Recent content by SMS

Hi Guys/Gals! Its been 8 yrs since i had my mitral valve repaired at CCF. Doing great but have a question. How often do you still visit your cardiologist assuming no problems, symptoms or other issues? I hadnt seen mine for a few years and needed clearance for a gallbladder surgery and he...

Yup, Been two years ago that I had my mitral valve repaired at CCF after a bout with IE. I had the da Vinci robotic method and you can barely notice the scars today! I have had several echos since the date and all regurgitation has been trivial. I decided to take a more serious attitude about my...

Glad everything went well Ash. I was looking to see if you had a date set after we spoke and here you are all fixed! From what I read we had very similar experiences. Good luck on the recovery. Steve

I also had my mitral valve robotically repaired at Cleveland. When I woke up, the pain was considerable. The ICU nurse told me that while the surgery is less invasive, the actual procedure cuts through more muscle and pushes things around more than a sternotomy, so it hurts. I also had a rapid...

Words,Words,Words. All I know is I had a leaky mitral valve and was told I no longer needed antibiotic treatment for my cleanings. The first time I didn't take them, well, read my signature. Proof positive? no, but mighty suspicious.

About one week after my surgery, I was reading a book and couldn't make sense out of the words. I could read them but they just didn't make sense. It's hard to explain. Thank goodness it only happened once. It was very unnerving.

My doctors told me it is common for people to be diabetic for a little while after the surgery due to the shock to the body. All is well now, but I had several insulin shots in the hospital, and had to take Januvia (sp?) for a few weeks. Never had any trace of diabetes in my life.

Janie, I had the same surgery as you, and was also told in ICU, that robotic hurts more but heals faster, and hurt it did till I got my pain pump dialed in. It was great! :p I finished my initial script of vicodan, then switched to tylenol. Sleeping lying flat hurt too much for about 2 weeks, so...

Being as I had robotic surgery, my scars almost look like stab wounds, and I have 4 of them too!

I just can't believe we were in the same hospital. I had fantastic pain management. I was told that my surgeon insisted that his patients were not in pain, and when there was some, they took care of it right away.

I think it affects everyone differently. Personally, I was happy to have my valve repaired and had no depression or trouble sleeping at all. No effects from the heart/lung machine either. There is some pain involved, but is easily controlled with drugs. Let the prospect of a repaired heart and a...

I was told to leave my incisions open to the air. I think it was about 10 days before they scabbed over completely. Every once and awhile I would stretch and one would split a little and bleed. Wear old shirts!

Don't know if Janie will see this, but I had the robotic surgery on Monday and was discharged on Friday. 8 weeks later everything is completely healed up. Nothin' to it, you will be fine. Steve

x2 I would try it at home. If something bad happens, call 911. There is a lot to be said for the old saying "There's No Place Like Home". Just my $.02

I rode home for 5 hrs back to SW Michigan from CC, and it wasn't too bad. We just stopped at the gas/food plazas along 80/90 every once and awhile so I could walk around. There is something to be said for both methods, but I liked being able to hop in a car and go, and not worry about departure...