End of March traveling to the US for my OHS

[extraordinary]

Hello,

I'm a 24 years old Female, I have a CHD ( aortic valve stenosis and regurgitation ) done 2 surgeries to fix the valve since i was too young to replace it, now that I'm 24 it's time to replace the valve, and i choose to go with a mechanical valve since i don't want to have another OHS any time soon, I'll have my surgery done at the cleveland clinic, Ohio … as my second surgery was done in Cleveland clinic as well but the surgeon who operated on me when i was 9 years DR, Mee has passed away so sure this time it will be another surgeon

what you think of the cleveland clinic for a 3rd redo
who had experience with them ? and how was it ?
what is the plan before the surgery? and does it felt after ..
when i think about it i always get stressed especially that only 3 months ago i had my new baby born and he will be staying home while i'll travel for my surgery..

I would like a detailed experience with the one who had a redo, and how it felt after the surgery

when i think about the surgery the negative thoughts comes with it but i also try to stop my self from thinking that way and stay positive but it's hard not to have a mixed thoughts of what will happen

 

[RobThatsMe]

I had my redo done at the Cleveland Clinic, They were great!
They do so many heart surgeries there, that they have seen and dealt with most every situation.
My plan prior to the surgery was to be as healthy as possible to help me get through it, and to seek out the best doctors and facility to perform my surgery.
Pannus tissue was blocking my mechanical valve from functioning.
I really didn't have a choice, because if I did not have the surgery, they projected that I may only have about 6 months left to live.
So my focus was on lets get this done by the best I could find, and move on with the joy of life.
I should also point out that the doctors at the Clev Clinic also found an issue, an aneurism), that all of my other doctors missed!
I had 2 surgeons operating on me for 13.5 hrs.

Do you know who your surgeon will be at the Cleveland Clinic?

You will do fine there, Fixing hearts is what they do best!
Wishing you a very successful surgery and a full and speedy recovery.

Rob

 

[extraordinary]

I had my redo done at the Cleveland Clinic, They were great!
They do so many heart surgeries there, that they have seen and dealt with most every situation.
My plan prior to the surgery was to be as healthy as possible to help me get through it, and to seek out the best doctors and facility to perform my surgery.
Pannus tissue was blocking my mechanical valve from functioning.
I really didn't have a choice, because if I did not have the surgery, they projected that I may only have about 6 months left to live.
So my focus was on lets get this done by the best I could find, and move on with the joy of life.
I should also point out that the doctors at the Clev Clinic also found an issue, an aneurism), that all of my other doctors missed!
I had 2 surgeons operating on me for 13.5 hrs.

Do you know who your surgeon will be at the Cleveland Clinic?

You will do fine there, Fixing hearts is what they do best!
Wishing you a very successful surgery and a full and speedy recovery.

Rob

it's good to hear this ..

it's written that my surgeon gonna be Gosta petterson, MD
who was yourS ?
and how many months it took for you to get back to your normal life

 

[ChicagoMom]

My oldest daughter was 6 months old when I had my first surgery. I did find it hard. I didn't have to travel, but didn't see her for the 7 days I was in the hospital. It was so nice coming home to her though. She was so happy to see me and so will your little baby. My youngest (I now have three) is 20 months old and I am so sad to be leaving her for a week. The older two will understand a little. She was so mad with me when I was in hospital for 5 days last week. 3 months is a good age. He/She is too young to be mad with you. Baby will miss you of course, but be so happy to see you again!

Good luck.

 

[extraordinary]

My oldest daughter was 6 months old when I had my first surgery. I did find it hard. I didn't have to travel, but didn't see her for the 7 days I was in the hospital. It was so nice coming home to her though. She was so happy to see me and so will your little baby. My youngest (I now have three) is 20 months old and I am so sad to be leaving her for a week. The older two will understand a little. She was so mad with me when I was in hospital for 5 days last week. 3 months is a good age. He/She is too young to be mad with you. Baby will miss you of course, but be so happy to see you again!

Good luck.

yes that's why i choose to do the surgery now than later when he is older and knows what's going on around, It will be hard for me for him he don't understand muc yet… I'm gonna be away for a month at least because I'm from Kuwait and US is very far away to be going home that soon …
was it a valve replacement surgery ?

 

[ChicagoMom]

I'm gonna be away for a month at least because I'm from Kuwait and US is very far away to be going home that soon …
was it a valve replacement surgery ?

I'm so sorry it's for so long. A month will be really tough. Will you be able to Skype at all? At least then he'll hear you voice and you can see him too.

Yes. I had my Mitral replaced in 2006 and I'm getting my Aortic and possibly Mitral done in 2 weeks.

 

[extraordinary]

I'm so sorry it's for so long. A month will be really tough. Will you be able to Skype at all? At least then he'll hear you voice and you can see him too.

Yes. I had my Mitral replaced in 2006 and I'm getting my Aortic and possibly Mitral done in 2 weeks.

Yes I'm going to tango all the time ..
wish you all the best in the surgery … where you going to have you surgery done ?
so our surgery time is almost the same
hope to hear from your afterwards

 

[RobThatsMe]

it's good to hear this ..

it's written that my surgeon gonna be Gosta petterson, MD
who was yourS ?
and how many months it took for you to get back to your normal life

My surgeon was also Dr. Gosta Petterson, and Dr. Roselli.
Dr. Petterson is one of the best, you are truly in good hands!

My surgery was very complex, it was a valve replacement redo, plus with both an aortic dissection and an aneurysm. I was in hospital for 30 days, and then it took several months for me to really begin to feel better.

 

[ChicagoMom]

Yes I'm going to tango all the time ..
wish you all the best in the surgery … where you going to have you surgery done ?
so our surgery time is almost the same
hope to hear from your afterwards

Glad you can Tango. That's great.

My surgery is in Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago. Dr. Patrick McCarthy is my surgeon. He was at the Cleveland Clinic before here. We will both be on the other side soon enough thankfully!

 

[Duffey]

Cleveland Clinic is one of the very best places for your type of surgery so I'm positive you will have a good outcome. Best wishes going forward.:smile2:

 

[Seanskx]

Hello,

when i think about the surgery the negative thoughts comes with it but i also try to stop my self from thinking that way and stay positive but it's hard not to have a mixed thoughts of what will happen

Hi Extraordinary,

I had just went through my AVR last week. However im facing the surgery for the first time so not REOP. I know you worry about the higher chance of RISK in REOP. but nv worry! Because worry won't help much on that.

MY surgeon is trained from cleveland clinic too for 4years too! I guess cleveland is probably best and good place to handle AVR surgery. NO worries~
I do have negative thoughts when facing this surgery. At that moment of time, I do thought i will always fall into the negative %% of risk whereby face the "death" even thou im facing 1-2% risk. H
owever after going through and back on feet for less than 10days, I regret for worry things which does not exist at all.
I know im easy saying cos i have successfully reached another side. But trust me, Just believe in your surgeon and yourself, you will sure ride through this tough period.
I see you on the other side
sean

 

[extraordinary]

Hi Extraordinary,

I had just went through my AVR last week. However im facing the surgery for the first time so not REOP. I know you worry about the higher chance of RISK in REOP. but nv worry! Because worry won't help much on that.

MY surgeon is trained from cleveland clinic too for 4years too! I guess cleveland is probably best and good place to handle AVR surgery. NO worries~
I do have negative thoughts when facing this surgery. At that moment of time, I do thought i will always fall into the negative %% of risk whereby face the "death" even thou im facing 1-2% risk. H
owever after going through and back on feet for less than 10days, I regret for worry things which does not exist at all.
I know im easy saying cos i have successfully reached another side. But trust me, Just believe in your surgeon and yourself, you will sure ride through this tough period.
I see you on the other side
sean

happy that you made it through <3
how long since your operation ? and how you felt afterwards ?
what valve you've choose ?
and how old are you ?

 

[extraordinary]

Cleveland Clinic is one of the very best places for your type of surgery so I'm positive you will have a good outcome. Best wishes going forward.:smile2:

thanks <3
hopefully

 

[extraordinary]

My surgeon was also Dr. Gosta Petterson, and Dr. Roselli.
Dr. Petterson is one of the best, you are truly in good hands!

My surgery was very complex, it was a valve replacement redo, plus with both an aortic dissection and an aneurysm. I was in hospital for 30 days, and then it took several months for me to really begin to feel better.

it's very comforting to hear that…
I'm glad that you made it through and felt better finally

 

[Lynlw]

I'm pretty sure Dr Mee is still alive, just not at CCF unless he passed away recently and I didnt hear about it, from what I can remember w/ my 50+ old brain, there was some big fights at CCF about 10 years ago, I don't remember what all it was about,(NOT anything Mee was doing) but Dr Mee retired shortly after that, it was pretty quickly, babies who had their surgeries scheduled w/ him, (parents) had to decide whether to stay at CCF or go else where pretty much at the last min, make new travel arrangements ... all worked out, and Dr Mee sadly retired to Australia and as far as I know is active in research, but doesn't operate any more. (If he died recently I'm sorry to hear that, he was a wealth of information and a great and caring man)

 

[RobThatsMe]

it's very comforting to hear that…
I'm glad that you made it through and felt better finally

Thanks, yes the 2nd valve redo was more complex, but all and all, I am doing ok!
My first valve replacement went real easy, I was only in hospital for 6 days, and then after 6 weeks, was in Hawaii for 2 weeks on holiday!