Adam’s Heart Valve Surgery Blog

Every once and a while I receive a patient question that really, really, really stumps me. In those situations I simply post a blog about the topic to see if YOU have any ideas.

This just happened when I opened an email from Galina that focuses on sleep apnea, heart strain and heart valve function. Do you have any ideas for Galina? Here is what she writes:

Hello Adam… I love your blog and the information from everyone.  I’d like to ask you if you have ever discussed sleep apnea and it’s strain on the heart?

That’s what we have discovered regarding my husband. We are trying a mouth device to help this condition. He has a narrowed aortic valve due to endocarditis and has to be checked regularly. We are here in Perth for the checkup at the moment.

There is also a possibility that a few seizures he has been suffering are related to the sleep apnea, as the brain gets starved for oxygen. Any thoughts or feedback would be very much appreciated. Best, Galina”

Do you have any ideas for Galina? If so, please leave a comment by clicking here.

In advance, thanks for your help!!!

About The Author: 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 78 former valve surgery patients. To learn more about Adam and his heart valve surgery book, click here.

I know I typically write about all things related to heart valve replacement and heart valve repair.

However, I can’t get over what’s happening to my wallet… It’s shrinking right before my very eyes.

There’s obviously no need for me to rant-and-rave about the first G of inflation… GAS! We hear about it. We read about it. It’s all over the news. And, every time we fill up our cars, SUVs and trucks, that little voice in the back of our brain screams aloud, “OH MY GAWD!”, as the price goes up-and-up-and up. In fact, with gas prices up 20% since last June, my local gas station cuts me off when I reach $75 at the pump. A trip to Costco doesn’t make it any easier. Lines for cheaper gas are always nine-to-ten cars deep.

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There never seems to be a shortage of inspirational emails waiting for me in my inbox.

Recently, I exchanged emails with Robin, a fellow patient recently diagnosed with aortic stenosis. As you can read, this is the second major health issue for Robin. Several years ago Robin fought cancer (Hodgkin’s lymphoma).

In her note to me, Robin mentioned something that I had never heard before - the negative impact of radiation on heart valve function. Specifically, Robin noted that her medical team believes that her stenotic valve was caused by radiation treatments used to fight the cancer.

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The list of public figures experiencing heart valve surgery continues to grow…

Jim Lehrer, the longtime anchor of “The NewsHour With Jim Lehrer,” PBS’s evening newscast, underwent successful heart valve surgery on Wednesday.

“Jim plans to be back at full speed and on the program within a few weeks,” the network said on Thursday. A spokeswoman for Mr. Lehrer said he first felt ill on April 18 and checked into the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. Substitute hosts will fill in on the show while he recovers.

Other well known personalities to have heart valve replacement or heart valve repair include Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jesse Helms, Charlie Rose, Rodney Dangerfield and Teppo Numminen.

Keep on tickin Jim!

Adam Pick is a double heart valve replacement 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.