Enrique's Journal

To my heart brothers and sisters, it's been a while since I've been active on this site, but I've always been a staunch supporter. Nine years with my valve, and I'm feeling fantastic alive and kicking! My heart goes out to all undergoing surgery; stay strong, educate yourselves, and lean on resources like this site. Adam, kudos for keeping this community thriving! Feel free to reach out with any questions I'm here to help!

I’m an old timer heart valve warrior ! 7 1/2 years and ticking with my pig valve!

To everyone in this community you got this!

Stay positive, educate yourself before and after surgery. This way you will be prepared and tackle it accordingly.

Adam, look at this community how it has grown.
Congratulations!!!

If anyone has any questions let me know.

Enrique

TO ALL MY OLD AND NEW HEART BROTHERS AND SISTERS: PLEASE SEND SOME PRAYERS AND HEARTFELT MESSAGES TO MY FRIEND GEORGE KARAMBINIS. HIS SURGERY WAS JUNE 25, 2020 AND HAD MAJOR COMPLICATIONS. HE IS STILL WITH A VENTILATOR AND UNCONSCIOUS. THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART. AS, I GET UPDATES FROM THE FAMILY, I WILL LET THE COMMUNITY KNOW OF HIS PROGRESS. PS: POSTING THIS IN MY JOURNAL SINCE THE NEWS FEED DIDN'T WORK! ADAM PLEASE FIX THIS!!!

Heart Valve Brothers and Sisters! On October 9, 2019 I completed 4 years since I had aortic valve and root replacement minimal invasive surgery. I feel 💯 never felt better. My advice to EVERYONE take care of your health both physically and mentally. Be with family, Slow down. Take a rest. Have a cookie. Have some green juice. Go to a concert. Go to a therapist. Go outside, in nature, put your phone away! Talk to God. Tell people and family you love them, Laugh until you pee your pants a little. LIVE your life while you still can. Thank you to my miracle worker Dr. Joseph Lamelas!

We are SO fortunate that Dr. Lamelas is back in Miami! He was my cardiac surgeon if anyone needs any feedback please let me know. They used to call him “GOD” at Mount Sinai Institute! He is a true miracle worker! http://med.miami.edu/news/uhealth-welcomes-internationally-renowned-cardiac-surgeon-joseph-lamelas-m.

I’m lucky to be alive and healthy to enjoy the 44 years today. I'm surrounded by people who will celebrate with me, who care about me. who see me and who love me. I thank my skilled surgeon and God for another chance in this earth! Our birthday is a chance to remember the day that a major event occurred, to celebrate and give thanks and to reflect upon how well you are still alive to celebrate the day you were born. I wish each and everyone a successful and upcoming surgeries. That's all for now time for a "Margarita" :)

Good evening to everyone in this community. If you are looking for the best surgeon in Baylor Houston, TX and one of the best in the world please do not think twice. He replaced my aortic valve 2 years ago with a Freestyle Aortic Root Heart Valve at Mt. Sinai Hospital in Miami Beach. He is well known throughout the space and he is a true miracle worker. Details are below. https://www.bcm.edu/healthcare/care-centers/cardiothoracic/procedures/minivalve?utm_source=google&utm_campaign=lamelas&utm_medium=cpc&_vsrefdom=lamelas-google

Greetings Heart Brothers and Heart Sisters, Two years ago I had minimal invasive aortic valve and root replacement. My Freestyle tissue valve (Porcine) has given me a new lease on life. I’m able to live the active lifestyle I lived before and I'm extremely blessed to be alive. It has improved my overall outlook and my ability to do things and enjoy life to the fullest. I wish each and everyone of you a quick and successful recovery and if you are getting ready to have an upcoming surgery sending positive vibes and best wishes. Thank you from the bottom of my heart Adam for this site! It helped me greatly through my journey.

Hi Adam, thank you very much for creating this website. I would like to bring something to your attention. I have noticed comments from patients in this forum asking about website privacy. How secure is this website? I don't see any encryption or SSL Secure Sockets Layer which is the standard security technology for establishing an encrypted link between a web server and a browser on your site. You have personal information from each of us and having the site not secured is of great concern and should be to you as well. Please look into this with a close eye and I suggest to make changes and protect your site and your followers identity and from having your site compromised.

Hope this helps everyone else in this wonderful community who will undergo heart surgery now or in the future! What happens when you wake up from surgery and suggestions. I know some of you are terrified about the chest tubes and IV but let me give you an honest overview on my experience. You need general anesthesia for this surgery. When you wake up in the ICU you may feel confused and scared that is normal. You will have a tube in your throat for breathing try to relax and breathe slowly and deeply. (Some people don't remember this at all. You will not be able to talk until the tube is removed. This tube will be removed as soon as you are breathing on your own. Your throat might be sore for a couple of days after the breathing tube is removed. I experienced that when I got discharged from the hospital only for 1 day. You will have multiple IV Lines inserted before surgery so that they can monitor your condition during and after surgery ( this is the normal process). You will have an IV in your neck and one in your arm to monitor fluid intake and blood pressure. (Didn't experience discomfort or pain after they pulled them out). You will also have tubes in your chest to drain excess fluid after surgery. The chest tubes were very uncomfortable and that was the most painful for me especially when I stood up to walk. Some other don't experience these kind of feelings but that is what bothered me the most. Also, you will have a catheter in your bladder as well. (This was painful when they pulled it but then the pain stopped). All my tubes and lines where removed in 2 days since I was progressing well. If those tubes are left longer it doesn't mean that you are doing there is always a reason for everything that is done. I had a temporary pacemaker (small blue wires in your chest after surgery) this are hooked to a pacemaker. During the surgery, the manipulation of your heart can affect your heart and rhythm (I never experienced Atrial Fibrillation but 60% of the patients do get this after surgery. If you get this a surgeon will prescribe medication). They removed this wire after 3 days of surgery. I was given medication through and IV until my breathing tube was removed. Once I was able to drink fluid I was given pills for the pain control. Whenever I had pain i reported immediately to the nurse. Don't be afraid to ask your nurse for pain medication. I was given pain medication every 4 hours but you MUST ask for it ( it will not be given automatically). When I woke up from surgery I was in bed and moved to a recliner for the rest of the day. My nurse helped me reposition me for comfort. To help my circulation I moved my feet up and down like waving hello with my feet. I also had to wear a nasal cannula which provides oxygen for 2-3 days until I had enough oxygen in the body and use the Incentive Spirometer (this is extremely important to prevent pneumonia) . I was extremely thirsty when I woke up from surgery but the doctor told me not to drink a lot of water the first few days. A good suggestion is to have ice chips to keep your mouth moist, then the diet is advanced to solid foods. The first two day after surgery was my most exciting and challenging days. All the lines and tubes were removed and got out of bed. The surgery part was easy because I was sleeping and everyone was working for me! After I was doing the work. There was so many activities that I needed to do to prevent complications and be able to return to my normal routine. I had a physical therapist each day while I was in the hospital. When I went home the physical therapist gave me a routine to follow. My cardiologist/surgeon didn't recommend cardiac rehab but most do attend these sessions. I had a recliner in my house ( this one is a MUST) since you need to be in a chair most of the day and not lying in bed to prevent blood clots. I had trouble sleeping the first few days at home but this is normal because of the anesthesia, medications and being in the hospital. Staying in a chair is very good for the lungs and enabled me to sleep better at night. I have heard that some patience become aggressive and confused after surgery (that was not the case for me) this usually goes away after a few days. Since I had a minimal invasive surgery procedure I had less physical limitations after surgery. I couldn't lift more than 20 pounds for 2 weeks and no driving within 4 weeks. The first 4 weeks after surgery I didn't consider starting a diet since the body needs calories and nutrition to heal. I restricted my fluids to 1500cc a day. This is approximately 6 glasses of fluid in one day. I started eating a well balanced diet with poultry, Dairy products, Vegetables, high fiber, fish, and fruit. I did however reduced salt intake in my diet since you retain fluid and will cause extra unneeded stress in the heart. There are many things that can happen after heart surgery, arrhythmias, atrial flutter, low hemoglobin levels or blood issues, and many more that could warrant a longer stay, but your attitude during any setbacks can make a huge difference in everything. Stay POSITIVE because once you get home your real recovery work begins!

Good evening to everyone in this community. If you are looking for the best surgeon in Baylor Houston, TX and one of the best in the world please do not think twice. He replaced my aortic valve 1 1/2 years ago with a Freestyle Aortic Root Heart Valve at Mt. Sinai Hospital in Miami Beach. He is well known throughout the space and he is a true miracle worker. Details are below. https://www.bcm.edu/healthcare/care-centers/cardiothoracic/procedures/minivalve?utm_source=google&utm_campaign=lamelas&utm_medium=cpc&_vsrefdom=lamelas-google

Good evening fellow Heart Brothers and Sisters, I'm switching employers on January 13, 2017. I will have a 3 month waiting period and need insurance that covers pre-existing conditions. I called United Health Care and the representative informed me that I would get denied. It it my understanding that all healthcare companies cover pre-existing conditions. Are they only referring to the Market Place insurance Obamacare? If I apply now the enrollment period will begin Feb 1st but I and the family can't be 14 days without insurance. I'm trying to get my employer to continue my insurance until April 14 hopefully he will accept. COBRA is not an option since we had less than 20 employees. Any information/suggestions provided will be highly appreciated. Thanks and wish each and everyone of you happy holidays and a healthy New 2017.

On Oct 9, 2016 I completed 1 year since I had my Minimal Invasive Surgery to replace my Aortic Valve and Aortic Root. I can't thank enough Mt Sinai Medical Center and especially Dr. Joseph Lamelas he is truly a miracle worker. My scars are a daily reminder of how incredibly lucky and grateful I am to be alive. There is no way truly to express the depth of my and my families appreciation. Dr. Lamelas is an amazing skilled surgeon and a compassionate doctor. Its truly an honor to know him. I highly recommend Dr. Joseph Lamelas he is the pioneer of minimal invasive surgery and has done over 13,000 procedures. He is currently stationed in Mt. Sinai but will be transferred at the end of the year to the Texas Heart Institute. I wish each and everyone great success with your upcoming surgeries. Shout out to all the members of this group who gave me words of encouragement.

HELP: What should be engraved on a Medical ID Bracelet. My Medtronic's medical ID CARD says "FreeStyle Aortic Root Heart Valve". I had minimal invasive aortic valve and root replacement. Not enough space to fit what I want to add. Any help will be greatly appreciated;-)

Hope this helps everyone else in this wonderful community who will undergo heart surgery now or in the future! What happens when you wake up from surgery and suggestions. I know some of you are terrified about the chest tubes and IV but let me give you an honest overview on my experience. You need general anesthesia for this surgery. When you wake up in the ICU you may feel confused and scared that is normal. You will have a tube in your throat for breathing try to relax and breathe slowly and deeply. (Some people don't remember this at all. You will not be able to talk until the tube is removed. This tube will be removed as soon as you are breathing on your own. Your throat might be sore for a couple of days after the breathing tube is removed. I experienced that when I got discharged from the hospital only for 1 day. You will have multiple IV Lines inserted before surgery so that they can monitor your condition during and after surgery ( this is the normal process). You will have an IV in your neck and one in your arm to monitor fluid intake and blood pressure. (Didn't experience discomfort or pain after they pulled them out). You will also have tubes in your chest to drain excess fluid after surgery. The chest tubes were very uncomfortable and that was the most painful for me especially when I stood up to walk. Some other don't experience these kind of feelings but that is what bothered me the most. Also, you will have a catheter in your bladder as well. (This was painful when they pulled it but then the pain stopped). All my tubes and lines where removed in 2 days since I was progressing well. If those tubes are left longer it doesn't mean that you are doing there is always a reason for everything that is done. I had a temporary pacemaker (small blue wires in your chest after surgery) this are hooked to a pacemaker. During the surgery, the manipulation of your heart can affect your heart and rhythm (I never experienced Atrial Fibrillation but 60% of the patients do get this after surgery. If you get this a surgeon will prescribe medication). They removed this wire after 3 days of surgery. I was given medication through and IV until my breathing tube was removed. Once I was able to drink fluid I was given pills for the pain control. Whenever I had pain i reported immediately to the nurse. Don't be afraid to ask your nurse for pain medication. I was given pain medication every 4 hours but you MUST ask for it ( it will not be given automatically). When I woke up from surgery I was in bed and moved to a recliner for the rest of the day. My nurse helped me reposition me for comfort. To help my circulation I moved my feet up and down like waving hello with my feet. I also had to wear a nasal cannula which provides oxygen for 2-3 days until I had enough oxygen in the body and use the Incentive Spirometer (this is extremely important to prevent pneumonia) . I was extremely thirsty when I woke up from surgery but the doctor told me not to drink a lot of water the first few days. A good suggestion is to have ice chips to keep your mouth moist, then the diet is advanced to solid foods. The first two day after surgery was my most exciting and challenging days. All the lines and tubes were removed and got out of bed. The surgery part was easy because I was sleeping and everyone was working for me! After I was doing the work. There was so many activities that I needed to do to prevent complications and be able to return to my normal routine. I had a physical therapist each day while I was in the hospital. When I went home the physical therapist gave me a routine to follow. My cardiologist/surgeon didn't recommend cardiac rehab but most do attend these sessions. I had a recliner in my house ( this one is a MUST) since you need to be in a chair most of the day and not lying in bed to prevent blood clots. I had trouble sleeping the first few days at home but this is normal because of the anesthesia, medications and being in the hospital. Staying in a chair is very good for the lungs and enabled me to sleep better at night. I have heard that some patience become aggressive and confused after surgery (that was not the case for me) this usually goes away after a few days. Since I had a minimal invasive surgery procedure I had less physical limitations after surgery. I couldn't lift more than 20 pounds for 2 weeks and no driving within 4 weeks. The first 4 weeks after surgery I didn't consider starting a diet since the body needs calories and nutrition to heal. I restricted my fluids to 1500cc a day. This is approximately 6 glasses of fluid in one day. I started eating a well balanced diet with poultry, Dairy products, Vegetables, high fiber, fish, and fruit. I did however reduced salt intake in my diet since you retain fluid and will cause extra unneeded stress in the heart. I'm almost 8 months post-up, I have never felt better in my life. There are many things that can happen after heart surgery, arrhythmias, atrial flutter, low hemoglobin levels or blood issues, and many more that could warrant a longer stay, but your attitude during any setbacks can make a huge difference in everything. Stay POSITIVE because once you get home your real recovery work begins!

Today marks 6 months post op for my minimal invasive aortic valve replacement and aneurysm repair, my valve is working like a pro stamina to the fullest, I want to check back to this site every now and then to see if I can lend a helping hand with a commentary and encourage everyone that will have or had surgery. I feel like a new man with my bionic pig valve "Oink" "Oink". I have to say Adams website was my lifeline when I was going through all the uncertainties of pre-op, post-op and the 'is this normal" kind of thinking. Would I do it again if I had to do it over? You bet I would. All the information and encouragement I found here was priceless. Education for me was the very key factor for my quick and uneventful recovery and also reading the encouraging words from other people here along with getting my mind right that things might be different, and YES it can even be better, was invaluable. Thank you Adam for creating and maintaining this website! And for those of you pre-op, life can and will be even much better for you if you set your mind to it and remain positive. I thank g-d for each and every day and my skilled surgeon for giving me a second chance to be live in this world. Life is very precious so enjoy it to the fullest. Good luck to everyone!!!

Greetings Heart Valve Community, I have not posted updates lately as I have been traveling overseas for work. Today, I had my 5 month post-op appointment with my cardiologist. He performed all tests and everything came back 100% normal (no enlarged heart!, no regurgitation, no aneurysms, my valve looks like a Mercedes Benz:-) I couldn't have asked for better news. I'm even happier that I can go Skiing at the end of March with my whole family. The best decision I have ever made. I learned so much about myself through this surgery. Wake up every morning and remember fall in love with yourself for when you love yourself you will do the best for your persona. I wish each and everyone of my heart-brothers and heart-sisters the best in your upcoming surgeries and a quick and swift recovery for the once who already had the surgery.

Christmas time is all about love, family, compassion and kindness but sometimes I think we get a bit too caught up giving gifts to our loved ones, eating prawns, and drinking champagne (well at least I know I do), and we forget that there are a lot of people out there that are far less fortunate than us. I haven’t done this at Christmas time before, but this morning I decided to go through my wardrobe and donate a whole heap of clothes, shoes, hats, jackets and toys to a local charity. An act of charity can be so simple, but can change someones day, or even life. I know I had done a good deed and feel so proud of it.

I would like to wish everyone in this community and family an outstanding Christmas day and Holiday Season. Remember how blessed you are and share those blessings with those less fortunate. It truely is a season of giving.

We are human, we are not perfect, we are alive, we try things, we stumble, we fail, we get hurt, we rise again, we try again, we keep learning, we keep growing, and let's be thankful for this priceless opportunity called LIFE! Now on the mends, post heart surgery I intend to enjoy another chance of life, every moment, every minute, every hour and every day I am here on this earth. Wake up each day thankful for your life someone somewhere is fighting for theirs.

For those who are having surgery now or in the near future I highly recommend Adams Book "The Patients Guide to Heart Valve Surgery". It's important to learn about heart valve surgery, preparing for the operation, and most importantly the recovery. Order the book online now!

Did anyone have pericardial effusion after surgery? I went for my 10 day check-up with my cardiologist and root and valve look amazing, no leakages but there is a moderate amount of liquid in the sac? This is very common after a surgery. I will be taking anti inflammatory medicine for 2 weeks and it should go away. Overall, the surgery was a complete success!!

New Aortic Root and Valve Replacement (Porcine) surgery Oct, 9 = COMPLETED. Now resting at home following my surgeons guidelines and exercises. If you are going for surgery or waiting to get scheduled for surgery I wish you the best of luck! It's EXTREMELY important to have family for comfort and support. MY WIFE WAS NEXT TO ME AT ALL TIMES, and all family members. I wish my mom had been next to me but she was in spirit cheering me up :-(My neighbors took out the trash bins and brought me prepared food and our friends took care of our kids 5 days while at hospital. Build your support system before surgery NOT after! If you don't have that possibility this community is full of outstanding individuals that have gone through the same exact processes and can provide personal opinions and suggestions. I wanted to send an update to all my buddies in this community. When I feel better I will write my whole surgery experience. Be well and good luck to each and everyone of you!

This is Enrique's wife posting.... His surgery for aortic valve & root replacement went well. He's now in ICU & recovering well and will be transferred to a private room late today. We thank you for prayers & good thoughts.

This is Enrique's wife posting.... His surgery for aortic valve & root replacement went well. He's now in ICU & recovering well and will be transferred to a private room late today. We thank you for prayers & good thoughts.

Ready to get my new bionic valve tomorrow at 7am at Mt. Sinai. Thanks to everyone that wished me good luck and sent well wishes. This community is full of people who really care about each other. I am so blessed to meet everyone. Will be back shortly:-)