Thomas's Guestbook

Your story is almost identical to mine apart from the fact that I never smoked. I was an Athlete too. I played a lot of sports competitively including Squash and Football, Gaelic Football! I had my Aortic root and valve replaced 6 years ago 2014. There was a slight anomalous in that I had separate origins for two arteries LAD and LCX coronary arteries. The surgeon recommended by my cardiologist was Dr Michael Tolan in Dublin Ireland. Root and valve were replaced with Dacron root and Mechanical valve. Six years past and I have no complications. I am now 66yrs of age. I take Warfarin each day (8 and 9mg on alternate days) and never worry about bleeding although I have had plenty of cuts and bruises. I went back running six weeks after surgery, gradually building up pace and distance. Started by walking 1 kilometre every second day for three weeks. Then walking 100 metres and jogging 50 metres for a distance of three kilometres for three weeks. I could not resist the urge to go on as I was getting stronger and felt good, so I started running two hundred metres and walking 50 metres. Now I run as I did twenty-five years ago. I do weight training three days a week. I am aware of the sound of my mechanical if I listen in a quiet place but that's OK. Don't worry about Warfarin it is managed carefully and as easy as any medication. In situations of COVID 19 it may [have] an advantage in prevention clots from the disease. Thomas, you will do well. You know what it is like to be fit, that will inspire you to get your fitness back. Be patient and be kind to yourself.

Hang in there. Keeping fit as you have will help immensely with your surgery and your recovery and you will be in even better shape after, once the blood can flow fully. I had open heart surgery on Jan 6, 2020 at age 62 due to bicuspic aortic valve. I chose the latest Resilia tissue valve that has had the leaflets treated in a way that reduces the amount of calcification with the hope that it will last 20 years at least. The jury is still out as it has only been available for a few years but the interim studies all show far less calcification. I still need to take a baby aspirin every day but have not had any bleeding issues and feel about the same as I always have, physically. Wishing you all the best. Thank-you for posting your story.

Thinking of you on day 2. You know how after a really long run you actually want to get up and go for another when you see someone out there running? Yeah? Well if you're feeling up for a run today - don't. Rest up. Hope you're doing well.

Rooting for you to have a great recovery. Lots of us are appreciative of your story as we are following your lead...surgery yet ahead and feeling uncertain about the same questions you had. Glad you're on the other side of the goal post!

Good luck. If I'm reading this right, your surgery is today. I'm also in Las Vegas. Moved here last year. In 2017, had surgery for bicuspid aortic stenosis. Lived in New York and had surgery at NYC Langhorne. I hope your recovery is as good as mine was. I had bovine valve. Again, hope all goes well in recovery.

I hope your surgery went well. I'm 69 and had a bicuspid aortic valve and aortic aneurysm. Last October 24 I had the Edwards Inspiris Valve and and an aortic graft. 12 weeks later I was skiing in Aspen. I also have coronary artery disease and high cholesterol. I did not need a bypass. For 5 years I've been eating a whole foods plant based diet. I would recommend you read Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn's book "Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease" and Dr. Dean Ornish's book "Undo It". Also "Forks over Knives". You can stop the progression of any more coronary disease by eating this way. We also subscribe to a vegan food delivery service called "Purple Carrot" which makes it easy to make 3 dinners a week at home. Good luck and you'll do fine!