Michael Ponzio - Heart Valve Journal

My Journal

Michael Ponzioposted an update

9 days ago

Tammy Gonzalez, Kimberly Eisenhut reacted to this

Best wishes for Patrick and Tim on their successful surgery and speedy recovery.

Michael Ponzioposted an update

10 days ago

Michelle Persson, Suzanne Grindle reacted to this

I hope that everyone is doing well and are experiencing God‘s blessings. I wanted to inquire and see if anyone is experiencing or has experienced in the past ...Read more

I hope that everyone is doing well and are experiencing God‘s blessings. I wanted to inquire and see if anyone is experiencing or has experienced in the past tremendous amounts of anxiety over their heart condition. I have my surgery on March 19 and I am having a difficult time With anxiety. Any help or suggestions I would greatly appreciate. Thank you.

Pamela Gregory I had huge anxiety about my surgery!!! I had a lot of sleepless nights and tears. Kind of thought I ... Read more

Pamela Gregory I had huge anxiety about my surgery!!! I had a lot of sleepless nights and tears. Kind of thought I might have a nervous breakdown actually. Here is the good news: The actual surgery (AVR replacement and aortic root replacement) was no where near what my brain had worried about. Survival and pain were my biggest fears. They definitely have the means to keep the pain at a bearable level. I am the biggest wimp about pain that I know, so I say with confidence that you can definitely do this!!!

Marie Myers I suffered from fear and anxiety prior to my surgery also. I found that yoga and meditation helped me ... Read more

Marie Myers I suffered from fear and anxiety prior to my surgery also. I found that yoga and meditation helped me. I found lots of “calming” and “acceptance “ videos on U Tube and those helped me also. I asked my doc for some anxiety medication, and when my mind was really wound up at night, I took a .25 mg alprazolam (Xanax). Like Pamela’s post above, I found that the whole experience did not live up to what my worrying mind would have me believe. The specific things that i worried about (waking up intubated, pain, recovery ) went much easier than I had anticipated. Are there any specific things you are concerned about?

Michael Ponzio Thank you for the encouraging words. Definitely helps. My biggest fear is that something will happen ... Read more

Michael Ponzio Thank you for the encouraging words. Definitely helps. My biggest fear is that something will happen to me before I even get the surgery. Every little thing I feel like in my chest or with my breathing I fear something is happening like a heart attack. Then my heart starts racing ughh it’s a nightmare. I had an ultrasound in December and had consult with surgeon in January. I guess they would have planned the surgery earlier than March if they felt necessary. Thanks for listening guys. I appreciate it.

Richard Munson Fear is normal. Keep asking yourself what your life will be like if you do nothing. Then it becomes a ... Read more

Richard Munson Fear is normal. Keep asking yourself what your life will be like if you do nothing. Then it becomes a no brainer.

Susan Lynn Michael- You're going through the most difficult part of heart surgery right now - waiting! We all ... Read more

Susan Lynn Michael- You're going through the most difficult part of heart surgery right now - waiting! We all felt that anxiety, but feel good knowing that once you arrive at the hospital for your procedure, the worst is behind you. Everything else is completely doable! We did it - you can, too! We'll be with you every step of the way!

Rita Savelis Oh gosh, you are oh so normal. Talking to a counselor can help. Taking some anti anxiety meds can hel ... Read more

Rita Savelis Oh gosh, you are oh so normal. Talking to a counselor can help. Taking some anti anxiety meds can help. Doing whatever helps you to feel more relaxed. Being vocal with your doctors is good. But it's hard not to be anxious. Just sit with it and know that it is normal. Ultimately this surgery is very banal and surgeons are experienced. You don't have to perform surgery - so don't stress over that. You just have to go through a recovery. I was exhausted and in discomfort and then as each day went by I got better. It doesn't sound like your surgery is an emergency surgery so trust your doctors. Take care.

Civita Fahey I think we all have anxiety over our conditions. I know I never did until then. Mine got worse after ... Read more

Civita Fahey I think we all have anxiety over our conditions. I know I never did until then. Mine got worse after my surgery as I was obsessed with my heart rate what I could and couldn't do. time has helped, but in the long run, we will always have some. I'm on a very low dose of anti-anxiety and it helps take the sting off.

Michael Ponzio I appreciate all the support and encouragement from you guys. Tremendously grateful and appreciate al ... Read more

Michael Ponzio I appreciate all the support and encouragement from you guys. Tremendously grateful and appreciate all the advice. Thank you.

Klara Čičić I am with Richard. Just try to repeat to yourself how lucky you are to have a surgery that will fix y ... Read more

Klara Čičić I am with Richard. Just try to repeat to yourself how lucky you are to have a surgery that will fix your heart and grant you more healthy years. Without it, it is sure and steady worsening..... It is routine surgery in experienced hands and statistics are really on your side. I am naturally more anxious person, but I couldn't wait for my surgery, I was more excited than fearful. Today, my anxiety is worse than before, but that's another story :)) And ofcourse, this wonderful site and these heart warriors helped tremendously in releaving the anxiety....reading succesful stories from real people... You can do this!!!

J Alexander Lassally I wish I had a magic elixir, but I don't ... Anxiety before cadiac surgery is just plain intense. Kn ... Read more

J Alexander Lassally I wish I had a magic elixir, but I don't ... Anxiety before cadiac surgery is just plain intense. Know you are not alone and it is okay to be selfish and do what you need to do...