Ellen's Guestbook

Hi Ellen, I am scheduled for minimally invasive robotic repair with annulplasty at Cleveland Clinic on July 23. I have been encouraged by your positive posts, and I’m wondering how you are feeling now. Do you have any advice specific to Cleveland Clinic and your time there? My surgeon is Daniel Burns. I know Dr. Gilinov is the Chief, and you’re fortunate he was your surgeon. I am keeping my fingers crossed that Dr. Burns will be an excellent surgeon, based on the fact he is at CC. He looks very young, but I’m thinking he may have a played a lot of videos games in the past, which may be an asset for robotic surgery. I would appreciate any thoughts or advice you may have. I am happy you are doing so well!

Hi Ellen, just checking in to let you know all went well, in fact better than well. Care at CC was excellent, pain management could not have better. Spent total of 5 days there then drove home to NJ in one day. No complications so far and everyone along the way says I'm doing terrific. Feeling better than I imagined I would but I do get tired if I am out and about too long. You surely would have made that graduation if you had the surgery! Good luck on your Nov. check up!

So great to hear you are doing so well. Only out of work for four weeks? That's really amazing. Hope you are enjoying your recliner. Funny I bought one and had it delivered before I went to CC for post op so I have a large recliner now in my bedroom. Likely I will need it eventually. Stay in to touch and keep healing Ellen

Hi .Ellen, I am home and feeling quite well. Usually I take 1 pain pill at night (percadon). and an occassional tylenol during the day. I am walking without difficulty. Today my post- surgery "present" was delivered, a big electric recliner, so I am looking forward to alot of afternoon naps over the next two weeks. Hope to start up at work again in mid -June. Hope you are having a good summer.

Hi Ralph. Wow that is so amazing. I've been thinking about you and so glad to hear you're doing great. Are you home and how are you feeling? I will be reevaluated in November Ellen

Two thumbs up for Dr. Gillinov and Cleveland clinic! I saw that your surgery as delayed, but I can assure you that you couldn't be in better hands. I had my surgery on Wednesday and was out my Monday with no problems whatsoever. I know waiting is no fun, it is a comfort to know that you are working with one of the best surgical teams in the world. May God bless you and give you peace.

Hi again Ellen! So nice to hear back from you. My daughter and I will be staying at the same hotel the evening of the 12, 13th and 14th so maybe we can meet each other. I feel we are so fortunate to be having surgery at CC. My surgeon will be Dr. Eric Roselli. I haven't met him yet but he comes highly recommended. I went to Cleveland for a second opinion about when to have surgery on two declining valves and learned that my ascending aorta is dilating rapidly as well so here I am having surgery on May 15. You must work for a generous company! Good luck with your pre-op testing!

Hi Ellen, I am from NJ also. In fact my husband' is from Maplewood. We now live in Tewksbury. I am going to have valve replacement and ascending aorta replacement on May 15th at the Cleveland Clinic going out on the 12th for pre-op testing. Maybe we'll see each other. Are you flying back? I decided to drive back to NJ, don't want to deal with the hassle of flying. You'll be in my prayers.

Hi Ellen I am 60 yrs old retired female in pretty good physical shape. I had MVR on 17 March and today is my 2 week anniversary. I stayed in the hospital a total of 5 days because they could not get my blood pressure yo stay up. The first couple of days were kind of painful (more in my shoulders than in my chest), but after the tubes started being taken out, things improved. I still have slight discomfort in my chest if I move the wrong way, get out of breath if I exert myself (which is to be expected), but I am very pleased with what I can accomplish just 2 weeks after surgery. I actually gained about 4 lbs while I was in the hospital, but they gave me Laxix and have since lost it. If you have any specific questions, I will be happy to answer them. I know that I had a ton before my surgery and found a lot of information from these journals. Good luck!

Hi Ellen, I will be traveling from Mississippi. My brother lives in Akron so I hope I to have some comforts of home rather than a hotel. My wife and daughter will also be there there for the operation.My Dad grew up in Morristown, NJ so I am somewhat familiar with the Northeast . Sure don't miss the cold weather. Hope to see you walking the halls!

Ellen, My surgeon will also be Dr. Gillinov. I don't expect to talk to him until the day before the surgery, but his staff has been super helpful. I am asymptomatic, and my angiogram was clear so I am hoping for the minimally invasive route. My brother had aortic stenosis and a valve replacement done at CC seven years ago, and he says they are world class in heart surgery. I was diagnosed back in January, so I am ready to get it over with. I think we will both be in very capable hands on May 14th. I pray that you have grace and peace until then.

Hi Ellen. I have no doubt you will be at the graduation! I was able to take my daughter to the Taylor Swift concert 20 days after my surgery at commercial park(probably not the smartest decision) but I was fine. The stairs at the stadium were not a lot of fun at that point though... My surgery was not minimally invasive as some have had on this site. In the minimally invasive approach I have read about they go in through the right side more towards the front right with a small incision. My surgery was done with what is called thoracic approach where they go in from more the right side towards the back. I have a picture of my scar I think on my page here on this site. My daughter graduates this year also! They grow up too fast!

Dr. Gillinov did the surgery altho it is truly a team effort and I was seen and evaluated by numerous medical staff. All wonderful from the surgeons to the maintenance crew. I had minimally invasive robotic assisted surgery mitral valve repair. "Minimally invasive" is a bit of a misnomer as there are two 3" incisions under right arm, two three inch incision in groin, a small incision in chest and two invasions in the neck. Not to scare you but I put too much emphasis on minimal. With heavy airbrushing I think I am still Sports Illustrated Swimsuit eligible. Fortunately the pain is well taken care of but there is incision healing at several sites. I was in ICU for less than 24 hours and in the hospital 5 days. I stayed an extra day because my blood pressure was low. I have been cleared to return to work on Monday the 31. I will return part time as I am also participating in cardio rehab and have put that as my top priority. Today was first day of cardio rehab and it felt wonderful to be on a track and on the treadmill. I too was in great shape prior to surgery and believed that my recovery would be super quick. I have since learned we each recover at our own pace. Those who have suffered most pre-surgery often feel better post surgery than those of us who suffered little if at all. Perhaps we set the bar unrealistically high, or fail to appreciate small improvements, or lack patience not sure. Keeping a short daily log allows me to go back three days and recognize the improvement. The posts on this board are wonderful. People are supportive and encouraging. So on Day 4 you may be released from the hospital barring any complications. My schedule was Testing Feb17-19; surgery 20; hospital 20-24;hotel 25-27; follow-up 28 and drive back to Wis. Again just me and perhaps not typical. Lucky you only worried about weight gain. I worried about a-fib, depression, migraines, depression and weight gain. I had none of the above. Weight gain for the most part appears to be water retention from what I am told. I am lucky not to retain water so I have actually lost about five pounds. Presurgery 5'6" and 135 lbs. ; post 5'6" 128. This is attributed to the fact I am a snacker and for about two weeks did not have the strength to open our large very vacuum sealed refrigerator door and my husband has volunteered to do the cooking;-). I bought larger clothes but have since returned them. I did buy a large stretchy camisole type top that I wear nonstop- more modesty than support but I am so happy to have made this purchase. To me this is the only item of clothing where the current wardrobe might not work in the short run. Depending on your build there are a number of suggestions of bras etc on Adam's site. CC has hospital gowns that are modest and no one was a fashion plate during my stay so all the various gowns and pjs were never worn and returned. Again individual call. Sorry this is long, but I remember my anxiety and hope as others did for me, I can share my experience to help another on the journey. Feel free to continue to ask away. Ps. before surgery I practiced getting out of chairs and bed without using my arms and would like to think it helped. I slept in a bed from day one tho others swear by using a recliner. Comforting to know CC has done hundreds if not thousands of these surgeries and you will be in great hands.

I had MVR at CC on Feb 20. Going in I had no outward symptoms and mixed recommendations whether surgery was needed. Waiting was awful. CC was wonderful- the staff, the facilities, the care, the individual attention. Today I started cardio rehab back in Wisconsin. I am off almost all meds and walking daily. Energy level is not yet normal but understand that can take a few months. Bottom line- I would make the same decision if I had to do it again. Feel free to ask me anything. The guided imageries on the CC site were helpful while I was waiting.

I had mitral valve repair surgery on April 16th 2013 at University of Michigan. Everything has gone real well as I will be hitting my 1 year post surgery mark in a couple more weeks. I experienced very little pain while in hospital. Had surgery on a Tuesday morning and came home early Friday afternoon. I was able to go back to my full time job after 5 weeks. I had some shoulder/neck discomfort about the second week post surgery and also some tenderness in my right side as I had them to it through my right side using the thoracic approach. My mitral valve was severe and I had been diagnosed when I was 12 years old. I am currently 43 years old. I have read great things about the Cleveland clinic. You will do great and are in great hands. The only medication I take is an aspirin each morning. I wish you all the best!

I had a bicuspid aortic valve replaced and aneurysm repaired on 1/9/14...about 10 weeks ago. Overall doing well. I agree with Susan, read some journals. Ask speciic questions. Remember each person is a little different so each story is different. Overall though, people on here have lots of understanding of the process and lots of success. Good luck!

Ellen, welcome to the community. I'm a AVS and will be seeing a surgeon this Wednesday. Please read the journals. You will find many that have had mitral valve surgery. Repairs or replacement. You will do fine.