Gotta Date!!!

[CathyK.]

Met with the surgeon yesterday and set a date of Feb. 9th. I thought about getting my heart fixed on Valentine's day. That would have been cute but decided if it didn't go like planned, maybe that would not be such a great day to have it on. So anyway, I go for pre-op registration on the 8th and report to the hospital at 6:00A.M on the 9th. I will be his first surgery that day. I am going with the biological. He thinks he will use the Carpenter-Edwards Perimont cow valve. He also uses the Mosaic pig valve but said he would probably use the cow on me. So there you go, another one going to the mountain!

 

[StretchL]

Congratulations on getting the date set, Cathy! You sound very at ease, which is awesome.

Could you please share who your surgeon is, and which hospital? Thanks!

 

[Karlynn]

Congratulations Miss Cathy! I know it will be a great day!

 

[CathyK.]

Stretch - It is Boone Hospital Center in Columbia, Mo. and the surgeon is Dr. Mellitt. You might like this little info. When I told him I was going with biological he stated that he had gone to a convention and out of 30 doctors that had valve repairs, only one had a mechanical. He said that the new research shows that being on Coumadin vs re-op have the about the same negatives. This Dr. wanted me to choose Mechanical when I saw him 6 months ago but I quess new research is coming out all the time. He still has nothing against Mechanical and stated if I were 10 yrs younger he would try to talk me into a Mechanical valve.

Karlynn - Thank you!! I sure hope the day will be a great one! I do have to confess, the nerves are starting to climb up on me.

 

[WayneGM]

Congratulations on the date! All the best.

 

[readsforfun]

Date Set!

Date Set!

Hey Cathy:

A big CONGRATS! on getting your date set. For what it's worth, my cardiologist told me that because I was 64 I could choose either tissue or mechanical and be relatively safe on either choice. However, he suggested I look strongly at the tissue valves because they had improved so much and because the "longevity" issue was becoming better and better. Obviously, I need to discuss with surgeon and then make my own choice, but thought you might be interested in what my cardiologist thought.

Good luck to you. I'll be praying for you.

Jan

 

[Phyllis]

Congratulations, Cathy. Now you will most likely being mooing along with all the other cow valvers. Best wishes for a successful surgery and uneventful recovery. You sound more than ready!

 

[Mary]

I just put you on the calendar, Cathy!

 

[CathyK.]

Thanks to all of you for your input in the last couple of months. I so appreciate all your stories and replies to all the posts. It has helped me to be calm during this whole ordeal.

Jan - my dr. also let me decide. He would only tell me these things after my decision was made. I don't think he wanted to sway me one way or another. Either would have been fine with him. I think he was just making me feel that my decision was fine and he probably would have done that if I had chosen mechanical. He really does not have a personal preference.

Thanks Everyone for getting me to this point!!!

 

[RandyL]

Congrats on your decision! You sound like you ready for the hike up the mountain. CYA on the other side.

 

[Marguerite53]

Here's a friendly Mooooo to Youuuuu!!

But whichever valve you end up with....it will save your life! That's the BEST part!

Your emotions will now be on a rollercoaster so get yourself strapped in! Then afew days before your surgery, that ride will be over and you'll find an inner resolve that you didn't know you had. So worry not!! We're here for you so keep us in mind.

I hear confidence in your voice. That is wonderful. It's a tough little hike over the mountain, but you'll do great!

Marguerite

 

[susieq14]

Cathy,

Good News and Good Luck for you! (from someone who is getting very bored in the waiting room. )

I wish you all the best as you prepare yourself for your big day and of course send lots of positive thoughts for an uneventful surgery!

Take Care!
susie

 

[lynn]

Welcome to the MOO club....congrats on a final date!

 

[ruth]

Congratulations on getting your date! I remember being sooooo happy about that.

I remember asking the surgeon if I could choose between the cow & pig tissue valves and she said no, that would have to be her call when she got in there, that they had different shapes/sizes and she would go with the absolute best fit for me based upon what she saw once she had my heart open. I thought that was interesting. I ended up having a repair so I don't even HAVE an artificial valve of any type, but at the time I was asking a lot of questions. Nobody, not even my surgeon, really thought my valve was repairable but the surgeon was adamant that no matter how certain it looks like replacement, they always leave open the off chance that a repair will be possible once the surgery is in process.

I wish you all the best for a successful surgery and uneventful recovery!

Ruth

 

[CathyK.]

Thanks everyone I don't think I could have gotten here with the confidence I have without you all!

Ruth - I was kinda wondering about a repair but before I could ask my Dr. said that my valve had calcified and is smaller that should be so a repair can not be done. So I don't think I will even fall into the .5%. But you are so right about things not being in concrete until they open you up and see what they have to work with.

Marguerite - I think that rollercoaster is on it's way to pick me up. I do have all my ducks (or should I say cows) in a row so that helps with the confidence.

Susie - hang in there. The waiting does suck but at least that gives you time to get prepared. Good luck!

Thanks Lynn and Randy!