Adam’s Heart Valve Surgery Blog

Denise just asked me, “Do you know what are the most common complications after aortic valve replacement surgery? My dad is getting ready for surgery and I want to know what are the potential complications I should expect.”

According to a recent study, approximately 41% of heart valve surgery patients report that recovering from cardiac surgery is more difficult than expected. One of the reasons for this high number is post-operative complications.

Whether it is a heart palpitations, broken sternum pain, fluid in lungs, incision infection, a-fib or chest-clicking, many patients are often confronted by real or perceived complications. Personally, I experienced many of these common complications after my aortic valve replacement.

As you can see on the chart below, 66% of patients responded that they encountered some form of heart valve surgery complication.

As for a specific complication that is “most common” after aortic valve replacement, I do not have that information. But, I hope that above-referenced information helps you prepare for your father’s aortic valve surgery.

Keep on tickin!

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.

Don’t let the title of this blog fool you. There is no weird, sexy, fetish thing going on here.

Instead… With this post, I am asking for HELP from the female, heart surgery patients that regularly read this blog.

Specifically, Vicki is preparing for open heart surgery in three days. She just emailed me an urgent question about the use of bras after cardiac surgery. I have some thoughts on the topic (even though I don’t have breasts). But, I imagine a few of our female patients - that means you Becca, Joanne, Heather - might have some interesting advice for Vicki. That said, can you help her?

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I stunk at golf before heart surgery.

Really, in thinking about it, that might be an understatement.

Now, it is several years after my open heart surgery.

Guess what?

I STILL STINK AT GOLF!!!

But, that is not the point I’m trying to make. Here’s the point… Many patients head into heart surgery in a world of uncertainty with questions like “Can I do this activity post-surgery?” or “Will I be able to do that after surgery?”

All of these doubts are completely rational. I did the exact same thing when I was rolled in for my aortic and pulmonary valve replacements. But, I’m here to tell you, after a double heart valve replacement, that you can fully recover and you can restore your body to re-achieve whatever you set your mind too.

If golfing is your thing before heart surgery. Well, golfing should be your thing after heart surgery.

Here’s a quick story about Dennis. I met Dennis during my three-month cardiac rehab program. Originally from Scotland, the great-spirited Dennis is 72 years old and full of energy.

One day, Dennis walked into the cardiac rehab (at Torrance Memorial Hospital) and blurted out, “I went golfing this morning! I shot a HOLE-IN-ONE. My first time in over fifty years of playing golf!”

We erupted in encouraging shouts and applause for Dennis and his amazing accomplishment.

Trust me and Dennis… You can fully recover from heart surgery.

Keep on tickin!

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.

There are some things about my double heart valve replacement surgery that I will never, ever, never, ever, nehhhhh-verrrrr forget.

One such memory is that of my LOUD and POUNDING heartbeat on the second night home from the hospital. It was around 10pm on a Monday evening. Robyn, my wife, had just laid down next to me in bed. We talked for a bit and then, after exchanging “I Love Yous”, we entered that silent period right before sleep.

As we laid quietly in the dark, my new heart decided to make its presence known. A “Bum-Bump” rattled in my chest and head. Then another “Bum-Bump”. It became louder and faster “BUM-BUMP! BUM-BUMP! BUM-BUMP!”

I instantly became fixated on the loud repetitive sound. In fact, I became thrilled knowing that my heart valve flaps were working so well. (Fyi, your heart valve leaflets make the “Bum-Bump” sound in your heart as they open-and-close.)

Little did I know, my pounding heartbeat was NOT exclusive to my auditory senses.

A minute later, Robyn whispered aloud, “Oh my gawwwwsh! Is that your heart making those noises? I can hear it from over here.” She continued, “I’ve never heard anything like that.”

While we were concerned at first, we quickly rationalized that my heart was simply adjusting to the benefit of having two, new heart valves opening-and-closing like never before. Robyn said to me something like, “After having your bicuspid aortic valve replaced, I bet your heart is really, really happy!”

For this reason, I perked up in my chair this morning when I read Gail’s email. Gail writes, “Dear Adam - Your book was helpful and I thank you for it. My husband is sixty years old and seven weeks post-op yesterday with a St. Jude mechanical heart valve replacement. Okay, our question is…. There are times (more times than not) when his heart beats so hard it literally shakes him. Sort of like very small earthquake tremors. It doesn’t bother him physically. Is this normal?”

While every patient case is unique, I believe, given my experience and the experiences of other heart surgery patients I have interviewed, the pounding heartbeat issue is not unique to Gail’s husband or me. Several other patients have shared similar stories specific to loud heartbeats following cardiac surgery.

However, if you have any other thoughts or ideas, please leave a note for Gail by clicking here.

Keep on tickin!

I just received this wildly coincidental email from Carol. It’s amazing to read about Carol’s perspective on heart valve surgery, considering she was formerly an intensive care unit (ICU) nurse. Here is what she wrote:

Dear Adam,

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you for sharing your experience in your book. I am 6 weeks post-op mechanical aortic valve replacement (Carbomedics). Now, here’s the weird part…

I was a patient in the same ICU that I was the Charge Nurse of back in the 1970’s! They say “a little knowledge is a dangerous thing”. I was VERY aware of my post-op complications as they were happening. Receiving four units of blood and going into a rapid atrial fibrillation with a heart rate of 150-160 several times was a unique experience!

I am currently an Administrative Nursing Supervisor in that hospital. My family and friends assumed that I would know what to expect and how to handle it all. WRONG! It sure is different being the patient! I wonder how many ICU RN’s have had the same experience.

I read your entire book this afternoon. I simply could not put it down.

I was especially interested in the pain management and cardiac depression information. When I see my cardiologist next week, I will make the inquiry about cardiac rehab. I live alone (excluding the dog & cat) and find it challenging to ask for help. My brother and best friend of 40 years were here for the surgery, but left far too soon. I hate asking people to drive me to the doctor, mop my kitchen floor, empty the garbage, etc.

However, as your book states, I have no choice. Each day does get a little better even though I have cardiac depression. I can’t tell you what a relief it was to read that chapter. Yesterday, my cardiologist referred me to a psychologist who deals with this and I’m seeing him TODAY. I can’t wait to get this managed, start cardiac rehab and get on with my life!

Again Adam… Thanks for your heart surgery guidebook and all you do.

Carol

P.S. If you would like to leave a comment for Carol, please click here.

Sometimes when I write these blogs, the process is effortless. I sit down. I start writing. And… POOF! Five, ten or fifteen minutes later I have a draft specific to the question or topic at-hand.

Well… Not this time. Why? Well, I just received a question from Molly that reads, “What is the best way to care for a heart surgery patient?”

As I sat in front of my computer, I began to think about all the different elements (pre- and post-operative) that my own support group had to deal with - including the shock of diagnosis, getting a second opinion, finding the right surgeon, selecting the right procedure, my five days in the hospital, and of course, the challenges of heart surgery recovery (cardiac depression, pain, etc.).

In light of all that, a single answer to Molly’s question escaped me.

You should know… I’m no quitter. So, I just transformed myself into a caregiver and developed some thoughts to answer the question, “What should I know about caring for a heart surgery patient?”

Although I write about this question a lot in my book, here are some key bullet-points for Molly:

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