Christine's Journal

Rose Madura  Christine, it's great to hear from you and to know you are doing well.  Glad you got back on track with walking.  It's easy to put on a few pounds when traveling. Been there and done that!  God bless you. Thanks for sharing such a great update.  ❤️‍🩹

Phyllis Petersen  Congratulations! I put on weight after my surgery while I was still in rehab. It's been hard to keep it off. 

Patricia Miller  Christine- I had the left appendage ligation w/ my recent aortic aneurysm repair.  I had robotic MVR 2 yrs ago so it couldn't be done at that time due to the robotic approach.  I also had no history of afib/aflutter until post op both times.  I too have hoped to get off Eliquis, but have pretty much resolved myself to it.  Dealing w/ flutter and awaiting an ablation.  
I only had extremity swelling the first couple wks post heart surgeries.  Have you been weighing yourself daily?  I was told to watch for sudden wt gain of a couple lbs.  Is your EF doing ok?   I imagine the heat is not helpful.  Give yourself breaks.  You are doing great!

Suzette Schear  I haven’t had that but I was told to watch the water intake.  1 liter a day.  Doctors kept looking for swelling, it your feet and legs are you should let your doctor know. 

Howard Schwartz  Dr. Joanna Chikwe performed my heart surgery to repair "significant  mitral regurgitation" fifteen days ago at Cedars-Sinai. Today, I am well on my way to recovery, and I am more than amazed by the quick progress I have made. From day one, Dr. Chikwe has exuded confidence and professionalism which definitely comforted me in facing my surgery. Dr. Chikwe is clearly above "top drawer" and I will never be able to fully express how grateful I am to this talented surgeon. 


I would also like to give a shout out to Nurse Practitioner, Vivian Burkhart, whose upbeat and informative nature added to my belief that my procedure would be the success that it is. I appreciate Nurse Burkhart so much.


I would be remiss if I didn't recognize the nurses, physical therapists and the entire staff at Cedars-Sinai. Their post surgery efforts and dedication were non-stop and simply could not be more accommodating, comforting and professional.


Because of the efforts of Dr. Chikwe, the nurses, physical therapists and staff at Cedars-Sinai, I have never been more convinced that there are, indeed, angels among us.

Tim Carpenter   That sounds great to me Christine that’s where I’m going to get my valve fixed. Glad to hear you are doing well I bet you look at things differently after having ohs I will find out soon

Daneen Douglas  You go Girl!  That’s wonderful Christine! I’m 2 1/2 weeks behind you!  

My surgeon, Dr. Michael Maxwell and the medical team at Banner Heart Hospital in Mesa, AZ were top notch as well.  

Robert Miller  I was going to get surgery with Dr. Gillinov. But considering my condition, it wasn't the best thing to travel that far so I decided for a local surgeon. I only hear good things about him, though. Anyways, sounds like you are going great. Congrats and keep it going!!

Rose Madura  Christine, I'm so happy that you are doing well!  It's such a relief to have this behind you. You have lots to look forward to with your beautiful family.  God bless you. ❤️‍🩹👍🪖💪

Sue Maize  I’m not a betting person Christine, but in this case I’d wager that the majority feel like that—truly we are blessed with a second chance at life with this life saving surgery! I plan to stay connected to this group long after my surgery as a constant reminder to be grateful. ❤️‍🩹👍🏻

Rose Madura  Christine, I can totally relate. I've been a member of this site for nearly seven years. Tonight, my husband and I looked at the pictures and videos that we took when I had my surgery. It makes me so thankful to be alive and knowing all the complications I had. I feel very blessed. I can say that I feel better than I ever have in my life.  God is so good 👍. And I'm happy you are doing so well.  ❤️‍🩹

Susan Dunne  I can also relate.  I feel that my surgery success is a miracle.  I am still stunned that after the surgery difficulties I am well with no pain or problems.13 weeks now and I am in cardiac rehab and loving it.  I certainly have a new lease on life as you do.🙋👍😊

Karen Hadden  Christine -  such good news!  I am right there with you.  What activities are you doing during the day? How much walking? 

Anna Ma  That’s great news! I remember day 13 was the day it turned the corner for me too! I felt a lot better and we flew home on day 14 without any problems!

Ana Kelton-Brand  Hi Christine, I had three episodes of tachycardic afib starting the day after I was discharged from the hospital post-surgery.  All three episodes happened the same week and I was hospitalized each time. They gave me IV Amiodarone in the hospital and then I was on oral Amiodarone for approximately 6 weeks.  I am 15 weeks post-surgery and have been in sinus rhythm since my last hospitalization for afib, which was a week after surgery.  I was told that approximately 30% of heart valve patients experience afib after surgery due to the irritation and inflammation in the heart.  The heart does not like to be messed with!  I was assured that it was temporary and indeed it has been.  I was also put on Eliquis because afib can result in clots that could lead to strokes.  I'm still on the Eliquis.  Afib was quite scary, but thankfully it was time limited.

Patricia Miller  Christine.  I'm sorry you had to experience the dreaded afib.  Sounds like you responded to the amiodarone pretty well.  I went into Afib day 6 post robotic mitral valve repair.  Feels like your heart is doing somersaults.  Mine took about 20 hrs of IV drip amiodarone and a couple boluses to get back into normal sinus rhythm.  Had atrial flutter after my recent aortic aneurysm repair.  Amiodarone again but just oral instead of IV.  Worked after several days on it.  It can make you feel a little crumby but symptoms fade once you come off of it.  Ask your PCP about getting thyroid labs.  It can affect your thyroid, but there is easy treatment if needed.  Welcome to recovery.  Each week will get better.   I'm also on Eliquis also.  Have been on it a few times now in last couple years.  No problems with it.

Rose Madura  Christine, i feel your pain!  I posted about my Afib/Aflutter on another thread. My heart rate got really high too and blood pressure was low each time.  I was also on dreaded Amiodarone.  I didn't like it at all after after the 4th re-hospitalization, I refused to take it. If you have issues with it, there is another (expensive) drug called Multaq which I took and it did have less side effects but interacted with a lot of other meds.  Just information if you need it. Praying for you! 🙏❤️‍🩹

Christine Maiorano  Hi all! Today is a better day! Hopefully the Amiodarone will control the afib. It’s one more item on this recovery journey. My sister in law sent me this note, I thought it was so appropriate

Valerie Allen  Christine, you look fabulous! Are you within driving distance of CC? I hope your recovery is smooth and uneventful! 💕

George Gardopee  Great news! It is really surprising how much less pain (but more  fatigue) than one expects. It sounds like you are doing very well. 

Daniel Green  Good job!  Glad you’re doing well. I was in great physical shape before my surgery and I could barely hold my head up to eat after the surgery. Like you I started walking as soon as I got home. 12 weeks later I was back on my bike and 15 months later I’m riding like I never had surgery! Good luck with your recovery. 

Andrea Babcock  Dear Christine, Best Wishes for a quick and very good recovery. I wish for you that it will go as well as my husbands did. He is at 2 month and 1 week into recovery he has been feeling very well and is active. We hiked in Joshua Tree and locally at elevation a few weeks ago. He is pulling weeds and mowing the lawn. He has been in a resort pool with swim tank top. He has zero issues and feels strong. At his 3 month point we will be off to Europe and when we get back he goes back to his home improvement work. The scar is looking better every week. We know how very scary and difficult it is at first but every week you will be feeling better. Sending a Hug your way!

Anna Ma  You look great! Were you wearing the hospital gown? I think it is prettier than most other hospital gowns :D

Sue Maize  You look great Christine and your hair looks like you just stepped out of a salon! 😊💕 get lots of rest in that new recliner and keep us posted. 

Adam Pick  Christine, Great to hear the cath was easier than expected! You are in the best of hands with Dr. Gillinov. He has helped many patients in our community! Thoughts are with you!

Valerie Allen  Christine, my best wishes for you tomorrow. Prayers for you, your family and your team. Let us know how you are when you can. I’ll be there next week. 💕

Marie Myers  Glad you found the cath easier than expected. I had the same experience and was pleasantly surprised. Wishing you a smooth journey through surgery and recovery!

Christine Maiorano  Yes Easter Dinner is taking my mind off the surgery! Looks like Nancy and I are same day surgery friends😊

Salvatore Cafiero  Hi Christine....I am celebrating my 5 year Mitral Valve Repair surgery today, March 13th.  As you prepare for your surgery, take time to simply breathe and relax your mind.  You are in good hands at the Cleveland Clinic.  The staff will take very good care of you and once you're in your recovery room, you will receive continuous monitoring.  Give yourself a little time before you step out of your bed to take a short walk down the ward hallway.  I'll be cheering you on from all the way here in Arizona!  

Teressa Phillips  Hi Christine, remember that your mental health is as important as your physical health. Be patient with yourself. This is a marathon, not a sprint.

George Gardopee  Hi Christine. Dr Gillinov repaired my mitral and tricuspid valves (full median sterotomy) in November of 2021. All-in-all, I had a great experience at the Cleveland Clinic. I wrote a (very long) description of the pre-admission testing, surgery, and recovery in my journal. I won’t claim I had a “typical” experience - I was fortunate to have had no complications.  I was in the Clinic for 5 days including the day of surgery. 

The takeaways for me are these:

 1) It was not terribly painful, but I know this is a very individual experience.  They are really good at managing pain. I was on Tylenol only by the third day.  I see you have had knee surgery. I know there is no comparison, but I tore my meniscus a year ago (but I did not have any surgery or injections). If I had a choice between a torn meniscus and OHS, I’d pick OHS.

2 ) You will get excellent, attentive care at the CC. No mistakes, you won’t get ignored. Dr Gillinov is an incredibly skilled surgeon and his team (for opening and closing) are outstanding.

3 ) I had more trouble with the side effects of the drugs than with the surgery. Let them know if you have had prior experience with pain drugs making you nauseous. Also, to be indelicate, if anesthesia or pain medication have made your digestive system shut down in the past, take all the digestive aids you can BEFORE they have to resort to the Mom Bomb (milk of magnesia mixed with warm prune juice). 

4 ) I walked as much as possible both in the hospital and after going home. For me, it was very helpful in recovery. Other than fatigue, I had no noticeable effects after about two weeks. If you have a sternotomy, do NOT exceed the recommended weight limitations. Avoid pulling of stuck doors. Ask me how I know this.

 5) I found the whole experience much less distressing than I did the anxiety leading up to the surgery. It was such a relief (for me, anyway) to get it over with you can’t imagine.

I can recommend that you load up the CC’s “MyChart” application before you get to Cleveland. It will greatly simplify checking in for pre-admission testing, seeing results, and keeping track of your appointments. 

Ask anything here - there are many of us here that have been through the Cleveland Clinic Conveyor Belt.  Good luck!

George Gardopee  I see you are hoping for robotic surgery. I was too but I ended up  getting a sternotomy. I am glad I did - Dr Gillinov unexpectedly needed to add an annuloplasty ring to my tricuspid valve. He said he would not have been able do that had he attempted the mitral repair robotically. I can only speak for myself here, but I had almost no post-operative pain or discomfort from the sternotomy.  The robotic approach (or other techniques that don’t require a sternotomy) have faster recovery times but I get the sense after reading everyone’s stories on this site that the discomfort from minimally-invasive surgeries can persist for longer. I think this may be due to the greater amounts of muscle and nerve cutting that are required. 

Christine Maiorano  Yes I’ve heard  there is more discomfort with minimally invasive surgery! I’m actually ok with the sternotomy and expect to have a big smile on my face once I’m on recovery. 😊

Jack Baker  Christine, you are in very good hands using the Cleveland Clinic. The cardiac recovery and ICU nurses are the best! I know from experience that impending heart surgery can feel somewhat isolating. Stay positive. Good luck!

Thomas Brusstar  Awesome.  I had my mitral valve repaired almost 6 years ago, and it still doesn't leak at all.  You'll do great.  I see you'll be at Cleveland Clinic, which is perfect.  (I grew up in Rochester.  Just don't have it done at Crittenden!)

Klara Čičić  Dear Christine, you are in absolutely the best place on Earth to have your mitral valve repaired.  Keep that in mind, how blessed you are. Stay positive as statistics are on your side, you will get through this and end up stronger and more resilient, and most importantly healthier! 

GARY STANKO  Cleveland is great.  Thought about going there but went to Mayo Rochester due to the distance and the info I had was Mayo was second to Cleveland.  The percentages are what calmed me down as they were over 95% in my favor.  I had mitral repair in 2017 no problems since.

Rose Madura  No matter where you go for the surgery, it's going to be overwhelming. I hear you!  That being said, you are headed to one of the best hospitals in the world.  Godspeed 

George Gardopee  I agree with Klara - the Cleveland Clinic may be the best place in the world and Dr Gillinov is the best mitral valve surgeon at the Clinic. Several of us here have had Dr Gillinov repair our mitral valves (mine was 2+ years ago).  Ask anything you would like to know and we will try to answer.  

Christine Maiorano  First of all thank you to everyone! This is such a wonderful site. It’s great being able to share with people who have gone through similar surgeries. I’m actually pretty healthy, my only major surgery has been a full knee replacement and I came through like a champ! Dealing with heart surgery is pretty scary ….. My biggest fear is not waking up. Anyone else feel like this.

Dan S-otts  Hi Christine, I had Dr. Gillinov do my Mitral & Tricuspid repair 1 year ago on 2/21/23. You are in the best place and hands. You will want to be elevated during recovery. I fortunately had a bed at home that can be put in basically any position. Many of my friends who have had OHS use a recliner, or (husband pillow) to keep them elevated when resting or sleeping. Take good care. 

Rose Madura  Christine, I think everyone that has had the surgery, like me, woke up thinking, "I made it ". I know that was my first thought.  It's amazing actually at what all happens. My only prior surgery was a hysterectomy.