Recent content by nancym

I had AVR at the Cleveland Clinic in November of 2008. I was in the ICU for six days and then another 3 days on the regular floor. The final total came in at $199,000. My insurance paid it all except for a $12,000 deductible, which I spent on pre-op testing (MRI,, cath, etc.)

At the Cleveland Clinic they had waterless shampoo that the aides would use and massage in my hair and then towel dry. It made me feel a little cleaner. They also have something like this at outdoor/hiking type stores. I also was happy to have some warm socks, a robe that buttoned up the...

It was one year ago today that I had an aortic valve and aortic root replacement at the Cleveland Clinic. Things have gone very well for me, and although I don't feel any better post-surgery, I never felt badly before. So I guess I'm doing fine. I just wanted to say how everyone at this site...

Hey, Louise--I'm from Pittsburgh, home of Chilly Billy Cardille. He's quite the celebrity here! Believe it or not, I just saw on TV tonight an ad for his collection on DVD.

I love that you're talking about grammar pet peeves--it's one of my favorite topics. I hate the incorrect usage of apostrophe s--whether with it when it's not supposed to mean "it is" or with other nouns when it's used to indicate a plural noun. I also hate the newly coined phrase of "went...

We drove home after my avr at the CC last November. I had been in the hospital for 10 days and spent one night in the hotel in Cleveland before heading home. Our drive was only 3 hours--we stopped once for me to walk around--in the middle of a snow storm (you won't have to worry about that)...

Barb-- I too went to the CC for my AVR in November of '08. They did a great job but I didn't feel that my pain control was so great--I was never given the option of having a pain pump, and when I complained of pain, it didn't seem as though they got me medicine that was strong enough or did...

Hi Laura-- Just wanted to add my welcome and encouragement. I had AVR in November, and the wait was definitely the worst part--not that any of it was easy, but...I woke up with the tube, and it wasn't too pleasant, but really not as bad as I had feared. I was able to blow dry my hair by the...

Best of luck, Harry! Dr Pettersson is very soft spoken and low-key, and he makes you feel like you will be very well taken care of. And you will be!

Good luck! Been there, done that. It'll be a long couple of days, but you'll have it all behind you in no time. The CC is amazing!!

My worst moments: having my chest tapped because of fluid in the lungs--extremely painful. My husband passed out (he's an MD), and everyone seemed more concerned about him than about my pain. And pain in my arm afterwards--never did figure that one out. When I was in the hospital, I had...

Hi Barb--- I had AVR at the CC in November of 2008. I had a terrible time getting a consultation there. I had to keep calling, and actually eventually got in touch with their "customer service" department because of problems. Once everything was set up, it all went well, but it was...

I had AVR and aortic root replacement done by Dr Pettersson @ CC in November, 2008. I live in Pittsburgh, which is 2 1/2 hours away, and I chose to spread my pre-testing out to a few one day visits so that my husband didn't have to take as much time off work all at once. He stayed at the...

I had AVR at the CC in November, and my cardio at home was also very displeased that I went out of town for it. He even refused to do my pre-op cath here and still makes snide comments about my not having my surgery here. He had no reason to be threatened because I had just begun to see him...

Good luck with everything, Jennifer! I had my surgery there six months ago, and I am totally recovered. They did a great job. Try to relax and take care of yourself.