Adam’s Heart Valve Surgery Blog

There is nooooooooooo doubt about it…

That first sneeze after open heart surgery can be quite uncomfortable. To help you manage the need to sneeze, Nerida just sent me an interesting recovery tip.

She writes, “Hi Adam, I am three and a half weeks post op from an aortic valve replacement with a mechanical valve. I feel fantastic.  Your heart valve book and website have been a fantastic help for myself and my family over the last three months. Thank you so much! By the way, the best thing to do when you feel a sneeze coming on is to support your chest and keep your mouth open. Yes, it’s very un-hygienic but believe me it helps. Keep up the good work. And, keep on tickin! Nerida”

I hope Nerida’s little recovery tip helps all of you looking to avoid a painful sneeze during your early recovery.

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.

Although heart valve surgery can be a very challenging process, my research suggests that most patients look back upon their surgical experience as a transformational ticket to a “second chance” at life.

That said… Here is Robin Williams, the comedian and Oscar-award winning actor, describing his thoughts on heart valve surgery, the emotions it conjures, second chances and more.

If you are interested, here are some additional blogs related to this topic:

• “Did Robin Williams Have Open Heart Or Minimally Invasive Surgery?” Asks Marianna
• Emotional & Behavioral Changes After Heart Surgery
• On David Letterman, Robin Williams Jokes About Cow Valves

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 Sandra about heart valve disease, enlarged hearts and valve surgery.

Sandra writes, “Hi Adam, I read that you had an enlarged heart before your surgery. I was wondering if it has returned to normal size since the surgery?  I had mitral valve repair due to severe mitral regurgitation and an aneurysm repair in July 2008. I was told that my heart was enlarged and that it may not return to its original size. I exercised quite vigorously before my diagnosis thinking that my shortness of breath was due to being ‘out of shape’. The more short of breath I became, the harder I exercised. Now, I am wondering if this caused the heart to enlarge even more. My echo at 4 months post-op showed the heart still enlarged. I go again in September for another echo and I’m curious to see if it has returned to normal. Thanks, Sandra”

Sandra is definitely correct. I did have an enlarged heart when I was diagnosed with severe aortic stenosis.

In fact, I’ll never forget when my cardiologist, Dr. Bad Bedside Manner, looked at my echo and said, “Adam… The echo shows your valve has really deteriorated… Your heart has already dilated a bit… You need a new valve. And, you need it soon!”

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One of my critical heart valve surgery recovery tips for patients is… to attend a cardiac rehabilitation program following heart surgery.

From my own personal experience and patient research, I have learned that cardiac rehab programs provide significant benefit to the physical and emotional well-being of patients during heart surgery recovery. Unfortunately, I have also learned that 49% of patients do not attend cardiac rehab.

On Tuesday, a report published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology further supported the data and opinion referenced above. The highlights of this study which surveyed 72,187 patients discharged from hospitals after a heart attack, angioplasty of bypass surgery between 2000 - 2007, include the following:

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