T.C.'s Guestbook

T.C. Sayles  Holy OHS Batman!!! You are a true warrior!!! Hats off my man!
Ok, so yes, there is little feedback on the tissue Resilia valves, but here's what I know and what I trust and why I believe my Dr went wtih tissue for me when finding out he couldn't do the Ross Procedure.
Dr. Shumway (my dr in 1978) was THE MAN with hearts, a legend and the best in the country. I know this because since I was a patient of his, it opened doors to me seeing top surgeons in the country with barely any wait time. Dr. Starnes trained under him and come to find out many years later is his protege. Dr. Starnes is a forward thinker and I felt I wasn't just a patient or a number or a paycheck. Every other cardiologist I saw wants me on thinners, wants me increasing my beta blocker. Dr. Starnes is very firm in his 4 weeks and off and getting me to the point where I don't have to take the blockers anymore..may take time, but it will happen. In October when I asked about the mechanical valve, he said it will have to be replaced. Sadly there was really nothing out there that will last as long as my first surgery (40 years), but to never have my chest cracked open again was what he prefers. As you get older, it is harder to do that surgery. So yes, being set up for TAVR down the road is what is preferred. Oddly enough I met an older gentleman on my flight home to FL who had the valve replaced a few years back using TAVR and he was out of the hospital the next day with barely any down time! He must have been 75 yo! When you have your angiogram, you will see almost how the TAVR works, as that is very similar to what they do. Modern medicine is remarkable. Oh and the best part is in 15-20 years when I have to have the TAVR, we may have some space aged devices that is more advanced than what we have today. My Dr's PA said "we are not that far from it". Bottom line for me, I feel Dr. Starnes is the best of the best and knows what he's doing and not just a money making machine of a Dr. I have never heard that a mechanical valve will last forever. And lastly, the blood thinners.....I don't want any more rat poison in me than is needed...and 4 weeks was plenty! That stuff kills your insides.
You are going to do what is right for your body and it will be the right choice! OHS #4 is going to be perfect! And you are young so you will recover like a champ! (Sorry if my thoughts ramble!!)

T.C. Sayles  Amy!!! You are going to do great, whatever you choose!! It is your choice and it will be the right one no matter what anyone else says because it is what you feel is what your body needs! You are too kind with your words and yes this is terrifying. 2 things I learned before the big day was 1) the risks of death is near 0! and 2) being on the heart and lung machine for 90 minutes and this surgery overall will NOT KILL YOU....your risk for stroke of bleeding is what COULD....but it won't happen! Oddly enough this calmed me and when I was in the operating room (with no drugs and very aware as they were prepping) I was asking the Dr's if they could take a little from here and do a little lift there so I wouldn't have to on my 50th! lol They all laughed!!! Then I was asked if I had any plans after the surgery (kind of like a future trip thing so you can put your mind there) and I said to wake up and see my mother and daughter! And I did! And you will too darling! Loads of love your way!!

  Thank you TC!!! I do think I’m fearful of the surgery, and that helps to put things into perspective! It’s partly that I’m in healthcare and I’ve seen too much.
Too funny...Sign me up as well!! I have a weird sort of rapport with my surgeon. He’s the kind of guy who has no filter, which in this situation I appreciate. It’s laugh or cry at this point...I’ve done both, but I’d really rather laugh!! Everyone here is helping me to come to a sort of peace about it. Thanks again! 😘

T.C. Sayles  Happy to help Amy! OMG You are a crack up!! You totally got this! I joke and say this was harder than child birth...but people don't know my labor and delivery was less than an hour! lol I too am at laugh or cry...STILL at 7 weeks. I have to wear a wound vac now since a part of my incision opened up due to a hematoma and I didn't realize it wouldn't close again. It was because the glue must have just come undone. WTH??!!! I cried right in front of the Dr whom I had only met once before (he was not the surgeon) and he is super cute and lives in my neighborhood!!! Good one right?? lol I got into my car and the mascara had gone down the sides of my cheek as I was laying down...yep I looked AWESOME!!! Anyway, it will all be behind me soon enough, but it will always be there. And having had a scar down my chest since I was 5 (OHS #1) its really a badge of courage! Oh..almost forgot the almost best part....you get to have your children help you with EVERYTHING!!! My "wonderful" teenager just "loves" it! lol One way for her to earn her allowance!!