Herman's Guestbook

Hi herman my name is kathleen my husband is hector was diagnosed with aortic regurgitation he needs his valve replaced he is getting a tissue valve what did you get how was the process for you before and after surgery how long did it take you to heal

Herman, What was your ejection fraction pre op and then what was it post op? Mine was 59% pre op then 34% post which is scary - my bicuspid valve was shot only 1.4 opening or less - now 2.9 with the mechanical valve - so major improvement there but now it seems EF is my issue

Wishing you only the best. You are at the beginning of a amazing journey. With the love and support of family and friends you will travel thru in a positive way and live a long and healty life.

Herman, By the time you read this, you will likely be recovering....this is when the real work begins! The first day, you won't likely remember much. Day two, you will be like, "man, this is a lot to deal with - so many tubes, I can't breathe well, it's hard to sleep, it hurts to walk and I wish I could shower" mode. But, you will also be grateful the surgery is behind you. What Alex said is true - the healing takes time and you have to be patient. If you try to do much, your body will let you know. You will wonder, "when will I be normal again?" My husband's advice to me was always to look back at day one and look how far you've come! I made him take a picture of me post-op (yes, with the tube still in) and I look at that photo on my phone some days - it inspires me to help others and it keeps me living on the side of gratitude. WALKING is KEY! Alex is right -- I walked within 24 hours of my surgery (a very non-flattering video exists of me hunched over a walker with rats' nest hair and pale as a ghost)….but I have walked every single day since -- over 3 years, never miss a day. It connects me to nature and keeps my heart healthy and my stress down. Just do it as often as you can -- you literally can walk your way back to health in my opinion. Also, use the breathing apparatus called a spirometer -- expand those lungs to avoid anything settling in your chest. Do what the health professionals tell you -- that's the quickest and safest way to get your ticket home. Let those of us in the community support you -- it is a road of two steps forward, one back. Not always linear. Take care and praying all is going well for you today.... Lea

Good luck to you Herman. I was your age 2 years ago, and had my aortic valve replaced on a Friday the 13th also (October 2017). I was on a business trip to Europe--had infective endocarditis & did not know it, and had emergency aortic valve replacement in Geneva (they did a great job). Now, 2 years later, my heart & valve are doing great. Unfortunately for me, though, I'm getting a hip replaced next week, and then the other one in early November (osteoarthritis). Uggg! :) The 2 things I would tell you are: #1) It will take about a year for you to feel 100% again...you'll be doing pretty good after a few weeks, then even better after a few months, and then like your old self at about the 1 year point; lots of folks told me this & it turned out to be true for me / don't try to carry heavy things for about a year. #2) WALK! Every day--whether you feel like it or now, no matter what the weather. Walk a little at first, then more as you get your energy. Walk several times a day. After a couple of months, walk for several miles. The more I walked, the better I felt. Again--many others told me this, and it also turned out to be true for me. I celebrated my 1-year anniversary of my surgery by BEATING my 15-year-old son 2 out of 3 sets of tennis. Well--you'll be waking up in ICU sometime today, and that will suck, but you will make it--hang in there & be patient as your body makes a comeback!

Dear Herman: I had 3 valves done in May of this year and doing great! So...If I can do it you can too! What helped me the most...once I had a firm diagnosis and found the very best surgeon I purposefully did not ask many questions. I spoke with one person who had been through OHS, but other than that I just got ready and stayed distracted. Best of luck and keep one foot in front of the other....and oh yes...do as much walking as you can. First a very little, then more and more. Helps breathing.