This is my first time on the site and your blog helped . I'm having surgery at HUP on Feb 6th. I'm having aortic valve repair and a graft to replace my ascending ...Read more
This is my first time on the site and your blog helped . I'm having surgery at HUP on Feb 6th. I'm having aortic valve repair and a graft to replace my ascending aneurysm. I live in Bucks County ,Pa with my wife and 8 yr old son . Obviously I'm nervous ,sometimes think I'm crazy as my aneurysm is 4.8 cm and I've been told I can wait, but I decided to get it over with while I'm still relatively young (45). Just wanted to say thanks
Kenny Thomas Hey Chris! I'm Glad my journal helped. You are very welcome anytime! Reading others' journals helped ... Read more
Kenny Thomas Hey Chris! I'm Glad my journal helped. You are very welcome anytime! Reading others' journals helped me too as well as Adam's book. If you haven't read it yet I highly recommend you do.
Who is your surgeon? I had Dr Acker.
You are making the right decision getting this taken care of early.
Be patient with your recovery and walk a lot. It really helps.
You are in good hands at upenn. The nurses in the cardiac ward are awesome. You will be well cared for.
The food sucks though so make sure you have your peeps bringing you some good grub. Lol.
I am happy to answer any questions if you have them.
Good luck to you Chris!
All the best,
Kenny
Patricia Garcia Chris...I had mitral valve replacement surgery 2 weeks ago at HUP by Dr. Michael Acker. If I can ans ... Read more
Patricia Garcia Chris...I had mitral valve replacement surgery 2 weeks ago at HUP by Dr. Michael Acker. If I can answer any questions..just ask.
Patricia Garcia Hi Kenny....I also went to HUP and Dr Michael Acker was my surgeon. This was my 3rd time around. Pr ... Read more
Patricia Garcia Hi Kenny....I also went to HUP and Dr Michael Acker was my surgeon. This was my 3rd time around. Prior was Cleveland Clinic. Although they are good HUP was outstanding. Surgeon, ICU nurses and Silverstein 10 nurses were all terrific. Yes...the food is awful...lol I am 13 days post op and getting stronger everyday.
Bob M Patricia, I am so happy that your third recovery is going great. One day at a time. God bless and ris ... Read more
Bob M Patricia, I am so happy that your third recovery is going great. One day at a time. God bless and rise up!
Hi Kenny,
Saw your journal post today. It made me feel a bit better.... I'm scheduled for mitral valve repair on May 22, 2014.
Similar to your story - got ...Read more
Hi Kenny,
Saw your journal post today. It made me feel a bit better.... I'm scheduled for mitral valve repair on May 22, 2014.
Similar to your story - got diagnosed with a murmur a number of years back and they kept following it (had mild regurg at time of diagnosis). Nov 2013 was told it was now severely leaking and needed to get fixed while I still felt good and was asymptomatic (for the most part). I'm relatively young (just turned 48 this March) so everyone seems to think I'll bounce back without an issue.
Had shoulder surgery just after Christmas 2013 and have been going through that recovery and physical therapy process. Still getting strength and full range of motion back - but think I'm ready for the heart surgery now.
Thanks for sharing your story.
Deb
Glad to hear you are doing so well.
I'm originally from New Jersey (born in Rahway, raised in Freehold, worked in Trenton for a number of years) so it made me happy to see a fellow Jerseyan (?) do well and recover.
congrats Kenny. I am coming up on a year May 9 for my first surgery. I too sometimes forget i ever had surgery and my last one was 9 months ago, I am losing ...Read more
congrats Kenny. I am coming up on a year May 9 for my first surgery. I too sometimes forget i ever had surgery and my last one was 9 months ago, I am losing weight and getting off more medication. I work out and feel in better shape now than before..the only weight training i haven't been cleared for is bench pressing. life is good and im grateful for Penn. haven't been released yet, i think they are going to keep me for a few years.. best to you. dont forget to post once in a while,
Kenny, You are in a very similar situation than I was/am. Please read my journal to see what all I've done before and after surgery. I am very much convinced ...Read more
Kenny, You are in a very similar situation than I was/am. Please read my journal to see what all I've done before and after surgery. I am very much convinced that very strenous exercise has caused and or worsed my regurgitation before and after surgery.
Prior to surgery my MR (Mitral Regurgitation) was severe. 1 month after it was mild. And 6 months post op, after months of hard exercise, my MR returned to upper levels of moderate. I still feel great but the echos show otherwise. Since June I have been exercising lightly and keeping a chart of my echo tests to see if my MR returns down to mild. I have also been keeping track of one other person in a similar situation of yours and mine. Would you mine sharing your echo data with me? This will help me confirm or rule out my theory that intense excercise can cause or accelerate valve damage. If you are willing to share this info we can do it over personal email. The numbers I am interested in are your regurgitation volume, your left Atrium and Ventricle measurements, and Blood pressure. All of this from echos you have had before and after surgery. You can message me if you want more details on my theory.
Thanks,
Travis
Svetlomir Ivanov posted a note for Kenny that says:
Kenny,don`t you think that to much exercises could be harmful for the new-repaired valve,do you? Be careful about that..moreover to much running can cause later ...Read more
Kenny,don`t you think that to much exercises could be harmful for the new-repaired valve,do you? Be careful about that..moreover to much running can cause later knee`s pain
Baby,
You never stop inspiring me. Watching you these past six months has been amazing. I love that now we are training partners instead of couch potatoes. ...Read more
Baby,
You never stop inspiring me. Watching you these past six months has been amazing. I love that now we are training partners instead of couch potatoes. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for making this decision; I would be lost without you. xo
glad to hear you are doing so well. I had my surgery(the first) around the time you did May 8th then after the endocarditis I had the second on Aug 8th. I agree, ...Read more
glad to hear you are doing so well. I had my surgery(the first) around the time you did May 8th then after the endocarditis I had the second on Aug 8th. I agree, life has been great and though i sent through some really rough times, now I am feeling "back to normal". i went back to work last week, 4 weeks after my last IV infusions that i received for 6 weeks. take care Kenny!
Kenny Thomas Glad to hear you're back on track, Sandy! Congrats to you, too on "getting back to normal"!
All the b ... Read more
Kenny Thomas Glad to hear you're back on track, Sandy! Congrats to you, too on "getting back to normal"!
All the best, Kenny
Kenny
So glad you are doing so well! You will be one of my role models I take with me on Tuesday as I enter Mt. Sinai for my mitral valve repair. Keep it up, ...Read more
Kenny
So glad you are doing so well! You will be one of my role models I take with me on Tuesday as I enter Mt. Sinai for my mitral valve repair. Keep it up, Kenny!
Kenny Thomas Good luck, Jim! You are in good hands and you'll do great!
Svetlomir Ivanov posted a note for Kenny that says:
Hi Kenny,could you tell me if you have elevated blood pressure before surgery?
Also,do you used to have strenuous physical activity and what type? By the way ...Read more
Hi Kenny,could you tell me if you have elevated blood pressure before surgery?
Also,do you used to have strenuous physical activity and what type? By the way I am very glad when I read your recovery is successful!
Kenny Thomas Hi!
I did not have an elevated blood pressure pre surgery. I was able to do pretty much anything phys ... Read more
Kenny Thomas Hi!
I did not have an elevated blood pressure pre surgery. I was able to do pretty much anything physically. My condition was caught early and I had surgery before I started having any symptoms of heart failure.
Kenny
Best of success in your 5k tomorrow. Enjoy the whole experience. I enjoyed reading your journal. It was quite helpful and moving.
I will have my mitral ...Read more
Kenny
Best of success in your 5k tomorrow. Enjoy the whole experience. I enjoyed reading your journal. It was quite helpful and moving.
I will have my mitral valve repaired in November. Your story had helped.
All the best!
Sandy Wummer AVR 5//9/13 posted a note for Kenny that says:
I will be going back to work also...(Aug 1sti) You seem to be way ahead of me with exercising, I am doing 40 minutes of exercise and then 40 of lifting... I ...Read more
I will be going back to work also...(Aug 1sti) You seem to be way ahead of me with exercising, I am doing 40 minutes of exercise and then 40 of lifting... I am really light right now, but building slowly. Chest and back seem to be my weakest areas. (no problem with legs, biceps and triceps). I totally agree with you about being home. Im going to miss the freedom when I go back to work. Ive caught up on movies, books and shopping!! Most days I dont even feel like I had any surgery. Im still on some cardicac meds (Atenelol, Lasix, a statin and a baby aspirin 2 x a day). l think ill be on those for a while. Glad you are doing so well... keep posting sometimes...
You are one week ahead of me and your walking is great! I have been a bit hesitant since my heartbeat is irregular at times. (the cardioliogist adjusted my ...Read more
You are one week ahead of me and your walking is great! I have been a bit hesitant since my heartbeat is irregular at times. (the cardioliogist adjusted my meds but thinks this is fairly normal). Pain is minimal. One thing surgery has done is giive me a new appreciation for the little things in life. Maybe slowing me down for a while was a blessing in disguise. Happy 46th birthday!!!
Sandy Wummer
Kenny! I am just seeing this for the first time and I am so glad you are doing this. I am sure it will be great for your recovery, plus I have been interested ...Read more
Kenny! I am just seeing this for the first time and I am so glad you are doing this. I am sure it will be great for your recovery, plus I have been interested to hear about your experience but haven\'t wanted to pester you with questions!
Anyway, you should know that despite us being far away, we are pulling for you in a big way and so happy to hear you are doing well.
With lots of love from NC,
Stevie
Kenny Thomas Steve!
Thanks for the note of support, buddy! I am happy to answer any questions, so ask away. I ha ... Read more
Kenny Thomas Steve!
Thanks for the note of support, buddy! I am happy to answer any questions, so ask away. I have a lot of time on my hands right now. ;)
Hi Kenny-
I\'m catching up on HVJ. May 25th will mark my 1 yr anniversary of OHS for ruptured mitral valve. They were able to repair mine as well though I ...Read more
Hi Kenny-
I\'m catching up on HVJ. May 25th will mark my 1 yr anniversary of OHS for ruptured mitral valve. They were able to repair mine as well though I had chosen a tissue valve as the back up plan. Glad to hear your repair was a success. Your girls are cute and it was sweet that one gave you here blankie. Best wishes for your continued progress in recovery.
Karen Campo
Hi Ken,
Congrats to you on completing this critical part of your journey.I\'ll be happy to share my cardiac rehab experience with you,anytime. ...Al Z. ( alzo50@verizon.net ...Read more
Hi Ken,
Congrats to you on completing this critical part of your journey.I\'ll be happy to share my cardiac rehab experience with you,anytime. ...Al Z. ( alzo50@verizon.net or call me on my cell 508-641-0010 if you wish)
ken read your journal hope you continued success , i am 6 months since having 2 valves repairedtake care and GODbless you, daniel
Kenny Thomas Thanks, Daniel! Wow, double valve repair? That must have been harder to recover from. Hope you are do ... Read more
Kenny Thomas Thanks, Daniel! Wow, double valve repair? That must have been harder to recover from. Hope you are doing well and continued success for your recovery as well!
All the Best,
Kenny
Thanks for sharing! My new birthday will be on May 21, 2013! Decided to go with tissue valve.
I\'ll be in touch!
Sending positive healing vibes your way! ...Read more
Thanks for sharing! My new birthday will be on May 21, 2013! Decided to go with tissue valve.
I\'ll be in touch!
Sending positive healing vibes your way!
Natalie Phillips
they told me that the
contortions they put your body in for the surgery can crete the orthopedic issues for a while. and yours is not the first posting ive ...Read more
they told me that the
contortions they put your body in for the surgery can crete the orthopedic issues for a while. and yours is not the first posting ive seen about skin issues. i have no idea on that. I know the solutions they use in the heart/lung may \"surface\" after a few weeks. our bodies are a miraculous machine that recoup in wonderful ways. Just wondering how did you know you were in a fib?
Kenny Thomas I thought I might have ortho issues since I read about them on here as well as in Adam's book. I am p ... Read more
Kenny Thomas I thought I might have ortho issues since I read about them on here as well as in Adam's book. I am prone to them in my neck and back anyway.
Not sure what you mean about being in a fib. My HR has been fine. Maybe you read the post by Matthew below?
Ken
I feel you on day 9, I slept almost all day and had a sudden drop in energy. I can attribute mine to overexert the day before. I went to AFib for 2 hours, ...Read more
Ken
I feel you on day 9, I slept almost all day and had a sudden drop in energy. I can attribute mine to overexert the day before. I went to AFib for 2 hours, but after a quick visit to local ER , my Doctor got things straightened out for a bit, for 2 days no more AFIB . I had some tingling in random fingers and toes, I also notice when I dream latley my hands are very animated during the dream, strange indeed...best of luck
Matthew Lampley
Kenny,great to hear how well you are progressing! Thank you for taking the time to post your comments.I am having surgery at Cleveland Clinic June 25.Of course ...Read more
Kenny,great to hear how well you are progressing! Thank you for taking the time to post your comments.I am having surgery at Cleveland Clinic June 25.Of course I am very nervous.It is reassuring to read your journal.Wishing you a speedy recovery,Debbie
Kenny Thomas Thanks, Debbie! I am trying to keep a positive attitude.
I wish you good luck on your procedure in J ... Read more
Kenny Thomas Thanks, Debbie! I am trying to keep a positive attitude.
I wish you good luck on your procedure in June. You are going to do great! Just read a lot of journals on here as well as Adam's book. They were a great help to me.
All the Best,
Kenny
I am from: Lawrenceville, New Jersey
Who is your surgeon? I had Dr Acker.
You are making the right decision getting this taken care of early.
Be patient with your recovery and walk a lot. It really helps.
You are in good hands at upenn. The nurses in the cardiac ward are awesome. You will be well cared for.
The food sucks though so make sure you have your peeps bringing you some good grub. Lol.
I am happy to answer any questions if you have them.
Good luck to you Chris!
All the best,
Kenny