Brad's Guestbook

Thinking of you.... Looking for a thumbs up post as soon as you get the energy! I am looking forward to a selfie showing off one bad-ass eye twinkle and a knowing smirk that says “yo. did it!”

Hey Brad! I know you may already be in surgery but wanted you to know I was thinking about you and praying for you. You'll do super. You are at a great place and have a great team caring for you. Looking forward to following your recovery!!

Brad, Sending you strength and wishing you all the best for your surgery tomorrow and a speedy recovery! Your going to do great! We will all be here for you, waiting for post-op updates when you can.

Brad, My name is Frank. I am a Swim Coach on Long island New York. I too, have a stenotic aortic valve,(bicuspid not the standard tricuspid) that will have to be replaced. I too have an Aortic Aneurysm that needs replacement. And yes, I am scheduled for June 24th. I wish you the best of luck. I you are like me, you have never spent a night in the hospital until now. Scary, for sure. But I have communicated with many who have said that the first 24 hours is the toughest. After that , they say it's not that bad. In fact someone told me that the anxiety of the anticipated procedure was by far the worst of the whole experience. I sincerely expect to be back swimming and cycling with my club as soon as August. All the Best, and if you want to write back feel free Thanks!

Hey Brad, read your post and it definitely hit home. I have gone through some of the same thoughts and anxiety (still am to some extent). I too was born with a bicuspid aortic valve and am now 43 years old requiring surgery. You're lucky to be so close to a great hospital - UofM is my alma mater! I'm sure everything will be good - technology has improved so much over the years and these surgeries are becoming more and more routine. I'm curious about the valve you chose? I'm going with the On-X mechanical valve because of the lower dose blood thinner requirements and because I don't want to ever have another operation if I can avoid it. It might be worth asking your surgeon about it if you haven't already. Thoughts and prayers are with you. -Carlos

Hi Brad. You came to the right place for support and encouragement. I also had a bad valve which I knew about since about age 7. We watched it all my life and had to go to a cardiologist every year. At age 59, the news finally came that I needed the surgery. I was in such denial that I got for opinions (two from cardiologists, one from by brother (a doctor) and one from his best friend who happened to be a thoracic surgeon. Even though I new the day would come, I was still terrified. I did wake up with a breathing tube in but many people do not. I think they try to remove them before you wake. You are with a good hospital so take comfort in that. Because of my age, I went with a tissue valve rather than mechanical because I didn't want to be on blood thinners and if I need another replacement later, I would go with the TAVR procedure. But that decision is extremely personal. I agree with others who have said that the waiting and all of the "what if's" are the worst part of the process. Your mind is your worst enemy right now. Trust the doctors - they do this every day. You will do fine and I wish you the best. Please keep us posted.

Brad welcome to the best support system EVER!! The best advice I ever received was from my nurse before I went in to my first OHS. Yes there will be a big tube in your throat when you wake up. Stay calm. The calmer you stay, the quicker it will come out. Trust in your doctors and you will be fine. I was 28 when I had my first OHS and have since then had 4 more. As I have told others, the anticipation weeks before your surgery will most likely be the worst part. Best of luck to you!! We are all looking out for you and will stay in touch.

No need to be terrified.... You are strong, your team is able to handle everything. You will find the strength and you will be ready once the time comes. You won’t believe me now, but you will stare this down and it will flinch, not you. Please read my journal and let me know where I can help.

Hi Brad, welcome and thank you for your post. Your fears are shared by all of us and this is a great place to discuss and share. It’s hard for our loved ones to have these conversations. You need to trust your surgeon and surgical team. If you can, get a second opinion and interview at least one more surgeon. You will learn more with every visit and may be told that you are young and a low risk for surgery. It sunk in for me when my friend said to me-They are not just saying this to make you feel better!

Brad, Welcome to HVS.com. A great place to gather information and receive positive feedback from many just like you. I'm 18 months post surgery for an Ascending Aortic aneurysm of 5.3 and a Bicuspid Aortic valve and I read this site daily to keep ahead of amount of science, technology and procedures out there. While you research and gather information, you will experience all the emotions from: Wow that's cool , I can't believe surgeons and technology can do that . To: That will be me, my surgery in the video and you might need a moment of prayer and reflection. My advice to you is: 1. (If you can) Watch some of the videos of the actual surgery you need. Todays amazing technology and the skill of the surgeons in these videos will help educate and inform you of what to expect and help you formulate your questions and expected answers. 2. I highly recommend a second opinion from someone you have researched with unbelievable experience ( crazy number of valve surgeries) at an amazing hospital surrounded by an expert team. You may have already found all of that but if there is any doubt, continue until you are comfortable with your choice ( you don't need a referral and plane and rail travel is economical) I flew to Chicago from Kansas City for my surgery. 3. OHS is hard and the toughest thing I've been through. Its never too late to get in the best shape of your life ( physically and mentally ). With your aneurysm, follow doctors orders and don't lift heavy weights but maybe light weights multiple times. Walking and sit ups helped me alot. 4. Many choices you have to make in the time up to your surgery. Surgeon, Hospital, Valve, Incision, etc. I only had 3 months to research, so I relied alot on the recommendations of my chosen surgeon for the valve type, valve manufacturer and incision. I was a YouTube expert ( joking ) but he actually performed thousand of valve surgeries. I had a full sternotomy, an Edward's 2700 TFX (bovine tissue valve) and a dacron graft to replace the aneurysm. I had very little to no pain after surgery and my incision is barely visible today. 5. Prepare your home for your recovery. Somethings that helped me: A comfortable recliner that you may want to sleep in, an adjustable bed or wedge pillow, a treadmill for days of inclement weather, and a very understanding caregiver. Positive thought be with you as you prepare!

Hi Brad - Thanks for sharing your story and your fears. My surgery is also scheduled, and I’m grappling with the fear and still trying to get my head around that this is really going to happen. Dealing with the unknown, the fear, the unkind reality that this is the path we’re on is scary. So far, I have felt better following many others’ stories on this site. While we don’t know the details about the outcome of our surgery yet, or our own path to recovery, it helps to know that there are others going before us who show us that they are getting through it and have found the strength to recover week after week. Please know this is where you can come when you need support and encouragement. It’s been very helpful for me, and I look forward to following your story. You’ll do great!

Welcome, Brad. I worried about many of the same things that are on your mind. I especially didn't like the idea of a breathing tube. Ask your surgeon about early extubation. The trend is to get patients off the breathing tube as soon as possible - some even do it in the OR right after surgery. I had mine taken out in the CICU and have absolutely no memory of it. Try not to focus too much on all the mechanics of what happens during surgery. This is what your surgeon and team do everyday - they want the best outcome for you, too. For me, OHS felt like a one minute nap. Enjoy the most restful sleep you've probably had in awhile. When you wake up, it'll all be behind you. Enjoy those ice chips! Btw, by far, the worst part of heart surgery is the part you're going through now - waiting! You can do this! We'll help you! ❤

Hello Brad! Welcome to the Heart Valve/Heart Warrior family. I read your story. I would like to tell you that you are not alone. The fears, worries and anxieties you feel have been experienced by myself and many others on this website who have had or will have open heart surgery. I had open heart surgery (full sternotomy) for mitral valve repair in November of 2018 and I experienced a whole range of thoughts, feelings, and emotions leading up to surgery. That is perfectly normal for anyone facing such a serious surgery. In the end, my wife and I went into my day of surgery with peace. Our faith in God, and knowing we had an excellent surgeon and medical team made the difference. You asked about the heart-lung machine. That of course is a machine that will take over the function of your heart and lungs while your heart is being operated on. The machine allows the surgeon to be able to work on your heart with less difficulty than if it were beating, which is why the heart has to be stopped to be operated on. This was the main cause of concern for me (and many others I'm sure) prior to surgery. I had the same question, "what if they can't restart my heart?", as well as other questions. This open heart surgery thing can really mess with your head. The key is to not let it. You are having your surgery at the University of Michigan. I am sure you will be under the care of an excellent surgeon and excellent surgeons typically only work with excellent surgical/medical teams. They are experienced and do these surgeries all the time. Brad, I pray you find God's peace in all of this. I also recommend that you read the stories/journals of the heart warriors on this site so you can get different views and perspectives concerning this thing called open heart surgery and the subsequent recovery from it. Peace and blessings to you!

Hi Brad, Great to have you hear as the newest member of our community! I hope the educational information and awesome people here can help you! Keep on tickin! Adam (patient & website founder)