Anyone with restless leg syndrome (RLS) had heart surgery with RLS complications afterward? There is a class of anesthesia drugs that can cause severe reactions ...Read more
Anyone with restless leg syndrome (RLS) had heart surgery with RLS complications afterward? There is a class of anesthesia drugs that can cause severe reactions of spastic uncontrollable jerking movements as the patient is brought out of anesthesia and remain an issue thereafter. I've read on a couple of cases which were very disturbing but the clinical reports did not address whether the patient knew beforehand that certain drugs were likely to adversely affect the RLS. I have experienced this event after maxiofacial surgery and found the drug family responsible. Some dentists who use those drugs solely have refused me as a patient. Luckily l have a very good mouth surgeon who knows what to use without complicating the RLS. It is a great worry with the length of time required to be under for heart surgery plus l have had a stroke, TIAs and narrowed airways from broncheacteses (sp). Sleep apnea as well. Migraines and vertigo. All possible complicating factors for heart surgery or back as my spine also needs fusing lumbar and thoracic, if possible after the heart.
Experiences with such shared would be of great help. A surgeon and anesthesiologist will also look at all of it and recommend procedures. Has anyone had a mitra clip procedure due to complicating issues for open heart surgery?
Deena Z I have RLS and my open heart surgery had no impact either way.
Richard Munson I have rhs , restless husband syndrome, and still have it after the surgery.
Deena Z Richard- you’re always so funny and witty. Thanks for making such a serious topic a bit lighter as ... Read more
Deena Z Richard- you’re always so funny and witty. Thanks for making such a serious topic a bit lighter as you pass along your sage advice!
Richard Munson Keeping it light might be my way of coping with a potentially life threatening topic. Easier of cours ... Read more
Richard Munson Keeping it light might be my way of coping with a potentially life threatening topic. Easier of course since my surgery is done but not without a few hiccups along the way. I suspect there will always be something i can crab about but over all, having it done beats doing nothing.
Thanks for sharing your experience in surgeon options. I'm in a small town 65 miles from Huntsville and 170 to Birmingham. Our local med center has Dr A he's ...Read more
Thanks for sharing your experience in surgeon options. I'm in a small town 65 miles from Huntsville and 170 to Birmingham. Our local med center has Dr A he's called, who used to be at UAB and l hear good things and happy experiences with him here.
One wonders why an excellent dr leaves a program like they have at UAB and relocate to "Podunk". In his 70s now with tons of experience. Have yet to meet him. Everyone says use dr A or go where your procedure is done daily - with an experienced team in the OR backing up a great dr. I don't think there are many open heart procedures done here, more stents and such, ablation for fib are sent to Bham., I dug around and talked to friends and want to see a dr in Miss. who has very high scores for success, few re-admissions following surgery and few complications. A friend in Huntsville has a brother who was a cardiac tech, now retired, who highly recommended 3 guys there, one of whom was raised a couple of miles from us and from our community. All have better numbers for outcome, deaths, complication than dr A.. Sorry l can't think of the name of the rating site listing these drs but will look it up. One son is in Texas near the Plano Baylor heart clinic as well as all of Dallas area and has a MIL suite in his home as his MIL was sick when they built but has since died. There's an option for post surgery but at some point a 10 hour drive or 2 day drive with a stop would be necessary to get home.
Susan Lynn D - I'm hoping some of the Plano Baylor heart warriors from this site will share their experiences wi ... Read more
Susan Lynn D - I'm hoping some of the Plano Baylor heart warriors from this site will share their experiences with you - there have been many! When it comes to selecting a surgeon, you may have to travel to find the expert you need. You said it, you need a high-volume mitral valve repair surgeon. You want one who does at least 100/yr. with a solid track record of success. That's the most popular advice you will get from those of us who have had ours repaired. Don't let the relatively short trip to Texas prevent you from getting the best treatment. You're only going to do this once! Best of luck to you! ❤
Darlene Clark You may want to also check UT Southwestern site for Dr. Neelan Doolabh's information. I am very impr ... Read more
Darlene Clark You may want to also check UT Southwestern site for Dr. Neelan Doolabh's information. I am very impressed with Dr. Doolabh and UTSouthwestern which is in Dallas, Texas. My minimally invasive surgery is scheduled for July 14 with Dr Doolabh. He will replace both my aorta and mitral valves. Good luck as you determine which doctors and hospitals to consider!
Tracy Fallu While traveling doesn’t sound appealing, having the best surgeon for your situation is what’s mos ... Read more
Tracy Fallu While traveling doesn’t sound appealing, having the best surgeon for your situation is what’s most important.
This photo was made last summer, a month before l was told l needed mitral valve surgery lasting 10-12 hours. Other health issues continue delaying the procedure. ...Read more
This photo was made last summer, a month before l was told l needed mitral valve surgery lasting 10-12 hours. Other health issues continue delaying the procedure. I don't understand the nonchalant attitude cardiologists assume when discussing what's left of my life. It's like they're reading the back of a cereal box while eating it's contents. Fearful words when they apply to me and the spoken "we do this every day" fails to reassure all will be good after open heart surgery - that 'critical' findings on an echo report aren't alarming (maybe not to them) rather terminology given to echo readings as interpreted by a radiologist and not alarming at all if you're a doctor. "Critical" findings attached to my name on a medical report is very scary and crushing. There's no guarantee my heart will restart when those small paddles send their restart spark. At home l heard "so let them fix it". It felt cold, indifferent. So l don't talk about it. Am l too sensitive?
Today the cardiologist said he wanted another echo done and he'd see me after he knew the echo results.
Taken aback a bit, l failed to ask if he heard something indicating my heart was worse. August 12 was the opening for an echo? No. I told them to have my doctor say when he wanted it done instead of accepting the scheduling dept's 1st available and they came back with " he said to see him in 2 months" and someone would call with an echo date. Confused? Concerned about the level of care l get? Absolutely.
Rose Madura Hi D. And welcome to the site. I understand how you feel. This is routine for the doctor but not f ... Read more
Rose Madura Hi D. And welcome to the site. I understand how you feel. This is routine for the doctor but not for you. However, trust me, they would rush it if they felt you were in bad shape. I saw my cardiologist in April and had surgery a month later. So my point is, be thankful they feel you can wait. Have they recommended you see a surgeon? That would be the next step. I'm an advocate for getting a second opinion. - especially if you are not comfortable with your cardiologist.
Susan Lynn D - I agree with Rose about multiple opinions. The length of surgery sounds off to me. That's a lo ... Read more
Susan Lynn D - I agree with Rose about multiple opinions. The length of surgery sounds off to me. That's a long time for your diagnosis. It's definitely time to start meeting a number of surgeons until you find one you're comfortable with. While you have the opportunity to do your research, create your list of questions you want answered. You need to be your own advocate in this process. Best of luck to you! ❤
Hello D, both Rose and Susan Lynn were very helpful to me when I found out I needed OHS. I had at the ... Read more
Hello D, both Rose and Susan Lynn were very helpful to me when I found out I needed OHS. I had at the time a second and third opinion myself and had a successful surgery. As Susan Lynn states you have time and start meeting with other surgeons and if you don’t feel comfortable with your present Cardiologist, go to another one. I became my own advocate in this process and I’m glad with the results. Always grateful to God, Rose and Susan Lynn and many others who were there for me and are still here. Praying you find the right medical team for you. God bless you
Peter Linn All these great reply’s beg a question. How do you decide which surgeon? “Feeling”, reputatio ... Read more
Peter Linn All these great reply’s beg a question. How do you decide which surgeon? “Feeling”, reputation, results, bedside manner, etc? All the above? It seems subjective to at least some extent.
Susan Lynn Peter - I had a standard list of questions that I asked each surgeon who made the first cut. I also ... Read more
Susan Lynn Peter - I had a standard list of questions that I asked each surgeon who made the first cut. I also accessed a report compiled by the Pennsylvania Joint Commission that tracks performsmce and quality statistics on doctors and hospitals. I asked several cardiologists what they thought of my final two candidates. I then made my decision. I felt confident in my choice on the day of my procedure and every day since then. Good luck! ❤
D Rogers Thanks to all of you. Really. I'll cut to the chase: l called the scheduling dept myself and spoke ... Read more
D Rogers Thanks to all of you. Really. I'll cut to the chase: l called the scheduling dept myself and spoke to the echo technician who performed my earlier one. She was able to move me from 8/12 to the last Fri in July. I asked if another facility in our area did echos. She said hold on a minute- then came back and asked if l could manage 7:00 am on 7/7?
She's coming to work an hour early to help me. Isn't that amazing? She had to get her supervisor's permission and it was granted. What great kindness; l am humbled & thankful.
Rose Madura Wow. That's great. Sometimes the squeaky wheel gets the grease. That's what Susan and Ana are talki ... Read more
Rose Madura Wow. That's great. Sometimes the squeaky wheel gets the grease. That's what Susan and Ana are talking about - being your own advocate. Regarding surgeons, my cardiologist suggested two. We looked them up online and read reviews. When we felt we made a decision, I knew three different nurses who worked with him. One was an OR nurse who worked with him 20 years ago. One was a nurse who worked with him 10 years ago and one was a CICU nurse who works with him currently. They all had nothing but good things to say about him and were quite excited for me that I chose him. And the final straw was the nurse who did our review of the process at the hospital so we would know what to expect and she said, "Oh I see you won the lottery and have Dr Pavlina. He's absolutely brilliant." That was all the confirmation I needed. My first step was getting the 2nd opinion which made me change cardiologists to the one I have now whom I totally trust.
I am from: Huntsville
