Hello everyone, not sure why I'm feeling a bit in future heart surgery planning mode today but I am. I was wondering if anyone here has had a pulmonary valve ...Read more
Hello everyone, not sure why I'm feeling a bit in future heart surgery planning mode today but I am. I was wondering if anyone here has had a pulmonary valve or aortic valve transcatherter replacement more than once. Hypothetically a first transcather valve insertion, and then a second valve inserted within the first transcatheter valve years later. I find it hard not having a plan for after the 15-25 years that my pulmonary homograft will hopefully last.
I'm greatful for this community and know I certainly get anxious about my heart these days even after it's been "fixed". This is the first time in my life that I don't have any aortic stenosis or regurgitation yet I can't help but think about the next intervention a bit.
Paula Raines Hi...new to the group. I am a survivor of an Aortic Dissection (both ascending and descending). I wil ... Read more
Paula Raines Hi...new to the group. I am a survivor of an Aortic Dissection (both ascending and descending). I will be having another surgery at UWMedical. Super grateful to live near some of the best surgeons in the country.
Rose Madura Hi Allen, I have not had a TAVR but my aunt did and then she had a second one. Unfortunately, she go ... Read more
Rose Madura Hi Allen, I have not had a TAVR but my aunt did and then she had a second one. Unfortunately, she got cancer and recently died so I can't tell you any details as to how long they last. I think the technology of a 2nd TAVR is too new to have enough data. I hope your valve last a long time. God bless you.
Susan Lynn Allen - I understand your concern, but advancements in heart valve repair are moving at such an inc... Read more
Susan Lynn Allen - I understand your concern, but advancements in heart valve repair are moving at such an incredible pace, I suspect anything will be possible within the next 15-20 years. As amazing as medicine is now, the upcoming approaches are likely unfathomable even by today's heart surgery community. Enjoy every day of your life - the future is bright!
Sue Lee Allen, enjoy today! It sounds like your recovery is going really well and hopefully you can make leap ... Read more
Sue Lee Allen, enjoy today! It sounds like your recovery is going really well and hopefully you can make leaps and bounds in coming weeks and days. 15-25 years from now, cardiac care will be even more amazing than now.
Hello everyone, I was wondering when most of you have returned to work after surgery? I realize this is a very nuanced question but I'm just getting to the ...Read more
Hello everyone, I was wondering when most of you have returned to work after surgery? I realize this is a very nuanced question but I'm just getting to the point that I feel a bit of pressure to return/ don't know how long disability insurance with approve. I just don't feel mentally or physically prepared to return to my semi-stressful job at this point. I am aproaching 8 weeks post-op and feel like 12 would get me more prepared to return. I have to be on my feet all day and it can be pretty fast paced work at times. I'm a phlebotomist. Thanks!
Susan Lynn Allen - I have a sedentary job so I started working quickly, but you may want to try a part- time s... Read more
Susan Lynn Allen - I have a sedentary job so I started working quickly, but you may want to try a part- time schedule and work your way up to full-time. I was exhausted for quite awhile after surgery. I couldn't have handled that much exertion after 8 weeks. You'll know immediately if you're overdoing it. Good luck!
Klara Čičić It was 5 months for me. I wasn't ready before that, more mentally than physically...but both.
Patricia Miller Allen- Does your FMLA and short term disability form go up to 12 weeks? Maybe give your HR departmen ... Read more
Patricia Miller Allen- Does your FMLA and short term disability form go up to 12 weeks? Maybe give your HR department a call Monday. You may end up being rerouted to the short term disability group. I work at a hospital also. I had robotic Mitral valve repair so recovery was expected to be 3- 6 wks. (much less than sternotomy surgery). I requested 4 wks on my form that the surgeon's office signed. I later regretted not putting full 6 wks on it. I thought I was ready to go back at 3 1/2 wks and didn't want to deal w/ more paperwork. Pressure to go back to work, mostly from myself. My job is 70% at the desk. You definitely are in a physically demanding job and back fulltime could be exhausting. Is returning half days an option? I'm not sure if that would void the short term disability but worth asking about. I ended up w/ some complications that were probably just unlucky, but wonder if returning to work too early contributed to it. Your recovery is more important than anything else. You come first. Delay your return to work if you need more time to heal.
Allen Carkner Thank you for the comments. I think I should be alright going 12 weeks with my work. I want to be con ... Read more
Allen Carkner Thank you for the comments. I think I should be alright going 12 weeks with my work. I want to be confident in my health before getting back to it.
Pamela Gregory I went back at 10 weeks and it was way to early for me!!! Mentally it was horrible. I don't think I ... Read more
Pamela Gregory I went back at 10 weeks and it was way to early for me!!! Mentally it was horrible. I don't think I am being dramatic either. If you can wait longer and don't feel ready then don't do it.
Cameron Peek I felt the same as you at 8 weeks and stayed out till 12.
I'm aproaching 2 months post-op from my Ross procedure and I still find myself with aches and soreness in places that I've never had pain before. My ribs under ...Read more
I'm aproaching 2 months post-op from my Ross procedure and I still find myself with aches and soreness in places that I've never had pain before. My ribs under my armpits, my pecs are tight all the time and it has a tendency to make my posture poor. At this point I'm doing well at Cardiac rehab walking about as quick as I can before a jog but it just feels like I should be without some of the aches I have. Sometimes the aches make me nervous that it's heart related but I think they are just sore muscles. Did others have soreness that made them anxious about their heart after median sternotomy? My recent echo showed good valve gradients and output so I think my heart is better than ever. It's just hard not to feel anxious when the soreness is in the chest and arm. I woke up with a bit of mild pain when I breath in deeply. I feel like I'm just overthinking. Thanks everyone for supporting one another. This is a odd time in my life for sure. I didn't think I'd be needing this at 24 years old.
Annette Sterzel Hi Allen, 3 months ago I had a mitral valve replacement and tricuspid valve repair. I experienced pai ... Read more
Annette Sterzel Hi Allen, 3 months ago I had a mitral valve replacement and tricuspid valve repair. I experienced pain almost until 3 months. The cardio rehab I am going to told me to stretch my arms out not too far and bring them back in. I can’t believe how much that helped. When I had pains in my chest I did circular motion curled around where the stitches were and that helped a lot. Hope you feel better soon.
Marie Myers Sorry you had to have surgery at such a young age. I think it is very common to have muscle aches and ... Read more
Marie Myers Sorry you had to have surgery at such a young age. I think it is very common to have muscle aches and pains for weeks after open heart surgery. I could not wait until I felt i could lay on my stomach and get a massage! My upper back and shoulders were the problem areas for me. Plus the anxiety associated with the whole experience makes you wonder about every little ache, pain, and weird feeling. It all gets better with time. Some gentle stretching and yoga might help. Hope you find some relief soon.
Rose Madura Allen, I'm quite a bit older than you so keep that in mind but I had lots of ached and pains for quit ... Read more
Rose Madura Allen, I'm quite a bit older than you so keep that in mind but I had lots of ached and pains for quite a while after surgery. Keep in mind that they basically immobilize you during surgery and you are in one position for hours. It will get better. Hang in there. And I agree with Marie, that we are super aware of every ache and pain after surgery. God bless you.
Mary Jewett Hi Allen, I had an aortic valve replacement in 2020 and had similar type pain as you describe for we... Read more
Mary Jewett Hi Allen, I had an aortic valve replacement in 2020 and had similar type pain as you describe for weeks, probably close to three months or longer. Like Marie mentioned the worst pain for me was the upper back and shoulder pain but I also did have that tightness across the chest quite bad. Prior to my surgery I had heard people mention back pain but had no idea how bad it was going to be, of course, three years out it is all a distant memory now. My 26 year old son also had an aortic valve replacement six months after I did and I recall him having all the same types of pain. Give it time, it will fade and eventually it will go away. Two months out is quite early to expect to be feeling like your old self. Go easy on yourself!
Erin Feaker You are not alone. I am just barely past 2 months and still have aches and pains in my chest, shoulde ... Read more
Erin Feaker You are not alone. I am just barely past 2 months and still have aches and pains in my chest, shoulder and back (mostly right side). I am trusting that they will get better as others have said. Other than that I feel great!
Four weeks post Ross Procedure and doing well. I had mine done at USC by Dr. Starnes ans his team. Excellent care there. I certainly feel my heart pounding ...Read more
Four weeks post Ross Procedure and doing well. I had mine done at USC by Dr. Starnes ans his team. Excellent care there. I certainly feel my heart pounding sometimes but I hear that's not unusual. I'm greatful that I had him as my surgeon.
Klara Čičić Good for you, Allen, sound like you are doing fine! Hope your recovery stays that way. All the best!
I'm greatful for this community and know I certainly get anxious about my heart these days even after it's been "fixed". This is the first time in my life that I don't have any aortic stenosis or regurgitation yet I can't help but think about the next intervention a bit.