Brent's Guestbook

Hi Brent, I hope your recovery is still progressing well. I wanted to ask if you had a full sternonomy or a mini one or a TAVR cath procedure done? I’m scheduled for a full sternonomy next week and am keeping my fingers crossed that I can bounce back half as well as you did!

Hi Brent! You are going to do so well with everything. Thinking of you. Sending warmest thoughts to you & your family. Will be waiting for your first update when you are ready. I am right behind you:)

Brent, I had my open heart on May 5th of this year, and it was not as bad as I feared. I can guarantee that the fear, agony you are passing through right now will never materialize. The surgery part is nothing, it will go smoothly. I had four arteries blocked, bicuspid Aorta Valve Replacement, 4.9 aneurism. All went very smoothly. The difficult part is recovery. But it is also not too bad. The tubes going into your mouth and nose will give you uneasyness, and the surgical team will tie your hands otherwise you will take out these vital tubes by yourself. They will check your vital signs. Then they will sedate you, and when you will wake up again the tubes will be gone. They will ask you the 2nd day to walk. For me the breathing was a great problem as it was uncontrolled. I had also A-FIB ( Irregular Heart Beat), which is common in 30% Of heart surgery patients. I with all the energy I had walked 3 times in the beginning, just few steps in the beginning, but around the whole surgical ward after two more days, and three times per day. On sixth day I was discharged. I then started walking at home for 10 Minutes in the beginning, then 15 Minutes next week. I now walk for an hour and go to cardiac rehab. Again, take my words, you will be alright. My wife a physician, a nephrologist sees more open heart patients than other patients who have other than heart surgeries. My two sons, also doctors are the same. Hence I am quite sure that you will have no complications, and will be better than ever, soon. My prayers are with you, always.

Hi Brent, I wanted to wish you well on your upcoming surgery. I was relating with your story as I have 2 young children myself. I just had my surgery 6 days ago oh and I also used to live in North Charlotte near Huntersville. Now I am in Fort Mill South Carolina which is about 25 minutes south of Charlotte. Anyway the time leading up to my surgery was very stressful I tried to just talk with different people about it and this community truly helps me in that. I hope you can find the support you need as well. Also just spending quality time with my family was helpful. The day before my surgery this calm came over me and for the first time I was okay with it. Now I'm on the other side and so grateful that my valve is fixed and I can go on and live a normal life. I'm wishing you the same peace... You can do this. The waiting is the worst part. My other advice is stay on top of your pain meds. The better you feel the more you can move around and the faster you will recover. Best wishes!

Hi, Brent. Our stories are very similar. I am still waiting for my surgery date. Should be soon. Understand the feelings of anxiety, all too well:) My aortic stenosis also went from OK to severe. So here we are!!! Keeping you and your family in my thoughts & prayers. We are in a good place to be getting great help & care. Please keep us updated when you can. I promise to do the same.