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Hi, Tom -- I'm not sure what your insurance deal is, but I would recommend you go to a mitral valve reference center and have your surgery performed by someone with vast experience in repairing Barlow valves. By that I mean in the thousands. I had mine done at Mt. Sinai in New York City by Dr...

I had a median sternotomy for mitral valve repair. I slept pretty much upright in the hospital (not that you could exactly call it sleep -- they wake you up every hour -- and some nights slept in the chair next to the bed. Once home, I slept in a recliner for about 2 weeks. I'm a side sleeper...

Hi, Not sure if this counts, but I had mitral and tricuspid repair at the same time. I'm 61 and had a median sternotomy. I was on bypass for a total of 100 minutes, which (I guess) is a pretty short amount of time. My surgery was May 11 and I'm back at work and feeling great. I hope all goes...

I expect so. It's just so random! 1/2 a thumb and 1/2 a boob. Hope your recovery is proceeding apace. I'm knitting a little here and there, but my shoulders are incredibly tight. This too shall pass.

I seem to recall someone else here having some issues, just wanted to check in. I had MVR and Tricuspid repair on May 11 and, ever since, my right thumb and right breast have been numb. Explanations? Am I weird? (Don't answer that!) Thanks -- Selma MVR/Tricuspid repair Mt. Sinai, Dr. David...

Oh, no -- that's really hard to deal with. Sending lots of healing vibes from Woodstock, New York, the wellspring of healing vibes! :-)

I wore 2 hospital gowns at all times and went home in loose, cotton clothes. The level of personal dignity one enjoys during a hospital stay is pretty much zero. If you're anything like me, your body temp soars and plummets. Like mom2izzy, I just didn't care.

Evidently I've had several episodes of v-tach since surgeon the 11th. Any one else been down that road? Thanks -- Selma

Well, let's see. Breathing tube -- not nice. Don't wish to share the gory details but, not nice. Chest tubes coming out -- holy crap! I felt that thing in my back! Food -- nasty doesn't begin to describe it. Suggest you go for the fruit. It's real. Insulin and heparin -- all of the above...

Hi, Jo -- Try not to beat yourself up for feeling anxious. It's normal and educating yourself is the best possible thing you can do. I'm an anxious, what-if kind of person myself -- well, I *was.* Interestingly, this whole process seems to have changed that for me. I came here like pretty...

You're making remarkable progress! That's wonderful. I'm going in this Friday! Think good thoughts... Selma

I've got mitral valve repair scheduled at Mt. Sinai in New York on May 11th. Anybody else scheduled that week? We can walk the halls together. :D Selma

Hi, Madsometimes. The answer to your question: none of the above. And I am a self-described wuss. Here's my experience of the TEE: You change into a gown, they ask you a series of questions, you are placed on the table, lying on your side. They might spray a little numbing agent in your...

I absolutely understand. Sometimes I feel like half the world (my journal friends) is verging on being positively cavalier about the whole thing, and the other half (people in my life who I have to tell) are ready to plan my eulogy! The truth lies somewhere in between. I know when I'm kind of...

I chose my date based on weather, too. I live in the northeast and though we've had a really mild winter, I wanted to do my walking rehab in nice, spring weather. My favorite time of year is the period of the last two weeks in May and the first two weeks in June, so I scheduled for May 11th.

Well, that's you, done and dusted! What a wonderful report. Now, don't be a stranger! Selma

It would be great to have an excuse for all of my current "cognitive impairments" but I'm hoping for an absence of pump-head.

Hi scg -- I'm scheduled for mitral valve repair in May, a mini-sternotomy, with the H/L connected at the heart. Dr. Adams explained that in attaching at the groin, the blood must flow backwards and there's a slightly greater risk. His website is really, really informative --...

Found the "calendar picker" but the only option on the drop-down menu is private.

WOW! They are wonderful. Thanks for sharing. Selma