Posted by John Behle on April 27, 2001 at 19:25:49:
In Reply to: Carl's maze posted by Carl Plaskett on April 27, 2001 at 19:23:37:
That was good timing for me. I go in for the surgery at LDS hospital on Friday Feb. 2. I was a little concerned about the open chest as opposed to the "keyhole" procedure.
The surgeon has a lot of experience - over 140 - so I don't question how he wants to do it, but am not looking forward to the open chest. I assumed it might have something to do with the repair of the Mitral Valve also.
I guess a little harder recovery for me is worth knowing the surgeon has greater access and is doing it the way he feels is proper or required.
He asked this week if I would mind a couple surgeons from another state observing that are learning the process. Absolutely! Fill that hospital with capable heart surgeons watching over me!!!!
I keep coming back here and reading the posts. I'm a little surprised at my reaction, but the surgery really has me un-nerved. I was really having some concerns, so my heart decided to go irregular all weekend and remind me what a hopeless, frustrating, depressive experience this has been for so many years.
I am so sick and tired of being sick and tired.
I so appreciate this board and all of your experiences. I would not have known about this as a possibility without Jim Pope's post on another board and his website.
Without this board I wouldn't have found the surgeon or had the confidence and drive to pursue this.
Thanks, John
P.S. Not sure if I or anyone else I know will be back to this board to post info about the surgery as it progresses. I will probably do the www.thestatus.com website, but haven't set it up yet. I'll have the password, etc. for that site posted at my newsgroup and probably here also. If you don't see it here, check the newsgroup link below and a friend of mine will be posting info there.