Comments on: Severe Aortic Stenosis – Definition, Symptoms, Surgery & More

By: Dawna Wickdahl

Dawna Wickdahl — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 15:49:33 +0000

Morning,
I had my valve replacement done on Sept. 24/2010 in Victoria Canada,
I chose a St Judes Valve… although it has only been a total of almost 6 weeks since my surgery date,, i feel great. i am 48 years old.like allot of you. i had stenosis due to a bicuspid valve. born that way. this is my second surgery.. i had what was called.. coartation of the aorta,, which means. a narrowing of the aorta and thy fixed it. i was 8. so 40 years between surgery’s, not bad. i am not to happy with the fact of the labs 2 a week right now or the fact i am on warafrin, but i will get used to it.i to have days that i regret my decision on the valve choice but, what i hear, that is normal.. it don’t think it is depression, but i think i just have to much time on my hands right now… i start rehab tomorrow , so as of next week, my days are filled… I just wanted to say. i am glad i did this , and i really had no choice, and yes your live as you knew it will change. for the better… Me being me, i asked the surgeon, “what would happen if i don’t get this done”… he looked me in the eye and said.. very matter of factly.. i might ad…. bedside manner was not his best traight…. ” u have maybe three years before your heart will fail.” okay then.. next question was.. can i still go to Mexico dec. 11… yes as long as everything is going good and i don’t do anything..meaning don’t leave theresort… no problem there. last question i asked,, can i postporned surgery till the end of march 2011… i got a quick. “NO”… with in thre weeks of that first meeting i was in the hospital.I am looking forward to feeling better and working out again… and getting back in to life…. a new life. enjoy life, it is beautiful here on Vancouver island today..

Adios
Dawna

By: Alan Blain

Alan Blain — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 09:34:05 +0000

I’m a 55 year old male living in South Africa who had a metal aortic valve replacement on Oct 18th, 2010. Makes me feel a little silly to say I do not know the make or model, all my surgeon told me was he gave me nice large one. I’m 6’2″ and over 200 lbs so he figured I needed a fair size. Like many folk I read about my synptoms were mild breathlessness, some light headedness when under stress, and an episode of water or frothy stuff on the lungs after heavy excercise. I passed this all off to being unfit and getting older. However a precautionary visit to my G P led quite quickly to my surgery. I started my family real late and have a youngest son of 8 yrs. Hal, thank you for giving me the courage to know that if you can make it for 25 years with your new valve, so can I. My recovery is going well and suddenly feel really confident and ready to go back to work (we own three restaurants). I want to encourage all those out there who are unsure of what to do, to have the procedure done, Once you reach the severe stage, you only have sudden death to look forward to. Since surgery, everything has been new and I am so much more appreciative of my life, my Wife my family and my faith. Medical science rocks!

By: Rowena Macadangdang

Rowena Macadangdang — Fri, 14 May 2010 09:23:13 +0000

Hi, my daughter Anne was diagnosed in June 2008 with aortic stenosis. We have been into regular monitoring of her heart thru 2decho, and during the last check up with her doctor in Feb this year, we were advised to visit again in July and be ready with the money needed for the operation. The gradient that the Doctor was saying was already about 76%. We are still praying and hoping for a miracle. Sometimes she will suddenly feels hot for no apparent reson (no flu, no cough whatsoever). Is this one of the symptoms to watch out for? Is she really to be operated on with this latest finding from the doctor? Please help us to be enlightened more with this congenital heart disease. thanks

By: Barbara Morris

Barbara Morris — Mon, 10 May 2010 00:14:49 +0000

I’m a 52 year old female, with a rapidly approaching surgery date of June 1 for aortic valve replacement. I am trying to be very positive about things. I am relatively young for this type of surgery, I don’t have any other health issues, my surgeon and hospital have an excellent reputation with this type of surgery, but I am still nervous. I go through periods where I think I read too much about the surgery & just want to think about anything but it.
Any tips with respect to facing the nervousness??? I feel that I’m well educated and would like to avoid more reading if at all possible.
Thanks!

By: Sarah Murray

Sarah Murray — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 20:13:22 +0000

i am 16 years old and am about to undergo my third open heart surgery for aortic stinosis….i got an assignment in english class telling me to research open heart surgery so of course i research what type of surgery i need which has lead me to this site and im glad i read it although i am still scared and everything im fairly happy that im a little more informed what confuses me is i dont understand what all of the valve area stuff is i guess i have a question to ask my cardiologist next time i visit since i am 16 and havent had a surgery since i was 6 years old i dont exactly know what to expect in the recoup which is whats scareing me the most if someone could e-mail me or something with help on what to expect with the recoup of a homograph valve replacement it will be much apreciated thanks

By: HAL

HAL — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 23:43:13 +0000

I hear anxiety in your blog post and can empathize with you. At the age of thirty-five, my Aortic valve failed due to congenital aortic stenosis. My first concern was the surgery that was eminent, followed by; what type of life am I going to have with a man-made heart valve. That really translates to “will I be able to watch my sons grow up”? It has been 25 years now, and I am 60. My check ups with the cardiologist is now every 6 months due mainly to my age. I have a mechanical valve and take coumadin daily. This amounts to a finger prick once a month. Unfortunately there is no “if” for you, only a when. Do your own research and pick your own type of valve before your valve fails. Do not let an aversion to coumadin drive your decision. If coumadin were not safe, the FDA would not let it be used. There are more patients in Atrial Fibrillation on coumadin than mechanical valve recipients. Research the mechanical valves as well as the tissue valve.
HAL

By: Kathy J

Kathy J — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 04:40:29 +0000

I have a bicuspid valve and was on an every 6 months echo schedule with my cardiologist. I started having shortness of breath upon climbing stairs after 39 years of no symptoms other than my murmur. Two weeks ago I went for an echo and it showed significant changes from the one I had November 2009. I then had my cardiac cath Wednesday Jan 27th 2010 and am scheduled for a TEE on Feb. 8th. I am concerned because my cardio could not find a wire/cath small enoughto fit the camera in my aortic valve to take a measurement. I am concerned because I think that if he could not get the measurement that that would be indicator enough to go on ahead & schedule my AVR. Any thoughts, anyone?

By: yvonne

yvonne — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 21:59:34 +0000

my mother in law is 84, she just had a spell with conjestive heart failure. the cardioligest reccomended valve surgery, her aortic valve is leaking, and he said that was part of the cause, can u tell me the motality rate for a 84 year old woman, usually active.

By: Sherry

Sherry — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 19:00:01 +0000

Adam, I have read and returned for reference to your book numerous times over the last two months. I am still in a “moderate” range of stenosis from a bicusbid valve, and am working through some 2nd opinions, etc. Thank you so much for posting the guidelines for severe stenosis. I have looked through Mayo, Cleveland Clinic and other sites and have had great difficuty in locating specific answers to what the numbers all mean. Your post is very helpful to me as I am looking over the three echos i have had in the last three months. This blog and your research are valuable resources for those of us facing this surgery, whenever it may need to occur. Sherry

By: Steve Rutledge

Steve Rutledge — Sun, 31 May 2009 20:25:30 +0000

Two months ago I visited 2 different cardiologists to read my latest echo. My aortic valve area was measuring at .70 cm2 and my pressure gradient was 43 mmHG. One doctor (a valve specialist) told me to come back in 6 months for a follow up. The second cardiologist took one look and said “Cardiogram first thing tomorrow morning and meet with the surgeon in the afternoon”. Guess who I listened to! It will be 6 weeks tomorrow since my operation. Stephen R.