Hey guys! We got in yesterday. I cant believe a week ago I had surgery. Its mind blowing. Full of ups and downs. So I know Tim kept u up to date, sorry I havent ...Read more
Hey guys! We got in yesterday. I cant believe a week ago I had surgery. Its mind blowing. Full of ups and downs. So I know Tim kept u up to date, sorry I havent been on here.
Iam so lucky that Dr Gillinov was able to work his magic.
Now that I am home, the only concern I have is that sometimes if I lift my arms, mostly the left, I feel slight movement in sternum. I called the 24 hr RN on call. I guess its not normal. Has anyone else had this issue?
Hi everyone, Tim here. Michelle is now removed from the pacer and has a terrific and stable pulse rate with great steady vitals. She is still very weak and ...Read more
Hi everyone, Tim here. Michelle is now removed from the pacer and has a terrific and stable pulse rate with great steady vitals. She is still very weak and has not eating too much yet but she has an appetite and we are getting to eat slowly. They got her up in a chair this morning for a bit and is now under pain management and doing well. I will post more later, or Michelle is better she may be on herself later. Thank you for all of her support!
Hi gang, Tim here. Michelle is doing great and she is off the vent and sitting up. She is now talking and drinking and the chest tubeis being removed as we ...Read more
Hi gang, Tim here. Michelle is doing great and she is off the vent and sitting up. She is now talking and drinking and the chest tubeis being removed as we speak. More updates to follow.
Hi gang. This is Tim. I just spoke with the surgeon and he was able to repair her own valve with a ring around it and her heart and valves are now working perfectly. ...Read more
Hi gang. This is Tim. I just spoke with the surgeon and he was able to repair her own valve with a ring around it and her heart and valves are now working perfectly. I thank you all so much for supporting her. I will see her in ICU later and will post more when I get the chance.
Tim
Hi everyone. This is her husband Tim. Just letting everybody know that Michelle just went up to the OR and next update I get will be them staring her surgery ...Read more
Hi everyone. This is her husband Tim. Just letting everybody know that Michelle just went up to the OR and next update I get will be them staring her surgery and going on bypass. I thank you all for the support you have given. It has helped her through this so much. I will update as I get information.
Tim
Well I\'m on the way. I feel so calm. Wondering how long that will last lol. I have my husband and my parents here. And an u believable amount of people praying ...Read more
Well I\'m on the way. I feel so calm. Wondering how long that will last lol. I have my husband and my parents here. And an u believable amount of people praying for me,I\'m so lucky. I can\'t wait to do for the next patients as you all have done for me. Your stories are all amazing and I thank you!
Ok gang, I have to be at admitting at 10am. I feel weird. I\'m not as anxious as I would think. I am sure that will change once I am there. I was a mess for ...Read more
Ok gang, I have to be at admitting at 10am. I feel weird. I\'m not as anxious as I would think. I am sure that will change once I am there. I was a mess for the cath yesterday and it ended up not being so bad. Damn nurses...bad patients;)
Think I am more anxious about being intubated. I have said that before on here. I have never had surgery so I am afraid I will try to pull it out or freak when I start waking.. but anesthesia tried to reassure me. I have to say CCF has left no stone unturned. Amazing.
Well, time to Try to sleep. My husband Tim will update you all when he can. We are both blown away at the amount of support we have found here and I thank you
all.
Had my cath done today my up time is 9pm. Surgery will be Thursday. Will post more tomorrow. Still groggy right now. Thanks everyone for all your support. ...Read more
Had my cath done today my up time is 9pm. Surgery will be Thursday. Will post more tomorrow. Still groggy right now. Thanks everyone for all your support.
Michelle
Sat with Dr Gillinov this am. He feels there is no prolapse but that the valve is Rheumatic. All labs negative for autoimmune, so thats a plus. He will not ...Read more
Sat with Dr Gillinov this am. He feels there is no prolapse but that the valve is Rheumatic. All labs negative for autoimmune, so thats a plus. He will not do robot assisted since theres a chance I will need replacement. I will go with tissue valve not mechanical. I want to pass on to all patients with upcoming surgery- I said to him its scary, he said its not. His point- its scarier to have a valve that doesnt work. The end result is to have a working valve. Good point Dr Gillinov! He is wonderful. I feel better. Still scared but better. So I have the cath today. He said he can do surgery tomorrow instead of thursday if I want. Think I might cause waiting is awful. And its inevitable. Thanks to everyone who has signed my guest book. I really appreciate it.
Today was preop testing. CCF is amazing. We met with the Cardiologist who clears me for surgery. He explained the opinion of my cardiologist from home of the ...Read more
Today was preop testing. CCF is amazing. We met with the Cardiologist who clears me for surgery. He explained the opinion of my cardiologist from home of the stress echo and his opinion are not the same. To make a very complicated story short, the valve may need replacement. They may not want to even do the surgery right now. So I basically need to decide what type of valve IF they feel it needs to be done now, or if they can wait, do I? OR if Dr Gillinov feels we could repair it but will need second surgery sooner than planned, do we go ahead... plus in the midst of things they are ruling out an autoimmune disease which could be the cause in the first place . Its so much to take in, my mind cant wrap itself around it all. I have been in the mind set that I am having reoair on thursday. Now I havent a clue till tomorrow morning. How do u decide which valve? Im only 42.
I guess I have to see what Dr Gillinov says.
Well, we are here. So far the flight and hotel have been wonderful. Have first appointment at CCF 7:15am tomorrow. I still cant believe what I am about to deal ...Read more
Well, we are here. So far the flight and hotel have been wonderful. Have first appointment at CCF 7:15am tomorrow. I still cant believe what I am about to deal with. Feels surreal...
But I have a strong faith. I am lucky to have so many people praying and supporting me.
Thankful for all the responses and support I have found here. I feel very lucky to be going to CCF and have Dr Gillinov as my surgeon. Is there anyone who has ...Read more
Thankful for all the responses and support I have found here. I feel very lucky to be going to CCF and have Dr Gillinov as my surgeon. Is there anyone who has had robot assisted MVRepair who can share what they experienced from OR time to discharge. Im really trying to figure out how long Ill be in icu, pain control, was walking hard? How long before you felt the difference after surgery?? I have to fly home, how fun will that be?
I know there are no absolutes, just want to get a better idea. I am trying to look at this from a patient perspective and a less clinical one.
This is my first entry. I wish I had started sooner and had read other people\'s journals sooner. But it\'s ok. I leave Sunday for Cleveland Clinic for robotic ...Read more
This is my first entry. I wish I had started sooner and had read other people\'s journals sooner. But it\'s ok. I leave Sunday for Cleveland Clinic for robotic assisted mitral repair. I am a nurse, not sure if that helps or makes me more scared. Really looking for some input from people who have had this type of surgery. I\'ll be reading other journals and continue writing mine.