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!

Hello Thomas, sending well wishes to you on your journey. I too had all the same valve reservations in deciding when I had my bav replaced at 44. I went with the bio prosthetic valve, knowing full well I would need a replacement down the line. I also did not want to be on blood thinners for all the reasons you list. I too have been following the on- X valve and the Eliquis trials. Please keep us informed of your findings into the same matter. Being so active and healthy, you will recover quickly !

Thomas you are well informed, young and are in good physical shape. Now you need to get mentally ready. Ask yourself if you trust your Surgery Team? Are you convinced that you need this surgery? If yes then you are ready. I am7 weeks from my surgery, am a lot older, had most of your issues and am doing great. Just take it one HOUR at a time.

Thomas - Tomorrow is your big day! We'll be thinking of you and sending positive thoughts your way! Enjoy the quick nap and entrance into the recovery club. We'll be here and ready to welcome you!

Thomas, our stories are strangely similar, although you're 5 years younger. I had this "murmur" from childhood and only found out that it was a bi-cuspid valve after a couple of marathons where I had ischemic attacks (no bp) after completing them, and the doc in the med tent ordered me to see a cardiologist. I didn't until I had an episode on a back-country winter camping trip that scared the excrement out of me. Typical male. At any rate being active AND being a klutz (I fall up stairs) I am nervous about mechanical valves and blood thinners. I'm not quite at the stage of looking at valves, but up here in Canada I know at least two people who have had a second valve replacement (bovine when young and then again recently after 15-20 years). My doc has told me that they do replacements on people well into their 90's. I am asking the same questions you are. I want to be active but I don't want to bleed due to a fall in the back country because I'm clumsy while being active.

Hi Thomas I wanted to reach out to you as I have almost the exact same problems with my heart. I'm 58 in great condition but despite my efforts, the circulatory system doesn't want to cooperate. I have the same concerns about shooting a shotgun or doing something to cause the aneurysm to burst/disect. I like to travel to places that aren't immediately accessible to hospitals and am concerned about bleeding out from a cut or having to replace my valve every 10 years. My cardiologist thinks I should go with a bio valve. I would appreciate it if you could let me know what you decide and how it works out for you. Sincerely