Sandy's Guestbook

Best of luck to you gandy for Monday. May you and the surgeons be guided by God's grace.  strong and all will be much better after you get a new valve. Trust me, I had two valves replaced and one repaired 17 years ago and just last week had one of those repaired, this time by robotic surgery.. at age 88. Stay strong and God blessings on you.

Sandy, I was a lucky one! I have gone every year to my primary. He heard a "murmur" and told me to check it out. I was having rotator cuff surgery and I went after I was healed. They found the Bicuspid valve which was stenosing and the calcium build up. The other thing they found was an aortic aneurism. So I went to the Cleveland Clinic for a second opinion. So four years later I had the surgery to replace my valve and my aneurism. I had no symptoms leading up to the surgery. Just my cardiologist telling me that it was time. Since my aneurism was stable my surgery, though needed, was not an "emergency".  So, it wasn't until I actually was getting ready to have the surgery that I felt some minor "anxiety".  Everything went great! And I went back to practicing Dentistry six weeks later. So I had no symptoms before and no pain after. So you will do great!

Hi Sandy - I guess I was lucky and was asymptomatic prior to my surgery.  We had been closely monitoring my (congenital bicuspid aortic valve) condition for several years but because I was asymptomatic the thinking/statistics showed it was better to wait until there were symptoms.  In 2014 (I think) the standard of care changed to “don’t wait if the biophysics of the valve meet certain parameters, so I became eligible.  I had my first grandson due in December of 2014, so I elected to have the surgery in June of that year. I had the “old style” full chest open/heart lung machine experience.  If you are having a TAVI procedure, your experience will be very different and you will be good as new in a few weeks instead of the six months I needed. 


I’m a Christian so I put the surgery and recovery all in God’s hands, and happy to say it has worked out well for me.  It’s scary, but there really isn’t anything you can do to influence the outcome than maintain a positive (“this is going to go fine”) attitude, be a good patient, and depending on your surgery being mentally prepared to tough out the recovery.  Hopefully you have a supportive partner and social circle.  There will be tough days ahead most likely, but thousands of people no different than you have made it through them. 



Wishing you the very best of luck and I will say a prayer for you.  

HI Sandy 
I was diagnosed with very severe aortic stenosis in 2008, a long story of repeated visits to the GP’s before it was picked up by a locum. 
My symptoms included angina, especially when starting to walk or exercise, nausea and syncope. In my case I had instances of being quite light headed and the feeling I was looking on events from the outside. It would also stop me driving until the feeling had passed. No one ever told me not to drive! I was also very tired a lot of the time even when just walking. 
I have had two open heart surgeries  and my 2nd implant is an Inspiris resillia valve which is treated to reduce calcification and I hope it will go beyond the 10 years the 1st one managed, also when it reaches the end of its life it can be expanded to accept a TAVI.
Do get rehab, I missed out on the 2nd occasion due to Covid and it definitely took longer to recover.
It is only natural to have all sorts of emotions at the moment but be calm and take it easy. Look after yourself, the operation date will soon come round. Remember these operations are very successful.
Good luck 
Andrew

Hi Sandy, I had a bicusipid aortic valve that developed into severe stenosis. I was getting short of breath during physical activity such as climbing a hill. I had a new aortic valve and as well 2 vessels that CABGs. I am now 2.5 years on after my surgery and my follow-up appointments with my cardiologist show a 100% normal cardiac function.
It's a challenge, but the end result is worth going though.
I wish you a safe journey.