Guestbook of Thomas Brusstar

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Thomas Brusstargot a new guestbook post

271 days ago

Kimberly Eisenhut, Thomas Brusstar reacted to this

Ruth joy posted a note for Thomas that says:

Hi Thomas ,
Congratulations on your 6th Anniversary !!!

Thomas Brusstargot a new guestbook post

556 days ago

Svetlomir Ivanov posted a note for Thomas that says:

Hey,Thomas,

could you describe in shoth your recovery: 1 str. week, 2 week, 3 week,4 week, etc
May be it would not be very short

How long did you walk,... Read more

Hey,Thomas,

could you describe in shoth your recovery: 1 str. week, 2 week, 3 week,4 week, etc
May be it would not be very short

How long did you walk, have got dizzy spells, etc.

I have Mitral valve repair before 23 days, but not so much energey, dizzy spells somethimes, short of breath, etc.

Thank you in advance

Thomas Brusstargot a new guestbook post

637 days ago

Kimberly Eisenhut reacted to this

Ruth joy posted a note for Thomas that says:

Hi Thomas ,
Congratulations on your fifth anniversary

Thomas Brusstar Thanks, Ruth. Before surgery, I never knew that my chronic cough was related to my mitral valve prol ... Read more

Thomas Brusstar Thanks, Ruth. Before surgery, I never knew that my chronic cough was related to my mitral valve prolapse. But the cough sure stopped 5 years ago!

Thomas Brusstargot a new guestbook post

786 days ago

Brady Busch reacted to this

Grace Mason posted a note for Thomas that says:

Thomas,
Hope you are doing well and your leukemia is in remission.
Thank you for sharing your story.

Thomas Brusstar That’s kind of you, Grace. This brand of leukemia starts slow, meaning an unsatisfying period of � ... Read more

Thomas Brusstar That’s kind of you, Grace. This brand of leukemia starts slow, meaning an unsatisfying period of “watch and wait” — meaning doing nothing at all while letting it take its course, because treatment is worse. Inventive genetic therapies in development might someday make it fixable, but not yet.

Grace Mason That is unsatisfying. I had no idea they may not treat CLL when diagnosed. I hope and pray that your ... Read more

Grace Mason That is unsatisfying. I had no idea they may not treat CLL when diagnosed. I hope and pray that yours does not progress(or barely progresses)and they find a cure or better treatments soon.

Thomas Brusstargot a new guestbook post

960 days ago

steve wigmore posted a note for Thomas that says:

Hi Thomas. Thanks for your note on my Guestbook. I also have ruptured chordae leading to my posterior leaflet flapping around like a good 'un.

Thomas Brusstar Sometimes they put artificial chordae in. For me, the broken chordae were attached to the leaflet tha ... Read more

Thomas Brusstar Sometimes they put artificial chordae in. For me, the broken chordae were attached to the leaflet that they were going to chop out anyhow, so I didn’t need fake ones.

Thomas Brusstargot a new guestbook post

974 days ago

Rose Madura reacted to this

Susan Lynn posted a note for Thomas that says:

Thomas - I've been thinking about you and hoping you're doing well. Sending healing prayers your way.

Thomas Brusstar Thank you! We've had a good active summer, now coming to an end. I'll start a round of visits late ... Read more

Thomas Brusstar Thank you! We've had a good active summer, now coming to an end. I'll start a round of visits later this week with my annual cardiologist visit. I'll see what he says about slight pulmonary hypertension measured at my last echo in June. That was new, so I don't know where that has come from. I do appreciate your kind thoughts.

Susan Lynn Best of luck with your upcoming appointments! Stay positive, Thomas!

Thomas Brusstar My cardiologist says it’s all fine. He says the RV is not well understood, and oddly it’s the on ... Read more

Thomas Brusstar My cardiologist says it’s all fine. He says the RV is not well understood, and oddly it’s the only one of the chambers for which sizing is not scaled to body size (or the rest of the heart). He said in proper context my RV isn’t enlarged (contrary to the narrative generated after my last echo), and read properly my echo shows my pulmonary pressure ok also. The echo tech got a little generous in tracing the curves. I had a chest CT for other reasons recently, which showed atelactesis or little collapse/ scar things; but he said everybody has those. Those aren’t stressing my heart, in any event.

Susan Lynn Good news, Thomas. I was also told on one of my echos that I had ventricular enlargement, but ... Read more

Susan Lynn Good news, Thomas. I was also told on one of my echos that I had ventricular enlargement, but my cardiologist said it was normal. I had no idea that the tech could influence that outcome. Wishing you continued good health!

Thomas Brusstargot a new guestbook post

1493 days ago

Deena Z posted a note for Thomas that says:

Thanks for the good news story regarding your short moment of nausea, the probable cause, and thereafter lack of it. Gives me hope!

Thomas Brusstargot a new guestbook post

1922 days ago

Skipper Kagamaster posted a note for Thomas that says:

Hey, Thomas! Thanks for posting in such great detail; it's a real help to those of us new to the process. I hope and pray that your recovery continues to be ...Read more

Hey, Thomas! Thanks for posting in such great detail; it's a real help to those of us new to the process. I hope and pray that your recovery continues to be stellar.

Thomas Brusstar Let me know if you want to know more! It has become a part of my identity, in a way. I don't mind t ... Read more

Thomas Brusstar Let me know if you want to know more! It has become a part of my identity, in a way. I don't mind talking about it, and if I can help anybody else through it, that's awesome.

Thomas Brusstargot a new guestbook post

2029 days ago

Terry Hudson posted a note for Thomas that says:

Hi Thomas, I had mitral valve repair over 5 years ago. Wanted to comment on your visual disturbances/aura that happens after exercise. I had this and never ...Read more

Hi Thomas, I had mitral valve repair over 5 years ago. Wanted to comment on your visual disturbances/aura that happens after exercise. I had this and never thought to tie it to the surgery. Asked my Opthamologist, she had no idea. But I figured it out and they’ve gone away. For me, the solution was drinking electrolytes before and after exercise. They almost magically were eliminated. After reading your post, I experimented and tried exercised without taking them: the aura came back. For me, it’s a simple imbalance. I don’t take Gatorade or Powerade, although they work fine. I ordered something called “Hi-Lyte” from Amazon and just add drops to my water bottle. Hope this solution works for you.

Thomas Brusstar Interesting! I definitely don’t hydrate with electrolytes. I’ll try it starting now. Thanks!

Thomas Brusstargot a new guestbook post

2314 days ago

Barbara Blackwell posted a note for Thomas that says:

Tom, thanks for the "Happy" Christmas wishes! Yes, it's what they say here and actually it's kind of a nice change for me! Your words and encouragement are ...Read more

Tom, thanks for the "Happy" Christmas wishes! Yes, it's what they say here and actually it's kind of a nice change for me! Your words and encouragement are sincerely appreciated and I'm glad to hear that you are doing well! I'll try to keep all of you posted as best I can, and if I don't "talk" with you before my op again, Happy Christmas to you and yours!! All the best and enjoy this wonderful time of year. ❤️

Bonnie Stone-Hope Happy Christmas to you too!
Best wishes and prayers for a successful surgery and looking forward to h ... Read more

Bonnie Stone-Hope Happy Christmas to you too!
Best wishes and prayers for a successful surgery and looking forward to hearing from you soon.🦋

Thomas Brusstargot a new guestbook post

2463 days ago

Mark Wilbur reacted to this

Louanna Miller posted a note for Thomas that says:

Thinking about you this evening, Thomas. I prayed for you this morning as I knew you were scheduled for surgery today. I hope it went exceptionally well and ...Read more

Thinking about you this evening, Thomas. I prayed for you this morning as I knew you were scheduled for surgery today. I hope it went exceptionally well and that you are resting well. I'll be interested in hearing about your surgical experience. Take are of you.

Thomas Brusstargot a new guestbook post

2464 days ago

Bill Gillam posted a note for Thomas that says:

Your story is almost identical to mine so I can really relate. Good luck tomorrow!

Thomas Brusstargot a new guestbook post

2464 days ago

Diane Maher reacted to this

Susan Lynn posted a note for Thomas that says:

Thomas - Good luck, today! You're going to do just great! We'll be here awaiting your good news!

Thomas Brusstargot a new guestbook post

2466 days ago

Mark Wilbur, Diane Maher reacted to this

Don L posted a note for Thomas that says:

Hi Thomas, good luck with your surgery tomorrow. High volume/expert surgery centers like Northwestern have this dialed in, you will do great. I am 51 and ...Read more

Hi Thomas, good luck with your surgery tomorrow. High volume/expert surgery centers like Northwestern have this dialed in, you will do great. I am 51 and had very similar path as you leading up to surgery in Dallas, and recovery has been very smooth. Look forward to your post surgery update!

Thomas Brusstar Thanks. I’m looking forward to getting the process going. I hope I do as well as you!

Dan Vechiola Hey Tom, good luck on Tuesday the wait which seems to be the hardest part is almost over! I will be ... Read more

Dan Vechiola Hey Tom, good luck on Tuesday the wait which seems to be the hardest part is almost over! I will be following in your footsteps at Northwestern (find out for sure on July 25th) so pave the way for me! You will be in great hands. I am confident on this one!

Mark Wilbur Go with confidence, Thomas, knowing how much better you will be in a short time. Prayers for you and ... Read more

Mark Wilbur Go with confidence, Thomas, knowing how much better you will be in a short time. Prayers for you and your family.

Thomas Brusstar Thanks! I’ll report on my progress. Hopefully I’m back home by the weekend.

Louanna Miller Tom, I will be anxious to read about your surgery on Tuesday and your recovery. I’m going to North ... Read more

Louanna Miller Tom, I will be anxious to read about your surgery on Tuesday and your recovery. I’m going to Northwestern for appontmentscin early August. I’m ready to get surgery scheduled. Take care of yourself. Praying for you.

Thomas Brusstargot a new guestbook post

2468 days ago

Adam Pick posted a note for Thomas that says:

Welcome Thomas! Fyi, you are in great hands with Dr. McCarthy! https://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/surgeons/dr-Patrick-McCarthy-Chicago-Illinois.php

Dr. Patrick McCarthy - Heart Surgeon in Chicago, Illinois

https://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/surgeons/dr-Patrick-McCarthy-Chicago-Illinois.php

See patient reviews, physician biography and videos of Dr. Patrick McCarthy, heart surgeon, with phone number and address in Chicago, Illinois.

Dan Vechiola I live in the NW Suburbs of Chicago and on July 25th I will be having an echo at Northwestern and wil ... Read more

Dan Vechiola I live in the NW Suburbs of Chicago and on July 25th I will be having an echo at Northwestern and will be meeting with cardiologist Dr. James Thomas & surgeon Dr. Patrick McCarthy. I have done ALOT of research and Northwestern and Dr. McCarthy are the best I could find.

Debbie Chatzky I had surgery with Dr McCarthy May 31st. He is known as the legend at Northwestern. I had a mitral va ... Read more

Debbie Chatzky I had surgery with Dr McCarthy May 31st. He is known as the legend at Northwestern. I had a mitral valve replacement with bovine valve and maze procedure for afib. It was a reop.He had to take a stenotic and panis ring repair apart first. It was complex and it was a successful replacement.

Thomas Brusstar Glad to hear yours went well, Debbie! McCarthy has over 11,000 heart surgeries under his belt, so he ... Read more

Thomas Brusstar Glad to hear yours went well, Debbie! McCarthy has over 11,000 heart surgeries under his belt, so he's seen it all. I'm hoping mine stays simple, just a mitral repair. I have Dr. Thomas as cardiologist also. I assume Dr. Thomas will come see me during recovery, but has no real role on the day of the surgery.