Cami's it is great news you can do so much and I had a bovine valve put in FEB.2010 and I am now 72 and work out with weights 6 days a week.Cami's has any doctor ...Read more
Cami's it is great news you can do so much and I had a bovine valve put in FEB.2010 and I am now 72 and work out with weights 6 days a week.Cami's has any doctor said how long are these valves good for I hope for you and me and many others a long long time.
Hi Cami,
Just waking up early on day 4 in the hospital, and I am truly amazed at how much things get better day by day. Sure there are little things that ...Read more
Hi Cami,
Just waking up early on day 4 in the hospital, and I am truly amazed at how much things get better day by day. Sure there are little things that come up that make you feel a little uneasy, but every once in a while I am aware of myself sitting up watching TV and it occurs to me that I feel perfect.
Thank you so much for your support and help. I'm a big skiier, and would love to get back out to Park City again in the near future. If so, It would be an honor to take a few runs with you,
Cami Munk Matt, I'm so glad you're doing well! It is amazing to walk in and feel so bad and then a few days la ... Read more
Cami Munk Matt, I'm so glad you're doing well! It is amazing to walk in and feel so bad and then a few days later, walk out and feel so much better. How are your wife and daughter doing with all this?
When you get out to Park City, I'd love to ski a few with you, as long as you are patient with a skiing hack! I've been unable to ski for about 3 years due to this pesky heart issue. I think that this year will be my relearning year. I'll take lessons with my daughter and then I won't feel so bad.
I love Park City, and there are a few other resorts that are fun too, and definitely worth trying out next time you come out this way.
Sounds like you may be busy on your boat this summer! I'm getting ready to run a 5K on August 23. The cardiac rehab team is helping me prepare. You'll love cardiac rehab, although sometimes it is HARD. See - you have lots of good stuff to look forward to.
Hopefully you'll get a bit more sleep at home. I found it quite easy to ignore the doorbell and phone at strategic nap times. I also found that the Law & Order reruns helped me fall asleep when suffering from the insomnia. Why Law & Order? I do not know. But I do not have to watch another episode until the next time I am sick!
Take good care and sleep, walk, and rest. Look forward to your updates!
I am so glad to see you are doing well. My grandson was told on Monday that he has Aortic Valve regurgitation. He is 26 yrs. old and never had any signs of ...Read more
I am so glad to see you are doing well. My grandson was told on Monday that he has Aortic Valve regurgitation. He is 26 yrs. old and never had any signs of heart problems or even illnesses. Just suddenly his heart started beating hard and he could feel a weird vibration, if his back or stomach as against something. Now he has to have Aortic valve replacement. They are so far saying open heart. The problem is choosing which type of valve. I noticed you choose Bovine, I am assuming Cow? He is very active and doesn't want to take the blood thinners with the mechanical but also, doesn't want to have open heart surgery every 10 to 15 years, with the pig or bovine, I personally would do the pig or bovine but I'm 70 not 26. He is very active and just got out of AirForce1 year ago and is going to college, very active, in sports and gym, what was your prognosis with the bovine valve?
Cami Munk Hi Sue, so glad your grandson is getting the attention he needs.
Cami Munk Hi Sue, so glad your grandson is getting the attention he needs.
This is a hard decision, to be sure. The mechanical valve is most likely a single surgery, while the cow valve is more than one.
The decision was easy for me, I had an active life prior to becoming symptomatic, and want to go back to several activities that would be ruled out if I was on Coumadin.
Really, he needs to weigh the pros and cons of limiting his activities to accommodate the Coumadin. I am willing to undergo another surgery or maybe two, rather than be on Coumadin.
My surgeon also reminded me that technology is constantly evolving, so in 10 years, who knows how the surgery will change.
Meredith Bray, also on this website, is my age and chose a mechanical valve. She can give you her perspective on a mechanical.
Best of luck to your grandson. He will definitely make the right choice for him! Keep us all posted on his progress.
Hi Cami!!!
Glad to hear that you recovery went well and you are going back to work and "to live your life" :-)
Reading your story a couple of weeks before ...Read more
Hi Cami!!!
Glad to hear that you recovery went well and you are going back to work and "to live your life" :-)
Reading your story a couple of weeks before my surgery helped me feel confident that everything was going to be fine, and that I was not alone on this.
My surgery was on 3/17/14. Today I am going to a f/u appt. with the surgeon. My recovery is going well incision and all healing well. Just a pain on my tight ribs that radiates to the back that I say it's holding my recovery as far as physical goes. I am walking 6 mikes a day 3 at a time. I am a Zumba instructor so I can wait to go back to teaching. I am thinking that the Madter up there sent me this pain so I could slow down a little. I feel with energy and want to go back to my regular life. The other sorta of hold is that the X-Ray showed some not much fluid on my L lung 2weeks ago that's why the appt. today to check is cleared. I pray it did.
Anyways just wanted to share part of my story and to thank you and the others that posts their stories.
Best wishes and hope you run that 5K by the end of Summer.
V_
Hi Cami,
I'm so happy to see that everything has gone so well for you. Especially as a mom of what sounds like a very cute 5 year old (i read my wife the ...Read more
Hi Cami,
I'm so happy to see that everything has gone so well for you. Especially as a mom of what sounds like a very cute 5 year old (i read my wife the posting about the frosting and sprinkles and we got a big laugh!!)
I had a quick question for you, if you don't mind. I'm 41, and have been told that I need to start looking at surgery as well. Everything you read talks about a golden rule of going with a mechanical valve if you are under 60, but I noticed you went with a bioprostethic/ tissue valve. I have a friend who is a retired cardiac surgeon who said that he would go with the tissue as well.
So my question is this: Why did YOU go that direction? Were there conflicting suggestions with different people? And did anyone give you any sort of idea of timing and strategy for things down the line?
I appreciate the time, and wish you continued luck on your recovery.
Matt Ovanes
Cami Munk Hi Matt,
Glad the sprinkle story made you laugh. She was so serious, I had no choice but to ask my su ... Read more
Cami Munk Hi Matt,
Glad the sprinkle story made you laugh. She was so serious, I had no choice but to ask my surgeon those questions!
I chose a tissue valve because the mechanical requires Coumadin or blood thinners for life. There are many lifestyle compromises required when taking Coumadin, I just wasn't willing to make the changes.
So, I chose tissue, with full understanding that I will have to undergo the surgery again at some point. It was the right decision for me. I would have had to rethink skiing, and any contact sports. Also, I don't want to take monthly tests for life. I'm on it right now till June, but done after that.
My surgeon didn't push me one way or another, but I think he agreed with my choice. Tissue valves last for 10-15 years, so who knows how technology will change when it is time for me to do surgery again.
Another woman on the site who is around our age did a mechanical valve, Meredith Bray, and she is pleased with it. I am sure that she'd be willing to answer the same questions.
Best of luck as you make your decision and with your surgery. You'll make the right decision for you and your family; my husband and daughter really influenced my decision.
Make sure you gather a good support network to help you recover, my parents have been with us for several weeks, allowing my husband to focus on work during the week and me on the weekend. That has helped immensely. Even if you can get people to bring in dinners for a week,that helps you and your wife.
Keep writing on your blog - it helps so many people and I want to know how you do!
Cami,
So happy recovery is going well. As a fellow mom (2 daughters 12 & 9), I am also thinking about how they will do with my upcoming surgery. (MV repair ...Read more
Cami,
So happy recovery is going well. As a fellow mom (2 daughters 12 & 9), I am also thinking about how they will do with my upcoming surgery. (MV repair - to be schedule in May/June). I also have a 5K goal when I'm on the other side of this process.
Cami Munk Karen, you'll do great. We were very open with my 5 y/o. She really responded well. And she tries ver ... Read more
Cami Munk Karen, you'll do great. We were very open with my 5 y/o. She really responded well. And she tries very hard not to touch my scar. Glad to know someone else shares my crazy goal of a 5K! Don't worry too much between now and may, if you can help it. If you are confident in your surgeon, you'll be back to running in no time! Cami
Cami,
Happy to hear things are going well. I have a story about Lasix too....funny but then again not so much. I found a bunch of emails from you in my junk ...Read more
Cami,
Happy to hear things are going well. I have a story about Lasix too....funny but then again not so much. I found a bunch of emails from you in my junk folder so alas I'm just catching up. Here you thought I was just being a crappy friend.