<p>papengenia…we’re here for you. I understand that they could not do the original procedure for the reasons you gave but I would imagine that they will explore other options next. Glad his doctor is returning as well. He is comfortable and you will be more too when some options are forthcoming. </p>
<p>I realize we don’t know you outside of this forum but four years ago when my then sixteen year old was in a very serious accident and in intensive care and eventual surgery and in the hospital a while and a long recovery, I was so touched by the outpouring from members of this community. Great group here.</p>
<p>yes sooz…its amazing here! I’ve gotten so much info just about the college stuff…but began to recognize names…I feel so comfortable here…other like minded parents from all corners of the country. But we are all crazy about our kids, and want to do whatever we can to give them a good start. I wish I would have found the site while we were actually on the intial college searches!! lol, I’m always a day late/dollar short. Its great for phase 2 now though:)</p>
<p>I have learned sooo much, thru this site…most specifically on the music majors thread. That was so hard when S was in high school. The guidance counselor never had a voice major before, lol…so we pretty much had to learn on our own. This forum is invaluable to me. I’ve learned so much here. Its awesome!!</p>
<p>Papengena - I hope you both have a healthy day tomorrow, and that your husband’s doctor comes back from vacation rested and ready to work miracles for your husband.<br>
And soozievt - it seems like only last week that your daughter had her car accident. I’m so glad that she healed so well and is back wowing audiences. :)</p>
<p>Papengena:
Just two days ago, I heard that a young friend of mine is going to have heart surgery soon to repair a hole in her heart. That’s before having surgery for her back! And she has a baby born last summer. She is amazingly cheerful. She is lucky to live near a large teaching hospital. I hope your husband has access to the best of care like my friend.</p>
<p>papagena, just saying that I know the anxiety of seeing a loved one hooked up to machines and being uncertain of what will be next. It is very very difficult. I went through it again this fall with my mom in intensive care related to the heart as well (besides the time with my D). </p>
<p>Btw, I did not know that one of your triplets is a singer…my D that I was referring to is as well. </p>
<p>Anxiousmom (your name would have fit my nights in the hospital with her to the max!)…thank you for your kindness. I’m glad it is all behind us and that we were lucky that our D made a full recovery. It does seem like a miracle to see her on stage given her condition four years ago. And now she is set to graduate college in May and conquer the world. :D</p>
<p>marite…sooz…northstarmom, geez…this is a long and loving list!! You are all so sweet:) I can honestly say that I think your words of encouragement…have gotten me back to normal!! I would like to say a personal thank you to each one of you who have wished us well, and put us in your prayers. Some have sent pm’s that mean so much. Every single one of you are our lil army of angels right now. I personally beleive in the power of prayer, so I welcome that with open arms!!! I may tell you all the whole tale of my life with DH…but, if I do, my kids and freinds would know exactly who we are, lol…and my kids would HATE that I am talking about this…( I think) Maybe they are so used to the internet that it is normal for them that people share stuff like this with strangers…I dunno.</p>
<p>I am not sure if anyone has suggested this to you and am not sure where you live however I am going to recommend that you somehow, someway get a referral to the Cleveland Clinic. It is and has been the top heart hospital in the US for something like 20 years and it lives up to its reputation. They perform miracles there every day.</p>
<p>My 84 yr old dad was there for an aortic aneurysm/aortic valve replacment almost two years ago and is better than ever. My wife’s uncle has a sister who lives in northern California who was essentially told by all the major hospitals there (including Stanford) to start getting her things in order because her heart condition was inoperable. She too was sent to the Cleveland Clinic and is now five years post op and doing quite well.</p>
<p>They routinely do things every day that most hospitals never see. The anesthesiologist who took care of my dad came from Hopkins and told my dad that at Hopkins it would be a five plus hour procedure (after they were in the chest and he was on the heart lung machine) but that at the Clinic it would be two to two and a half hours and it was. He said that that procedure was a routine for them. People fly in from all over the world for their care. They regularly have Middle eastern royalty there for procedures and while we were there we met the wife of a Doctor who was a professor at Univ of Florida Med School who was at the Clinic for his heart surgery.</p>
<p>In short, you owe it to yourself to consult with the best of the best, and that is what the Doctors at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center are.</p>
<p>Eadad’s suggestion is great. You would probably have peace of mind if the preventative things could help eliminate future episodes. My dad had 2 heart attacks and really trusted his long time local doctors who really are wonderful. But after the last one I insisted we see some specialists who use new technology that can see absolutely everything that’s going on in the heart and pretty much 100% tell you what needs to be done.</p>
<p>Yet another great thing about CC is that we are here 24/7, and we rally to help…our own and those newly in need of support, help, concern. By definition, as parents, we are nurturers, and our instincts know no barriers to this kind of caring. I hope you have a good day with your husband and that tomorrow’s access to specialists brings new insight, helpful, and hopeful options. Lorelei</p>
<p>papengena,
Sending wishes of health of the net to you and your family. </p>
<p>I hope today brings some news from the Cardiologist on how to manage your husbands health. Modern medicine is a wonderful thing as are the newer diagnostic tools. Once you know how they are planning to treat your husband I hope you can both move on to get the care he needs and then start to heel physically and emotionally. </p>
<p>eadad had some great advice. Once your husband is through this crisis, it may be time to seek out a top clinic/specialist for further advice. </p>
<p>Hugs to you. your family will be in my prayers.</p>
<p>One other thing to add about the Cleveland Clinic; they are regarded to be the top heart hospital in the world, not just the US and a great many of their patients are in fact re-operations and are people that most other hospitals will no longer touch.</p>
<p>Check out these fast facts, and this is in the old facility; the new facility opened in late 2008 and is significantly larger yet despite its size the level and attention of personal care is incredible.</p>
<p>Look at the resumes of the Doctors. I think that is all that needs to be said. Look at Gillinov and Lytle for example; both are recognized as top in the world.</p>
<p>Someone else did mention Cleveland Clinic to me as well. I know the hospital because my son goes to Oberlin, and had to see an ENT at Cleveland Clinic…and that care was also superb. I did talk to my husband about that, and he said he just wants to see what his doctor tells him tomorrow. He isn’t afraid to have another surgery, as long as it can be fixed. Because of the issues he has with plaque, he is not a candidate for a transplant. But we’ll ask about that again, maybe he would be at this point. I know that they’ve said, he wouldn’t get on the list because his arteries keep clogging up…so, they would do the same to a new heart…you get what I’m saying. </p>
<p>I will definitely persue Cleveland Clinic if we don’t get any results with the current medical team. They did start him on a time released medication today…I “think” it has nitro in it, but its administered differently. So far today, he said he is feeling a bit better. The medication seems to be helping with the pressure he’s still having. </p>
<p>I’ll keep you posted when I get some news tomorrow.</p>
<p>papengena, Hang in there! Thanks for checking in. I, too have only great things to say about Cleveland Clinic. Miracles happen there. But all we can do is give advice. You and your husband need to decide what is right for you. Blessings.</p>
<p>You take care, Papengena. I’m glad to hear that your husband is resting comfortably and his doctor will be returning soon. I don’t have any advice to add, but you and your husband have been in my thoughts. I think it would have been a mistake not to tell your kids what’s going on. What if one of their friends of another family member had mentioned their dad’s health crisis to them and you hadn’t informed them?!</p>
<p>Just read/skimmed all of the posts. You did the best thing possible by letting your college kids know ASAP- especially since it was a weekend. Both you and they have had time to digest things. Sounds like your H is plugged into the system and you have thought about referral options. Good luck to you.</p>