Kate's Guestbook

Dr. Castro is absolutely wonderful. You will never meet a more skillful, knowledgeable, gifted, compassionate, and caring doctor anywhere.
A year and a half ago, he did an aortic valve replacement, right coronary bypass, and an excision of the right atrial appendage due to atrial fibrillation without the use of blood due to my long held religious beliefs.
Everything turned out well. I’m 67 now but acting like a 40 year-old. I’m confident you’ll have a successful recovery.

Best of luck with your new heart valves. I hope you are starting to feel better. I had a Saint Jude’s aortic valve implanted nearly 31 years ago when I was 42 years old. It is still working very well. I take warfarin every day, and I test my levels at home once a week.  I finally retired from my job within the last year. I am enjoying retirement.

Just letting you know that my prayers are with you! You sure have had a lot on your plate but like Adam always says “keep on ticking“ and it seems like that’s how it is for you again my prayers and blessings are with you Godspeed recovery🙏🏻♥️🫂💐XX 

Kate & Jesse:
I'm so sorry to hear that you are having to go through OHS again.  I'm glad you found a surgeon that seems to be able to give you the care you need.  As the recipient of an On-X aortic valve this past April, I am interested to know how the stenosis/pannus was discovered.  Did you have symptoms or was it found on an Echo - or both?  I am hoping that since I was 64 when I got my On-X valve that maybe it will outlast me.  However, I would like to know what to be looking for if stenosis/pannus should occur. Thank you, Mike.

Hi Kate, I know you reached out to me, but now I just read your story. Yes, we're in the same #3 boat, so we will have an experience not many can say they share. So I will send good vibes your way, and I'll look for your updates. Take care of yourself and best of luck.

Hi Kate,
I empathize with all that you're going through with your upcoming OHS #3. I've only had 2, but I wanted to offer some insight into a way to reduce anxiety by using a specific pattern of breathing. Best part is, you can do this anytime, anywhere and it works almost immediately without the need for pharmaceuticals.

I discovered it while listening to a podcast by Dr. Andrew Huberman, a researcher and faculty member at Stanford in the fields of neurobiology and ophthalmology.

Here is a link. It's called the Physiological Sigh. 


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afAZ1hlvRjI

Hi Kate,
thank you for sharing your experience with mechanical valves. Everyone always says bio valves deteriorate faster in younger patients, but no one ever mentions the complications with mechanical valves. 

Hi Kate - Read your story and am so sorry to hear that you have gone through so much with your valves! I will keep you in my prayers, especially that you have a successful surgery that will help you to feel better and that will last a long time! I had my bicuspid aortic valve replaced in 2013 -- and then when the "Trifecta" valve became stenotic and severely compromised 11 1/2 years later, I had a Ross Procedure done successfully at Vanderbilt (in early June). I am at 6-weeks post op today -- and while there have been some challenges, I think I am doing really well. Again, continued prayers for your upcoming surgery - that all goes well and there are no complications before during or after! 

Kate, 
I’ve been praying for you everyday & will continue the prayers. You are in good hands with Dr. Castro and hopefully that brings you some comfort. I’m glad you found a surgeon you and your husband are comfortable with. 

Continued prayers for you 🙏

💛 Pierette

Kate, I can tell you are smart and strong. Three years since my surgery and life will never be the same. My journey has been a hard one and I cannot find the person I use to be. Knowing that my hear issues have been resolved is comforting and I am grateful for that. But other parts of my life seem to have a continuous shadow that does not lift. So I am also trying to embrace the new normal PEACE

Hi Kate, welcome back! I experienced many of the same emotions and feelings u battled with following my OHS for mitral valve regurgitation and afib. Had 2nd surgery for septum separation 6 months later. Thanks so much for sharing your story which has helped so many more deal with the postoperative emotional depression and mental trauma that the medical folks do not tell you about. I had thought I was alone until my husband and I were told by my primary care provider that this is often a side effect to the OHS. Took me two years to get back to the me I know even though I will never be the same person I was (which is ok). I am a retired RN and have decided to help our local rural community mental health needs by joining our hospital’s “patient and family advisory committee” . This has helped me too along with some antidepressants, ha. My docs know that I am always available to spend time with someone who is pre or post OHS. Also, I have tried to enlighten my own docs regarding need to listen to their patients postop healing complaints as it took me many months and a scan to convince them that there was something wrong with my “septum” healing and they just chalked it up to usual postop complaints. Finally took 2nd visit to my cardiologist that he finally ordered a scan that showed my septum had never fused back together and wires had completely penetrated the bone. Help me remind docs and patients who have had past radiation therapy to breasts or chest , or history of osteoporosis that plates and bands may need to be used instead of wires to reconnect the sternum halves during open heart surgery. Will close this long note and wish you continued positive experiences and healing with a bright future. Thanks, Jeany Clarke of North Dakota.

You sound great and life is going well for you. Everyone's journey through this heart maze is indeed different. As we survive and have years added to our lives, I remember those who did not live in the era of high tech heart surgeries and treatments. We probably will have those who follow us say the same. But is it not great?

Hi Kate: I thoroughly enjoyed reading your post. I, too have had two OHS...Mitral & Aortic Valve Replacements (1994). I've been on Coumadin since 1976 - INR checked at the Coumadin Clinic once a month; for peace of mind, I purchased a machine and monitor my INR weekly at home. Please read my Journal -- it's always good to connect to others traveling the same Journey. Be blessed, continue to do well and 'keep moving to keep moving.' Enjoy life to the fullest, even while tickin.

Hi Kate, good to see you are doing better. I myself had biscuspid aortic valve replacement June 24, 2016. Was doing well until last fall Oct 2018. My heart was fluttering and we don't know why. Been to ER a few times. They just sent me home with a heart monitor for a month. And my cardiologist didn't say much. Said it was ok. Then 4 months past...it flutters again and more frequently. So tomorrow I'm going to the Cleveland clinic. Hope we get to the root of it. It's been making me anxious. I know I need to calm down. Everyone tells me so. So I guess it's a journey that we all have to go thur. So wish me luck.

G'day Kate, I am preparing for my 4th ohs in the coming months to replace my st jude medical heart valve which has a severe leak. I have the CT , TEE & angiogram all in the next few weeks. It has been 12 years since my last aortic valve replacement. Researching what valve I should consider I stumbled upon this site and have gained huge insight in reading people's experiences. I just read your journey & found it very honest and raw & have great respect for your strength and resilience. All the best for a long and healthy life ahead.