Cici's Guestbook

Cici, I am 70 years old, in good physical condition and had Aortic Valve Replacement 3 weeks ago at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis. My recovery has been steady and positive and I'm feeling better every day. I did have an A-Fib incident in the hospital 2 days after surgery, but the nurses handled it smoothly and my heart rhythm was back to normal in about an hour. I'm looking forward to beginning my out-patient cardiac rehab in a week or two. I've certainly had discomfort and am suffering from some insomnia (very common), but feel I'm well on the way to recovery. If your Aorta Valve is your only problem, I encourage you to discuss having a "mini-sternotomy" with your cardiac surgeon, which is less invasive and makes for a less painful recovery. Best wishes for a smooth surgery & recovery. You've come to the right place for lots of support and information.