Adam’s Heart Valve Surgery Blog

Konichiwa!!

Twenty three months after double heart valve surgery, I find myself in Tokyo, Japan for a week of work. (I’m speaking at a conference here.)

Luckily, I have today (Sunday) to wander through the city. The weather couldn’t be any better - high 60’s and no clouds.

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Blog Topics: Heart Valve Replacement Forum; Heart Valve Surgery Blog; Heart Surgery Forum; MedHelp.com; ValveReplacement.Com Forum; American Heart Association Forum; Heart Valve Repair Forum

So, I just got an interesting question in my inbox. It reads, “Have you ever thought about including a heart valve replacement forum or heart valve repair forum on your website about heart valve surgery?”

Hmmmm. It’s a good question. And, so you know, my friend Joe Abelson has suggested, over-and-over again, that I create both a heart valve replacement forum and a heart valve repair forum on my site. Joe is always telling me that forums would be soooooo great because all the heart valve replacement patients and heart valve repair patients could use the forum to compare notes on the surgery, hospitals, surgeons, cardiologists, drugs, etc.

I definitely agree with Joe. Having a heart valve replacement forum is a valuable means of communication. However, there are a number of heart valve replacement forums and heart valve repair forums already on the Internet. Some of these heart valve replacement forums have been around for years.

For example, the American Heart Association has a forum for patients and caregivers dealing with heart disease. Within the forum, there is a separate section that deals with heart valve surgery. The other heart valve forum is located at ValveReplacement.com. MedHelp.org also has a heart valve replacement forum. Another is Heart Surgery Forum that appeals mostly to medical professionals. All of these forums are helpful and I spend some time on most of them.

For me though, a heart valve replacement forum or heart valve repair forum could be tough to manage. Forums need moderators and can take up a lot of time. That is why, for now, I have decided to pass on a heart valve replacement forum and focus on my heart valve blog.

This heart blog is very fun. I’m meeting people from all over the world. Plus, I get some great questions sent to me at adam@heart-valve-surgery.com. Plus, I have a few surprises up my sleeve. We’re getting ready to announce some very unique additions to this heart blog that will be very exciting.

Anyways, thanks for asking me about heart valve replacement forums and heart valve repair forums. If you would like to subscribe to this blog simply insert your email on the right sidebar. If you subscribe, I will automatically send you all the latest and greatest information about heart valve surgery. So you know, its FREE!

Keep on tickin,

Adam

It still creeps up on me.

This day. The horrible memory of that phone call.

“We’re under attack… This is really, really bad. Turn on your TV now!!!”

Hours later, tears later, disbelief…

Then, I heard about Scottie, my fraternity brother. I just had to swallow.

Scottie was such an amazing person. He had such an incredible, contagious laugh. He was such a good guy. Such a great heart.

When I visit Ground Zero, I still believe his name will not be on that list.

But, it is… And, once again, I try to make sense of it all. Obviously, that doesn’t work.

Today, I’m wishing you well Scottie.

Hopefully, you and Larry are playing golf with the boys in NYC today.

Keep on tickin,

Adam

P.S. Click here to learn more about Scott Weingard.

A greeeeaaaaaaaaaaat question just came in about waking up in the ICU. It reads, “Adam, when I come to (wake up) in the intensive care unit will I be on respirators after open heart surgery.”

There are two possibilities here. “Yes”, you will be on a respirator connected to a vent tube or breathing tube, after surgery. The other answer to this questions is again… “Yes”, you will be on a respirator after heart surgery.

The only difference between the two “Yes’s” is whether or not you remember it.

I know that’s a little tricky but you have to remember that your mind and body will be heavily sedated from the anesthesia administered during your cardiac procedure. That said, the body will need some help “waking up”. Specifically, your lungs need some help. For that reason, most patients are on respirators after open heart surgery. The respirator can also help clear any excess fluid out of the lungs.

My Picture Just After The Vent Tube Is Removed
(This picture was taken about four hours after open heart surgery.)

As the USC Cardiothoracic website writes, “To help you breathe, an endotracheal tube (breathing tube) is inserted during surgery. This tube is connected to a respirator that assists your breathing. Because you will not be able to talk or swallow while this tube is in place, your nurse will anticipate your needs and ask you questions that require only a yes or no answer. Nod your head to say yes, and shake your head to say no. When you are fully awake and breathing on your own, the breathing tube will be removed, and you will be able to talk.”

Personally, I remember the vent tube very, very, very, very, very well. (did ya catch the emphasis, there?) :)

It’s quite dislocating to have a plastic pipe stuck in your throat. Plus, no one told me about the vent tube prior to surgery. I had no ability to talk after surgery. Instead, I used a pen and notepad to write notes to my family. I was only awake with the breathing tube for about an hour or so. It was so liberating when they took it out.

FYI, there is one, other incremental purpose of the breathing tube, that is quite interesting to know about. To learn more, click here.

I hope this helps answer the question about respirators after open heart surgery.

Keep on tickin,

Adam

Adam Pick is the author of The Patient’s Guide To Heart Valve Surgery, a unique book which integrates the clinical facts of heart valve surgery with the personal experiences of an actual heart valve surgery patient. This special book was designed to minimize stress and enhance the patient’s recovery. To learn more about Adam’s heart valve surgery book, click here.

Blog Topic: What are all the symptoms of mitral valve prolapse? What are the symptoms of other heart valve disorders including aortic stenosis, regurgitation, insufficiency?

The more I write about heart valve surgery, the more I have learned to be somewhat conservative when trying to respond to emails that say, “Adam: What are all the symptoms of mitral valve prolapse?”

My reasoning?  There are lots and lots and lots of symptoms given the body’s complex nature of reacting to heart valve disease and defects.

That said, I will change the question around a bit.  Instead of answering, “What are all the symptoms of mitral valve prolapse?” I will answer the question, “What are they key symptoms and problems of heart valve disorders?”

I hope that’s okay with you.

But first, let me tell you about my symptoms for my valve disorder - severe aortic stenoisis and severe regurgitation.  Are you ready?  Here it is… I only had one symptom that led me to seek out my cardiologist.  That’s it. One symptom. From that one symptom, I went to the heart doctor. Then, I had some tests done. Eight weeks later, I was having double heart valve replacement (known as the Ross Procedure).

Only One Symptom!

Interestingly enough, there are many patients that are completely asymptomatic.  That’s right.  No symptoms!!!

I’ll never forget my first day in cardiac rehab. I met Ted.  Ted was a 42 year old man, father of three, who loved to play golf.  One year, during a regular physical, his doctor heard a murmur.  Then came the diagnosis.  A few weeks later, like me, Ted was having open heart valve repair surgery.

Pretty interesting, right?

So, with the stories behind us, let me share with you some of the key symptoms for valve disorders including mitral valve prolapse, aortic stenosis and regurgitation. As I had only symptom, I learned about these symptoms as I did research for my book, The Patient’s Guide To Heart Valve Surgery. Here they are:

• Shortness of breath, especially with exertion or when you lie down
• Fatigue, especially during times of increased activity
• Cough, especially at night or when lying down
• Heart palpitations — sensations of a rapid, fluttering heartbeat
• Swollen feet or ankles
• Heart murmur
• Excessive urination
• Chest pain (angina) or tightness
• Feeling faint or fainting with exertion
• Dizziness

I could go on and try and answer the question, “What are all the symptoms of mitral valve prolapse?” But, I think the information above gives you a pretty good idea of the symptoms of heart valve disorders.

Keep on tickin,

Adam