Richard's Guestbook

Hi Richard, I hope that you had a good flight out. Waiting for the surgery is the hardest part. I hope this letter has some helpful things in it. Sequoia is like a David between the two Goliaths of UCSF and Stanford. Sequoia is a renowned center for heart valve surgery. It looks small and sits on a hill in the Western part of Redwood City where the fog comes down at night. I live locally so I was able to ask local doctors and nurses directly and through friends about the local surgeons and programs, I didn't decide by the advertising. I tried to find doctors familiar with more than one center and surgeon. Most recommended Sequoia and for a number of reasons. Some of the reasons were: the technical excellence of Dr. Castro and his team, that the time on the heart lung machine is significantly shorter at Sequoia both because Dr. Castro's team has worked together so long that they "read each other's minds" and because it is not a teaching hospital ( I was only on the heart-lung machine for 45 minutes), and there is an incredibly low incidence of infection in the ICU and step down unit, and that recovery would be much better at Sequoia; their nursing staff is amazing. I also had some personal reasons after interviewing several local surgeons. Dr. Castro is that rare combination of being a superb surgeon and a modest and respectful human being. He gave me the courage to proceed with the surgery. He and his whole team came to see me each of the days I was hospitalized. He is in direct communication with the staff in the ICU. Avoid the hamburgers unless you plan to dip them in the soups. No place is perfect. They gave me a big binder that told me what to expect and do. Have someone take notes when they tell you something. There is a way to ask for more pain med. Don't just say you want more pain meds, you must be specific in saying the level of pain you are experiencing. Example: " my pain is up to level 7 now, can you give me something." You must use the numbers. I did pretty well and was soon able to do without pain meds when I came home. I don't remember them removing the breathing tube at all, and I think they arrange it that way. Do not be scared. I am a big coward, so you can do this. Recovery is nice because you are on the other side, but I am finding it a lot of work in that one has to be very patient with oneself and also good to oneself. I am not a patient person. It is hard work. Each week that goes by is an improvement, I can see that. Keep in touch. Thoughts and prayers for you, Marcia