Chris's Guestbook

Chris Vereb  Well all the staff there are 100% great. Maybe you will get lucky and have a young nurse named Kaymi. All of them were great. The rooms and food are surprisingly not that great. I know that is the last thing on your mind. I just thought it was funny they still have tube tvs in the rooms. Mayo pays more attention to the medicine then the amenities. Have many friends and family you can talk to about what you are going though. It helped me tremendously. Start walking to build your endurance up for recovery. They were calling me rock star in recovery because I could blow that spirometer to 1500 right after surgery. I guess most people can only do 500. I can do over 3500 now.

Chris Vereb  Well actually Mayo Clinic is a benefit of my insurance. Mayo is ranked #2 in the nation for heart. Its an easy drive from Rockford. If you live in Chicago and your insurance will cover Northwestern or Loyola, then of course go there. They are I think both ranked in top 20 in nation for heart procedures. The hospitals in Rockford which there are 3, are fine hospitals. I had my kids born in them and their tonsils removed. I just felt more comfortable getting a second opinion and the surgery at Mayo clinic in Rochester MN. All my follow ups are done here in Rockford at OSF St Anthony which has a partnership with Mayo clinic in sharing records. Did you have your procedure?

Nap Garcia  Hi Chris, thanks for your response. I definitely understand why you chose Mayo, particularly the insurance aspect of it plus its reputation. I had my procedure, mitral valve repair, done at Loyola by Dr. Bakhos, one of the most reputable cardiovascular surgeons and I believe also the department chair of the cardiovascular college of the University medical school. He oozed with confidence that he could fix me, and he did. I'm approaching 3 weeks post op and I feel noticeable results, getting a little restless, but my body reminds me I'm still in recovery mode so I end up slowing down a bit. Took a while to obtain pre-certification from my insurance but glad it kicked in right before the surgery as I didn't want to delay my surgery if at all possible, and Dr. Bakhos' staff reassured that he was the one performing my surgery with assistance from his partners. I am so glad I got him because he's done this for almost 30 years at Loyola, so don't know if he has any plans to retire but I am so happy to have been one of his many patients.

Chris Vereb  Hi Samantha! I am back and forth on the decision making. Its hard for my because I think I am right in the middle being 51 years old. Thank you for sharing what valve you have...☺

Barry Kanick  Clare or Chris,,,,,how do people actually regulate their warfarin??? Do they have to visit their family physician once a month??? ,,,,,,Barry

Clare Auten  Barry, I have learned to be consistent with my diet and exercise routine. I stop by the lab about once a month and they call me same day with dosage information. I have been in range and on the same dosage of warfarin for at least 12 months so I feel the warfarin is pretty much regulated for me at this point.

Clare Auten  Alan, I could probably home test but haven't explored that option yet. The lab is between my house and my work. I put my kids on the school bus, stop for the blood work, and get to work with time to spare. Guess when it gets inconvenient I will explore other options.

Rita Savelis  I go to a lab (near my house) on the way to work and then see my results on internet that afternoon. I change my dosage if I have to. I eat the same things and haven't changed my lifestyle. Blood results can be unstable but that is just how they are. It gets easier to understand anticoagultanst and one gets more relaxed with time. I call my GP or take an appt every so often if I have questions, but very quickly one learns how to deal with results on ones own. The first months are hard because there is often not enough information and you think you are the only patient whose INR (blood tests) take a while to get stabilised. Later you learn, that is "'normal".

  I also have the bioprosthetic with a stented cow valve. The surgeon implanted one on the larger end of my valve size window with intent to give me a TAVR next go round. I take aspirin daily and that is it. Best wishes to you!