Joshua's Guestbook

Glad you're doing better, the first weeks are hard; I watched a lot of the Food Network even though I couldn't eat anything nutritious. It was hard to read or concentrate on anything; I took naps and tried to walk a couple times per day. You will be turning the corner soon; it takes awhile to metabolize the meds and anesthesia. Glad you're staying aware of the depression; I would get upset easily right after my surgery but it's passed now. Thinking of you. Take care.

You're making progress! The worst seems to be behind you; don't rush things and try to take care of yourself and/or let someone take care of you! With youth on your side your body will recover well. Thinking of you; my surgery and first weeks home seem so long ago even though it's only been 9 weeks! Give yourself time and patience.

Best wishes today for a successful surgery and speedy recovery so you can get back to doing what you love as soon as possible!! <3 You're going to feel so much better!!

The CT will reveal a clear picture of the aorta; when my husband and I saw mine last December it was very clear how much it had enlarged. Measurements are taken as well; a bicuspid valve will enlarge the aorta over time. Will be thinking of you Monday; this is just part of the process. You want to take care of yourself the best way possible.

Terrific news on finding a good fit; I had my first heart cath the day before surgery; not the greatest timing and wow, not bad during the procedure but the after effects! The bruising for me was unbelievable. I was glad I had all the trauma done to my body all at once. I had no idea what I was in for with that cath. Interesting choice on the tissue valve; but you are able to have a less invasive surgery than the full OH. It pays to doc shop! I got a second opinion and was glad I did. You definitely have to feel comfortable with your surgeon. Being an athlete you should have an easier recovery than the average bear. I'm a lot older than you and in excellent physical condition and I'm amazed at my progress. You've got youth on your side! It's important to follow doctor's orders with recovery and attend cardiac rehab. Rehab has been great for me; they can adjust your program as needed. And you can always ask about adding something or making what you're doing harder. They monitor you and will tell you your optimum zones. It includes weights which I was anxious to get back to. Don't be alarmed at your muscle loss; you'll get it back! Good luck and looking forward to hearing more.

Medical city may be your go to. Keep looking for a surgeon; the surgery is super expensive though they bill something different than actual cost. You don't want to be wiped out financially. Yiu can always ask on this blog for recommendations in the area. We're fortunate to be in a big city with choice and availability. Keep me posted and let me know if you have any questions.

I just saw your questions about Baylor Heart in Plano; apologize for not getting back to you. Can't say enough great things about the facility and care received. Patients start and end in a suite that have a pull out couch of sorts for family members or there are several motels in the vicinity. Every staff member I can me in contact with was professional, friendly and caring. I was pleased with Dr. Ryan, his office is run well. He does run extremely late to appointments though has PAs to take up the slack. My post op was with a PA, which I was ok with but surprised. I never saw him at the hospital before surgery which I thought was weird. He did stop by a couple of evenings after it and had contact with my husband. His PAs took care of my needs during my stay. As my cardiologist says; the surgeons are the cutters! That's what they do; cut and repair/fix! He's one of the best but I was told anyone in his group is excellent. Look for a doc with experience with your particular medical problem. I see you're a hockey player; my son played for Plano Senior High and is now playing on an adult league. My husband also played until he sustained too many injuries; getting a little too old! I also have a niece who was part of the first women's team at Towson(Maryland) University.

Hey Joshua! I am not an athlete, but I do play a lot of 4.0 tennis, about 4 times a week for two hours each time. I am 71 and had my valve replaced in Oct 2013. I was having terrible pain in my chest during my matches, so painful I was hanging on to the fence between games! I drank a lot of chlorophyl water back then, thinking I had an acid problem. Well, the morning came when I woke up with a 165 heart rate. My valve was shot and had been since birth! Well, he said you need a valve and I got a valve. The worst that happened to me post surgery was the constant back pain. I had my chest opened up, I don't know about you. My cardiologist tells me that the surgeons are going through the groin these days! Things started getting better as soon as I discovered that I needed to focus on my life, not my valve! Anxiety leads to depression and that my friend is a killer! I worked in pharma for 30 years and saw a lot of it. I got off all my drugs asap. It is the responsibility of the patient to get off all drugs and it can be done in most cases. You must do this in concert with your doctor. When the doctor gets out his RX pad, it is time to say, "Hey, what else can I do besides take this synthetic drug? Or, how can I get off this product, what do I need to do? Take a good look at your diet and start eating right! I have changed my diet drastically since my surgery. Drink a lot of water everyday, Smartwater with electrolytes is great! Today, I feel great, even when I am on the courts! I don't think about my valve, my heart, or 'whatifs'....Everything is positive! Good Luck!