Joy's Journal

Kathi Mancuso  Glad I found this post as I was wondering about you !!
So glad to hear you did great..... mine was n the 17 also

Michelle Vecchione  so great to hear they were able to do repair over replacement!!! Awesome news, ill be praying for a speedy non eventfful recovery!.

Cara Noble  Thoughts and prayers for you and your husband. I read your story and it has helped to hear someone else say that the surgery was for us and the other loved ones in our lives to make sure we are around for a long time. I look forward to your entries from the othe side of this.

Joy Hall  Thanks Cara. I took a few days off work before the surgery just to focus on Hubby and oersin all responsibiloties.. still overwhelm8ng, but more peacefulness is finding it's way to me. Good luck to you too!

Paul Jenkins  I had one on Wednesday this week. They said 1:30 pm a week in advance and I had it at 1:20 pm. Seems unreasonable that your hospital can't give you a time. The last thing you need is a horrible experience.

Joy Hall  Totally agree!! The only response I could get was "You'll just have to work it out." I'm just glad to know what to expect with this procedure already.

Joy Hall  Hmmm.. if you were able to get that type of comittment on a time slot, maybe I should return the hospital's call to see if they can give me a definite time slot instead of going through my cardiologist's cath lab. Sounds like if I were diabetic, this wouldn't be an issue here!

Amy Steele  Ugh! I can relate to waiting for procedures before my surgery... It took two times to finally get me in for my pre-op cath. The first try, my cardiologist, who was already running several hours behind, rearranged the schedule and took another patient ahead of me. Unfortunately, that procedure took a turn for the worse and took much longer than anticipated. After 6 hours prepped and waiting in the pre-cath area, we were told that it would be another 3 to 4 hours before the doctor would be ready. We ended up rescheduling and going home. The second time, I ended up staying overnight since my blood pressure bottomed out and I fainted on my way out of the hospital... I won't even get started on how chronically late my appointments with my cardiologist (who I have been seeing for 20 years) and surgeon have been... My waits with both of them are usually at least an hour past my scheduled appointment time. I was supposed to see my surgeon yesterday, but got no advanced warning that he wasn't in the office and they even told me when I checked in at the front desk that he was there... An hour after my appointment time, they made an announcement that he should be there 'soon'... Based on my past experience, I bailed and rescheduled. Another afternoon wasted and I'll have to try again next week.

Paul Jenkins  Do you have any flexibility in your choice of hospitals? If so it may be worth shopping around or maybe mention the lack of patient centered care to the hospital's patient advocate or your surgeon.

Joy Hall  Omg, Monday I'm definitely calling to shop around. The 1st time this happened to me my cardiologist wanted to do it in their cath lab, but then Cigna demanded at the last minute it had to be done at Morton Plant. I thought that was the reason was the delay - because they were trying to fit me in at the last minute. This time is different and I know what I'm asking about!!! At least time I don't have a life vest strapped to me trying to figure this all out totally wigged out in fear!!

Paul Jenkins  I noticed that Morton Plant has quite a low ranking for heart surgery. So if you do have options and can travel its definitely worth doing some googling and looking around.

http://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals/area/fl/morton-plant-hospital-6390090/cardiology-and-heart-surgery

Steve Farthing  Paul - Actually Morton Plant is High Performing for heart surgery and aortic valve replacement by USNEWS. Tricuspid procedures are never ranked so aortic is the closest category for Joy.

Joy Hall  Thanks for the info and the clarification for apples to apples comparisons. Travel is not an option for this and Morton Plan has the best reputation in the area outside of maybe Tampa General. I'm confident I'm in good hands based on what I've experienced with them so far. Maybe if I"m lucky I'll have a room overlooking the Gulf. :-)