Adam’s Heart Valve Surgery Blog

Here’s a great recovery tip from Keith about using both hands after open heart surgery. Keith writes…

Hi Adam,

We have traded emails several times before. I have mainly asked you for contacts of other patients (like myself) who needed heart valve replacement following radiotherapy for Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

I had my aortic valve replaced exactly one week ago now (with a bovine valve) at the Mercy Hospital in Auckland, New Zealand. I came home after five nights and I’m surviving on just 4 paracetamol a day!

I thoroughly enjoyed reading your book. Your experience, research and patient stories helped prepare me for the surgery and the recovery. So you know, I was really concerned about the day-to-day challenges during the early recovery.

Well, one week into recovery, I would like to echo your thoughts with my own recovery tip for your readers. Here it is, “DO EVERYTHING WITH BOTH HANDS TOGETHER.”

Whether you are opening the fridge door or flushing the toilet, use both hands and both fingers together. This will ensure that the movements within the sternum and rib cage are symmetrical. For me, when I tried to do something with just one arm, the whole rib cage became twisted. That is when I would experience pain.

I hope this helps! Thanks again for your heart valve surgery book and your blog.

As you say… Keep on tickin!

Keith Ebden
New Zealand

P.S. To leave a comment, please click here.

I really, really, really encourage patients to attend a cardiac rehabilitation program after heart valve surgery.

As I personally learned during my early recovery, cardiac rehab can greatly enhance the physical and mental well-being of patients while minimizing post-operative issues like cardiac depression.

New medical studies and patient stories (e.g. Charles Harrall) continue to illustrate the positive effects of cardiac rehab programs for patients following a cardiac event - heart attack, CABG or valve surgery. Still, research suggests that cardiac rehabilitation is under-utilized by the patient community.

As another source of encouragement for patients to enroll in cardiac rehab, I just found this interesting video which discusses the benefits of these programs. Simply click the “play” button in the video above and please make sure the sound on your computer is on.

I hope this helps you further understand the benefits of cardiac rehab.

Keep on tickin!

P.S. To leave a comment, please click here.

About The Author: Adam Pick is a double, heart valve surgery patient and author of The Patient’s Guide To Heart Valve Surgery. This unique book integrates the clinical facts of heart valve surgery with the personal experiences of 78 former valve surgery patients to help patients and caregivers better understand the problems, the opportunities and the realities of heart valve surgery. To learn more about Adam and his heart valve surgery book, click here.

I just received a great question from Jenny about sleep after heart valve surgery.

Jenny writes, “Adam, I had mitral valve replacement seven days ago for regurgitation. I’m struggling a bit as I deal with the some of the post-operative challenges you address in your book. I’m really having an issue getting a good night of sleep. Sleeping at the hospital was tough enough. But, it’s gotten worse since I came home. I feel like a Zombie. And, the night sweats continue. Is this common? Thanks, Jenny”

Over the years, I have spoke many patients - especially tummy sleepers - that have expressed several sleep problems following heart valve surgery. Some of those problems include:

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One of the critcal learnings from my heart valve surgery experience was:

The patient (or their caregiver) must, at times, be tenacious. We must, at times, ask questions that may or may not be silly. We must, at times, stand up for ourselves and our hearts. Ultimately… we must, at all times, be our own, best advocate.

I am reminded of this belief as my inbox is often filled with patient and caregiver emails that radiate frustration and confusion. Many of these emails begin, “Adam, I really need to vent right now. I’m having problems with __________.” However you chose to fill-in that blank, I can relate.

Patrick Hightower - Heart Valve Surgery Patient

Recently, I received a patient story that illustrates just how far certain patients and caregivers will go to get the best care. Here, for your review, is the educational and inspirational story of Patrick Hightower:

Patrick’s Minimally Invasive Scars

Adam, I had this picture taken 24 days after my heart valve surgery on August 9, 2009.  As you can see, my main incision is about 2 1/2 inches long. I also have a 1/2 inch scar just below it - which was for the drain line.

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