Guestbook of Gerald Poulton

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1892 days ago

Herb Greenberg posted a note for Gerald that says:

Gerald, I stumbled on your story yesterday in your encouragement to someone else. You are a great inspiration. I'm 66 and will likely need work within 12 months, ...Read more

Gerald, I stumbled on your story yesterday in your encouragement to someone else. You are a great inspiration. I'm 66 and will likely need work within 12 months, if not sooner - aortic artery and ascending aorta. Like you, I'm considered in good shape and I'm asymptomatic, which means I can focus on pre-hab, to make triply sure I'm in great physical shape going in, especially my core, back muscles and aerobically. None of us know what complications we will face – the risk is there – but it's always good to read stories, especially by those of us at a certain age, who fly through this. Thanks, again.

Gerald Poulton Thank you Herb and I am very pleased that my story was helpful to you ! That is why we are here. I ... Read more

Gerald Poulton Thank you Herb and I am very pleased that my story was helpful to you ! That is why we are here. I dont get on much anymore but I still enjoy helping others get through this scary time. You are so right about the complications and even though we are healthy some may still occur. I now find myself getting heart palpitations but it may be because I am training hard for another 10K run. Doctors are not to concerned as they dont last long. I like to think that my heart is just resisting the training and as I get back into better running shape that it will be fine. There can be some nagging issues connected to open heart surgery but they are insignificant to the life the operstion has allowed me to live. All the best my heart friend I am sure you will do great 👍 Keep in touch

Herb Greenberg Good luck w/the 10K!

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2311 days ago

Mark DiMatteo posted a note for Gerald that says:

Hi Gerald your posts are inspiring. I'm new to the sight however have been thinking about my mitral valve with severe regurg for several years now and moving ...Read more

Hi Gerald your posts are inspiring. I'm new to the sight however have been thinking about my mitral valve with severe regurg for several years now and moving forward with repair April 3 2018, never been in the hospital or had surgery before so very overwhelming but this site and the help here has been a good guide. I guess my biggest fear like all is the surgery itself. Thanks for sharing how well your doing, gives me hope all will be ok after getting on the road to recovery, everything up to that is stressful. Happy Holidays to you and your Family!

Gerald Poulton Hi Mark, I am happy that my experiences were helpful to you. You are fortunate that you have months t ... Read more

Gerald Poulton Hi Mark, I am happy that my experiences were helpful to you. You are fortunate that you have months to walk and get your heart in better shape. The downside is the waiting but you can put that to good use. The fear of the surgery is very common but keep in mind that the odds are hugely in your favor. This is a serious operation but one of the most common and practiced of all. We all made it through as you will. Keep your thoughts positive and soon you will join us on the recovery side. Life is good 👍

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2311 days ago

Peter willard posted a note for Gerald that says:

Gerald I had a bovine put in 2010 at 67 and now at 75 still work out with light weights six days a week. Arnold S. had the Ross operation like Adam Pick had ...Read more

Gerald I had a bovine put in 2010 at 67 and now at 75 still work out with light weights six days a week. Arnold S. had the Ross operation like Adam Pick had I read it last longer then a bovine valve and I hope ours last twenty years or more.

Gerald Poulton Thanks Peter, from my research, all going well, it should last in the 20 year range. I think for peop ... Read more

Gerald Poulton Thanks Peter, from my research, all going well, it should last in the 20 year range. I think for people, like myself that didnt have plaqued or blocked arteries, it may even last longer. By then they should be way more advanced with the TAVR or some new process. For now doing great. Merry Christmas

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2311 days ago

Suzanne posted a note for Gerald that says:

Gerald, Just reading your journal. I am a newbie, 3 weeks post surgery for mechanical aortic valve replacement. Just read about your hike in Elk Falls and ...Read more

Gerald, Just reading your journal. I am a newbie, 3 weeks post surgery for mechanical aortic valve replacement. Just read about your hike in Elk Falls and had to write because my husband and I visited there this past summer from NY. What a great place to have in your backyard. Feeling pretty good, thanks for the inspiration-Happy Holidays,

Mike Czaplewski About 3 weeks 'til my 1 year anniversary of my aortic valve replacement. I went with the bovine tissu ... Read more

Mike Czaplewski About 3 weeks 'til my 1 year anniversary of my aortic valve replacement. I went with the bovine tissue, any particular reason you chose the mechanical option? I heard you can hear it "clicking" when you are in a quiet environment. Is that true?

Gerald Poulton Thanks Suzanne, yes it is a great area and a great workout as well. Congrats on your 3 weeks 👍 Jus ... Read more

Gerald Poulton Thanks Suzanne, yes it is a great area and a great workout as well. Congrats on your 3 weeks 👍 Just remember to take it slow, but keep up the walking and enjoy like. We are fortunate to be able to enjoy another Christmas with our loved ones.

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2311 days ago

Patrick Loy posted a note for Gerald that says:

Thanks Gerad - knowing the recovery time is between 4 months and a year is very very helpful / because I wasn’t sure how I was doing - thank you.

Gerald Poulton Just remember that people recover at different rates but you do seem to be doing great.

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2312 days ago

Patrick Loy posted a note for Gerald that says:

Hi Gerald Just read your story , my story is very similar, and both my self and my wife had a similar situation- where we had to do the research and work ...Read more

Hi Gerald Just read your story , my story is very similar, and both my self and my wife had a similar situation- where we had to do the research and work out the best road ahead for us . We do a lot of hiking round the world and in Ireland where we live - and we live healthy. So I went for the bovine tissue valve based on Ruth’s research - I am happy with our choice. You look as if you are having a ball . I am just 8 weeks over the operation- the aortic Valve replacement - all going well - so far so good . Thanks for your story. Pat

Gerald Poulton Hi Pat and glad to hear that you are doing well. Being in shape and active makes a huge difference bo ... Read more

Gerald Poulton Hi Pat and glad to hear that you are doing well. Being in shape and active makes a huge difference both pre and post surgery. You are well on your way but rememer it does take at least 4 months to totally heal and for some a year. I am glad that my journal was helpful to you. All the best.

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2366 days ago

Tom Wong posted a note for Gerald that says:

Thanks for your insights. Yes, I plan to use a bio prosthetic valve. The speed of progression of the narrowing of the valve is something I should speak to my ...Read more

Thanks for your insights. Yes, I plan to use a bio prosthetic valve. The speed of progression of the narrowing of the valve is something I should speak to my cardiologist about. My valve went from 1.46 in 2010 to 1.02 in 2015, then 0.87 in 2016, and now 0.80 in 2017. The mean pressure gradient went from 17 to 24 to 30 to 38 in 2017, so I figure I may have about one more year of deferral. I think the timing of my surgery will coincide with the date of my retirement, i.e. have it just before my retirement. I know another co-worker who has this condition, and he is of the same opinion to defer it as long as possible, as long as it does not impact his lifestyle. He has no symptoms, but he is not as active as I am, i.e. no sports or hikes, just evening walks, etc. His valve diameter is worse than mine, close to 0.6, but his cardiologist is not insisting that he should have his surgery right away. What was the key event that made you decide to do the surgery, when you have been monitoring it for many years already?

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2367 days ago

Tom Wong posted a note for Gerald that says:

Hi Gerald, I turn 61 next week. By the way, I live in Burnaby, BC, and my cardiologist and surgeon is with St. Paul's hospital. I had an angiogram done last ...Read more

Hi Gerald, I turn 61 next week. By the way, I live in Burnaby, BC, and my cardiologist and surgeon is with St. Paul's hospital. I had an angiogram done last October, and my arteries are clear as well.

Gerald Poulton Too funny, I was raised in Burnaby, just off Kingsway and born at St. Paiuls hospital 👍 Great hew ... Read more

Gerald Poulton Too funny, I was raised in Burnaby, just off Kingsway and born at St. Paiuls hospital 👍 Great hews on the clear arteries and being young and healthy like me 😀 I am going to assume you are considering a bio prosthetic valve and thats why you would like to delay the surgery as long as possible, I had the same thoughts. If your concern is confusion or Bubble head as they call it, that is more common in older people, not young like us, actually I read more of a concern if over 70 or not in good physical health and extended operations. I didnt have any proplems at all with either but a guy in the hospital with me, just over 70 with health issues did. If you dont have syptoms than wait if you want but I am going to guess from the condition of your valve that you have maybe a year, but I am just saying that because of my own condition. A calcified diseased valve is like the bottom of a gas tank, the closer you get to the end the faster it goes. The positive with bovine tissue valves is that they last a lot longer than they used to and with the advances in the TAVR we may very well be candidates for that in 20 some years. The considerations, younger can be better if worried about confusion and better if you need a second operation in about 20 years. Waiting a year or a bit more may not be an advantage, hard to say but a good conversation to have with your cardiologist or surgeon. You wii do great 👍

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2368 days ago

Tom Wong posted a note for Gerald that says:

Hi Gerald, thanks for responding to my question. Since I fainted about 1 year and 3 months ago, playing badminton at a very high Masters level tournament (losing ...Read more

Hi Gerald, thanks for responding to my question. Since I fainted about 1 year and 3 months ago, playing badminton at a very high Masters level tournament (losing to the eventual tournament winner), I have continued to play badminton at an intermediate level including some local & regional tournaments, with no symptoms. I am also an avid hiker, and have done difficult hikes of over 8 hours and over 1,500 m elevation gain with no trouble. I read and have spoken to one colleague who had the surgery, and I worried about the psychological impacts more than the physical impacts, such as memory and cognitive loss, of using the heart-lung machine, etc. I would hope that I can delay my surgery for 2-3 years until I get to the critical stage of 0.6 or less. This will also potentially postpone the possibility of a 2nd OHS later. At this time, I have almost no impact on my lifestyle, except that I will not compete at the Masters level badminton tournaments. Tom

Gerald Poulton Hi Tom, happy to reply to your post on my joutnal and happy to assist you on any way that I can you h ... Read more

Gerald Poulton Hi Tom, happy to reply to your post on my joutnal and happy to assist you on any way that I can you have read my joutnal so you probably know that I am 65 years young, can I ask how young you are 😀 That will help me to understand you position more.

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2369 days ago

Tom Wong posted a note for Gerald that says:

Hi Gerald - I am new to this website, but have read your inspirational posts. Can I ask how it was determined that you needed surgery this August when you valve ...Read more

Hi Gerald - I am new to this website, but have read your inspirational posts. Can I ask how it was determined that you needed surgery this August when you valve was 0.60 cm2? My valve is at 0.80, but I had fainted during a badminton tournament last year this time during heavy exertion, and was advised to have surgery earlier this year, even though I have no symptoms at all for the past year. I am hoping to delay my surgery as long as possible, especially if I do not plan to play any more tournaments. I can still hike and travel with no issues at all.

Gerald Poulton Hi Tom, i hooe my posts helped and a big welcome to the site. Even though I was Asymptomatic my valve ... Read more

Gerald Poulton Hi Tom, i hooe my posts helped and a big welcome to the site. Even though I was Asymptomatic my valve had reached the critical stage thus the need to operate. But since I had no symptoms the surgeon was not in a rush, so although my valve had reached critical he did not feel I was not in immediate danger of heart failure. The clear arteries were a biggie as well. At 80 you would be in the moderate / severe range. That would be about where I was 8 months prior to my critical stage. If you fainted that was probably a sympton and low blood pressure brought on by your condition, have you had a stress test? I baffled them with mine but again probably because I had no symptons,no artery blockage and great blood pressure. A biggie is also to stay hydrated, dehydration in your case can also cause symptons. Can I adk why you want to delay your surgery ?