Amanda's Guestbook

Hi Amanda-

Best of luck with your surgery!  I am 65 and had SAVR aortic valve (bicuspid) replacement in Boston two years ago and am feeling great!  I never really felt that bad before, but my energy and stamina are noticeably improved now that I have something to compare with. Took about 4 months to turn that energy corner, but each day got easier and better and, although not a walk in the park, none of it was anywhere near as bad as I'd feared.

I, too, had a thing spotted on my lung as an "incidental finding" No one seemed concerned as I am not a smoker and have no family history of COPD or lung cancer, but my PC and I talked about it this year at my yearly check up and he ordered a dedicated CAT SCan this year and next to err on the side of caution, and because I'm a worrier, so you might want to talk to your doctor when you are on "the other side" of this.  But if they refer to it as "incidental" and "small" and don't seem concerned, I wouldn't be based on my experience.


Oh, if you are having a full sternum procedure, one great tip (as a small lady with biggish breasts) was to ask for a surgical bra.  It really helped me be more comfortable for a couple of weeks,

Best wishes on your upcoming surgery. I'm also from STL and had open heart surgery replacement of a bicuspid valve last October, along with a bypass and aneurysm repair. I'm progressing well. It's a journey, but you'll do fine. Manage the pain. Follow the doctor's orders. Do your physical therapy, and I highly recommend finding a cardio rehab program once you get the OK post-op. I did one at SSM St. Joseph in St. Charles, near my home, but they're located lots of places in the area. We're fortunate to have excellent cardio/medical resources in this area. Take advantage of them. God bless!