Guestbook of John Palumbo

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John Palumbogot a new guestbook post

3025 days ago

Stephanie Jones posted a note for John that says:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqUmPQ3BMdo

surgery diary 9 choosing a surgeon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqUmPQ3BMdo

appointment with surgeon coming up

John Palumbogot a new guestbook post

3035 days ago

John Palumbo reacted to this

anne posted a note for John that says:

John these people have so much knowledge and this site seems to be so supportive. .I'm glad you found it and some level of comfort during these difficult ...Read more

John these people have so much knowledge and this site seems to be so supportive. .I'm glad you found it and some level of comfort during these difficult times.. I will,as your big sister, be getting checked out as well after the Holiday thanks to you. Please know I am here for you always Anne

John Palumbogot a new guestbook post

3035 days ago

John Palumbo reacted to this

Lorraine Batta Haenggi posted a note for John that says:

Hi John. Sorry you're having this issue. I can highly recommend Dr. John Brown out of Morristown Hospital should you need an in state surgeon. He was my dad's ...Read more

Hi John. Sorry you're having this issue. I can highly recommend Dr. John Brown out of Morristown Hospital should you need an in state surgeon. He was my dad's surgeon and apparently the best of the best heart surgeons. I don't believe he is doing stand-up comedy anywhere. Wish you all the best and Merry Christmas!

John Palumbo Thanks Lorraine! Morristown is my hospital...and a member of Dr. Brown's group (dr. Mcgovern) did my ... Read more

John Palumbo Thanks Lorraine! Morristown is my hospital...and a member of Dr. Brown's group (dr. Mcgovern) did my dad's. They are pretty amazing.

John Palumbogot a new guestbook post

3035 days ago

John Palumbo reacted to this

Deborah Hudson two and a half weeks since new valve posted a note for John that says:

Hi John. My critically calcified aortic valve that was replaced caused no symptoms until right at the end making it hard to breathe. I thought it was my asthma. ...Read more

Hi John. My critically calcified aortic valve that was replaced caused no symptoms until right at the end making it hard to breathe. I thought it was my asthma. What I am saying is tell your family to get a cardiac workup now. Better to be safe. Seems strange I could be so sick and not know. That is how it works.

John Palumbo Thanks Deborah....they are 100% getting tested!!!!

John Palumbogot a new guestbook post

3035 days ago

Deborah Hudson two and a half weeks since new valve posted a note for John that says:

Hi John. My critically calcified aortic valve that was replaced caused no symptoms until right at the end making it hard to breathe. I thought it was my asthma. ...Read more

John Palumbogot a new guestbook post

3046 days ago

John Palumbo, Marie Leighton reacted to this

Jeannette McLaughlin posted a note for John that says:

Hello! John...welcome to the community! I joined the group a couple of months before my surgery (which took place on Sept. 28, 2016). I found it comforting ...Read more

Hello! John...welcome to the community! I joined the group a couple of months before my surgery (which took place on Sept. 28, 2016). I found it comforting to read people’s stories and entries in their journals. I had the same conditions as you but in my case the aortic stenosis had reached the critical stage (my valve was also bicuspid). I also had an aneurysm on the ascending aorta (believed to be a result of the aortic stenosis). Because I was in such good health overall, as well as very fit (I’ve been exercising all my life – I wrote my bike a few days before being admitted to the hospital!), I was able to go through life with hardly any systems all those years (I’m 72 years old). I first learned in the early 80s that I had a heart murmur, then the aortic stenosis diagnosis came years later. Heart ultrasounds became more regular as years went by to monitor the stenosis progress. In February of this year, my cardiologist told me that the time had come for surgery. In May, I had a heart dye test and was glad to hear I had no blocked arteries (the contrary would have surprised me since I’ve been eating super healthy for close to 38 years, but at times it can go way back - I did eat hot dogs in my younger years!) For more information, you can refer to my story and journal. Good luck in your journey!

John Palumbo Thanks Jeannette...I'm finding it very comforting as well to read all the stories and watch all the v ... Read more

John Palumbo Thanks Jeannette...I'm finding it very comforting as well to read all the stories and watch all the videos. Glad to hear you're doing well. Hope you had a great Thanksgiving and fantastic holidays!

Jeannette McLaughlin Hi! John - I live in Canada and we celebrated Thanksgiving on Oct. 10. Depending on which province we ... Read more

Jeannette McLaughlin Hi! John - I live in Canada and we celebrated Thanksgiving on Oct. 10. Depending on which province we live - whether we are francophone or anglophone - the holiday is either celebrated or not at all (anglophones celebrate more than us francophones). Hope yours was a pleasant one! Adam Pick does a fantastic job at posting articles and videos. I started doing research about a year before my surgery and collected lots of information. I also found valuable information on Adam's website. For instance, this is where I learned about sutureless valves (you should look into this when the time comes for you!) I asked my surgeon if my valve was sutureless and the answer was no. I read that a sutureless valve is taller than another type of valve, so I figure my surgeon had his reason for going the regular route. I think it was on Adam's website that I read that some tissue valves are treated against calcification, meaning they can last longer. I asked that question to my surgeon and the answer was "Yes, my bovine aortic valve did get an anti-calcification treatment"! I was pleased to hear that (my own aortic valve was calcified; it also leaked). Because of my age, the surgeon said that my bovine valve can last 15 to 20 years. By then, I figure there will be more minimally invasive procedures available (I did not qualify for TAVI this time around because I had two procedures done). If you have any questions, perhaps I can help! Take care.