Allyson's Guestbook

Hi Allyson. I too had a pig valve “ installed” almost 9 years ago. It was a Medtronic Freestyle. They also repaired an aortic aneurysm with a Dacron sleeve. My recovery time was very quick and I’m still going strong 9 years later! I just had my yearly echo and the doctor said the valve is working as good today as when it was installed. It’s important to hear these stories so you know that life will be normal again as time goes on. I truly feel better today than I did 20 years ago. I’m 63 now and I hike, play golf, go on 3 mile daily walks and enjoy all the things I’ve ever done. You will too. Best of luck in your recovery and God Bless.

Hi Allyson, We all have the same feelings pre-surgery. normal. You will indeed feel much better post surgery and during recovery will likely have days when you feel better than others. normal. You'll be back to your prior lifestyle in no time. Keep the faith & be grateful this surgery is available to make you feel so much better. God blesss

Allyson I had a bovine valve put in Feb 2010 at 67 years old and now at 75 still doing good work out 6 days a week. I want to wish you the best and you will do just fine.

Allyson, the apprehension and dread I felt before my AVR in Dec 2016 were much worse than the recovery that followed. It wasn't a breeze, but I found I could approach it gradually and methodically - it probably took about 5-6 months to feel pretty much back to 'normal'. I wish you the very best!!

Allyson, I had my valve replaced on April 12, 2018 5 weeks today. I read Adam's book twice before surgery and read anything else I could about the surgery and recovery. I elected to have the surgery sooner rather than later, due to all of the travel plans we have coming up this year. I understand your apprehension it is completely justified, however the survival rate is 98 to 99 percent and you need to concentrate on that. I was in surgery on Thursday and out of the hospital on Monday, it is a short stay. Take a trip before your surgery, go out of town, do something fun and take your mind off of the surgery. I am sure you will go great and feel much better after the surgery, go to cardiac rehab, meet other recovering patients it is not as bad as you think or make it. I will pray for you, it will be much easier that you think. Steve Godbey

Hi Allyson, I can understand how apprehensive you must feel, because this procedure has never happened to you before. But let me assure you, it's done thousands and thousands of times a year, and the mortality rate is a whopping 1% to 2%. (And those are largely the elderly or people with other health issues.) In other words, though it's new to you, it's old hat to your providers. They know exactly what they're doing. So instead of imagining every little frightening thing that "might" happen, rejoice in the fact that this is available. (Not too many years back, we'd all probably have been dead from our heart problems.) As someone who had both a mitral valve repair and an aortic valve replacement at the age of 70, I sailed through my operation--as I knew beforehand that I would. The worst thing that happened to me--sorry to get indelicate here--was gawdawful constipation. So be sure to ask for something if you haven't had a movement in two days max. Trust me on that! BTW, you're having your operation on a very good day--Rosalind Russell's birthday. So try cultivating Auntie Mame's life-affirming energy and you'll sail through your operation too. My very best to you, Artie.

I underwent mechanical valve and ascending aorta replacement April 2016. I was very nervous before the surgery it went well and was in hospital for 5 days. Really wasn’t as bad as I had imagined. Doing great, I did have my dental work and cleaning done ahead of time. Keep a positive attitude and you’ll do fine. Good luck.

Hi Allyson, Welcome to the site! Your story sounds like mine. You look young, and I'm sure it was a shock to get that diagnosis as it was for me too. I was 2 years from diagnosis to surgery and went from 1.8 cm to .8 in that time. Just had surgery may 3rd and am doing great! I wish you well in this process and will be watching for updates to your story.