Hello Ya'll

[tiggerangelgirl]

I'm so sorry it has been so long since I had been able to get up in here and post .I had lost my log in information and didint know how to get back in. The last two years had been going great I have been going to collge and started nursing school this past January. The girls are getting so big and things had been going great!!!!!, but,
about three months ago I started become very short of Breath and my fluid began to build up and I went back into congestive heart failure, I went through a TEE and it showed that my tricupsid valve is severly leaking again and now also my mitral and aortic. Has anyone ever had any type of problem so soon after valve reapair. it has only been two years and now my tricupsid is worse and the aortic and mitral are moderate severe. I was suppose to be leaving for the Mayo Clinic at Rochester, Minnesota on tues the 27th for appoontmants on the 28 but my doctors wont let me fly because they say I'm to sick. Can anyone recomend a really good heart surgeon or practice around my area, that would be eithier in the Duke or greenville, really anywhere there. I'm scared to go back to greenville because that is where they messed up and paralyzed my diaphram and gave me the run around about trearment. This is where my reg. Cardio wants to send me. Tha Mayo clinic doctors will do my surgery but first they want me to have most of my testeing done here because they dont take medicaid at the Mayo and medicare only pays 80%, so please any suggestions would be appreciated.
Please keep me in prayer I have been really sick and was praying that this trip would run smoothly and get me fixed up and now I got all this stress added on top, I just want someone to tell me that it can be fixed this time, I cant take what happen to me last time, I dont have the strength or the fight and although I love and serve the lord its really hard sometimes and I just need that extra support. I know that I can count on you all. you helped me through so much last time and it really meant a lot. I have an appointment tomorrow and eithier he is sending me to greenville hospitial or can find another Doctor who is good, maybe even in the virginia area?????? Any prayers and suggestions will be appreciated. Thanks and God Bless

 

[Bryan B]

Nicole,

I had my Ross Procedure at Duke and I was impressed at the quality of care I recieved. Their surgeons work as a team, so you will get the best surgeon for your particular situation. Here is a link to my surgeons profile:

http://www.dukehealth.org/physicians/2A437D6CE9E8C1EC85256DFD006A92B6

I would highly recommend getting in touch with his office and explaining your situation with them. Dr. Jaggers is one of the best out there as is the rest of their team. Let me know if I can help in any way.

Bryan

 

[hensylee]

well, hello, Nicole. So nice to hear from you and know that you have had some good things happening in your life. I am sorry that you have such a huge setback. I don't know of any facilities, but do want you to know that you are so special to us with your great spirit in all that you have gone through. It sounds like you have truly made use of your 'well' time in going on with your education. God bless you and keep you safe. The others are coming to wish you well, too, and maybe help with some info. Just give them a little time to get here. Won't they be happy to see you, like I am! Take care.

 

[twinmaker]

Hey Nicole, I just moved here to North Carolina about three months ago, and I've already heard several people mention Duke Medical Center. I live in the Charlotte area and have a cardiologist here, but if I needed surgery, I would consider Duke. I'm a firm believer in teaching hospitals. I've been a patient at, what I've believe, are some of the best teaching hospitals...Johns Hopkins and Emory. If you do a Google search on Duke Medical Center, you will find their web page, and then go to their cardiology section and they have about three pages of cardiologists' names and the info on how to get an appointment with one. Hope this helps a little. LINDA

 

[Karlynn]

Hi Nicole - I was just thinking about you yesterday, wondering how you were doing. I'm so glad you posted, but I'm so sorry that you are not doing well. You have much more strength than the average human, given all you've been through, and I know you will find the strength to get through this. Valve repairs do fail at times. There are members here that can testify to that. I'm sure with your complicated issues that it probably isn't a huge surprise to the doctors.

For what it's worth, the surgeon that did my valve replacement almost 15 years ago (Northwestern Memorial in Chicago) was considered one of the best. He left a year after he did my surgery and went to Duke. I've heard he's retired now, but this just confirms for me what I've heard through the grape vine, that Duke is a good place to go. And of course there's no doubt that Mayo is.

Please keep us posted. You'll be in my prayers.

Glad to read that the girls are doing well.

 

[Georgia]

Nicole, you must have been sending signals - I was thinking about you the other day, too. I'm sorry I don't have any solid info for you, but you're in my thoughts & prayers. I do hope you find answers.

 

[EVELYN]

Hi Nicole

So good to hear from you again, but sad that you're having problems. I surely can't help you out as far as a hospital, but, can help you out in the support and prayer department.

Please keep us posted!!!

Evelyn

 

[tigerlily]

Nicole,

I have also heard that Duke is very good. Dr. Glower did a mitral valve repair on an aquaintance of mine and he is doing very well. On the other hand, I interviewed with Dr. Glower and although he impressed me as an execellent surgeon, his office staff was very unresponsive. Because of that, I ended up having my surgery done by Dr. Landvater at Wake Med. It's a long story but I needed people from the receptionist right on up to the surgeon to call me back quickly and answer my questions and Duke would leave me hanging for a week at a time. Too bad because like I said, in the actual OR, it would be hard to beat someone with Dr. Glower's experience.

Anyway, I was obviously impressed with Dr. Landvater and Wake Med. and would highly recommend both. It takes a real team effort to get you through something like this. They are not perfect at Wake Med but they have an excellent valve replacement record. It has been 14 weeks since my surgery and I'm doing very well so far.

I'm sorry that you have had this setback and I can imagine how discouraging it would be to face surgery again. I would be having a very hard time hanging in there too. You just have to do what you have to do. We will hold you up and you will be OK.

 

[Nan]

Just wanted to say "hi" and wish you well. Don't have any info about hospitals in your area.

Had wondered how you were doing. Glad that you have had such a productive two years! But sorry you are now having problems.

Hope you get it taken care of with NO problems and will be feeling well again soon.

 

[Christina L]

Nicole -

Nicole -

Sorry to hear that your heart is giving you problems again, but I am amazed at your strength and faith - you are a very brave person and an inspiration to those of us on the board who are a little more weak in our faith.

I was looking at your personal profile and see that you live in the Outer Banks - we were just there on vacation over a month ago - what a beautiful part of the country.

I, of course, being from Colorado, don't know about hospitals out your way, but God will provide the best place for you. You are in my prayers.

Christina L

 

[Christina L]

Cleveland Clinic??

Cleveland Clinic??

Have you given that some thought?

Christina L