Adam Pick's Book

[JudithD23]

I read in a post that there are some that like the book and others that really dislike it. What's the "story" here? Is there misinformation?

Again, thanks for all the posts on all the threads; i'm feeling better and better about my husband's future aortic valve replacement and potential a-fib surgery/ablation. But I'm wondering and thinking there might be more of a risk with doing both the replacement and a-fib treatment. Any thoughts?

Judith

 

[Curtsmum]

I read in a post that there are some that like the book and others that really dislike it. What's the "story" here? Is there misinformation

Just a quick note to say i have a copy of Adams book and would pass it on for free, if anybody feels that it can help them.

 

[Cooker]

I read in a post that there are some that like the book and others that really dislike it. What's the "story" here? Is there misinformation?

Again, thanks for all the posts on all the threads; i'm feeling better and better about my husband's future aortic valve replacement and potential a-fib surgery/ablation. But I'm wondering and thinking there might be more of a risk with doing both the replacement and a-fib treatment. Any thoughts?

Judith

Judith,
I had AVR and ablation at the same time. My sugeon was/is tops and did not see any reason not to do both. I am doing very well and have had no return of a-fib. I wish your husband the best.

 

[kfay]

Judith, I think it is common to do multiple things once they have you open if you need it. I am going to have my tricuspid valve replaced, close an asd, have a maze procdure (this is what you are talking about for the a-fib) and possibly a glenn shunt all in one surgery.

Kim

 

[Adrienne]

I had a mitral valve repair and a maze procedure at the same time. With the Maze procedure, which is supposed to be the best for curing A-Fib, they usually won't do it unless you are going in for valve surgery, since they have to do OHS to do it. With a pulmonary vein ablation, they do it percutaneously, but I believe the Maze is the best method if you are going to be open anyway.

 

[Philip B]

Book Question

Book Question

Judith,

Regarding your question about Adam's book and the comment I made in my post, recently there was rather heated discussion concerning marketing strategies used to promote the book. Please don't interpret my post as a negative comment about Adam or his book. The comment was simply made to illustrate that members of this group are a diverse and sometimes very opinionated bunch. This diversity and the different perspectives that can result are not a bad thing.

Forum members are a supportive bunch. Again, welcome.

-Philip

 

[JudithD23]

Judith,
I had AVR and ablation at the same time. My sugeon was/is tops and did not see any reason not to do both. I am doing very well and have had no return of a-fib. I wish your husband the best.

Cooker, who was your surgeon and did you travel to him/her?

Thanks, Judith

 

[Susan BAV]

My husband and I traveled about three hours for surgery and it wasn't terribly convenient but we found a surgeon we were wild about and are happy with how it worked out. Post-op complications are evidently not uncommon and I did develop post-op A-fib/A-flutter a week later and did not want to go to a local (crummy) hospital. So we hemmed and hawed because we were just so happy to be home but eventually we had to drag my ill self back up to the original hospital for a few more days to be put on a med. It all worked out well but was a little more stressful at the time than it could have been had the hospital/surgeon/cardio been closer. But part of the stress was related to simultaneous wildfires that were roaring through southern California.

Also, consulting with more than one surgeon is not uncommon for members here. We consulted with three of them.

 

[Hank]

The Book

The Book

Judith,

I have read the book from cover to cover (8 years after my valve replacement surgery) and one of the main thoughts that I had in mind as I read it was that I sure wish I would have had that information before my surgery.

No matter what our resource is for information, we should alwaysseek out as many different sources for information as possible. No one source is complete, and the only way to truly know what we need to know before surgery is to read/ask/read/ask/talk/ask/read/think...... and so on and so on.

This forum is an integral tool in that education process and I am glad that you are here to learn from so many wonderful people.

Thanks,

 

[aussie girl]

Judith,

When I was told I needed AVR I started researching and reading everything I could find to help me understand what I was going to be going through, there was a lot of technical advise but very little about what to expect when in hospital and during the recovery. When I found Adam's book it gave me this information and helped me to understand the emotional things I would be going through. It was also through Adam's book that I found VR.COM and for that I will be eternally grateful. Reading Adams account of his operation and then reading the experiences of everyone here helped me cope and have a much easier time in recovery.

Mary

 

[starrman]

Adam Pick's Book

I read the book before my surgery, as did my mom, brother, wife, and my business partner. For me it was an invaluable source of information for a first time (and hopefully last) open heart surgery patient. I would recommend it based on my experience - if you look closely on his site you may see the 12-10-07 blog entry that I wrote 30 days after my surgery. I did it only to help others and if you choose to read it, I hope it helps you and your husband.


P.S. Actually it was his book that lead me here to VR.com after my surgery.

 

[JudithD23]

I have read Adam Pick's book and that's also how I came to this site. In a sense I appreciate the book even more because Adam didn't exactly have a smooth rehabilitation. I think the fact that he revealed it all makes it invaluable.

Thank you Adam Pick.

 

[catwoman]

I agree that you should always get as much information from as many sources as possible about almost ANYTHING you are contemplating doing (home remodeling, going to college, getting married, having surgery, etc.).

Nothing in life is perfect or complete.
Biases/preferences influence how/what/how much information is presented about anything.
I learned that very quickly as a reporter. Reporters are supposed to be objective, but when you start analyzing word selection, you realize very quickly that subtle subconscious biases creep into even the most "objective" writer's work.
Sometimes information is omitted, perhaps because it was considered inconsequential, because it was not considered within the scope of the research, etc.
That extends to talking to people about their surgeries. Some sail through it without any complications, some have a few and others have a real struggle.

 

[CHDDoug]

Adam's book

Adam's book

I read the book soon after I found out that I'd be having surgery (and so did my wife). I thought that the book was excellent! I would recommend it to anyone...as someone else said, an invaluable source of info that you may not get elsewhere. It was more of what he experienced personally, and then some suggestions/info on what to expect along with what he would recommend if he had to do it over again.

Just my opinion...great book and a suggested reading for anyone that is going into heart surgery, and also family members/friends for someone that they know is going into heart surgery.

Thanks,
Doug