Joe's Guestbook

Hi Joe, Thanks for dropping by and the well wishes for my 10th MV repair. I stop and try to think back where I was 2 months after my surgery - Christmas shopping! Couldn't carry all of the parcels and found I had to sit down a lot but I was out, driving and returning to my life. Recovery takes time, but you too, will get there. The scar fades, the pain is a distant memory, but the thankfulness I feel each day will always be with me. We don't get a choice - this isn't elective surgery, but dare you even try to imagine the results if these complicated surgeries didn't exist? Wishing you a speedy recovery as well. Good luck and hang in there.

Joe, Great job finding Dr. Svensson! He is a great guy and an extraordinary surgeon. Many patients in our community have had fantastic results with him and his team at Cleveland Clinic! Fyi, I was 33 when I had my aortic valve procedure. You are going to do great!  https://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/surgeons/dr-Lars-Svensson-Cleveland-Ohio.php

Hi Joe. It was a very long convo I had with the surgeon and my cardiologist. Because I live such an active lifestyle they did a 3D image of my heart. We decided to go with the Edwards Inspiris Resilia bioprosthetic. I was able to get the largest size so the plan is that I'll need a repair and then 2 TAVRS. I've been on Warfrin since my surgery and it really is no big deal honestly but I do like to ski, jetski, and do other outdoor activities so staying on them for life was not something I was ready to do.

Hey Joe. I needed a pacemaker because I went through complete heart block a few times. I figured it is already there and I can not be fully guaranteed to never have it again so I will keep it. Was never part of my plan but I guess most of this was not.

Hey Joe, Our stories are very similar. Bicuspid valve and regurgitation found by accident. Thank goodness! I was about your age when I sat down with my doc to talk bio vs mechanical. My doc strongly suggested mechanical solely based on the fact that I would probably need 2 replacement surgeries in my lifetime and your complication odds go up every-time you go under the knife. The mechanical valve was an easy choice for me but I don't have a profession or lifestyle that puts me at risk for bleeding or bruising. I can't tell you what it's like to have a bio valve but I can tell you that there was little change in my lifestyle post op. I have run into some unexpected symptoms, which I attribute to my surgery and mechanical valve, but they were spread very thinly across the last 8 years and are usually short-lived. I had to take it easy for a few months after surgery but I was back to "normal" at about 6 months. I'm very active, I travel globally, I eat roughly the same foods, and I take a pill, well, 2 pills (baby aspirin). I did have to give up powerlifting (90 pound lifting limit) and mixed martial arts (bruising/bleeding) but thats probably for the better. Send me a message if you'd like to talk about it.

Joe you can be just as active with the mechanical valve as you re today. Besides the initial 12 week weight restrictions you can go back to normal. Just have to watch out for things that cause bleeding. I also got a pacemaker which they say I can’t play football or hockey. Otherwise everything else is good. Check out my previous post from my last week of activity. That was week 9 stats.