Peggy Peterson - Heart Valve Journal

My Journal

4 days ago

Still learning how to navigate this site. Loving reviewing everyone’s stories, learning from them and comparing to mine. Preparing for sternotomy on 02/11/05. ...Read more

Still learning how to navigate this site. Loving reviewing everyone’s stories, learning from them and comparing to mine. Preparing for sternotomy on 02/11/05. Very independent, live alone, have troubles being dependent on others.

How limited have you been if you had this procedure in dressing yourself?

Looking at special shirts with snaps, front and arm/shoulder openings and closures. Know for a fact putting on and wearing a bra will be an issue. Yikes!!

Richard Munson My biggest hurdle was taking a shower. My wife stood guard. Exhausting. Glad i never had to deal with ... Read more

Richard Munson My biggest hurdle was taking a shower. My wife stood guard. Exhausting. Glad i never had to deal with some of your clothing issues,

susan harris a lot of people suggest button down shirts. it might have been valerie allen a while back said to tak ... Read more

susan harris a lot of people suggest button down shirts. it might have been valerie allen a while back said to take dishes, cooking things down from cabinets and put on counter so don’t have to reach up after surgery, make meals in advance and freeze…

Valerie Allen They will give you a surgery bra in the hospital. If they don’t, ask. I also bought one ahead of ti ... Read more

Valerie Allen They will give you a surgery bra in the hospital. If they don’t, ask. I also bought one ahead of time. The main thing is that it hooks or zips in the front and is comfortable. I didn’t start wearing them until I was discharged. I ordered a few inexpensive, extra large, button down the front shirts to wear at first. You will likely be told not to raise your hands above your head for a few weeks, hence taking the dishes down to prepare.

Peggy Peterson Thank you all!’

BRENDA JUNIEL Hi Peggy and welcome 🙏🏽 to this website.

Pamela Gregory A sturdy shower chair for a couple weeks can help with safety and privacy! You will be able to do a ... Read more

Pamela Gregory A sturdy shower chair for a couple weeks can help with safety and privacy! You will be able to do a fair amount of things yourself but definitely will get exhausted easily.

Jill Reeder Peggy - I will hit 2 mos tomorrow since my OHS. I had so many questions before, but didn’t discover this site until afterward. So you are a step ahead. Thus group is great.

On the bra, I wouldn’t depend on what the hospital will give you - they gave me one that was Velcro and fastened up the front. Not comfortable. And one-size-fits-all ?!?! Buy one in advance that is a little bigger and has no under wires. Fastening in the front is a no-brainer, unless you have somebody who can help you fasten it in the back.

Beyond that, plan in advance where you will sleep. Do you have a recliner with push buttons that you can reach easily when it is reclined?

Do what you can now to strengthen your core and legs (squats). You will depend on those to sit up, stand up, etc. It is surprising how much you depend on your arms and it is so frustrating when you can’t use them to push yourself up.

You will get an incentive spirometer to measure your intake of breath. Do that religiously- like every hour or two… it helps expand your lungs and prevent complications.

If you don’t already have a blood-pressure cuff and thermometer at home, you’ll need those to track your BP and temp following surgery.

If they offer “training” - insist on getting it sooner rather than later. Mine was the afternoon before - not enough time to absorb and prepare.

The last thing is patience. You will get a little better each day, and likely have some days that feel like you are going backward. But overall, at least for me, each week I feel markedly improved over the week before.

Good luck, check back here often. The group is super supportive.

Peggy Peterson You all are wonderful!! Thank you! ❤️❤️❤️

Peggy Petersonposted an update

5 days ago

Rose Madura, BRENDA JUNIEL reacted to this

I am scheduled for mitral valve replacement with cardiopulmonary bypass in a little over 4 weeks due to severe rheumatic mitral valve stenosis with moderate ...Read more

I am scheduled for mitral valve replacement with cardiopulmonary bypass in a little over 4 weeks due to severe rheumatic mitral valve stenosis with moderate regurgitation. I will be getting a porcine valve, have the Maze procedure completed for a-fib, and the atrial appendage closed to prevent blood clots.

I am certainly not a medical person and I know these are not the exact terms, but this is how I understand the plan. Simple words.

I had rheumatic fever and heart disease when I was 12 due to untreated strep. I will be 69 in 3 months.

Over the last 3 years I have been treated for a-fib and coronary artery disease with 3 life saving stents placed about 8 months ago by Northwestern Medicine in Chicago.

Prior cardiologists “missed” the severe coronary artery disease and the need for stents for over two years, focusing on the a-fib. I know I was at a very high risk for having a heart attack during those two years, and I am so thankful for NWM Chicago’s cardiac teams!!

Dr. Kevin Hodges at NWM will be doing the surgery. I met with Dr. Patrick NcCarhy at NWM prior to the stent procedures who at that time advised I might need this valve replacement down the road. The road has been reached.

I know it is not a typical reaction to being informed of the need for this type of surgery, but I am relieved that I am going to finally have this done. I believe it is the final piece to the puzzle to achieving optimal health at this time in my life. Would love to have another 20 years to live life to its fullest. I can not wait to be able to hike trails, beaches, marshes and mountains again.

I love all aspects of this forum and have had Adam Pick’s Patient Guide to Heart Valve Surgery at my side over the past 8 months of my journey. The time has arrived! Yahoo!

Rose Madura Peggy, you are in good hands at Northwestern. Best wishes for a successful surgery and an uneventful ... Read more

Rose Madura Peggy, you are in good hands at Northwestern. Best wishes for a successful surgery and an uneventful recovery. Please keep us updated as you can. God bless you.

Peggy Peterson Thank you so much!’ ❤️❤️❤️

Kimberly Eisenhut Peggy, I also go to Northwestern downtown and my Dr is Dr Rigolin. I have moderat eto severe Tricusp... Read more

Kimberly Eisenhut Peggy, I also go to Northwestern downtown and my Dr is Dr Rigolin. I have moderat eto severe Tricuspid regurgitation which is rare, and an anuerytic ascending aortic artery which is at about 4.1. I have not heard of Dr Hodges, but have spoken to Dr Malaisrie a couple of years ago as to my options when my time is right. I wish you all the best in your surgery and recovery. It is nice to meat people that go to the same hospital. Please keep us posted

Peggy Peterson Thank you!! Love the sharing and information exchanges here.

Yumiko Ishida Wishing you a successful surgery and smooth recover, Peggy! Sounds like you have done your research a ... Read more

Yumiko Ishida Wishing you a successful surgery and smooth recover, Peggy! Sounds like you have done your research and found a path that makes sense for you. Being mentally ready is really important! I had a rheumatic mitral valve, too, and had the exact same 3 procedures done almost a year ago, and know it was the right thing for me.

Peggy Peterson Thank you Yumiko! Going to read your story. ❤️❤️❤️

susan harris i love your approach, optimism and outlook!

Peggy Petersonposted an update

29 days ago

I have been diagnosed with mitral valve stenosis and regurgitation. Regurgitation severe during stress echo after only 3 minutes on treadmill, mild to moderate ...Read more

I have been diagnosed with mitral valve stenosis and regurgitation. Regurgitation severe during stress echo after only 3 minutes on treadmill, mild to moderate at rest. Balloon mitral valvuloplasty is being proposed versus valve replacement. My gut is telling me just get it replaced now versus possible continued symptoms and replacement down the road. I am 68 and otherwise healthy except heart issues. Thoughts?

Peggy Peterson I had rheumatic fever and heart disease at age 12.

Robert Miller I am not familiar with "balloon mitral valvuloplasty". Not knowing more about your exact condition, I ... Read more

Robert Miller I am not familiar with "balloon mitral valvuloplasty". Not knowing more about your exact condition, I would take your approach of getting things over. That doesn't mean replacement but possibly just fixing. And if you need replacement, at ages 50+ people often go with tissue valves rather than mechanical valves.

Richard Munson Before you jump to mitral valve replacement you should explore mitral valve repair. Its worth checkin ... Read more

Richard Munson Before you jump to mitral valve replacement you should explore mitral valve repair. Its worth checking out with a surgeon who does them. Doctors tend to push their expertise not necessarily whats best for you. Not a doctor but common sense tells me regurgitation would be worse during stress test. If you turn on a leaky faucet and increase the pressure, it most likely will leak more. Not a plumber either. When my mitral valve was repaired, they were 99% sure they could do it but i still had to pick a valve in case they could not once they got inside.

Robert Miller I agree with Richard. According to my information, in most cases they try a repair. Then they do test ... Read more

Robert Miller I agree with Richard. According to my information, in most cases they try a repair. Then they do test. If the test fails, they replace the valve. The replacement can be a pork/cow valve or a mechanical valve. The decision depends on the age and your health condition.

Rose Madura And you should get a second opinion.

Yumiko Ishida I had a rheumatic mitral valve for probably over 40 years (was not diagnosed until in my early 20s), ... Read more

Yumiko Ishida I had a rheumatic mitral valve for probably over 40 years (was not diagnosed until in my early 20s), and valvuloplasty was always mentioned as a procedure I might need at some point. I was asymptomatic for decades, and in the meanwhile my left atrium enlarged, I went into afib, developed a clot, and had a stroke. To make a long story short, my cardiologist at the time suggested I needed a valvuloplasty, but in the end I didn’t. The first valvuloplasty was aborted due to a clot, and the second, successful one, didn’t help me that much, because I wasn’t really symptomatic. I’ve heard good things about valvuloplasty, anecdotally, but it’s very imprecise. And since you are having regurgitation already, I don’t think it’s the right thing for you. OHS is much safer. I had my valve replaced in an OHS less than a year after the (supposedly) successful valvuloplasty, and am doing much better. If you do decide to go ahead with a replacement, make sure you get the maze procedure done and close off your left atrial appendage at the same time. Look for a surgeon with experience replacing rheumatic mitral valves. Sorry for the long post, but I hope it helps?

Yumiko Ishida Oh, and about repair vs replacement? I was told on multiple occasions that rheumatic stenotic mitral ... Read more

Yumiko Ishida Oh, and about repair vs replacement? I was told on multiple occasions that rheumatic stenotic mitral valves are not repairable, but I also read that Dr. David Adams does it, so you may want to consult him if you want to pursue that route. I don’t think valvuloplasty is considered a repair, as it makes the regurgitation worse.

Peggy Peterson Thank you all!!!

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