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Diagnosis: Mitral Regurgitation

Member Since: September 30, 2016

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Mike Politowicz posted an update

9 years ago (November 6, 2016)

9 Days since valve surgery 10-28-16. Amazing journey. Don't remember the day of surgery except saying bye to my wife. Woke up night of surgery and I cant tell you anything from memory but my wife said I was only saying II had some pain and I was not very with it. Turns out surgery only lasted 2 1/2 hours. Dr Accola repaired my Mitral Valve by placing a ring around it to bring it back into shape of a D which is normal shape of valve. He said heart and leaflets looked good and he Clipped the Left Atrial Appendage in heart as this is supposed to assist in avoiding future strokes. The day after surgery was tough. I can only recommend you not be shy about the pain meds you take that day. Take everything you can to reduce the pain. The day after the day after surgery was night and day on change for the better. Amazing the improvement I had with pain. Still I say do not be shy using the pain meds, stay on top of the pain, if you let it get in front of you its much harder to manage. I was out of the Hospital in 3 days on Halloween! Before surgery I told my wife I would like to go as a healthy person for Halloween this year ha ha. When I first got home I continued taking the pain meds as prescribed and it helped with most of the pain but I was tired and take a nap everyday still. One of the best pieces of advice I can give is be careful with your laxatives. I took Polyethylene Glycol brand name miralax. I took too much for too long and had bad stomach and intestinal pain. Once I stopped taking it I felt so much better It is for taking once or twice not daily! If you need it try Smooth Move Tea. I was amazed at the improvement after surgery from surgery day to 2 days after. It is remarkable how much better I felt in that short period of time. Certainly still have issues with being tired. Also, some pain if I do too much activity or if I don't follow the precautions the doctor and hospital gave me. . Another strange thing I noticed after surgery was I did not want to talk much. That had lasted a week or so. I want to share with you that I was scared going into this but if you get an experienced team you will be fine and even surprised at how well you recover. You will need good support and if you can be in presence of Family watching you at all times from Surgery to 3 days later please do this. You don't need ten at a time just one or two with you round the cock, it will help with ensure you get everything you need. Looking forward to a few months out si I can really test this fixed valve.

👍 Ed Miskovic, Shannon Gray and reacted to this

Cheryl Shute Walter

Glad to hear you're on the mend, Mike! You are right about the pain meds. Take them on a regular schedule before you need them. Pain was my biggest fear before my AVR surgery last year. But I was surprised at how quickly my real pain abated. Cutting open my... Read more.

Phyllis Petersen

Sounds like you did fantastically well. How was the surgery performed, minimally invasive, robotic, etc?

Mike Politowicz

sternum but not traditional full split. I think they call it a minimally evasive sternotomy, But sternom is only cut except for 2 drain holes that are now stitched closed.

Mike Politowicz

i would say a 5 inch cut to sternum

Ellen Leng

Like your story, Mike. The naps are great and I napped daily for about 3 weeks, then about midway btwn weeks 3 and 4, I really started getting energy back! I'm about 5 1/2 weeks out now and feel pretty good. I still have sternal soreness, I also had a... Read more.

Phyllis Petersen

The range of approaches to valve surgery is amazing. I'm glad you're healing well. Glad to hear you're doing well too Ellen.

Anonymous

Glad your doing well Mike, New to this site. I will be having Mitral Valve Repair Surgery after having been diagnosed with Severe Regurgitation with a torn chordae on January 19th, 2017. I am pretty comfortable with having the surgery except for the approach. My Surgeon will be doing about... Read more.

Carmen P

Hi Mike. Dr. Accola replaced my aortic valve on October 11th. I'm doing well. Recovery is slowly progressing and my husband keeps reminding me to be patient. I came through surgery with flying colors and made the seven hour trip home four days after surgery. Dr. Accola's team is amazing... Read more.

Robert D'Aurora

Thanks for update mike, my surgery is tomorrow, will definitely stay on top of pain medications

Phyllis Petersen

Robert, They gave me a button to push, but I was probably too drowsy when they gave me instructions. You can't take too much, since it's metered. You can push the button every 6 minutes. If you hear two beeps after pushing, that means you got the meds; only one... Read more.

Mike Politowicz

Mike Hill Yes we did discuss. Dr Accola believed that the minimal sternotomy would be less painful in the beginning of recover but may take longer to to feel no pain than the side entry surgery through ribs. He explained the ribs were always floating and sternum much more fixed... Read more.

Mike Politowicz posted an update

9 years ago (September 30, 2016)

51 yr old in shape and no other medical issues but heart attack 2010 with left side damage to muscle. I have mitral valve surgery due to regurgitation scheduled for 10-20 at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville Florida with Dr. Landolfo. I was given a 60% chance probability of fixing valve... Read more.

👍 Bridget Sawmiller and Roseline Rosario reacted to this

Amy Steele

Welcome, Mike! I don't know much about your particular surgery, but I do know that there are many on this site who do. I'm sure they'll give you plenty of information.

Mike Politowicz

exactly what I was hoping for Thank You!

Phyllis Petersen

I'm having mitral valve repair on Oct 13 at Cleveland Clinic. There are many on here who have had the various procedures. I, thankfully, didn't have other heart issues like you do, but from what I've read, mitral valves are much more often repaired, but it's not a guarantee. Everything... Read more.

Ellen Leng

Mike, ask around. A 40% chance of replacement sounds really high to me. I saw a doc at Mayo in AZ and got a 10% chance of replacement vs repair, however he wanted to replace with mechanical (I'm 53 and healthy) and I didn't want to be on blood thinners.... Read more.

Mike Politowicz

thank you. They would like to do the mechanical if they do replacement but I am not going that route I am telling them I must do the bovine if replacing as I also do not want to be on coumadin for life. I am trying to push as hard... Read more.

Phyllis Petersen

Where you go and who does your surgery does affect what can be offered. That's why I'm travelling so far for my surgery. If I were having a different procedure or with different options, there may have been other places. You need to find what works best for you, your... Read more.

Ellen Leng

You have to trust your team and know what you want. I'd see the guy with the 99% repair rate and see what he says. There is no problem in getting different opinions.

Linda Richards

Mike Politowicz

Thank you all. Ellen I am going to Dr Acolla here in Orlando for a second opinion!

Mike Politowicz

Met with Dr Accola and his group on Monday. I have moved my surgery to Florida Hospital Orlando with Dr Accola. He has an impressive team that has been with him for years, like 20 years! He believes he can fix my mitral valve. It will be much easier on... Read more.

Phyllis Petersen

Several people have mentioned Dr. Accola with high praise. Good luck!

Jeannette McLaughlin

Hello! Mike - On Sept. 28, I had a bovine aortic valve replacement and a synthetic ascending aorta replacement (aneurysm). My valve was bicuspid and it needed to be replaced one day. I didn't mind that both were being replaced instead of repaired. Due to a complication during surgery with... Read more.

Wanda Mroz

I wish you much luck. Mine was repaired... but I'm on Coumadin after all due to heart rate issues. I hate it but it's what I gave to do. Any questions please ask.

Mike Politowicz

Last weekend before surgery. In hosp starting Tuesday. Taking care of bills, work and Family. Any suggestions, as I always feel I am forgetting something?