R
Rose of Sharron
Wanted to say a special thank you to all on this site. Your comments and encouragement have been a great help to me these past few months and I felt it was time to stop "lurking" and let you all know.
My husband was diagnosed with "asthma" earlier this year after several months of bronchial problems (HMO, need I say more?). Since the doctor had identified an aortic murmur in 1999 and the cardio didn't seem concerned about the heart enlargement or regurgitation level; we ignored it figuring he was too young, we wouldn't have to deal with it for a LONG time, etc. Wrong! Thought the systems sounded too much like CHF after web search, so changed physician group and doctor to get a good cardio recommended to us and had surgery for the aortic valve replacement within two months.
Surgery went well; surgeon, hospital and nurses were wonderful. One hitch with a-fib before he left that finally responded to cardioversion. Thanks especially for all the helpful advice on what to bring for the day of surgery and stuff to have afterwards - Ken especially likes the satiny button-down shirts!
Now going through warfarin ups and downs with an HMO system that makes me crazy on a regular basis. Rejected for Pro-Time, but will continue to pursue. Rejected for cardiovascular rehab. ("he can walk" so he doesn't need it they say -grrr!); approved for physical therapy, but don't know how much he'll get.
Now dealing with possible minor TIA's (two episodes). Ken got an echo Friday and should hear from the cardio on Monday - praying it's nothing serious, but it will be a definite trip to the ER if there's another one (should be a fun outing with three kids, you think?!).
Anyway, thank you for your marvelous support of each other and the wealth of information here. We pray regularly for those of you going through particularly rough times.
Sorry this post is so long; that's what I get for waiting so long to post
My sister-in-law sent me this joke, so I thought I'd pass it along
A mechanic is working on an engine when he spots a famous heart surgeon in the shop, dropping off his Mercedes. The mechanic shouts across the garage, "Hey, Doc, c'm'ere a minute." The surgeon walks over, the mechanic straightens up, wipes his hands on a rag and says, "Look, just like you, I take these valves out, put in fresh ones, and when I'm done this car will run like new. So how's come you get the big bucks when you and me are doing basically the same work?" The doctor leans over and whispers to the mechanic, "Try doing it while the engine is running."
My husband was diagnosed with "asthma" earlier this year after several months of bronchial problems (HMO, need I say more?). Since the doctor had identified an aortic murmur in 1999 and the cardio didn't seem concerned about the heart enlargement or regurgitation level; we ignored it figuring he was too young, we wouldn't have to deal with it for a LONG time, etc. Wrong! Thought the systems sounded too much like CHF after web search, so changed physician group and doctor to get a good cardio recommended to us and had surgery for the aortic valve replacement within two months.
Surgery went well; surgeon, hospital and nurses were wonderful. One hitch with a-fib before he left that finally responded to cardioversion. Thanks especially for all the helpful advice on what to bring for the day of surgery and stuff to have afterwards - Ken especially likes the satiny button-down shirts!
Now going through warfarin ups and downs with an HMO system that makes me crazy on a regular basis. Rejected for Pro-Time, but will continue to pursue. Rejected for cardiovascular rehab. ("he can walk" so he doesn't need it they say -grrr!); approved for physical therapy, but don't know how much he'll get.
Now dealing with possible minor TIA's (two episodes). Ken got an echo Friday and should hear from the cardio on Monday - praying it's nothing serious, but it will be a definite trip to the ER if there's another one (should be a fun outing with three kids, you think?!).
Anyway, thank you for your marvelous support of each other and the wealth of information here. We pray regularly for those of you going through particularly rough times.
Sorry this post is so long; that's what I get for waiting so long to post
My sister-in-law sent me this joke, so I thought I'd pass it along
A mechanic is working on an engine when he spots a famous heart surgeon in the shop, dropping off his Mercedes. The mechanic shouts across the garage, "Hey, Doc, c'm'ere a minute." The surgeon walks over, the mechanic straightens up, wipes his hands on a rag and says, "Look, just like you, I take these valves out, put in fresh ones, and when I'm done this car will run like new. So how's come you get the big bucks when you and me are doing basically the same work?" The doctor leans over and whispers to the mechanic, "Try doing it while the engine is running."
