Cheryl's Guestbook

Hi Cheryl! I will definitely pray for your dad!! 
I just got over a bad PVC issue. They found that my thyroid had been hurt from a couple things, and caused hyperthyroidism. This caused the rhythm problems. They seem to have it fixed now. Did your dad have his thyroid checked out? Just thought i would mention it.

Hi Cheryl.  I f my memory isn't failing, LoL.  I believe today is your 1 year anniversary?  Hope is going well with many more anniversaries to come.  Best of health, Scott 

Hi Cheryl. It appears that you and I have similar stories and levels of fitness, so I wonder if you could help me with this? I have mitral valve repair, minimally invasive, at Mayo Arizona in September. I am struggling to decide if I will need some type of assistive device to get in and out of bed at home after. I am in very good shape and 54 years old. What do you think? What was your experience?

Hi Cheryl. Since it's been a month since surgery how has the healing been? Any surgical site issues? Like pain or scar tightness? I don't start cardiac rehab until June 9 but have been regularly walking and will step up the cardio a bit. No lifting yet. Hope all is going well. Scott.

Hi Cheryl, Hope you're enjoying being at home! Can you tell me more about the nerve block that you had? Is that standard? I haven't heard many people talk about that.

Cheryl, thinking of you. You're young, emotionally strong and going to a top notch hospital. These factors are huge in getting the best outcome ever. You are going to sail through this surgery, better than you expect. Enjoy your hand-delivered coffee via your husband, and ask for whatever you need! -

Hi Cheryl, This blog is great to get validation & ideas. My MVR was robotic 1+ year ago. I got involved in a support group called Mended hearts & it was here that I heard the magic that changed my thought process. Someone suggested visualizing myself in the recovery room AFTER the surgery. My vision was always before. That sentence shifted my thinking & I had some freedom from that. Also, deep breathing from my yoga practices helped a lot! As your beautiful poem says... TRUST!

Cheryl, You're going to do great! I wasn't real anxious. Just knew that I was so gonna be sooo happy to be able to breathe well again! And, the coloration of my hands became pinker and...the wrinkles actually ironed themselves out in my hands, too! I thought that was cool! Your poem is lovely and I send you all good wishes! My aortic was bovine replaced nine-years ago and is still works well! Get well soon!

Cheryl, You're going to do great! I wasn't real anxious. Just knew that I was so gonna be sooo happy to be able to breathe well again! And, the coloration of my hands became pinker and...the wrinkles actually ironed themselves out in my hands, too! I thought that was cool! Your poem is lovely and I send you all good wishes! My aortic was bovine replaced nine-years ago and is still works well! Get well soon!

Hi Cheryl, I can so relate with you in your pre-surgical anxiety! I too struggled with that as well as constant questioning, researching and questioning again. The day of surgery I was so ready to just go to sleep and put all of that behind me. You are in great hands. Do not worry about pain. That was no issue for me (really) in the entire post-op period. Your doctor and nurses will take great care of you. Do everything they tell you and get well soon!

Hi Cheryl, I had my mitral surgery on Remembrance Day 2019. Anxiety was high in the months leading up to my surgery and I spent countless hours on the Internet reading medical papers and watching videos of heart surgery. Ultimately, a week prior to my surgery, I reached a point of relinquishing my fears and placing absolute trust in my surgeon. The surgery went by in the blink of an eye. When I awoke I was looking into the eyes of my loving family. The ICU team are the best of the best. I experienced literally no pain and before long was at home with life returning to normal. Your poem today is spot on. You are ready! This will all be behind you in no time. You are in the best of hands. Wishing you well with your surgery and a speedy recovery. Kindest regards,

Hello Cheryl, It's been 6 years since my AVR at the Cleveland Clinic. I feel great but I was once where you are. Worry not! My suggestion: You are about to get a reset. A tuneup. A change that will alter your life for the better for the rest of your life. Chances are that you have gradually headed to the point of surgery and as that heart function graduated downward you may not have noticed the taper till it was really to the point of needing the surgery. Now hear this: You are extremely blessed to be where you are. Everything is gonna rock for you. You are living in the greatest of times for what you are getting done. All your energy and the life you had PLUS the life you were missing due to illness will be given to you. They will take amazing care of you at that hospital. Its different in Cardio ICU. They are the best of the best. Surround yourself with all the people and things that love you and make you happy. Eat your favorite things. don't watch the news! lol Good luck, you'll do great. God is in the OR always.

I had my emergency repair on 4/13/2020. It's now a year later. You will feel so much better. You will have the surgery remember nothing wake up later in the day and it will all be over. Take the Ativan the night before to get a good night sleep if offered, I did. I am physician myself, you will be in good hands.

Holy cow!! We have the same surgeon. I'm going to Mayo on May 6th for Mitral repair and corde repair. I've spoken with Dr. Arghami twice and saw a video he'd produced about the procedure. I won't meet with him until 2 days before the procedure. Kinda crazy. Like you I've got a ton of anxiety about using a robot type thing, deflating the lung and stopping and cutting into my heart but I know it needs to be done. I imagine since he's at Mayo he's super super good. It'll be great to read about how well your procedure goes. Best of luck. Scott

I had my repair 4 1/2 years ago. Within 4 weeks I was back to work and feeling good. Shortly thereafter I was back to exercising, hiking, etc. Within months when people asked how I was doing I had to remind myself why they were asking because I felt so good. Good luck with the procedure but know you will be fine.

Cheryl, I don't know what your religious beliefs are. But in the days leading up to my mitral valve repair surgery, a friend of mine made me aware of a poem that was written on a bookmark. Here is the text of the poem: One night I dreamed a dream. As I was walking along the beach with my Lord. Across the dark sky flashed scenes from my life. For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand, One belonging to me and one to my Lord. After the last scene of my life flashed before me, I looked back at the footprints in the sand. I noticed that at many times along the path of my life, especially at the very lowest and saddest times, there was only one set of footprints. This really troubled me, so I asked the Lord about it. "Lord, you said once I decided to follow you, You'd walk with me all the way. But I noticed that during the saddest and most troublesome times of my life, there was only one set of footprints. I don't understand why, when I needed You the most, You would leave me." He whispered, "My precious child, I love you and will never leave you Never, ever, during your trials and testings. When you saw only one set of footprints, It was then that I carried you." I found that this gave me a sense of peaceful resignation from that point on. However, when I awoke following the surgery I had such a sense of euphoria having come out on the other side. You will too!

Cheryl, good luck in the forthcoming OP. I've no doubt but that you'll ace it. I'm nearly 5 months post op, MV repair like you, and I must say that from the outset, I started to recover steadily, and, say it quietly, once I was over the 1st 2 weeks post op, I felt that I was relaxing and taking it easy! Have confidence in your doctors, enjoy the care and attention of the nursing and catering staff in the hospital, and any fuss made at home. Pat

I had my Tricupsid valve repaired 6 years ago and I was nervous just as you are. The thing that helped me was a focus on the outcome and how common place this type of surgery has become. The proficiency of my surgeon and the confidence I had in him was very important to my peace of mind. To alleviate my concerns, I also had to look at the mortality rates for my surgery and found they are extremely low and believe it or not the surgery is just as safe as many types of surgeries not associated with the heart. Share your apprehensions with close friends and use the support that they provide. Stay strong and work hard during your recovery.

Hi, Cheryl! Wishing you the very best with your surgery! My ninth anniversary of my mitral valve repair comes up next month. I’d delayed it a year or so. Wish I hadn’t! I’ve had a great nine years of good health. I had gotten myself “psyched up “ and mentally read for my surgery. Received a call the day before informing me my surgery was postponed one day. More difficult for my family than myself. Anyhow, I found keeping as physically occupied as possible helped for me. My wonderful family really kept me positive. Best wishes for a speedy recovery! Shortly you’ll be feeling great! Tom and family

Thank you Cheryl! Love your hair! Wishing you the best with your surgery. Mine is at Mayo as well, I’ve updated my profile, my surgery is actually April 01, covid vaccine pushed it out a couple of weeks. Praying peace and strength on you in the days ahead!