spirit suffocates. I pray you find peace and strength. Happy Holidays to you Mark! ♡

Tammy Pilcher Mark, I'm praying for you. All things are possible with God. There are no problems too big for Hi ... Read more

Tammy Pilcher Mark, I'm praying for you. All things are possible with God. There are no problems too big for Him to solve. I'm going to ask Him to help you as I know many others here wiil also. Mark, there is real power in prayer. I've seen it.

Mark Sherwinsky I would like to thank you all for the response. I want everyone to look up what pump head means after ... Read more

Mark Sherwinsky I would like to thank you all for the response. I want everyone to look up what pump head means after surgery. (google it). Also did everyone look up Bills Clinton Madness? I got alot wiser after my surgery. I am not afraid to see the man upstairs. I am a chatholic but, i have done so much research that i reaaly don't need the man upstairs now. i am not afraid if i see him tomorrow or in 20yrs. I am going to change my profile pic. i ski, i lift wieghts, & i am a leader not a follower. I want to give everyone near information so that maybe it will help.
My surgery lasted 9hrs. i develope carpatunal syndrome in my right hand that night. Rushed to surgery again or i would have lost my hand. at that time i had 6 incesions left open in my ahnd to relief the pressure . they also damaged my thoratic outlet in my right clevical . that is where they put the heart lung machine thru. i developed nerve damage in now left arm, right shoulder. so basicly i consider me a tough person that will not give up. so if i can help anyone out here with how i deal with this. i guess day by day. it's been 12yrs. now. there are days especially when i forget stuff with my kids that i wounder if it was worth all this. i have believe it or not, cheated death 5 times now. my wife say's i am like a cat.

John Noriega Way to go Mark! Keep the positive attitude in everything you do and you know all will be well! Your j ... Read more

John Noriega Way to go Mark! Keep the positive attitude in everything you do and you know all will be well! Your journey is there for others to see and to have hope no matter what. I did read the article and can relate to a bit of it! I have had 9 different surgeries over the past 3 years, and feel that the effects of the anesthesia have had some sort of effect. Also, I have a really bad passageway and have had problems with intubation. Throat is always raspy, sometimes feel my memory is going! During one of my surgeries a problem developed and they had to take me right back in and open up the surgery area again with troubles getting the tube in and hitting me up with more anethesia! But life goes on and it's only Onward & Upward from here!