Maureen's Journal

Michael Meyer  Maureen,
I had no issue with the thinners. I could never get the INR to equilibrate, but there was no issue with the medications. You should only be on the thinkers for a time since it was a repair.

Liz Burroughs  Hi Maureen, I'm glad that you're feeling good today and all your tubes & wires are gone. So glad that you can go home on Saturday! Best wishes for a full recovery! Take care. Liz

Lynee Casper  Glad to hear you will be going home, and you have the surgery behind you. Best to you as you continue healing.

Wanda Mroz  Awesome! The only issue with the thinners was bruising a little more. Hoping to get off the thinners any day now. Best wishes!

Gary Stripling  My total surgery was about 6 hours, with about 2 hours on the H/L machine. But I had MVR, septal resection & PFO repair. I doubt yours will last that long. The prep and waiting seemed to last forever!

W. Carter  It depends on how much work they have to do. If its a valve and vein graft about 4-5 hrs. If you also have bypass add more time to that. Good luck and God bless you with a safe surgery and good recovery.

Doran Herritt  Mine was about 4.5, but the doctor tried to do a repair before replacing. Prep was amazingly fast. I don't think I was at the hospital an hour before I went under. Good thing. They don't give you too much time to think. Take care. Stay busy. Your gonna do great! Drn

Emily Rowley 
Hi Maureen,
My repair surgery last time took 6 hours plus prep time. Are they looking at replacing tour mitral valve?
Emily.

Liz Burroughs  Hi Maureen, I had my surgery (mini mitral valve repair) on 10/26/2015. I had to be at the hospital at 5:15 AM. They wheeled me into the operating room at 7:00 AM. I don't remember anything after I had been on the OR table for only a few minutes. The actual surgery was supposed to start at 8:00 AM. I think that I was in my room in the ICU by 11:40 AM. I don't think I remember anything until I woke up at about 3:30 PM.
Good luck with your surgery! I hope that you'll be able to get the MV repair! My thoughts & prayers will be with you. Take care. Liz

Wanda Mroz  My mvp repair along with tricuspid repair and MAZE took almost 7. However the surgeon had to refigure the mitral valve fix as it was still leaking and he had to undo and redo. I had both leaflets that needed repair. You will do great!

Christine Oliva  Maureen best wishes for Monday and the days following as you repair.
God's blessings to you and your family. BTW- I love your cute dog. My dogs helped me recover and I took a picture of them to the hospital. Good and our wells wishes!

Mindy Currence  Wishing you a great day today! Love your family and your dog :) and let them love you. Try to rest if you can, and prayers to your and your team tomorrow.

Doran Herritt  My nerves never got to me. I had a plan and worked the plan. Hopefully it will be the same for you. Recovery wasn't so bad. Don't worry. It's more about being uncomfortable rather than pain. The first couple of days you won't remember anyway. I'll throw out three things. Use the breathing inhaler regularly to get your lungs back up and easily clear fluids, walk as soon as possible and finally hug your heart pillow when coughing or laughing and especially sneezing. Your gonna do great! Prayers your way. In a week you'll b up and around, well on your way to recovery. Drn

Kimberly Biddick  My nerves never got to me either. I think being well informed and well prepared helps a lot with that. Best of luck and many prayers to you!!

Suzanne Moore  Looks like we have the same surgery and surgery date! Mine is in Boston. I haven't worried much either and wonder if it will set in later. I am working this week, so more worried about leaving everything here in order. Best to you as you approach your surgery! I'll watch for updates!

Tim Goff  Maureen, I'm 8 months out from mitral repair at MA General and feeling great. Everyone recovers at different rates etc, but after the first 2 weeks it wasn't all that bad. I had nasty AFIB on the way in and post which was the toughest part to deal with. Physically I healed up fine and waked back to health pretty quickly. Best of luck & see you on the other side.
tim

Sophia Ridley  I'm going in tomorrow. Through all the support, information and advice on this site and absorbing myself in researching my situation I'm far better prepared than I could have hoped 2.5 months ago when I found out. I've had some wobbly moments, the latest was after church on Sunday as saw the Sister I spoke with when I first found out. She arranged for me to receive the Sacrament of the Sick, it was a very moving and calming experience. I'm excited in many ways to start recovering - I've been busy today and used a Fitbit to give me a marker of where I was pre-surgery (walking and pulse). Best wishes!

Liz Burroughs  Hi Maureen, I had a mini mitral valve repair surgery exactly three weeks ago. I was very nervous but I went through with the surgery because I knew it was the right thing to do. My five days in the hospital were rough (especially the first few days) but I made it through. You will too. Each day you'll feel a little better than the last. I'm feeling much better now than when I left the hospital. Everything will be fine. Take care. Liz

Flo Em  You'll be good. I'll also throw one thing to remember. Once you're healing process begins at home... always take your pain meds on time even if you think you're feeling good at the moment (at least for a week). It was my mistake that I don't want you to make. Because, when you start feeling the pain, it takes a while for the meds to kick in. And it is painful.

Jean Raber  I am up for that at a time to be determined. My next eval is next week. Yes, it is nerve-wracking. From what folks say on here, you'll be glad to get it over with.

Susan Wozniak  Maureen- The waiting is the worst part. I am 10 weeks out today and leaving for Italy next week! First few weeks are hard but you feel better each day! Take this time to get yourself organized....I had the minimally invasive mitral valve repair.

Gloria Savannah-Austin  We are all here to support you through this time Maureen. I hope the time goes fast for you and you go into the next few months happy, clear on your health plans and come out the other side better than ever.

  Maureen, you sound like me. I was diagnosed with murmur when I was young. In my twenties, I was diagnosed with mild mitral valve prolapse. I was sailing through life without a problem until February of this year when my Ob-Gyn noticed an irregular heartbeat. After, EKG, Holter monitor, two echoes, and a TEE, I was sent to surgeon. I have severe regurgitation too.
I am scheduled for hopefully, repair surgery on July 14. I had a CT Coronary Angiogram and it was OK. More tests are scheduled for the 9th. Stay in touch, I will share my experience.😀

Anis Suraiya  hye Maureen,I'm also diagnosed with MVP when I was 12..and I have done the surgery in 2011 when I was 15 years old..And now I'm feel better :)