Michele's Journal

Michele Tracey  Thank you Adam! I've read all the testimonials but I was hoping to read through individual patient journals on this site to get a real feel of their experience ... Read more

Michele Tracey  Thank you Adam! I've read all the testimonials but I was hoping to read through individual patient journals on this site to get a real feel of their experience and recovery with Dr. Khoynezhad or Dr Trento I can only find one brief journal of 1 patient of Dr. Khoynezhad. Can you help me find more? Thank you!

Adam Pick  Hi Michele, Unfortunately I can not track every journal on this site. We are working on some new search capabilities to enable this. But, that will take some ... Read more

Adam Pick  Hi Michele, Unfortunately I can not track every journal on this site. We are working on some new search capabilities to enable this. But, that will take some time to develop and implement. Sorry, I do not have a quick fix for you.

  I am 40 and had a mini sternotomy and had issues with organization and planning the first two weeks after surgery but I think it was also related to medications. ... Read more

  I am 40 and had a mini sternotomy and had issues with organization and planning the first two weeks after surgery but I think it was also related to medications. I started back at work last week and having no trouble diving in. I didn't hear anything about bleeding issues so I don't think that was a problem.

Sophia Ridley  No problems to report here either. Had transfusion but that was to support my blood pressure and increase volume as I was "dry" in surgery. Make sure you're ... Read more

Sophia Ridley  No problems to report here either. Had transfusion but that was to support my blood pressure and increase volume as I was "dry" in surgery. Make sure you're very well dehydrated in the days before and keep up your iron levels as low haemoglobin is quite common post any surgery (and zaps your energy, believe me).

JoAnen Banzhaf  I had and AVR at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester MN. it was done 12/13/12. I am very active and in remote situations so I opted for the tissue valve. It lasted ... Read more

JoAnen Banzhaf  I had and AVR at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester MN. it was done 12/13/12. I am very active and in remote situations so I opted for the tissue valve. It lasted 3 years and I am having surgery in Feb. to replace it. My surgeon is Dr. Lyle Joyce. He is an awesome surgeon but the valve just didn't work for me. I am having him do the redo surgery and going for a mechanical valve. I am 60 years.

Elaine Cutri  Hi Michele, I haven't chatted with you in a while. Things are going well for me, 7 months post-op. It looks like you're trying to get your ducks in order. ... Read more

Elaine Cutri  Hi Michele, I haven't chatted with you in a while. Things are going well for me, 7 months post-op. It looks like you're trying to get your ducks in order.

I'm not "very petite" I'm petite, 5'2" 130 when I had surgery last year. I dropped 10 lbs and was a little anemic after surgery. They gave me one transfusion a couple of days after surgery. My first surgery was as a 7 year old, 50 lbs, second one I was 22, 115 lbs. I don't remember if I got a transfusion that time, but I did loose almost 10 pounds, but they found their way back home :-). I don't think your size is as critical as your over-all health. It sounds like yours is pretty good. However, these are good questions for the surgeon.

FYI - I also wanted to let you know I'm finding the book by Drs. Marc Gillinov and Steven Nissen, Heart 411 to be very informative and pretty upbeat. Have you seen his profile video on the CC website? He seemed very passionate about his vocation. I had Eric Roselli, also at CC and very passionate about his vocation. Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.

W. Carter  Welcome to the forum. It's not that bad having heart defects. Everyone here is in the same boat. You will likely have echocardiograms, heart caths, cardiac ... Read more

W. Carter  Welcome to the forum. It's not that bad having heart defects. Everyone here is in the same boat. You will likely have echocardiograms, heart caths, cardiac ct's, among other tests keeping up with your heart status.