Dr. Dawn Jaroszewski

Dr. J is in a word amazing. She was super nice to all of my family and made them feel very comfortable throughout the entire process. I'm a physician in Florida and her approach to me was spot on and very helpful and making me feel more comfortable about going through with the procedure. The entire Mayo system was amazing at coordinating everything--went off without a hitch. I'm happy with the results and I think once I can start doing some gym stuff I'll be even happier. But I'm definitely still recovering, so the things I can add in terms of what to expect or what I have experienced beyond what I was expecting..

The genital swelling was crazy. It lasted about a week or so and slowly got better and is gone now but definitely wasn't expecting it to that degree. I don't think I really noticed it quite as much because of all the pain meds...

My procedure was a bit more complicated because I needed a rib plate/screws due to a displaced rib fracture (which I was expecting) and had part of my right middle lung removed and stapled due to a bullae (which was unexpected but necessary). So I may have had more post-op pain than the average procedure. I did the cryoablation of the thoracic nerves which I can't imagine having done this without it. Super helpful. But the idea of then making it through on Tramadol and Ibuprofen for me was a complete pipe dream -- it hurt, I needed oxys in fairly high doses. When I got back to Florida I had to go to a pain management doc to get even more. Overall I was probably taking 50-100 mg of oxycodone a day for a week and a half. Then it took me another week to get off of it with some withdrawal symptoms, and for the last month plus I have just been taking 800mg of ibuprofen every day three times a day around the clock. Now about 8 weeks post-op I'm just on the ibuprofen and the gabapentin and am definitely feeling more normal, but it has been a bit of a rough ride.

Post-op communication has been almost exclusively through Michelle (Dr. J's awesome NP) and Meagan... so I haven't talked to Dr. J but haven't really needed to. When I get my post-op XRs I can tell the bars are still in place so I haven't had anything to really worry about. She did her part which was to be extremely open and personable with my whole family and then do an awesome job on the surgery.

I still wake up feeling like there's a weird horror movie metal cage inside of me (which I wasn't expecting). It's there all the time and is something that has gotten less noticeable but is definitely still there. The feeling of 50 pound weights on my sternum pulling me down has definitely lessened. I still can't really jog but I feel like I'm getting close.. hopefully by week 10-12 I'll be able to start doing some light half miles just to start building back up.

Either from the change in posture or the change in rib angles on the upper spine I recently herniated a disc and now can barely walk due to severe nerve pain in my left leg so now I have to get over that too... I didn't do the physical therapy evaluation during my pre-op visit and I regret it. I recommend not skipping it.

Overall I would do it again and wouldn't have done it anywhere else or with anyone else. Highly recommended Dr. J to anyone who is seriously going to go through with it, and the Mayo system for pectus patients is impressively well coordinated. Just some above things to think about and realize that it's a long recovery and can be a bit rougher than you're expecting depending on what happens.

This is a follow-up review 4 months post-op for Nuss by Dr. J. While I do not regret having the Nuss completed at Mayo by Dr. J, the end result is not what was intended. The first 2 months the chest was healing well and the pain management plan was fantastic. After 2 months the center point of my chest began pointing outwards. I completed the required 2 month x-rays, which was promptly sent off to Dr. J's office. After a month of waiting, I received a call from someone on Dr. J's team confirming that the Nuss procedure over-corrected the pectus excavatum creating just the opposite pectus carinatum. I was terribly disappointed and frustrated that all the pain and expense to correct the excavatum only resulted in carinatum. Evidently this happens in about 20% of the Nuss procedures, and I was the unlucky one to experience this result. I've still yet to hear back from Dr. J directly now that they've had my x-rays for 2 months, and not sure what corrective action is possible at this point.

Again, I do not regret having the Nuss procedure done at Mayo Clinic by Dr. J and her fantastic team. But the post-op follow up has been disappointing, and the end result of now having pectus carinatum is frustrating. When preparing for the Nuss, please do extensive research and know it's not a perfect procedure. Every chest is unique and Mayo & Dr. J are the leaders, but the Nuss needs to be continually improved to ensure consistent results long term.

Discovering you have pectus excavatum isn't an easy thing to handle. When I saw my initial CT scan it was scary, and the thought of undergoing such a major operation was terrifying.

After scouring the internet for information on pectus excavatum repair, I came across Dr. Jaroszewski and her team through a YouTube video.
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From the very first phone call they assured me that everything was going to be alright. They've walked me to and from the operating room and have been supportive throughout the entire process. Dr. J has been a fantastic surgeon and easily my favorite doctor of all time.
​My experience at Mayo Clinic has been fantastic, and worth flying across the country for. Some superheroes wear capes; mine wear scrubs

My experience with Dr J and the Mayo clinic was exceptional. I was a difficult case. I had an implant for almost 30 years that had to be removed. During the removal and Nuss procedure, Dr J also found damage to my pectoral and rectus abdominus muscles. She was able to cut and reattach those muscles as well as install 3 bars to correct my PE. Prior to the surgery, she talked with me at length and took the time to get to know me, and my expectations. She gave me an honest assessment of what she felt I could expect, and then exceeded those expectations. My sternum is as flat as a board. I have resumed a high level of athletic participation, including heavy contact sports. My health and appearance are both a 10!

Without a doubt one of the best decisions I have ever made in my life! There are so many things I could say here but this is a surgeon review of Dr. J....

Dr. J. is a wonderful surgeon who is easy to talk to, understands the condition, explains exactly what needs to be done and deserves all the accolades being lavished on her in these reviews but her entire team is top notch. I got on a plane and flew thousands of miles because of my total faith in Dr. J and her staff and I was not disappointed. I highly recommend anyone looking to have a PE correction to contact Dr. J at the Mayo Clinic.

And now just some ramblings about my personal experience:

I had, for lack of a better term, PE induced Heart Failure. My body had been working with about 65% heart function for ... no one knows how long... but I would say 10 to 15 years looking back at how I had been feeling.

My pain level from the actual procedure was ZERO. The only reason I have a 5 as my highest pain level and not a ZERO is because I had a lot of trouble with constipation, gas and bloating during my last day in the hospital (caused by the pain medications) and YES, the pain from gas and bloating was THAT BAD.

Had my surgery performed on the 15th of October, released from hospital on the 17th, final check on the 21st, flew home on the 22nd and here I am totally pleased with the results and other than the problems with constipation (which I still have, heck it's only been a WEEK) I have not felt this good in a long time (YEARS, if not DECADES)! I sleep through the night, wake up feeling refreshed and look forward to a future of improved health and more energy. And also, an aesthetically pleasing chest that I do not fear showing to others.