Patient Pictures of Allen Carkner

My Photos

466 days ago

Marcus Krauss, Yumiko Ishida, Rose Madura and 2 others reacted to this

Thanks Andy Dial for the swag! We are all heart warriors that go through heart valve disease treatment, monitoring, and even just researching our options. It ...Read more

Thanks Andy Dial for the swag! We are all heart warriors that go through heart valve disease treatment, monitoring, and even just researching our options. It certainly isn’t simply a physical battle; it’s perhaps even more of a mental one. I’m grateful for my heart valves and the community here and elsewhere that I’ve been able to hear from and share stories with.

Allen Carkner

648 days ago

Susan Lynn, Yumiko Ishida, Darrell Malone and 2 others reacted to this

Just got my Sternal wires removed! All eight of them, 4 pairs. Some were sticking out more than they typically do and sometimes would irritate the surrounding ...Read more

Just got my Sternal wires removed! All eight of them, 4 pairs. Some were sticking out more than they typically do and sometimes would irritate the surrounding tissue. Also, when hugging someone or doing pushups I could feel the wires “pinch” underneath the skin against the sternum. Looking forward to seeing how my chest feels after the skin heals up. I will shared some updates. I arrived early at 5:00AM for 7:30AM procedure and was in the car for the ride home by 10:15AM

Allen Carkner Pre-wire removal

Allen Carkner Side view

Allen Carkner Front view

Susan Lynn Allen - Glad you had them removed - in record time, too!. The x-rays are fascinating! Thanks for ... Read more

Susan Lynn Allen - Glad you had them removed - in record time, too!. The x-rays are fascinating! Thanks for sharing.

Suzette Schear Allen glad they were removed. Sounds like you’re on your way with the hugs and push-ups. Funny how ... Read more

Suzette Schear Allen glad they were removed. Sounds like you’re on your way with the hugs and push-ups. Funny how we take some little things for granted. Congrats

Sue Maize I didn’t know it was possible to get them removed! I’m so happy for you Allen, I’m sure you’l ... Read more

Sue Maize I didn’t know it was possible to get them removed! I’m so happy for you Allen, I’m sure you’ll be much more comfortable now, after you heal. 🙏🏻❤️‍🩹

Deena Z That's a lot of annoyance, if you feel the wires just when hugging. I sometimes feel a "click", when ... Read more

Deena Z That's a lot of annoyance, if you feel the wires just when hugging. I sometimes feel a "click", when lifting weights. Glad it is over. I bet the healing is super fast too. Look forward to your after thoughts.

Rose Madura Congratulations Allen. I bet you are glad those annoying wires are out. Now go hug someone! 👍

Robert Miller Congrats!!!

Did they use a single wire to stabilize two sets of ribs? So 4 wires in total? The x-ray seems to indicate so. I just checked my x-rays and I seem to have 6 wires for the upper 6 ribs but not the lower 2 ribs.

Did you have 3 surgeries? I see these 3 short incisions.
... Read more

Allen Carkner The ribs are affixed to the sternum so they can be wrapped around a bit, they used 4 pairs of wires o ... Read more

Allen Carkner The ribs are affixed to the sternum so they can be wrapped around a bit, they used 4 pairs of wires on me to provide plenty of stability for the sternum to stay put while healing. However, the twist of the wires together was pretty large on me and stuck out a bit under the skin more than typical. This would periodically get sore and I could bang them on the ground when exercising/ doing yoga or hugging someone bony. I’ve only had one heart surgery, just had my wires removed, as a second small surgery. I have the single very large sternal incision from top to bottom. Then I also have the 3 chest tube incisions below the sternum. Now I have four more small incisions along the original sternal incision where the wires were in order to remove them. I haven’t seen them yet because they are still bandaged. Apparently young adults and children tend to have more of this widening of the scar/ incision due to higher tension and movement, even differences in growth factors.

Robert Miller @Allen Carker, thanks for the explanation.

J Alexander Lassally Best wishes. I have one which is raised and tender. Were yours that way? Curious - did they make inci ... Read more

J Alexander Lassally Best wishes. I have one which is raised and tender. Were yours that way? Curious - did they make incision and then cut the wires off??

Grace Mason That is awesome that you were able to have them removed and go home within hours!!Hope you are feelin ... Read more

Grace Mason That is awesome that you were able to have them removed and go home within hours!!Hope you are feeling back to normal soon with no more pinching.

Allen Carkner I read through the operative report and it seems they actually untwisted the wires the worked them ou ... Read more

Allen Carkner I read through the operative report and it seems they actually untwisted the wires the worked them out somehow. I still have a large bandage over the incisions so I don’t even really know how large of cuts they ended up doing. Mine were raised and very obvious to see and feel and sometimes tender to the touch. I’d had unusual pec soreness a few times we attributed potentially to the wires also. Time will tell. Relatively sore about a day and a half after the wire removal.

Allen Carkner 48 hrs after wire removal. Far less sore than the first day and back to work.

Grace Mason Wow! Looks like there won't be much additional scarring as they seem to have stayed within the origin ... Read more

Grace Mason Wow! Looks like there won't be much additional scarring as they seem to have stayed within the original 👍🏼

Robert Miller May I ask why you had 3 chest tubes? From my recollection, I only had one maybe 1/2" chest tube. Then ... Read more

Robert Miller May I ask why you had 3 chest tubes? From my recollection, I only had one maybe 1/2" chest tube. Then the wires for the pace maker. The infusion line on my neck and the line on my lower arm to take blood.

Sue Maize I had a different OHS but also 3 chest tubes.

Allen Carkner I think one goes to each lung to drain fluid and air, while one was to drain blood and fluids from ar ... Read more

Allen Carkner I think one goes to each lung to drain fluid and air, while one was to drain blood and fluids from around the heart to prevent cardiac tamponade.

Rose Madura I had three also.

Suzette Schear I had three I want to have a tattoo making it a happy face. Those scars are unfortunately darker for ... Read more

Suzette Schear I had three I want to have a tattoo making it a happy face. Those scars are unfortunately darker for me

Suzette Schear Allen your doctor did a great job your healing looks amazing for such a short time after having this ... Read more

Suzette Schear Allen your doctor did a great job your healing looks amazing for such a short time after having this done . Hopefully you don’t feel any pinching . Did you get your first comfortable hug?

Robert Miller Looking at pictures of the scars after the surgery, I think I also had 3 drainage pipes. I do recall... Read more

Robert Miller Looking at pictures of the scars after the surgery, I think I also had 3 drainage pipes. I do recall having a bunch of pipes and wires but I am embarrassed not remembering I had 3 drainage pipes. I can still feel how they removed the big pipe below the sternum, pulling out the pacemaker wires, the infusion on my neck and removing the breathing tube when I woke up after the first surgery. So I am not sure why I don't remember those other two pipes. Anyways, they were at different locations. One was below the sternum. The other two were just a couple inches below the nipples. I just checked my body and I had to look pretty carefully to still see the two scars on the side. I don't think you would see them unless you look for them. The one below the sternum can be easily seen, though. Just above the healing /red scar below the sternum, you see the scar from the first surgery. That healed scar is basically how my scar along the chest looks like, just vertical and of course a lot longer.
@Suzette Schear I now feel compelled to get a smiley tattoo...

Patient Story of Suzette Schear

https://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/journals/mystory/suzetteschear

Learn about Suzette Schear, patient diagnosed with Mitral Regurgitation

Allen Carkner Hard to say for sure at this point but I’m pretty sure some of my discomfort from the wires is alre ... Read more

Allen Carkner Hard to say for sure at this point but I’m pretty sure some of my discomfort from the wires is already a bit better after having them removed.

Allen Carkner I see there Robert Miller, looks like your tubes were a bit more spread out than mine. I too had the ... Read more

Allen Carkner I see there Robert Miller, looks like your tubes were a bit more spread out than mine. I too had the pacer wire, radial arterial line for blood draws, annother IV on the arm and a central line through the neck. It sure was something being hooked up to everything. Feels like a dream now!

Deena Z Nice, clean, straight incisions. Is healing nicely. Impressed that you thought about all-the-lines ... Read more

Deena Z Nice, clean, straight incisions. Is healing nicely. Impressed that you thought about all-the-lines in you. I just was hoping I could get the bathroom without tripping.

Sue Lee Looks great. Stayed in the original scar. Well done pursuing this as you’ve mentioned a number of t ... Read more

Sue Lee Looks great. Stayed in the original scar. Well done pursuing this as you’ve mentioned a number of times it was bothering you .

Deb Fisher Thank you for sharing this. I am having my sternal wires removed on Tuesday March 11. I am experienci ... Read more

Deb Fisher Thank you for sharing this. I am having my sternal wires removed on Tuesday March 11. I am experiencing all the same issues as you did.

Allen Carkner

806 days ago

Jovan Dumas, Nancy Bukowski, Pamela Gregory and 6 others reacted to this

I was able to complete my half-marathon trail run today with my brothers and uncle today! 366 days post Ross procedure at Keck medicine of USC. My heart felt ...Read more

I was able to complete my half-marathon trail run today with my brothers and uncle today! 366 days post Ross procedure at Keck medicine of USC. My heart felt strong while the rest of my body is feeling a bit exhausted. A bit of a sore/injured knee but grateful I was able to get it done. The event was the Old West Trail Run just outside Julian California.

Daneen Douglas That’s amazing! What an accomplishment!

Rose Madura Allen, that's so wonderful! You are an inspiration. And sounds like you are doing well! ❤️‍� ... Read more

Rose Madura Allen, that's so wonderful! You are an inspiration. And sounds like you are doing well! ❤️‍🩹🪖👍

Dena Porter I love seeing these stories

Pamela Gregory That is awesome!!! Sounds like your heart is doing great

c w awesome!!! congrats!!!! love hearing that your heart felt strong!!! thanks for reporting back — it� ... Read more

c w awesome!!! congrats!!!! love hearing that your heart felt strong!!! thanks for reporting back — it’s so encouraging.

Andrew Dial U r an inspiration !!!

Sue Maize That's incredible!! WooHoo!! I've never done anything like that in my life, but I am inspired to try... Read more

Sue Maize That's incredible!! WooHoo!! I've never done anything like that in my life, but I am inspired to try thanks to all you great examples!

Tiago Rocha Thats the style Allen! Outstanding!

Grace Mason 👏🏼Congratulations Allen! Very inspiring 💖

J Alexander Lassally Great moment!

Allen Carkner Thank you everyone! It has been a lot of little consistent work to get this done. I wouldn’t have d ... Read more

Allen Carkner Thank you everyone! It has been a lot of little consistent work to get this done. I wouldn’t have done it if it hadn’t been for my two brothers encouraging me along the way. They ran with me the whole time despite being able to finish much faster than me.

Sue Maize Awww, that’s a win right there!! And is that a tattoo of a RP on your leg perchance? 😊

Allen Carkner It sure is! It’s an approximation of how my surgeon typically performs his Ross procedures integrat ... Read more

Allen Carkner It sure is! It’s an approximation of how my surgeon typically performs his Ross procedures integrated with an old textbook heart diagram.

Sue Maize Looks amazing!! I’d love to get a tatt to commemorate my OHS somehow, maybe not a whole Ross proced ... Read more

Sue Maize Looks amazing!! I’d love to get a tatt to commemorate my OHS somehow, maybe not a whole Ross procedure, but it’s great that we can! Did you clear it first with your cardiologist?

Leslie Prebyl Allen- Congratulations on the run. My son Drake and I traveled to Mount Sinai in NYC in September of 2022 so he could have the Ross Procedure done. Dr. El-Hamamsy was his surgeon. He was 22 at the time and had just graduated from college and started his career. He too had an aortic stenosis/bicuspid valve, but never had any symptoms or restrictions placed upon him growing up. He did have angioplasty at 14 which bought him some time. He is an active bicyclist and was back up and riding 8 weeks after the surgery. Since he is so active and young, that is why we chose the Ross. I didn't want him to have to deal with blood thinners and all that comes with that. Thankfully, he hasn't had any issues since the surgery. Every so often he will have pain up his back and shoulders and find it painful to take deep breaths. The doctor has no idea why. He takes Advil and uses the heating pad and it goes away. Very strange. He is still on BP medicine because his cardiologist thinks it is protective for the aortic arch. We are trying to set up a meeting with the surgeon for his opinion. I suspect in June when Drake has his next echo and EKG, he will elect to go off of the medication and see what happens over the next 6 months. I admittedly haven't been on the website much since Drake's surgery, so I wasn't aware of your story until I saw it highlighted in the newsletter. I am so glad things are going well for you. Out of curiosity, do your brothers have a bicuspid valve issue? My other son who is 20 has it, but it is very mild. It is only detectable on the echo. He might be lucky and never need any intervention as he gets older. I need to show Drake the picture of your tattoo. It is amazing! Take care--- Leslie Prebyl

... Read more

Sue Lee Congratulations on a great run and a fantastic recovery!!

Allen Carkner

855 days ago

Maggie Ma, Grace Mason , Daneen Douglas reacted to this

First running event post op! 5k post-op record 10:25/mile pace! So grateful to be able to push my body a little bit now that my heart is more efficient post ...Read more

First running event post op! 5k post-op record 10:25/mile pace! So grateful to be able to push my body a little bit now that my heart is more efficient post Ross procedure!

Sue Maize WooHoo!!! You go heart brother!! Wonderful news, and just a tad envious of that beautiful warm sunny ... Read more

Sue Maize WooHoo!!! You go heart brother!! Wonderful news, and just a tad envious of that beautiful warm sunny sky in the background! 😁

Andrew Dial Hell ya brother!

Rose Madura You da man! Way to go!

Marie Myers Great post!

Deena Z WTG! Keep that attitude!

Grace Mason Wow Allen, that is great time!🏅 Congratulations on your first Ross heart run event. That must feel ... Read more

Grace Mason Wow Allen, that is great time!🏅 Congratulations on your first Ross heart run event. That must feel amazing!

Ana Brusso Very familiar site, you go dear heart warrior 👍❤️

Daneen Douglas

That is fantastic!

Allen Carkner Thanks everyone! Figuring out the “ideal” training/ running intensity has been one of the harder ... Read more

Allen Carkner Thanks everyone! Figuring out the “ideal” training/ running intensity has been one of the harder things to navigate my whole life, before and after valve replacement. I certainly pushed it a bit harder before surgery than some would have advised. I want to toe the line and optimize my training for longevity while also trying to not wear out my valves from too much intensity. It’s something I always have on my mind. There has got to be an ideal fitness type for those of us with valve replacement's. I want my heart to be efficient and my muscles strong but I also don’t want to expedite the wear of my donor pulmonary valve. Thoughts are welcome. Thanks everyone for the encouragement. I feel lucky to be able to do what I can do but I also fear about going to hard or not hard enough.

Sue Lee Great news and sounds very sensible and successful

John Hannon Way to go Allen, keep it up! I've asked quite a few times about overdoing it and not been told to li ... Read more

John Hannon Way to go Allen, keep it up! I've asked quite a few times about overdoing it and not been told to limit things at all. I'm not able to get my heart rate up to where the calculations say would be my max, even when I go all out. The biggest risk I was warned of is that I might hurt my shoulder from lifting - in my chest x-ray they could see my shoulder also and there is some joint wear in there I guess, probably from swimming.

Allen Carkner

890 days ago

Dan Baltazor, Kimberly Eisenhut, Grace Mason and 1 other reacted to this

Christmas gift for myself. Worked with an artist to try to closely match the wrapped Ross procedure that I had at Keck Medicine of USC in March by Dr Starnes. ...Read more

Christmas gift for myself. Worked with an artist to try to closely match the wrapped Ross procedure that I had at Keck Medicine of USC in March by Dr Starnes. I feel very grateful for my surgery and avoiding anticoagulants at this period of my life.

Rose Madura Wow, I'm not a tattoo person but it is very cool! 👍

Richard Munson And i thought my oldsmobile tattoo was unique.

Pamela Gregory Nice

Marie Myers Nice work!

Adam Pick Wow! Double Wow! Triple Wow! Did you send this Dr. Starnes? That is amazing!!!

Allen Carkner I will share with Starnes. I worked hard with my artist showing surgical images and many diagrams to ... Read more

Allen Carkner I will share with Starnes. I worked hard with my artist showing surgical images and many diagrams to get the surgery details as close as I could.

Allen Carkner Thanks everyone!

Valerie Allen Wow that’s a work of art!

Jennifer Fuller Wow! They did an incredible job!

Klara Čičić Wow this is some piece of artwork! Just wow. I love it.

Rita Savelis Very cool! Wish I could get a tattoo but am on anticoagulants....

Andrea Babcock Very cool tattoo, nice art.

Dave Walters Very cool, I had a few more tattoos to get but now with the Warfarin it seems like those days are don ... Read more

Dave Walters Very cool, I had a few more tattoos to get but now with the Warfarin it seems like those days are done. Unless they come out with something…

Daneen Douglas That is awesome!

Allen Carkner

905 days ago

Michele Miller, Yumiko Ishida, Kimberly Eisenhut reacted to this

Throwback to March 2023 Ross procedure at Keck medicine of USC. Dr. Vaughn Starnes seems to make heart surgery look easy I hear. I was just given permission ...Read more

Throwback to March 2023 Ross procedure at Keck medicine of USC. Dr. Vaughn Starnes seems to make heart surgery look easy I hear. I was just given permission by my cardiologist to train for a run in March 2024. Grateful for my new valves!

Deena Z Love it, Allen. Going for a run/race on your one year anniversary! Nice way to celebrate.

John Hannon Way to go Allen - enjoy it!

Rose Madura Good for you! What a great update.

Sharon Behl Way to go, Allen! A good reminder to set goals and to keep them really individual. For me, today, le... Read more

Sharon Behl Way to go, Allen! A good reminder to set goals and to keep them really individual. For me, today, less than one day post hospital discharge, I will take my meds, finish my coffee, take a shower, get dressed and enjoy take-out lunch with visiting family. Maybe a game of Scrabble. I wanted to go to Rockefeller Center to see the tree, but have to listen to today's message from my body, "no long car rides, no crowds, no stress." Ugh...patience is a virtue, though...right?

Deena Z Sharon, I love how well you think through your days to make them as enjoyable as possible. WTG.

Allen Carkner I totally agree Sharon. I certainly will be taking my training slow and steady.

Allen Carkner

1098 days ago

Rose Madura, Grace Mason reacted to this

Started jogging a bit at rehab about two weeks ago only slightly faster than my walking pace. Super excited that I just did three minutes at speed 6mph as part ...Read more

Started jogging a bit at rehab about two weeks ago only slightly faster than my walking pace. Super excited that I just did three minutes at speed 6mph as part of some walk/run intervals and it felt great! I finally feel more like myself. I'm going into my 11th week starting Wednesday post Ross aortic valve replacement. Thank you everyone for being on here! This stuff can be challenging sometimes. I love hearing from everyone including wins and challenges. 😊