Judith O'Driscoll - Heart Valve Journal

My Journal

299 days ago

I am so appreciative of this website and community! I have 2 issues that I'm wondering if others have had. I had robotic mitral valve repair in May 2023. ...Read more

I am so appreciative of this website and community! I have 2 issues that I'm wondering if others have had. I had robotic mitral valve repair in May 2023. It was unsuccessful - no lessening of regurgitation. 10 weeks later in mid-July 2023 I had open heart re-repair. In addition to the mitral valve repair, I had tricuspid valve repair. The surgery was successful but I got a deep sternal wound infection that was finally addressed with emergency debridement surgery 5 weeks after the open heart surgery. In December 2023, after months of stabbing pains in my upper abdomen, one of the pacing wires that had been cut off at skin level after surgery protruded through my chest. Has this happened to anyone else? Shortly after that I started having episodes of vertigo and right side limb weakness that made me think I was having a stroke. Has this happened to anyone else? It would be great if these issues were touched on in the webinar today. Thanks for reading.

J Alexander Lassally Hi Judith - Sounds like quite an ordeal. How horrible to have a failed robotic experience and then ha ... Read more

J Alexander Lassally Hi Judith - Sounds like quite an ordeal. How horrible to have a failed robotic experience and then have to go back for the next round. That is unacceptable. Was it NYU or Columbia Pres.?

Your case sounds pretty unique - hoping someone can shed light....

Andrea Babcock Oh No Judith. Our heart goes out to you. Hoping your situation will be repaired and will heal and you ... Read more

Andrea Babcock Oh No Judith. Our heart goes out to you. Hoping your situation will be repaired and will heal and you will feel better soon. I would think this is a very unusual situation.

Andrea Babcock They pulled out the wires on Dean and even so that hurt when they pulled the wires he has zero issues ... Read more

Andrea Babcock They pulled out the wires on Dean and even so that hurt when they pulled the wires he has zero issues. They put 1 stitch in where the wires came out. I am talking about the little wires into the heart that they just have there to read heart activity while in the hospital, not the wires that keep the sternum together. He has not had pain there since the wires were pulled.

Anna Ma Oh I'm so sorry to hear about what you have been through. Did you have all of these in the same hospi ... Read more

Anna Ma Oh I'm so sorry to hear about what you have been through. Did you have all of these in the same hospital, is it possible to change hospital and care team?

Judith O'Driscoll Thanks so much all for your kind thoughts. After the robotic surgery I did change hospitals and surg ... Read more

Judith O'Driscoll Thanks so much all for your kind thoughts. After the robotic surgery I did change hospitals and surgeons. I guess I was just unlucky.....

DeWayne Adamson They cut mine off and left the wire inside. They said it's risky to pull it out, could cause bleeding ... Read more

DeWayne Adamson They cut mine off and left the wire inside. They said it's risky to pull it out, could cause bleeding. I haven't noticed anything. Sternum wire broke but that's a different thing.

Jill Porter Yes Yes Yes!! I had an epicardial pacing wire protrude from right below my right breast. At first it ... Read more

Jill Porter Yes Yes Yes!! I had an epicardial pacing wire protrude from right below my right breast. At first it just felt like a small lump and I thought it was cancer. I had to wait 4 weeks to see the gynecologist but in the mean time I went to see my PCP and she sent me for an ultra sound. While waiting for the appointment I began to have a lot of pain, especially on contact. Turns out it was one of the pacer wires that they had cut at the skin surface popping out. Luckily the procedure to fix it was a quick in office thing followed by immediate relief. I could not have the wires removed at the hospital because I was there for too long and they had become embedded and the risk of bleeding would have been great.

Judith O'Driscoll Jill - Thank you for letting me know I am not the only one - that is exactly my experience!

Kathy Ozio Oh my goodness, you've been through a lot. Glad you got another hospital. How are you doing now?

Judith O'Driscoll Kathy - thank you! I am about 90% at this point I think. I have started taking a low dose aspirin. ... Read more

Judith O'Driscoll Kathy - thank you! I am about 90% at this point I think. I have started taking a low dose aspirin. I do think there might be more pacing wire trying to come out though.