Teresa's Guestbook

Hello Teresa, I came across your journal and see you had surgery earlier this year at Mount Sinai. I hope you had a seamless recovery and are doing well! May I ask how your experience was with Mount Sinai overall? Thank you for any info you can share!

Teresa, I just read your story—you have been through a lot with your heart health, so I am praying that this surgery will resolve every one of those issues and you will be able to look forward to a healthy, long and fulfilling second half of life! You are at an excellent heart hospital and in truly amazing hands with Dr. Adams. Sleep peacefully tonight and update us when you can. 🙏🏻❤️

Hi, Teresa! I am 54 and just had my stenotic rheumatic mitral valve replaced last month. Mine was diagnosed end of ‘92 or early ‘93 (it was over winter break is what I remember) and it was mild for most of my life but my left atrium enlarged over time and I went into afib in 2022 and had a stroke. Because of the afib and stroke history, my surgeon performed the maze procedure and closed off my left atrial appendage while he had access to my whole heart. Your case is already complex (three valves!) so perhaps adding another procedure is too much? It is still early in my recovery process (not quite 5 weeks) but I am already noticing improvements (faster recovery after exertion, stronger regular heart beat, etc). You have been living with your symptoms and related conditions for so long, likely your improvements post surgery will be even more dramatic! 

Best of luck with your surgery. Have confidence that your entire team knows what they are doing. Recovery will be much easier if you have someone stay at the hospital with you 24 hrs a day. They hopefully can sleep in your room and take care of you as needed.