Gerald 's Guestbook

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

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 👍

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

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 👍 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.

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.

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 👍

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.

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 ?

Gerald Poulton  Thanks Michelle, there is no need to get alarmed that you moved from mild stenoses to severe in 5 years from 60-65. It is a natural progression of the calcification Of the problem valve. As much as we try to fend off the inevitable with exercise and good nutrition, it really doesnt change it. What it might do though is make a difference in regards to any blockage of the arteries in the heart, that you will find out when you get your CT scan. Since 50 I have always gone for yearly physical checkups and that is how my GP first detected my heart murmur. I am now 65 years old as well. We all experience rthe same thing, SHOCK even though we new it was coming. Keep up the exercise and good nutrition, it will make a huge difference on your bodies ability to cope with the surgery and your recovery. Also drink lots ! Of water as dehydration can also bring on or worsen symptoms. It sounds to me like you will do fine, just accept the inevitable and look forward to the problem being resolved and moving on to the recovery stage 👍Life is good

Michelle E  Thank you, Gerald for the encouragement. Yes it has been on my mind every day since last year when I got the second echo. It was a bit of a let down to see that things had gotten worse, even though I had been making the effort. It's easy to get off track when the news wasn't what I wanted. But I just have to hang tough and be strong! thanks again, your words are appreciated!

Gerald Poulton  You should be out tomorrow and home feels good but just remember not to over do it, that can bring on complications and you dont want the or need those. Sometimes they send you home on meds for a short while but only if needed. Take care of you and all the best 👍

Tina Williams  You are so right Gerald. To be honest - there’s something to be said for pampering oneself from time to time. And I definitely recognize that is exactly what my body wants. Its just when I roll over or twist - then yowsa!!!!😣

Gerald Poulton  😀the pain or worry when rolling over etc will pass, just make sure for now you hug that pillow, it is your friend. Even now I am very careful and although I don't carry my lip pillow 👄 anymore, at times I will cross my arms. Like when my wife is driving over a speed bump or turns a corner fast, even the gravity can pull on your chest. And if I am going to cough or sneeze. I cant remember if you had the full sternotomy but if you did it takes 6 months to heal completely so it does take patience.

Gerald Poulton  Thanks Sandy,my hopes are that my posts are helpful to others so inspirational is definitely a job accomplished 👍 When I started walking after surgery, I would walk along the ocean walkway as far as I could, being careful not to overdue it, then stop and take a rest, have a drink or snack and then walk back home. Now I walk without stopping. I live in Canada where we use kms and my wife, son, dtr in law and grandaughter are going in a 10km or 6.214 mile run in a couple weeks, last year I would have run it as well but needless to say after just 7 weeks today 😃, post OHS with full stenotomy I am not able to run so I will walk it. Monday I decided to see if I could do it now and walked the 10km or 6.214 miles in 1 hr 35 minutes so yesterday I just did 3 1/2 miles and today is a break day with sore leg muscles. I guess the important think to remember is that I am in good condition and prior to my surgery was walking the same distance which really helped me. I strongly suggest that anyone that is pre surgery do what ever they can do to exercise the body and lungs. The surgery does take a toll on the body but we do have the ability to make a difference. 👍The exercise is also great for mental and emotional preparation.

Sandy Laine  Thanks, again - I walk somewhere between 5-9 miles three times/week with a walking buddy, not necessarily fast - we often time a couple of the miles, but enjoy nature on parts of it as well - and was talking to him about your earlier post yesterday - so THANKS for verifying. Victoria is certainly a beautiful place to walk (I lived in Washington state in the 90's, and visited your area now and then).
Congrats on your 7-week anniversary - and on your good recovery - and thanks, again, for sharing.

Gerald Poulton  Thanks, I havent checked the ozone output but I will do that. My model has a seperate control for ozone and it goes warn you to leave the house while it is running, between the heppa fioters and my house air system t should clear out any residue. I more purchased it for the heppa filter but thank you very much for the information, I will research it further to make sure it us safe.