Wes's Journal

Kenneth Southard  Thank you for the updates.  I'm in a similar situation about 9 months behind you.  I had mitral valve repair on 6/30/22.  In my case, I was unfortunately not monitored and for the most part asymptomatic.  Like you I never had AFIB but did experience PVCs about 5,000 per day about 3 months before the surgery, which is what clued me into a problem.  Anyway, I had moderate enlargement of the left ventricle and severe enlargement of the left atrium.  Did you experience anything similar and if so, was there significant reduction over time?

Wes Edens  Kenneth, I did not have any enlargement of heart chambers. I did have PVCs, which have actually gotten worse since surgery (I don't think surgery had anything to do with them--they've just been increasing over the years).  I'm getting a Holter monitor this afternoon to see just how high my PVC burden is. Over a certain percentage there's a real risk of weakening the heart muscle and so I might need an ablation. I'm on a pretty high dose of beta and calcium channel blockers right now. That causes a little fatigue.

Louise Moore  Wes, it's wonderful to hear this, congratulations!  I'm in cardio rehab now after mitral valve replacement and tricuspid valve repair and I can't wait to follow in your footsteps!  I'm so glad your in better shape now than before surgery - soooooo worth it!

Susan Lynn  Fantastic news and great progress in three months!!! Keep up the great work!!! Happy Holidays to you, too! ❤💚

Ginny Turner  Such a great post! Glad you've done so well, Wes, and hope your great progress continues. Very encouraging for those of us awaiting surgery. Happy Holidays!

Susan Lynn  Congratulations on your 6 week anniversary!! Sounds like you're making great progress. Continued success, Wes! ❤

dina hudson  Wes: Best of luck for your upcoming surgery. I, too, am scheduled at Mayo AZ for mitral valve repair (90% odds it will be repaired), with Dr. DeValeria. Curious, who is your surgeon? My date is September 22.

  Lifting you up in prayer for your tomorrow surgery. Wishing all will go well. We will be here to welcome you into recovery. Write when you can. God bless you

  Hello Wes, you will be in my prayers on the 24th., it all sounds great and you will be in good hands. Be well and God bless you

Susan Lynn  Wes - Ask your surgeon if he does the minimally-invasive mini-thoracotomy. I chose it over full robotic due to the small incision and similar 'pump' time to the sternotomy and mini-sternotomy. With all approaches, find a surgeon that performs a lot of them. Wishing you the best! ❤

Daniel Carbonneau  Hi Wes. I remember initially seeking out the Scottsdale Mayo Clinic for my mitral valve repair. After finally getting through to them they said that with non-insured patients, they wouldn't even consider a consultation visit without a nonrefundable $5k upfront. I remember being taken aback a little by that statement, as I was coming to them with health insurance. As it turned out, they did not accept mine. I too was hoping for a Da Vinci robotic repair. My findings were that nowhere in the state of Arizona is that an option. The surgeon I ended going with argued that a full sternotomy meant less time on the bypass machine, as he could perform the procedure more efficiently, and less time on the bypass the better. Tomorrow marks my 8 month anniversary since the surgery and I can tell you this... it is a distant memory for me now. It's actually like it never even happened. The scar is barely noticeable and my heart is pumping consistently better than ever. I got the Medtronic Annuloplasty Ring implanted as well. It's like a performance upgrade on your engine - haha! Due to COVID getting a high surge around Christmas (my surgery time - 12/30/20 to be exact) due to Thanksgiving gatherings, I was out of the hospital in 5 days. They were getting hit hard and needed my room ASAP. Unfortunately, where I was due to stay for recovery (the parents), they had a COVID exposure scare, so I went from the hospital straight to a Hilton. That's another story. Looking back on it all though, the sternotomy just wasn't as bad as it seemed it would be. I know outcomes can be very different for each individual (I was thankfully asymptomatic and 48 years old) but I'm hoping to shed some positivity on you missing out on the robotic procedure option as well. Your cough pillow will be a close friend for the first month, and those sneezes are a doozy. Trick for me was to squeeze or press that pillow into my chest real tight when either of those occured and all was right in the world again quickly! I'll be following your journey here... Best of luck with your appointments leading up to the main event. ;)

Daniel Carbonneau  If you want to check it out: https://www.medtronic.com/us-en/healthcare-professionals/products/cardiovascular/heart-valves-surgical/cg-future-annuloplasty-system.html

Susan Lynn  Wes - The magic word is, "Options." I was like Goldilocks when it came to sleeping - I used a recliner, a foam wedge, a bunch of pillows, and the sofa. From one day to the next, my preferences changed. Finally I settled on my own bed and pillows configured into a U-shaped fort. Remember, you're prohibited from using your arms to get up in the beginning, so getting up from a flat position can be challenging - yet another reason for the chair. Good luck!!

Thomas Brusstar  This isn’t what you want to hear, but: I didn’t need a recliner. I slept fine on my back. I perfected the roll to get up from lying down, and didn’t have a problem.

Rose Madura  I started out in the bed and then after a little sleep, would wake up and head to the recliner with my travel pillow.

Tracy Fallu  I did not use a recliner. I found the couch with pillows and the hospital provided foam wedge more comfortable.

Richard Munson  Put me in the no recliner column but it might have been good the first week getting out of bed at all hours to use bathroom. But on the other hand, i got to elbow my wife with no retaliation so it had its good points. My dark side. Lol.

Andrea Doherty  Hubby needed a hospital bed for a while. He couldn't use a regular bed and we had a recliner but that wasn't working so we rented a hospital bed.

  Wes, you can add me to the no recliner list too. Never needed one but used a wedge, then pillows with the wedge. I got used to that. Sleeping after surgery no matter what you use, it’s difficult but after a while you get to sleep well, it took me four months to actually sleep through the night using my CPAP. It’s an option as Susan Lynn stated.

Rita Savelis  Nothing is ESSENTIAL (except getting some rest) and every patient is different. There are many different ways to sleep. Do what feels right. But know that sleep may be hard for a few weeks after OHS. Take care.

Lynn Loudermilk  I am grateful I bought our recliners. It helped for me to sleep when the bed wasn't working, at least there was an option.

Lisa Coombe  I’m almost 8 weeks post op and still sleep in my recliner if I am having problems sleeping in my bed

Joey Hardee  I got a motorized recliner and I would say it was a big help to me in recovery. As a matter of fact, Its so comfortable I still sit in it 2 years later. My wife laughs because I still love it so much and I am way beyond my need for it. Take your time and pick a good one that fits you. It doesn't have to come from a medical supply place. That's what I thought when I started looking. I got mine at a local furniture store and they had quite a selection. I feel like it was worth every penny.

Lisa Coombe  Funny thing, my partner took a recliner with us to the city, which is 5 hrs away from home, lucky for us it was able to come apart so it fitted in the car perfectly. I haven’t been able to be flat in bed yet and will still sleep in the recliner if I’m uncomfortable in bed

Alia Sikandar  hi,i have mild MVR. 15% area .but i have symptoms like severe. i get tired and the main problem suddenly i feel pain in my heart like something is going to break .some time it appears for some seconds but some times for minuts.any body tell me what is the solution of it.and y am feeling this in mild condition .

E Taub  Had terrible back pain right after surgery and was too uncomfortable in hospital bed, so I slept in hospital recliner for the duration. Got recliner at home and have slept in it ever since. It was a lifesaver for me. But I have history of back pain so that may be why i need it. I'm almost 5 weeks and hoping to transition to bed soon -- on my side hopefully.

Herb Greenberg  And emphatic NO. I was 67 when I had my aortic valve/root/ascending aorta/CABGx1 and a 9" incision two years ago at CC. My surgeon's nurse was emphatic when I wondered if I should maybe rent one for the hotel room before going home. She said I wouldn't need it. She was 1000% right. That said, I was out of the hospital on Day 8 and while in the hospital I used the recliner but mainly because it was the only chair they had other than a typical guest's chair. And, honestly, after a few days I was using the guest chair, too.

Steve Thedford  I have purchased a recliner as I don't want to need a recliner to rest and not have one. From all the previous posts I had read, it seemed as if it was needed for comfort. Either way, I'm certain it will be well used.

Katheryn Applegate  I rented one from a medical equipment supply store near the hospital and used it for the month after surgery. It was great for getting up without using my arms and for falling asleep whenever. Returning it felt like graduating. I no longer need one and don’t really have space, although I’d make space if it were necessary!

Liz Draeger  If you find one which is very comfy I would say it’s essential!!! Be sure to tell your wife comfort and rest will reduce complaints and therefore her stress and quite possibly her workload while you are recovering!
I rested a great deal post replacement/repair which I found essential to my recovery. Comfy cozy!!!

Robert Anderson  There is one big decision item on the use of a recliner....do you have low back issues? I do. I NEVER sleep on my back, with the exception of open heart surgery when I have few options. I have to periodically get up and move, am over weight and hospital beds kill by back. I spent much of my time out of the hospital bed and when I got home slept in my recliner for a couple months. I purchased it before my left side heart surgery in June 2017 and was really glad when I had the right side valve replacement at the end of April this year. Each person is different but I have made extensive use of my power recliner and it is definitely one of the key items in having a good post recovery experience.

Christine Kline  I had a motorized recliner--rented it for one month--and it was great. I had trouble sleeping in bed and found the recliner to be the best for sleeping and watching TV. With the press of the button I could move it up and down depending on whether I wanted to sleep or read or watch TV. My incision healed beautifully and I think it was helped by not straining to get in and out of bed or in and out of a chair. (PS--the grandkids loved it too!!!)

Bryan higgins  I went through the same question process last year 2020 when I had 2 OHS to repair a mitral valve. Both done in a remote locations from where I live in Portland. First one at Mayo in Minnesota I did not have a recliner. Second at Mt Sinai, my temp apartment in NYC had a powered recliner which turned out to be quite nice after surgery. I had use of that for the 9 days I was there before getting on a plane back to home where no recliner was waiting for me. You can make it without one, easily, but it's nice if you wanted one anyway.

Bob Fessler  I had an electric recliner but returned it as I didn’t need it. After surgery, I could still operate my old recliner by hand and it was soooo much more comfortable. But, saying that, everyone is different.

John Mohr  Hard to say if it’s essential. I rented one for a while after I had my surgery in December. Though I slept in the bed for the most part, I did use the recliner if I couldn’t sleep and during the day. If you can swing it, I’d recommend renting one. I got the electric one which is the way to go.

  So glad for Adam being able to help you get through the maze. Let us know when appointment happens and keep us posted. God bless you and guide you

  Richard, I also enjoy our heart valve on line friendship. Your wife is a saint, she is of great help to you and your son too. It says a lot about you to have them. You are right about Trina. I’m a bit pushy myself and very proactive with my health when need be. Healthcare as we used to know here is not the same. Be well and I hope your blood pressure is better. Blessings

Richard Munson  Ana, a saint might be pushing it but she is great. Saint nancy, has a good ring to it. I’ll message the pope.

Jay Heagerty  Wes, I was successful getting into Mayo clinic in Florida by using their website and booked directly. The experience you have had in Phoenix does not sound like the same Mayo clinic experience I have had. Best of luck to you.

Wes Edens  Thanks everyone! I used the link here on the site as well. I was actually called by the Mayo central appointment office early on. It was on a Sunday afternoon, and I got the feeling the staffer was working from home. They said I would need to send records first. So I asked my cardiologist's office to do that (which they did) and then I called Mayo back, and got the cardiology department. They told me that I needed an appointment first (before records) because there would be no one to send the records to. Later I talked to the referral office who told me I needed to have more complete records sent in, but that the doctors were totally booked for the next two months, and the month after that (October) wasn't available yet. That's when the person suggested going elsewhere. Very frustrating. The Mayo videos about robotic mitral valve repair make it sound like they call people right away, and start the process quickly, often within 48 hours, with a telehealth consultation. My experience has been the opposite. It seems like they have as many patients in the pipeline as they can handle.

Deena Elani  Wes, if Mayo told you that you had to wait months for an appt just to see the surgeon that’s a long wait. Most hospitals return calls quickly, because it’s considerable revenue and a serious medical issue.
I would try to speak with a manager there OR the assistant for the surgeon you prefer. Just request this; they ought to comply. That said, a two or three month wait for the actual surgery is fairly common at the high volume, highly rated hospitals/surgeons.

Susan Lynn  Wes - I called a bunch of surgeons after my mitral valve diagnosis. Some called me personally within a day or two, others took awhile longer. One highly-regarded surgeon had such a difficult staff to deal with, I eliminated him as a possible option. I considered the patient-orientation of the entire group part of my decision. Ultimately, my chosen surgeon's office had a Nurse Case Manager who was so committed, I never waited longer than a few hours for return phone calls and emails before and after my procedure. I was so impressed - I wrote a lengthy letter to the hospital administration about my experience! No one wants to have heart surgery, but when you do, you want the entire team focused on your successful outcome. All the best to you!