Adam’s Heart Valve Surgery Blog

Talk about twists and turns during the early recovery from bicuspid aortic valve replacement surgery! Jim from Alabama has quite the tale to tell… Here is what he writes:

Hey Adam,

First, I’d like to say how much I appreciate you and your heart surgery book. You provided my family and I with great information and gave us some peace of mind prior to my surgery and even now as I recover.

My story really started about 5 years ago when I, and some medical folks, thought I had a heart attack. When the smoke cleared, I was diagnosed with bicuspid aortic valve stenosis. I guess the alleged heart attack (or “episode” as the cardiologist called it) was a warning shot that something was wrong with my heart. I was perplexed as to how I could have a congenital heart problem after serving 21 years in the Air Force and never being told I had an issue or even a murmur. Of course, now I understand.

Fast forward to June 2008…

Continue reading this post »

When it comes to heart valve disease, professional athletes are just like us. We have heart valve surgery. Guess what? They have heart valve surgery.

In prior blogs, I have detailed the inspirational stories of several athletes including Teppo Numminen (Hockey) and Ronny Turiaf (Basketball). Both athletes returned to professional sports after heart surgery. Now, Etan Thomas from the Washington Wizards is on his way back to basketball court. The Washington Post issued this interesting story earlier today:

When Etan Thomas says that the process of recovering from open-heart surgery began with “baby steps,” he really means it.

Continue reading this post »

I just received an insightful email from Charlene (in Florida). First of all, her surgery was a success. YEEEAH! CONGRATS TO CHARLENE!!! Second, she raises some critical points for those of you preparing for valve surgery. Here is what she writes:

Dear Adam,

This past July, I found out that I had an aortic aneurysm and would need aortic valve replacement as well as aorta replacement. As a 45-year old woman with small children, I have to admit this scared the hell out of me. Your book helped so much with all the information and uplifting stories. I would like to pass on some of the wisdom of what I found to you and the others reading your blog.

1. I recommend that everyone get actual copies of all their testing. You may not understand the test results but when you go for a second opinion it helps so much at least you can point out the parts you do not understand and ask the questions. My cardiologist in Florida obviously did not read my initial echocardiogram. It showed the aneurysm back in 2006 and he never said a word about it. It was not until 2008 that he sent me for a CT scan to see what was going on.

Getting Second Opinions - Patient Survey (2007)

Continue reading this post »

Here’s a great patient success story about the medical miracle of valve surgery…

When Jeffrey Kistler began gasping for air at night, the suspected cause was sleep apnea. But when the problem persisted, worsening when lying down and getting better when he sat up, he went to the emergency room, which prompted abundant follow-up tests involving his heart.

The 44-year-old fork-lift driver from Griffith, Indiana who has a long list of family members with heart problems, eventually learned he had a golf ball-sized aneurysm in his aortic artery along with some extensive valve damage.

With the aneurysm already well beyond the limit doctors deem dangerous enough to require surgery, Kistler prepared himself for open-heart surgery, getting his life in order, as he says, and talking to family members for what he thought might be the last time.

Kistler also had to choose the type of replacement valves to be used to repair his heart. A mechanical valve could last the rest of his life, but being a foreign object, it might cause bleeding, infection or other problems and would require him to take a blood thinner for the rest of his life.

He chose a human cadaver’s valve (aka homograft) because a cow valve or pig valve might not last as long as he needed.

Dr. David Jayakar - Heart Surgeon

Cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon Dr. David Jayakar, of St. Catherine’s Hospital in East Chicago, had Kistler choose the type of replacement valve he wanted as a backup even though he fully intended to do what few surgeons will — repair all three of the faulty valves instead of replace them.

Continue reading this post »

For me, there is nothing better than patient inspiration.

That said, I am a lucky person. Ever since I had my aortic valve replacement and started this website, my inbox has been overflowing with inspirational thoughts from all different types of people from all over the world.

Recently, I learned of Esther Robinson’s inspirational story. At 88-years old, Esther recently had mitral valve repair due to mitral valve prolapse / leaking heart valve symptoms. Her cardiac surgeon Doctor Peter Birnbaum at Fresno Heart & Surgical Center. MedWatch did a great job documenting Esther’s mitral valve repair (pre- and post-operative) on video. That said, I thought you might like to see her mitral valve repair video.

To watch the Ester’s video, simply click the image above or click this link… Esther’s Mitral Valve Repair Video.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. Even though I don’t personally know Esther her positive nature is contagious. Plus, like me, Esther likes to stop and smell the roses.

Keep on tickin Esther!

Adam Pick is a double, heart valve surgery patient and 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. To learn more about Adam and his heart valve surgery book, click here.