Sean's Posts

Hello, still no surgery but I have 3 different hospitals I'm looking at and in discussions with and of course I'll go with the best one I can. I haven't visited the group page for awhile. Thank you for your concern. I realize for me that the hour is late (figuratively) and I need to make a decision now. I am grateful for those who have spurred me on such as you because it keeps me from getting to complacent about my situation. I guess I happened into this situation in an environment I don't know and am not familiar with (i.e. Oregon). I'll fell much better if I can get to doctors I can trust. Medically speaking, Oregon is a little like a third world country when it comes to medical care. As far as the website working goes, every time I'd use the heart link to read someone's post it would take me right back to the log in page. Hmm! I'm reading this so it must be working properly again. I guess there must have been a glitch in website software.

Sean... My tone of voice as I write here is gentle, and I feel compassion toward you. I'm a huge lifelong dog lover and I still grieve my furry girl who died from cancer two years ago. But it's been weeks now and I had hoped you would have secured a good way for your beloved dog to be cared for by now. There are pet walkers who could come to your home to feed and take her out; there are veterinarians who board dogs; there are separate boarding places. Some vet techs board pets in their homes. Lots of possibilities. But getting that set up can't happen at the very last minute--it takes a little planning. If it looks like you'll need emergency surgery, you'll need to arrange for someone/someplace that can step in right away for you. I'm sure you're upset about what just happened. But making arrangements for your dear pup is something only you can take care of. The only job the medical team has, is to help with your physical needs, your surgery and recovery. Please move quickly on deciding who and where your dog will be cared for, and have them ready to step in. This is a very necessary practical step and you can't let this keep derailing you. Wishing you the best, as always.

Hello, I am not saying anything for sympathy. I am simply conveying my real situation to this group as I have no one else to convey to. I took my dog because there was nothing else I could do. I do not blame the hospital for this, It is true though that once I saw my room, the big black sofa for visitors, the black tinted windows with silver decor, all this looking more like a viewing room in a funeral home, I was happy they told me to leave and rather relieved that it was necessary to take my dog and go, thereby giving me an out. Oregon is an extremely hostile place to be. I don't trust Oregon doctors any more than I trust anyone else here. I realize I will have to go someplace else to get this surgery done as it won't get done here. As for the nay sayers, believe me, I am very sick, very weak, I have lost half my mental capacity probably due to the lack of blood and oxygen to the brain and I would give anything if I could find a situation where I could get this surgery done. Thank you to those that answered.

Sean, I'm a trauma survivor and I get it that it's very hard to trust anyone. I totally get it about anxiety and fear, as well. But you're going to have to find a way to trust SOMEONE. (Not yelling, just emphasizing). In this case, you just have to. You have to get someone ASAP and trust them to care for your dog. Commit to it and be unmovable. You have to get a good surgeon and make that leap of trust to put your life in their hands and let them work on you. It has to happen. You've got to dig out some internal strength and take the steps. Sean, not patting myself on the back when I say this, but I walked through the process on my own and I had no one with me for my surgery out of state. It was very hard. I'm just saying you can do this. You've got to. People here care, they care a lot! It's just that we all see you're the only one who can take responsibility for these things. Make some good decisions for care for you and your pup, then don't let anything move you off course.

Sean, in the upper right of the screen you will see a link to heart hospitals. It depends on your specific situation and needs. Beyond that, you then need to decide how much you value the skills of those teams (and their process-driven approach) and compare that to teams closer to your home. The process to get in to see them differs and takes some time and dedication, in some cases. But once you are on the docket everything moves along and you just do what they ask you to do! Keep a clear head and shop for the skills you need and the place that fits you best. Eliminate risk if you can do it!

Not all heart hospitals are listed here, Sean. Just ones that have agreed to be listed on the site. Many here do have phenomenal reputations. Are you thinking about traveling out of state now? It does take some lead time and providing them with all necessary records so they can evaluate your situation. My own process was not quick. I've been under the impression that you're needing surgery ASAP. Another consideration is, will your insurance cover your surgery out of state? US news & world Report ranks heart hospitals on their website. Even if you're not able to go out of state, you could research online to find which hospitals in your region do the best job with heart surgeries. Just some thoughts.

Catie B Thank you for your advice. I'm not sure of the year but one of the top one's on the list you mentioned was UCLA Medical Center which is the only hospital that has done surgery of the anesthesia involved kind on me. I would love to go down there for surgery and I will call on Monday. Yes, from what I've been told I will have to do something soon. There appears to be only one cardio-thoracic surgical group in my region but I understand that in Portland there are at least 3 renowned ones. I I can swing it I would prefer Stanford or UCLA though, that is, if I can swing it. Which hospital did you end up going to if you don't mind my asking?

Sean, I hope things come together very quickly for you, if you decide to travel. I went to Cleveland Clinic in 2016. But in my case, I had time and it was a process of several months with a long-distance consultation first. Then another delay, since I needed to switch to one of their more experienced surgeons. I didn't realize you have special considerations for anesthesia. On a quick search last night, Kaiser Sunnyside in Clackamas appeared to be high-performing in aortic valve surgeries. Don't know anything else about them.

Katie, thanks, I'll check up on this hospital in Clackamas. Yes, I have other complications to worry about including but not limited to, Sleep Apnea. I've talked to one of the two hospitals I've mentioned but not the other. I guess all we can do is put one foot forward at a time.