Alex's Journal

Dan Rhoden  Congrats Alex! You have my admiration. I'm an endurance cyclist and want to get back to that after my March 28 surgery.

Susan Lynn  Fantastic! That is progress, Alex! One day at a time - you'll see improvement. Keep up the good work! ❤

E Taub  I too am impressed you are posting so early. You will be amazed on progress from week to week. I was collapsing into a chair after taking a lap around the nurses station while at the hospital and was walking 30 minutes 3x a day at 5 weeks post op. You will get there soon enough. Keep on going! You've got this.

Ana Brusso  Congratulations and welcome to recovery. Keep walking as much as you can, you will get stronger and stronger every day. Be patient with your body and listen to it, if you need to rest, rest. This is not a contest, it’s a one day at a time. So glad you are doing so well. God bless you

Deena Elani  FANTASTIC, Alex. It's over. What a thrill and a relief. Now for that sleeping position...try working with the pillows, you may need to ask for a couple more. Congrats!

Susan Lynn  Yay! You did it, Alex!!! Welcome to recovery. Glad you've put this one in the rearview mirror and are on your way to feeling better. Walk. Rest, Repeat. You'll very likely be out of there before the weekend!

Alex Hunt  Thanks everyone. Richard - I like your idea. Perhaps I should buy a cheap mechanical watch so I can blame the ticking on it!

Ana Brusso  Hi Alex, great news and glad you are doing well. Remember is one day at a time. As Adam says, keep in ticking! God bless you

Richard Munson  Perhaps we can change the name big ben to big alex. Wonder how the queen would feel about that. Lol. Hope you are out of bed and walking around and enjoying life. In the states they try to get you up quickly, not sure about merry olde England.

Richard Munson  Be positive, man. You’ll be fine. I know, easy for me to-say, i already had it. Keep the faith brother. I’m sure you are doing what needs to be done. We are all pulling for you.

Susan Lynn  Alex - The worst part is almost over - the waiting! It sounds like you're in great shape and have two major happy events on the horizon! I always recommend looking ahead to something you want to do - I find that it places the emphasis away from day-to-day recovery and toward a positive goal. You'll be surprised how much healing happens in the first few weeks - just take recovery at your own pace and resist the temptation to overdue it. There will be days you'll feel like a rock star and others when you feel exhausted - that's normal! Before you know it, you'll be celebrating your anniversary and new baby with a renewed appreciation for life and all the good things it has to offer! You've got this!

Tracy Fallu  Sounds like you are enjoying the beautiful weather before having surgery. Your expert surgical team will get the job done while taking great care of you.

Jim Archer  Alex, Good luck, you will do fine, I had a similar procedure (Bentall) in April 2020.Through recovery, my health is restored, at 72!

Deena Elani  Hi Alex from USA! It is daunting, for sure, but the stats are so way, way in your favor for a successful surgery. Plus you are young and, more so, in great shape with your running. Those two factors will make recovery faster and easier. Hope to see a photo of you running along the side roads with beautiful, lush green fields on the road sides in the coming months! (#chariots.of.fire!) You totally have got this and would only say this is if I totally meant it. Godspeed!

Marie Myers  I totally understand your feelings. One of the things i said the first day of recovery, was “what was I thinking to agree to this”! But the reality is, i wanted to live and get better, so we do what we have to do. Like Deena said, you are young and in good shape, so you will do well. Wishing you a smooth journey through surgery and recovery!

Jill Boroniec  I completely understand where you're at. Having just gone through this myself two months ago, I can honestly say that the pre-operative anxiety IS truly the worst part. If you're into mind-body medicine (and even if you're not), you may want to check out Peggy Huddleston's book and audio files (https://healfaster.com/). I did this a few times per week in the weeks before my surgery and the morning of surgery and it helped a great deal.

Alex Hunt  Thanks for all your good wishes guys. It's easy to obsess over the small risk of it going terrible wrong so I'm just going to put my faith in the medical team and hope for the best.

Shannon Gray  I can relate and wish for no one to experience these fears and debilitating anxiety. I failed miserably in controlling these with my surgery 5 years ago, but please take from this amazing community helpful ways to manage through this. Now is the time to continue eating well, rest, meditate, walk, and do the the things that feel good and help you relax. You will come through this, and it will be a
Smoother process if you can take good care
Of yourself. Thinking of you!

Peter Linn  Alex, I am right there with you. I have been working on the anxiety for a couple of weeks and it has reduced. This site has been a big part of that. Also, I have looked at the research and the outcomes are actually very very good. Read the stories here, they are inspiring. You are in great physical shape, that is also a big plus. I expect to get through this and this community will be with you

WIll Montgomery  Hey Alex, I was 43 when I had my bicuspid valve replaced. I went with a stentless porcine valve because at the time I was into contact sports like hockey and didn’t want blood thinners. I was also stressed and wondered how I would get thru the recovery and EVER be myself after. My anxiety hit me (like a Mac Truck) the night before. It can be overwhelming. But as well as the super positive rates of recovery and success for AVR is the fact that you have a major additional advantage. Being someone into athletics and (obviously) having the mental toughness and motivation that drove you to do a HM is a big benefit. Adding to this what is waiting for you with a child on the way, you have profound levels of motivation to come out of this feeling better and stronger very quickly. Focus on your strengths, and your motivators and consider this another physical, mental and emotional challenge. You’ve met them successfully in the past and you will this time!

I was feeling better than before I went into my surgery within a few weeks. I was running, swimming and biking within months and did a mini triathlon 10 months later. I have been > 15 months with this natural valve. You are younger, stronger, and at least as motivated as I was. Focus on those strengths. You will overcome and be a strong and healthy new dad!

Rose Madura  The battle is in the mind. It's only natural to freak out. Know the facts, that the odds are in your favor. Your being young and healthy makes the prognosis even better. Try to focus on the positive things. Do things to distract your mind. When the baby comes, you will be feeling much better. God bless you.

Martin Smith  1) There are many success stories here on the forum. Reading them can be helpful.
2) I had been very fit and active in skiing and paddle sports. A few months after my Ross operation to address my BAV I was doing those activities again. And I'm much older than you, so you are well positioned to make an excellent recovery.
3) Try to equate the unpleasantness of your spells of anxiety with the painful parts of endurance training. You can endure those feelings and they WILL pass.
4) Allow yourself to experience fear and doubt knowing those feelings are temporary.
5) Try to view the surgical experience and recovery intellectually, not emotionally. Outcomes on BAV surgeries have very impressive success rates.
6) Expressing thoughts and feelings to a partner or close friend who will listen and not merely try to cheer you up.

Hopefully one or more of these strategies could be of help to you.

Nancy Denny  Alex, all posts to you are so correct! I am 1 month out AVR. I am almost 60 years old.I used to run mini marathons like nothing. Who would of thought I had this inherent valve issue. I thank God every day that we found it in time. Look forward to return to awesome exercise and maybe a 6 pack one last time. Hang in, have faith, and be blessed with your newborn. You got this🙏🏻

Adam Pick  Hi Alex, You are not alone. So many patients, including me, struggle with pre-op anxiety. Here's some information from. Dr. Gillinov that might help calm you. I filmed this video awhile back but all of the information is still very valuable. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRt6mCFj74M

Peter Linn  Great video. While there are different types of OHS, I have read that most (when elective not emergency) have success rates in the high 90’s. I am less terrified of surviving and far more terrified of either post op pain or not being the same afterwards…being permanently altered in a negative way. I have good days and bad days. Some days I just want to cry. Other days I am strong and feel highly optimistic.

Alex Hunt  I share your fears Peter! The way I am trying to rationalise that risk is to think about what my quality of life would eventually be without the op.

Joe Tarango  Good morning Alex, I will keep you in my prayers. I had my bicuspid aortic valve repaired in August of 2020 and a baby soon after. My anxiety stays with me today but I actively try to focus on God through prayer, family and exercise/work projects. This community helped me tremendously in my preparation and continued strength. Alex, you got this and will be strong enough to raise your baby up soon.

Rita Savelis  You are terrified, because it is terrifying. Your feelings are normal and real. Expressing them is good. Breathe. It's hard. And then you get through it. One day at a time. Wishing you peace.

Alex Hunt  Hi Peter. I totally missed your reply, sorry! I'm still pretty nervous about the procedure but I'm feeling more relaxed about recovery. I have 3 weeks to go and if anything in getting more nervous! How are you getting on?