Hi. Has anyone else had aortic stenosis on their echo a year after their aortic valve replacement? Right after my TAVR, my echo was normal and I had only a ...Read more
Hi. Has anyone else had aortic stenosis on their echo a year after their aortic valve replacement? Right after my TAVR, my echo was normal and I had only a very slight murmur. A year later, I have a loud murmur and the echo showed mild-to-moderate stenosis. My cardiologist isn't worried about it. She said "a typical valve might last 10- 15 years, but some last longer and some don't last as long," which makes me assume I'll be in the "not as long" category.
Rich Hahn An answer like that would drive me crazy. If a valve is supposed to last for 15 - 20 years, and you h ... Read more
Rich Hahn An answer like that would drive me crazy. If a valve is supposed to last for 15 - 20 years, and you have a loud murmur after 1, I would want to know why? A valve rated for 15 years doesn't wear out after just 1 year.
Phyllis Petersen Sorry to hear this. Will they be able to do TAVR again when the time comes?
Anne Walpole I assume (but don’t know) that I’ll be able to have another TAVR when the time comes. It’s sign ... Read more
Anne Walpole I assume (but don’t know) that I’ll be able to have another TAVR when the time comes. It’s significant to me that not one person has responded to my post to say that they had also had stenosis on their one-year echo. I wouldn’t have thought it was common, but from what my cardiologist was saying, I was sort of thinking that maybe a significant minority of people did have it. But since no one has responded saying they had it, that makes me think it’s pretty unusual. I totally understand that no surgery has 100% perfect results, but I also don’t know how to tell if this is due to a preventable cause (like using the wrong size valve) or if, say, this just happens to 5% of people post-TAVR. I do feel lucky to be symptom-free and healthy. Hopefully I’ll stay that way for a long no time. I hope you both had happy Thanksgiving (as I did).
Phyllis Petersen People may be travelling or just didn't see your post. I had to ask a second time before I found some ... Read more
Phyllis Petersen People may be travelling or just didn't see your post. I had to ask a second time before I found someone who have robot mitral valve repair and get some input. My Thanksgiving was happy too. I do hope you find others who have been down this road.
Shortly after my TAVR in 2017, I had a normal echo. About 2 months later, my PCP mentioned that I had a slight murmur, which he said was to be expected after ...Read more
Shortly after my TAVR in 2017, I had a normal echo. About 2 months later, my PCP mentioned that I had a slight murmur, which he said was to be expected after a valve replacement. Recently, I had a routine one- year echo in 2018 and it showed mild-to-moderate aortic stenosis in the new valve. I now have a grade 3 murmur. My cardiologist didn’t seem concerned about it, saying I can keep running 2-4 miles a few days a week, and the plan is just to get another echo a year after the last one. She did remind me that the average TAVR valve lasts 10-15 years, but some wear out later and some earlier. Have any of you had stenosis on your new valve just a year after your valve replacement? I’m grateful for how quickly I recovered and how well I feel, but am kind of bummed about the echo result.
For those of you who had a TAVR, did you go to cardiac rehab? If so, when did you start it? The nurse said she would have the cardiac rehab people call me to ...Read more
For those of you who had a TAVR, did you go to cardiac rehab? If so, when did you start it? The nurse said she would have the cardiac rehab people call me to set up an appointment. They haven't called yet, but I'm wondering if maybe I'm supposed to wait a certain length of time before going.
Mary Rae Thewlis Anne
My husband had a TAVR on March 15, and is just finishing a course of Cardiac Rehab. He was badly ... Read more
Mary Rae Thewlis Anne
My husband had a TAVR on March 15, and is just finishing a course of Cardiac Rehab. He was badly deconditioned and non athletic before his procedure. He's also had Physical Therapy for balance etc.
my two cents is: if your insurance/Medicare pays for therapy, take advantage. It's great physically AND psychologically.
(He started rehab about 3 weeks after his procedure.)
Good luck!
Mary Rae
Marie Myers Have a friend who had a TAVR last August at age 96. She is still alive and kicking, but regrets not t ... Read more
Marie Myers Have a friend who had a TAVR last August at age 96. She is still alive and kicking, but regrets not trying cardiac rehab when it was offered. She and I would say give it a try.
Anne Walpole I have signed up for cardiac rehab and my first session will be on July 28th. I'm looking forward to ... Read more
Anne Walpole I have signed up for cardiac rehab and my first session will be on July 28th. I'm looking forward to it. :-)
Hi. I had my TAVR on June 22nd (Thursday) and am happy to let you know that I am pain-free and feeling well today, 3 days later. I stayed overnight in the ICU. ...Read more
Hi. I had my TAVR on June 22nd (Thursday) and am happy to let you know that I am pain-free and feeling well today, 3 days later. I stayed overnight in the ICU. Had lots of nausea (which the doctors think was from the anesthesia) all night, but was much better the next day. (I had worried that vomiting could open the groin incisions, but that was not an issue.) By lunchtime Friday, I had a good appetite and was eating solid foods. When I came home Friday, I slept about 15 hours solid and was pretty low-energy yesterday. I think the low energy was partly recovering physically from the procedure but also partly from recovering emotionally from being in the ICU. (I had never spent the night at a hospital before that.) I have a huge (about 8 x 10 inches) deep purple bruise in my groin, but I have a bleeding disorder so I don't know whether or not that type of bruising is typical. All the nurses and doctors (well maybe all but one) and everyone else at Henrico Doctor's Hospital were A+. I felt I received excellent care. I am SO grateful that the eligibility criteria for getting a TAVR changed the same year I needed one.
Cathleen Weed I keep telling everyone TAVR is amazing 🌟😍! It can only be done when someone has a tissue valve ... Read more
Cathleen Weed I keep telling everyone TAVR is amazing 🌟😍! It can only be done when someone has a tissue valve and not a mechanical valve so that is something to keep in mind when choosing a valve with traditional OHS. ❤️
Anne Walpole Catching up with the newspapers and just read my horoscope: "Expect personal changes. You may not ini ... Read more
Anne Walpole Catching up with the newspapers and just read my horoscope: "Expect personal changes. You may not initially like what transpires, but in the end it will be beneficial." Funny! :-)
Jennifer McInerney So glad you did well and are now recovering. I live in Canada so i am hoping I will be a candidate f ... Read more
Jennifer McInerney So glad you did well and are now recovering. I live in Canada so i am hoping I will be a candidate for TAVR when my time comes. Take it easy and keep us posted!
Fantastic news Anne! So glad that it went well and your vWD wasn't an issue. Did you have a DDAVP inf ... Read more
Fantastic news Anne! So glad that it went well and your vWD wasn't an issue. Did you have a DDAVP infusion prior to your procedure?
I think those of us who have bleeding disorders, can expect more bruising. I've been injecting heparin for the past week (to bridge the coumadin when I had an angiogram mid-week) and my tummy is black and blue where I've injected the meds.
Here in Canada, the TAVR is called a TAVI and it still isn't a routine procedure for AVR. There are only 25 hospitals across the country that do it, and it also depends on the provincial budgets, etc. It's more expensive to do a TAVI AND there is only so much money allotted for these procedures. Again, it depends on the cardiac surgery budget for each province. Currently, TAVI seems to be a choice for only high risk or elderly patients. Yes, we do have a so-called Universal Health Care System, but there is some variance inter-provincially. The good news - the cost is covered by each provincial health care program, so there are no extra costs involved. However, here in British Columbia, the cardiac rehab program is not covered (except for a few select patients in a couple of major hospitals who run an in-house rehab program.) The rest of us, pay $400 for a 12 week program and most private medical insurers won't cover the cost. I'll pay the $400 because it has been proven in numerous studies, that the benefits are well worth the financial cost of a program.
May you continue to bounce back and get back to doing the things you love to do! Cheers!
Rita Savelis Congratulations on your successful surgery.
But just to clarify a point : TAVR is not a routine proce ... Read more
Rita Savelis Congratulations on your successful surgery.
But just to clarify a point : TAVR is not a routine procedure in Europe where I live. It for high risk patients and a decision to do it is decided case by case. There are many factors involved.
Take care and hope your recovery remains trouble-free.
Lynda Ruiz Glad you did well! When my 89 yo dad had his TAVR last month he opted for the twilight sleep & recall ... Read more
Lynda Ruiz Glad you did well! When my 89 yo dad had his TAVR last month he opted for the twilight sleep & recalls the conversations going on in the OR. He spent a sleepless night in hospital but slept all afternoon then evening at home, waking only for dinner. He had more bruising from pre-op test than surgery.
Bob Fessler Anne, I'm glad you are doing so well! As a person considering TAVR, please keep me posted on your pr ... Read more
Bob Fessler Anne, I'm glad you are doing so well! As a person considering TAVR, please keep me posted on your progress.
Bob Fessler Anne, I have a question. Were you under full anesthesia and thus intubated during your TAVR?
Anne Walpole To Janet and Rita: Thanks for the information about Canada and Europe. My surgeon had told me it was ... Read more
Anne Walpole To Janet and Rita: Thanks for the information about Canada and Europe. My surgeon had told me it was standard for low, medium or high-risk people in both Europe and Canada, so that's what I was going by. I had no idea it was more expensive than open heart surgery. Maybe that is why my insurance required that I have a second opinion before they would cover it. It would logically seem less expensive because the hospital stay is so much shorter. Do you know why it's more expensive?
Anne Walpole To Janet: Yes, I think I received 2 units of platelets and DDAVP before the procedure and then anothe ... Read more
Anne Walpole To Janet: Yes, I think I received 2 units of platelets and DDAVP before the procedure and then another thing of DDAVP afterwards. I did not bleed excessively, and I don't know if the huge bruises I have are typical or unusually large. Last year, my hematologist (who I trust and really like and who knows my complicated history) diagnosed me with acquired von Willebrand's and definitely told me not to take aspirin or NSAIDs (like ibuprofen) before or after the valve replacement. She was not at the hospital the day of my TAVR but her partner was, and the partner said I do not have von Willebrands but rather some other (exact diagnosis unknown) type of platelet disfunction and it's important that I take a baby aspirin every day. In every other respect, I feel my care was very good and well-coordinated, but that part was/is frustrating. For now (over the weekend), I decided to go ahead and take the baby aspirin since my bleeding disorder is not that bad, and I will try to contact my hematologist tomorrow for advice.
Anne Walpole Bob: No, I was under twilight sedation. I was fully unconscious with no awareness of anything until I ... Read more
Anne Walpole Bob: No, I was under twilight sedation. I was fully unconscious with no awareness of anything until I woke up later in the ICU, but I was not intubated. My surgeon had said they almost always do twilight, but, infrequently need to do general anesthesia. I forget what the reasons are that some people might need general.
Anne Walpole To Jennifer: Be sure to read Janet Skinner's post, above. I was wrong about TAVR (or TAVI) being stan ... Read more
Anne Walpole To Jennifer: Be sure to read Janet Skinner's post, above. I was wrong about TAVR (or TAVI) being standard in Canada and Europe. She explains more about how it works in Canada. (I just now removed that part from my previous post so, in case other people read it later, they won't read that incorrect information.)
Jennifer McInerney My Cardiologist believes it will be standard shortly here in Ontario. He is hopeful that I will be a ... Read more
Jennifer McInerney My Cardiologist believes it will be standard shortly here in Ontario. He is hopeful that I will be able to wait long enough for my surgery that it will be an option for me. He is a strong advocate for it. Im hoping he is right. I live in Ontario and our coverage is quite different to B.C. Keep us posted on your progress. Hope it is going well!
Walter Lewandowski Anne, glad everything is going so well. I had a question. Do you know if you have calcification in ... Read more
Walter Lewandowski Anne, glad everything is going so well. I had a question. Do you know if you have calcification in the valve and the aorta? My biggest concern about the TAVR is the amount of calcification present in my old homograft. .
Laura Jacobs Hi Anne! So glad to hear you are home and recovering. I have made it home too. I experienced nausea a ... Read more
Laura Jacobs Hi Anne! So glad to hear you are home and recovering. I have made it home too. I experienced nausea as well. In fact my first walk on the day after surgery was interrupted and someone had to grab a bucket while I vomited in the middle of the hospital corridor...good grief! Thereafter people knew who I was. "Oh yes, you're the one...") 😵 😂By day two I came off all the narcotics and stayed with Tylenol and the nausea passed. I hope you are continuing to feel better and better.
Anne Walpole Walter: Yes, I had a lot of calcification of my aortic valve. I am not aware of having any in the aor ... Read more
Anne Walpole Walter: Yes, I had a lot of calcification of my aortic valve. I am not aware of having any in the aorta itself. Have you asked your doctor about your questions regarding the amount of calcification in your old homograft?
Anne Walpole Laura: I'm glad you are making progress. And having a wonderful, one-on-one "nurse" available 24/7 is ... Read more
Anne Walpole Laura: I'm glad you are making progress. And having a wonderful, one-on-one "nurse" available 24/7 is great!!!
I had my pre-op stuff done today (blood work, check x-ray, carotid dopplers). Working on finishing my "to do" list before going to the hospital at 7:00 Thursday. ...Read more
I had my pre-op stuff done today (blood work, check x-ray, carotid dopplers). Working on finishing my "to do" list before going to the hospital at 7:00 Thursday. Like Laura Jacobs (entry below this one), I am feeling pretty calm (with a little touch of anxiety. This will be the first time I have ever been in the hospital.) It helps that every nurse, receptionist, radiology tech and doctor with whom I have interacted during this whole process have been kind as well as organized.
Martha Dean wishing you success and a smooth recovery! There is nothing like the comforts of home but a hospital ... Read more
Martha Dean wishing you success and a smooth recovery! There is nothing like the comforts of home but a hospital and its staff has its perks when needed.
Shannon Gray I used to live in Richmond... Henrico Dr's always took such good care of my grandparents ( back in th ... Read more
Shannon Gray I used to live in Richmond... Henrico Dr's always took such good care of my grandparents ( back in the day). Wishing you an uneventful surgery and a full recovery. Many blessings!
Lisa Ferguson Much luck that all goes as planned! Keep us posted :)
Wade Clark We will be praying for you Anne. Up to my surgery time on Thursday which I don't know yet.
Sally Strand All the best Anne - will look forward to your updates in due course.
Anne Walpole Thanks for all the good wishes. And to my buddy Wade, I hope your surgery goes well and your recovery ... Read more
Anne Walpole Thanks for all the good wishes. And to my buddy Wade, I hope your surgery goes well and your recovery is smooth. 😊
My TAVR is scheduled for Thursday. My doctors went over the procedure, the risks and benefits, etc., but now I have a few more questions. I'm hoping some of ...Read more
My TAVR is scheduled for Thursday. My doctors went over the procedure, the risks and benefits, etc., but now I have a few more questions. I'm hoping some of you can share your experiences with me.
1. How long after your TAVR did you feel fine? If you are an active person, how long until you felt like working out?
2. From your body's point of view, did it just kind feel like it did after a cardiac cath? After my cath, I came home, ate, then laid down and slept solid for about 10- 12 hours. The next day, I felt completely fine. For you, was it kind of like that?
3.Should I bring some PJ bottoms? I know they have hospital gowns for your top part, but what about your "bottom part"?
4.For some reason, the idea of having an IV in my neck feels so weird/uncomfortable. How did that feel? Very bothersome, or not that big a deal?
5. Anything else you feel would be helpful for me to know?
Marie Myers Cathleen DeWitt had a TAVR. You should check out her story/ and or send her a note. She can tell you ... Read more
Marie Myers Cathleen DeWitt had a TAVR. You should check out her story/ and or send her a note. She can tell you all about it. Only thing I can tell you about is the IV in the neck. It was not painful, only a little cumbersome. Had to lay flat for 30 minutes when it came out, which was a little scarey at the time.
Rita Savelis I hear you Anne, the idea of an IV in my neck totally grosses me out, but I truly do not remember it ... Read more
Rita Savelis I hear you Anne, the idea of an IV in my neck totally grosses me out, but I truly do not remember it at all. Perhaps it came out while I was still groggy....
I've heard that surgery is a breeze for many TAVR patients, who are up and about quite quickly. Hope that's your case.
As far as pajama bottoms go, you will have a urinary catheter in ICU, but when you get to the step down unit, pajama bottoms might be nice. It's tempting to stay in hospital garb because who cares if it gets dirty...but wearing your own clothes can make one feel a bit more human and a bit less a patient.
But I imagine you will be let out of hospital as soon as possible, so that may not be an issue.
Take care.
Sally Strand Hi Anne I took PJs to the hospital but never used them as I wore the hospital gown the whole time and ... Read more
Sally Strand Hi Anne I took PJs to the hospital but never used them as I wore the hospital gown the whole time and just made sure it covered my rear end when I walked down the hallway lol I did have an IV in my neck but I honestly forgot it was there - in my opinion it sounds worse than it is in reality. The thing that helped me the most was focusing on knowing I was in good hands in more ways than one - it kept the apprehension at bay and really helped out my husband who was very anxious about the whole thing. I wish you all the very best - keep us posted please 😊
Barbara Wood I was happy to have my pj bottoms, also an eye mask, & good slippers ( it makes walking feel more nor ... Read more
Barbara Wood I was happy to have my pj bottoms, also an eye mask, & good slippers ( it makes walking feel more normal). I wasn't really aware of the neck iv either:)
Anne Walpole Thanks for all your helpful comments! :-)
Well, I have 4 more days until my TAVR. I liked the second-opinion doctor as much as the first doctor I saw. I was very glad to have that appointment because ...Read more
Well, I have 4 more days until my TAVR. I liked the second-opinion doctor as much as the first doctor I saw. I was very glad to have that appointment because I had a bunch of questions to ask. I had assumed that, because the second-opinion guy was in the same practice as the first guy, he would pretty much just rubber-stamp the original opinion in favor of a TAVR. But he didn't. Instead, he started from scratch (other than not needing to go over medical history, which was already in the chart). He spent an hour carefully explained OHS and TAVR and pros and cons of each and answering all my questions. I felt the information he gave me was very thorough and helpful. I am going to go to the hospital on Tuesday for blood work and a routine carotid artery scan. Then Thursday is The Day. I have "known" for the past 15 years that, whenever I began to have symptoms from my stenotic bicuspid valve, I would be getting open heart surgery. This is the first year that people in my category (medium-risk, sort of on the edge of high-risk) were eligible to get a TAVR. Great timing! I don't know if I'll feel very nervous the night before, but honestly, at this point, the main feeling I have is gratitude and also excitement that, if all goes well, I will be able to get back to so many activities that I love but have been unable to do for quite a while, especially running!!
Bob Fessler Anne, I'm glad that you got all of your questions answered and the guy didn't parrot the first doctor ... Read more
Bob Fessler Anne, I'm glad that you got all of your questions answered and the guy didn't parrot the first doctor. You should feel confident in your decision and it sounds like you are. Yay!!!!
I have an appointment tomorrow to meet a second surgeon in preparation for my upcoming TAVR. Because TAVR's for medium-high risk (as opposed to high risk) ...Read more
I have an appointment tomorrow to meet a second surgeon in preparation for my upcoming TAVR. Because TAVR's for medium-high risk (as opposed to high risk) patients are not yet standard, some insurance companies (like Anthem, which I have) require 2 separate appointments with 2 separate surgeons who independently state that a TAVR would be the best option. Without a concurring second opinion, they won't pay. Assuming the second surgeon agrees, then I will be scheduled for my procedure on the 22nd. (I had originally had my TAVR scheduled for the 15th, but the nurse called today to say they're not sure the insurance approval will be back in time, plus the surgeon I chose will not be available on the 15th after all. I assume the other surgeon would be fine, but since I particularly like the one I already met, I'm choosing to wait and do it the following week.) Overall, I think the process (CT's, cath, blood work, multiple doctor appointments, etc.) is going fairly smoothly. My doctors are communicating well with each other, and the nurse keeps me in the loop as things go along. It helps that I recently retired so don't have to take off work for a million various appointments. I feel comfortable with the whole team and optimistic things will go well. :-)
Matt Sheffield Things will go well! We are extremely blessed to have good doctors.
Joe Tash Hi Anne, I am in a similar situation. I am scheduled for a second surgical opinion next week regardi ... Read more
Joe Tash Hi Anne, I am in a similar situation. I am scheduled for a second surgical opinion next week regarding a possible TAVR procedure to replace my aortic valve. My cardiologist agrees a TAVR would be a good option for me. If all goes smoothly, I will soon begin the workup for the TAVR procedure. Fingers crossed for both of us.
Hi. In preparation for my upcoming TAVR, I'm having a cath tomorrow. Because I have a bleeding disorder (acquired von Willebrand's disease), I'll get special ...Read more
Hi. In preparation for my upcoming TAVR, I'm having a cath tomorrow. Because I have a bleeding disorder (acquired von Willebrand's disease), I'll get special IV medicine called DDAVP prior to the cath to hopefully keep me from having excessive bleeding. The doctors will compare blood tests done before and then one and four hours after the cath to determine whether the DDAVP will work during the TAVR itself. Hopefully, it will work. But my hematologist is wonderful and I trust that she'll have a "Plan B" if needed. I'll find out the date of the TAVR after my cath, but I've been told it will probably be mind-June.
Hi Anne,
I was diagnosed with Type 1 von Willebrand's many years ago (rediagnosed to a platelet funct ... Read more
Hi Anne,
I was diagnosed with Type 1 von Willebrand's many years ago (rediagnosed to a platelet function disorder a few years ago) and I did the tests to see if I was a "responder" to DDAVP. I am so I've had DDAVP for any invasive procedures/surgery over the past three decades. Just make sure you keep your fluid intake less than 1.5 L during the 24 hours post infusion. I've forgotten to follow the fluid restriction and ended up with migraine, stomach/muscle pain and "flu-like" symptoms along with very low sodium levels or hyponatremia. I'll be getting DDAVP for my cath/angio and also for my valve replacement surgery.
Here's wishing you a good cath tomorrow and I hope you're a "responder" too! :-)
Anne Walpole Yes, Janet, I did respond to DDAVP. :-) My blood tests improved dramatically after I got the DDAVP an ... Read more
Anne Walpole Yes, Janet, I did respond to DDAVP. :-) My blood tests improved dramatically after I got the DDAVP and I didn't have any bleeding after the cath. Before the cath, I asked the cath doctor (who is not the TAVR surgeon) about having read contradictory recommendations: drink lots of fluids after a cath (to flush out the dye) to protect my kidneys and also restrict fluids (because of the DDAVP) to protect my brain. He said that because the amount of dye used for a cath is much less than that used in other tests like a CT and since I would already be getting IV fluids during the cath, he didn't think I needed to drink extra fluids to flush out the dye. He didn't specify to restrict fluids, but I made the decision to just drink a little less than usual over the next day. (When I get DDAVP in the future, if it's not connected with getting dye, I will take your advice to limit fluids to 1.5 L. Thanks for that guideline!) My hematologist going to follow up with me soon to explain what to do with future surgery/invasive procedures, so I'm sure I will receive more specific instructions at that time. I am really grateful to have such a good hematologist! Although my surgeon had never had a patient with acquired von Willebrand's before, he contacted my hematologist right away and collaborated with her to be sure everything would go smoothly with the cath. I feel comfortable that he will be organized and prepared at the time of the TAVR.
Anne Walpole One more thing, Janet: Am I correct that the surgery you are going to have is open heart surgery rath ... Read more
Anne Walpole One more thing, Janet: Am I correct that the surgery you are going to have is open heart surgery rather than a TAVR? My surgeon said the main reason he thought I should get a TAVR was because I am immunosuppressed. My hematologist explained to me that open heart surgery is really not all that bloody because of using a heart-lung machine, so she hadn't been especially worried about the prospect of OHS. She said other types of surgery (orthopedic, liver, etc.) would be much more likely to have excessive blood loss.
Yes, I will receive DDAVP for the Cath/Angio AND for the OHS. If there is any issue with bleeding dur ... Read more
Yes, I will receive DDAVP for the Cath/Angio AND for the OHS. If there is any issue with bleeding during the OHS, the surgeon will contact my hematologist regarding platelet infusion. I had a lot of blood loss and complications with my first hip replacement surgery because my bleeding disorder wasn't addressed. The second hip replacement was fine other than a lot of swelling in my leg.
I have a lot of support ... hematologist & clinical nurse; my own cardiologist; clinical nurse at anticoagulation clinic (because I'm on coumadin and need to come off of it before DDAVP and OHS); and of course the cardiac surgeon. I'm having surgery in one of the top units in Canada and I feel confident and know I'll be well taken care of.
As far as the fluid restriction post DDAVP infusion, I always remind the nursing staff to limit fluids.
Best wishes,
Janet
Here's a link to explain:
Anne Walpole Janet, thank you for this link! I really appreciate the info!
I will be having a TAVR procedure to replace my aortic valve in a few weeks. I have read up to the procedure itself, but I haven't found anything on what the ...Read more
I will be having a TAVR procedure to replace my aortic valve in a few weeks. I have read up to the procedure itself, but I haven't found anything on what the experience is like from the patent's perspective. Can someone share with me your experience of having a TAVR? Afterwards, does it feel pretty much the same as it would feel after a cath? I'm going to have it on a Thursday. If I don't have any complications, when do think I will be back to my normal activities? Would I probably be fine to go back to work the next week? Is the only discomfort at the incision site? Are people usually completely put to sleep or just snowed (liked with a cath)? Do you typically go to the ICU afterwards? I'd love to hear any tips or experiences you could share. :-)
Jeanette Davidson Anne, I Am having TAVR this week. I will surely keep you posted when all is said and done. Try to s ... Read more
Jeanette Davidson Anne, I Am having TAVR this week. I will surely keep you posted when all is said and done. Try to stay in contact with me if you can. Best of luck to you ! I will tell you this I'm choosing to be sedated, they sure that I will be in the hospital just for a few days. And I've heard that many people feel like they didn't even have surgery. That's what I know so far 💕
Anne Walpole Thanks. I hope everything goes smoothly for you, and I'll look forward to hearing about it later. :-) ... Read more
Anne Walpole Thanks. I hope everything goes smoothly for you, and I'll look forward to hearing about it later. :-)
Lynda Ruiz My 90 yo father is having a TAVR 5/10 and the tell him 1 to 2 nights in hospital. # people in his in ... Read more
Lynda Ruiz My 90 yo father is having a TAVR 5/10 and the tell him 1 to 2 nights in hospital. # people in his independent senior apts bldg have had TAVR with "no fuss or muss".
Mary Rae Thewlis Anne
My husband had a TAVR on March 15. He had twilight sleep-not full anesthesia-although he remembe ... Read more
Mary Rae Thewlis Anne
My husband had a TAVR on March 15. He had twilight sleep-not full anesthesia-although he remembers nothing. No pain, several hours in ICU, then home the next day.
He has experienced fatigue since the surgery but no other side effects. He was badly deconditioned prior to his surgery, so I can't say he "bounced back," but he certainly suffered no ill effects from the procedure or anesthesia
Mary Rae
Cathleen Weed Hi Anne,
I had TAVR at Cedars Sinai in August 2015. I was under general anesthesia and a central line ... Read more
Cathleen Weed Hi Anne,
I had TAVR at Cedars Sinai in August 2015. I was under general anesthesia and a central line was placed in my neck. They may use twilight sedation if they are worried about complications with general anesthesia for you. An interventional cardiologist will do the procedure but a cardiac surgeon and team will be on standby in case open heart surgery is needed. You will sign paperwork allowing that option. You will also sign a form allowing a pacemaker to be placed if needed. The procedure itself is very quick, under an hour. You will most likely be in CCU versus ICU for about 24 hours. You'll be kept overnight and will be transferred to your own room the following day. I actually went home that same following day because I didn't have any complications. You'll be feeling great after about a week but I would suggest taking two weeks off from work. You and your heart need time to rest and recover. Physically you won't have any pain other than the incision site at the femoral artery in the groin. After having gone through three open-heart surgeries I can tell you that TAVR is a miracle ❤️.
Lynda Ruiz Your recovery time, Catherine DeWitt, is good to know. With my 90 yo dad's TAVR next week they say 1 ... Read more
Lynda Ruiz Your recovery time, Catherine DeWitt, is good to know. With my 90 yo dad's TAVR next week they say 1 to 2 nights and I plan to stay at his place for 'awhile' while my fiercely independent dad recovers.
Cathleen Weed Hi Lynda 💛 Because your dad is much older they may keep him for a couple of nights to watch for ... Read more
Cathleen Weed Hi Lynda 💛 Because your dad is much older they may keep him for a couple of nights to watch for any issues that may arise. Otherwise, your biggest challenge will be keeping him from overdoing it while his incision site heals at the femoral artery. They use larger instruments than they do for a heart cath so he needs to be mindful of that and just be careful for a few days. ❤️
Cathleen Weed P.S. You aren't intubated for TAVR (and you aren't placed on a heart/lung machine of course). Just wa ... Read more
Cathleen Weed P.S. You aren't intubated for TAVR (and you aren't placed on a heart/lung machine of course). Just wanted to state the obvious 😉.
Anne Walpole Thanks for all the info! It was very helpful and informative! It's good to hear that Lynda's father' ... Read more
Anne Walpole Thanks for all the info! It was very helpful and informative! It's good to hear that Lynda's father's 90-year buddies have perceived TAVR's as "no fuss, no muss."😊 And Cathleen, stuff that is obvious to some is not to others, so thanks for your additional comments about that people don't generally get intubated for a TAVR.
I am retired but I work-part time and I wanted to be able to tell my supervisor how long I will probably not be available to work. I'll say 2 weeks, assuming no complications.
Cathleen Weed ❤️❤️❤️ I should say you COULD be intubated, but a big chance you won't be 😊...and you ... Read more
Cathleen Weed ❤️❤️❤️ I should say you COULD be intubated, but a big chance you won't be 😊...and you definitely shouldn't wake up still intubated if you even need it at all.
I had my first appointment with the cardiac surgeon on Tuesday concerning my upcoming aortic valve replacement. I thought we were going to talk about which ...Read more
I had my first appointment with the cardiac surgeon on Tuesday concerning my upcoming aortic valve replacement. I thought we were going to talk about which type of incision he would recommend, etc. I had a bunch of questions I had written down to ask him. I knew about TAVR but hadn't read much about it because I had thought it wasn't a candidate for me. It turns out that he is recommending TAVR. He said that, because I take immunosuppressant medications and also have a bleeding disorder, he thinks a TAVR would be the safest option for me. He laster presented my case to the valve meeting at the hospital and all the doctors agreed with the TAVR option. For the past 15 years or so, I knew I would eventually be getting OHS and now I find out that I will be getting, if all goes well, a much simpler procedure with a much quicker recovery. I am so grateful for medical advances! I found out that the surgeon I have was one of the first in the country to start doing TAVR's, so he is very experienced. I know there are risks of complications, but I feel that he has thought the options through anad took his time explaining the pros and cons of the various options and his rationale for recommending TAVR. Next on the "to do" list: See my hematologist next week so she can give recommendations on how to minimize bleeding during the cath and TAVR, then a week later get my cath, then a week after that get my CT. They said I'll probably get the TAVR in late May or early June. But I guess the first thing on my list is to review all the TAVR info on this site! I had only skimmed it before, because I knew I would be getting OHS. :-)
Marie Myers You will recover quickly from the TAVR. I have a 97 yo friend who had a TAVR last year, and it reliev ... Read more
Marie Myers You will recover quickly from the TAVR. I have a 97 yo friend who had a TAVR last year, and it relieved her chest pain and shortness of breath.
Cathleen Weed I had TAVR in August 2015 after having 3 previous OHS AVR's. It was amazing 💛. Mine was done at Ce ... Read more
Cathleen Weed I had TAVR in August 2015 after having 3 previous OHS AVR's. It was amazing 💛. Mine was done at Cedars Sinai in Los Angeles, also by one of the best in the world. Miracle technology. All went well 😊!
Anne Walpole Cathleen, can you tell me more about what you experienced? I have read up some on the procedure itsel ... Read more
Anne Walpole Cathleen, can you tell me more about what you experienced? I have read up some on the procedure itself, but not much on the patient's experience. Any tips or suggestions?
Hi. I joined this site a couple of years ago in anticipation of eventually having an aortic valve replacement and maybe repair of a small ascending aortic aneurysm. ...Read more
Hi. I joined this site a couple of years ago in anticipation of eventually having an aortic valve replacement and maybe repair of a small ascending aortic aneurysm. (I have severe aortic stenosis from a biscuspid valve.) Recently, I starting have mild symptoms with minimal exercise, and my cardiologist said it's time to see a surgeon. My appointment with the surgeon is for the 19th. I am feeling optimistic about this surgeon because I have 2 friends who had heart surgery by him and my cardiologist highly recommended him and a friend of mine who is a nurse at the hospital where he works said she would definitely choose him if she had to have heart surgery. However, before I make my final decision, I want to see how the appointment goes. I have a bleeding disorder as well as a rare autoimmune disease that can affect the heart. I want to see if he is the kind of surgeon who only focuses on the surgical procedure or if he'll talk with me about plans related to the bleeding disorder and how to handle the small chance of complications from the immune disorder. I have learned so much from this site and am so grateful for Adam and for each of you for sharing your experiences and insights! I look forward to having the surgery behind me instead of in front of me. And, assuming all goes well, I'll be glad to be able to kayak, work out, go on long hikes, and maybe even get back to the running that I had to give up years ago because of this!
Marie Myers I think It is always a good sign to know patients who have been to your surgeon. You can speak to the ... Read more
Marie Myers I think It is always a good sign to know patients who have been to your surgeon. You can speak to these patients about their experience and get even more feedback.
Phyllis Petersen With the recommendations he comes with, I'm sure he'll be attentive to your special needs. But you al ... Read more
Phyllis Petersen With the recommendations he comes with, I'm sure he'll be attentive to your special needs. But you also must feel comfortable with the person who will have your heart in his hands, so I understand reserving judgment until you meet him. Good luck!
Anne Walpole I am pretty sure my visit with the surgeon tomorrow will go well. I'll post tomorrow and share how it ... Read more
Anne Walpole I am pretty sure my visit with the surgeon tomorrow will go well. I'll post tomorrow and share how it went. 😊
I have aortic stenosis (valve are about 0.8) and mentioned in a previous post that I had been having a lot of spontaneous bruising and was taking longer than ...Read more
I have aortic stenosis (valve are about 0.8) and mentioned in a previous post that I had been having a lot of spontaneous bruising and was taking longer than usual to stop bleeding if I had a cut. My cardiologist referred me to a hematologist who diagnosed me with a platelet disorder caused by the clotting elements in the blood being sheared off as they scrape across the stenotic valve at high speed. I have read that about 20% of people with severe aortic stenosis get this condition, which can cause a little (not much) more bleeding during surgery. (The hematologist said it's not much of a problem during OHS because OHS is actually a much-less bloody surgery that a lot of other surgeries because of the heart-lung machine.) The platelet problem usually corrects itself immediately after a valve replacement. Has anyone else out there been diagnosed with this or had symptoms (like spontaneous bruises popping up scattered over areas you never bumped, or excessive
nose bleeds)? If so, have you been told whether a platelet problem caused by aortic stenosis would be a reason to proceed with surgery in an otherwise symptom-free person?
Kate Watson This is so interesting! I had a low platelet count for years before my aortic valve surgery. I had s ... Read more
Kate Watson This is so interesting! I had a low platelet count for years before my aortic valve surgery. I had surgery about 4 weeks ago and they just checked my platelet count, it was normal and higher than ever. But I did need a transfusion during the surgery, including platelets so I assumed that's why it was better. I never heard of there being a relation with aortic stenosis!
Jean Raber Yes, I've read about this, but don't recall anyone posting on it. I have a rare blood cancer--essenti ... Read more
Jean Raber Yes, I've read about this, but don't recall anyone posting on it. I have a rare blood cancer--essential throbocytosis--that I had hoped was related to the heart problem, but sadly not.
Anne Walpole Kate, I wonder how many people with aortic stenosis have this problem but are undiagnosed. My cardiol ... Read more
Anne Walpole Kate, I wonder how many people with aortic stenosis have this problem but are undiagnosed. My cardiologist had never heard of it even though it's actually pretty common.
I'm interested in hearing from people who had their surgery pretty far from where they live. I'll need an aortic valve replacement and probably repair of my ...Read more
I'm interested in hearing from people who had their surgery pretty far from where they live. I'll need an aortic valve replacement and probably repair of my ascending aortic aneurysm sometime in the next six or so months. There is good, small local private hospital in the town where I live, that has some cardiac surgeons with very good reputations. I also live about an hour from U Va and about 3 hours from Johns Hopkins. It would definitely be more convenient for my friends and family if I had it locally. But of course they want me to do what's best for me. I can't figure out how to tell where I should go. And what about the ride home? Isn't it really painful to be riding in the car for several hours after you just had OHS? How can I acces surgeon's statistics? If you ask the surgeon if they have a lot of people have complications or die or whatever, are they really going to tell you the truth if they have a lot of problems? I went on a website that's supposed to tell you the statistics but couldn't figure out how to access the information. Does anybody know how to find that information online? I have read the chapter in Adams book about picking a surgeon and it's helpful, but I still feel confused about whether or not to go locally. My cardiologist definitely feels like I should just have it locally --- that it's done all the time and it's not a big enough deal to travel for this commonly- done surgery when their are very good options locally. (she would support whatever I decide, but she just feels like it's kind of overkill to travel somewhere to go to a teaching hospital.)I don't know. I'd love to hear the process you went through to pick your surgeon. Thanks!
Mary Wagner I had 2 huge back surgeries at the well-known Baltimore hospital. It is a 2 hour ride from my house. ... Read more
Mary Wagner I had 2 huge back surgeries at the well-known Baltimore hospital. It is a 2 hour ride from my house. The surgeries failed. After that, I decided to stay local for medical problems. It has worked out much better. Alan Speir at Inova Fairfax is phenomenal.
Denise Campbell I had mine about an hour away due to us being military. By time you go home the ride was fine. My ... Read more
Denise Campbell I had mine about an hour away due to us being military. By time you go home the ride was fine. My hubby just drove a little slower then usual but it was fine.
Steven A Husted this is my story i had two kidney operations at my local hospital PRMC BACK IN 1970 AND 1972 and it w ... Read more
Steven A Husted this is my story i had two kidney operations at my local hospital PRMC BACK IN 1970 AND 1972 and it was very painful but they did a very good job then in january 2009 i had my left eye operated on and in may 2009 my right eye operated on both at john hopkins in baltimore md because the local doctor said my case was to complicated for local surgery so i went 100 miles away from home and it worked out very well the surgerys were a success then in january 2014 i was told i needed my aortic valve replaced i was scared to death of ohs but as my breathing got worse i told my doctor and he sent me to the hospital right away and my surgery was three days later at my local hospital and i am very happy with the outcome the local surgeon was great and the surgery was not as bad as i thought it was going to be i had very little pain hope this may help someone getting close to there surgery your heart brother steven a husted (popeye)
Petey Bello Anne, I went a distance to have my heart surgery. I had a two hour drive to the airport, then a 2 1/2 ... Read more
Petey Bello Anne, I went a distance to have my heart surgery. I had a two hour drive to the airport, then a 2 1/2 hour flight. My cardiologist suggested a certain doctor because I had a difficult repair & he was well known for his talent in difficult repairs. You can go with the recommendation of your cardiologist &/or get a second opinion. (which I would do so you have some comparisons). Continue to research since you have the time until you feel comfortable with your choice. If you have great local hospitals & feel comfortable, you might not have to go the distance. But don't short yourself either. If you feel comfortable picking a more well known hospital & surgeon - go for it . I was able to find video & information on google for a few of the doctors I was considering...
Good luck with your decision!
Shannon Gray I decided to travel for mine. I wasn't up for risking this surgery... Numbers do matter when it comes ... Read more
Shannon Gray I decided to travel for mine. I wasn't up for risking this surgery... Numbers do matter when it comes to the heart. I also have some additional differences... I am smaller than the average woman. I felt strongly enough that I wanted a surgeon who knew how to address every situation due to their experience. Being away was incredibly hard.. Yes. But worth it for my situation. You have to do what's in your best interest and meets your individual needs. The other thing I strongly encourage is to look at the hospital and their after care. That is just as important as finding a skilled surgeon. Surgery can go fine, but the care you receive afterwards is just as valuable in your recovery. Wishing you well on your decision.
Cathleen Weed Your care is only as good as the door you walk through (as you know, being a NP) :). Choose the right ... Read more
Cathleen Weed Your care is only as good as the door you walk through (as you know, being a NP) :). Choose the right surgeon, forget about the location, forget about the convenience for friends or family. Your #1 priority is an excellent surgeon. Local community hospitals won't have done the 1000's of surgeries that large teaching hospitals have done, nor will they have a top cardiac team in place...there are many, many people involved (i.e. cardiac anesthesiologists, Cardiac ICU team etc..) and you need to consider that. I am lucky enough to live near Cedars Sinai in Los Angeles so of course I went there ( it was STILL a 2 hour drive home in traffic to Huntington Beach lol)...amazing team. Go to the best.
Tracy Simmons Hi Anne. I chose to have surgery at a location that was 5-6 hours away from home and was thankful fo ... Read more
Tracy Simmons Hi Anne. I chose to have surgery at a location that was 5-6 hours away from home and was thankful for the choice made. I understand about family and friend support while you're at the hospital, but I personally was so much more comfortable and at ease with the cardiologist and surgeon that was out of town. My family and friends held off until I was back home to provide the support. I think my husband was more nervous driving me home after surgery than I was.
Anne Walpole Thanks for sharing all your experiences! I think I'll interview the local surgeon I've heard such goo ... Read more
Anne Walpole Thanks for sharing all your experiences! I think I'll interview the local surgeon I've heard such good things about as well as a doctor at UVa. Unrelated to my aortic stenosis, I also have a rare autoimmune condition that can affect the heart. Most doctors wouldn't have experience with it because it's so rare, so I would want to be sure that whoever I go to would be ok with dealing with any possible complications that could pop up. I appreciate your comments :-)
Richard Puckett When I was in recovery after my angiogram and TEE, I told my cardiologist that I had two simple goals ... Read more
Richard Puckett When I was in recovery after my angiogram and TEE, I told my cardiologist that I had two simple goals in choosing a hospital and surgeon:
1. I wanted the best chance of repairing, rather than replacing, my mitral valve.
2. I wanted the lowest percentage possible for morbidity and mortality.
This information should be available for the asking.
Steven A Husted yes when i was told that my surgery was more complicated for the local doctors i was glad they sent m ... Read more
Steven A Husted yes when i was told that my surgery was more complicated for the local doctors i was glad they sent me 100 miles away to john hopkins in baltimore md where they had a second doctor standing by to do the more complicated part of the surgery some doctors know more in certain areas of an operation than others it is good to do your research i was very pleased with both my local hospital and john hopkins they both did a great job
Jean Raber If money is no issue, go where you want. Some people here have reported they stayed in local hotels n ... Read more
Jean Raber If money is no issue, go where you want. Some people here have reported they stayed in local hotels near the hospital until they were ready to go back home ... a stay of a few more days until travel is more comfortable. Also, some nearby hotels offer discounts to your family so they can stay nearby. I'm 62 and my copays are high. Given my age, finances, and the fact that I already have a chronic cancer which complicates the picture, I'm staying with the HMO so I don't run up bills I would not be able to pay off or leave my husband to pay if I died. You can reduce spousal financial risk by divorcing, and we have considered that. (We would stay friends with benefits, ha!)
Billy G Anne, I live in Las Vegas but wanted to go where I felt I had the best chance of repairing my aortic ... Read more
Billy G Anne, I live in Las Vegas but wanted to go where I felt I had the best chance of repairing my aortic valve. I did consider Cleveland Clinic and would have not hesitated to go there if I was not comfortable with Dr. Trento at Cedars-Sinai. The car ride home from LA to Vegas on a Friday took 7 hours. Except for the time when my dad took a wrong turn and drove through an extremely bumpy patch of rock and gravel, I had no pain and was fairly comfortable on the drive home.
Barry Kanick I think Cathleen Dewitt has offered some excellent perspective & insight here. It's actually the same ... Read more
Barry Kanick I think Cathleen Dewitt has offered some excellent perspective & insight here. It's actually the same approach I have researched & am currently taking for myself. ,,,,,,,,Barry
Jean Raber Many people simply cannot afford unfettered choice because of the terms of their personal finances an ... Read more
Jean Raber Many people simply cannot afford unfettered choice because of the terms of their personal finances and insurance companies. I fear that some of the "choose only the best" comments here are going to raise anxieties for those who can only afford their regional hospital systems ... many of which are very good, even if they don't make the U.S. News list. It's hard enough to be old, sick, and to have limited resources without people undermining your limited choices. Just my two cents.
Cathleen Weed Jean Raber you make a good point...and I wouldn't want anyone to feel concerned about their choice. W ... Read more
Cathleen Weed Jean Raber you make a good point...and I wouldn't want anyone to feel concerned about their choice. We also have a community hospital here in Newport Beach (Hoag Hospital) and one of the top ranking heart surgeons is there. I chose to travel 55 miles (on LA freeways that's equivalent to 100 lol) to Cedars Sinai because I could and they are the best since my situation was very complicated. I wouldn't have been able to get TAVR this time at a local hospital either. I also had the option of UCLA. However, I had my 3 other very successful OHS at Cedars Sinai (Dr. Alfredo Trento) and lucky for me the #1 TAVR surgeon in the world is also at Cedars Sinai (Dr. Raj Makkar). Maybe we should say "go to the best you can afford or your insurance covers. Don't just go to the most convenient place or to your first referral from a local doctor. Research all your options and go to the best you can find for your particular situation. Hospitals and surgeons will work with you. You just have to ask". <3
Jean Raber Cathleen, thank you. I would also encourage those who are having heart surgery done at a distance fro ... Read more
Jean Raber Cathleen, thank you. I would also encourage those who are having heart surgery done at a distance from their homes to ask about cardiac rehab and whether you can arrange at a PT facility close to home (usually you can). My mother refused to go to cardiac rehab after AVR, and her recovery has not been as she expected as a result. Your rehab program--and your willingness to be faithful to it--is perhaps almost as important as the success of the initial surgery.
Cathleen Weed I so agree!! Cardiac rehab is AMAZING. I had my surgeries in LA at Cedars Sinai but always did my car ... Read more
Cathleen Weed I so agree!! Cardiac rehab is AMAZING. I had my surgeries in LA at Cedars Sinai but always did my cardiac rehab back home in Newport Beach at Hoag Memorial Hospital. Best decision ever. Everyone should be an active participant in their own recovery :).
Barry Kanick Hello again Anne,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,If you click on the tab above labeled "About Us" & then select "News ... Read more
Barry Kanick Hello again Anne,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,If you click on the tab above labeled "About Us" & then select "News & Press" and then scroll down somewhat to the date of Nov 19th,2013,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,there is an excellent write-up about the UVA Advanced Cardiac Valve Center. Click on the links additionally once you get there. ,,,,,,,,,,,It definitely seems like you have a "crown jewel" for overall Heart Health Care right in your own back yard. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,I wish you the best!!!
Hi. I joined this wonderful community a few months ago, but so far I have mainly been reading other people's experiences and learning so much from them! Today, ...Read more
Hi. I joined this wonderful community a few months ago, but so far I have mainly been reading other people's experiences and learning so much from them! Today, I'd like to ask a question. Has anyone had valve surgery at the University of Virginia? I will need an aortic valve replacement as well as possibly fixing my small ascending aortic aneurysm. I live in Richmond but I'm thinking U. Va. may be my best option, specifically Dr. Ailawadi or maybe Dr. Kern. I know that competence is very important in a surgeon, but it's also important to me to have a kind person who takes time to explain things and answer questions. Also, at one nearby hospital, I found out that after the surgery, the Nurse Practitioners take over and you rarely if ever see the surgeon. I have nothing against Nurse Practitioners (I am one!), but I would prefer to have the surgeon who operated on me be readily available if needed. Plus, I have a rare autoimmune disorder that can affect the heart as well as a clotting disorder and feel that a physician overseeing my postsurgical care might be better than a Nurse Practitioner. I'd appreciate any comments people might have about UVa. Thanks!
Mary Wagner Hi, I had my aortic valve replaced 26 years ago at Inova Fairfax. Since that time (and I was born a ... Read more
Mary Wagner Hi, I had my aortic valve replaced 26 years ago at Inova Fairfax. Since that time (and I was born a premie at 3 pounds in 1951) I have had complete heart block so had to have a pacemaker put in. This year I had a large ascending aneurysm fixed, also at Inova Fairfax. I had Dr. Speir and he has a fabulous reputation and handles the difficult cases in the DC area. He thought it might be necessary to replace the vlave but when he got in - said it still looks brand new.... I saw him 3 times and the rest of the time - physician assistants and nurse practitioners. They have been awesome. I had consulted at UVA for an orthopedic problem many years back and decided the doctors were fine up here so after a horrific back experience at a well-known hospital in MD - have stuck to the northern VA area. I have been hospitalized three times since 2013 at the Inova heart center and have been very well cared for each time. Good luck!
Clare Auten I know that my surgeon does use nurse practitioners at the hospital. He came to see me everyday and w ... Read more
Clare Auten I know that my surgeon does use nurse practitioners at the hospital. He came to see me everyday and was definitely in charge. But, He had 2 nurse practitioners that work solely at the hospital (never the office) so they were there for questions etc at the drop of a hat and all they did was pre and post op instructions. After discharge I had a direct number to call them with questions. If needed they would call the surgeon who would call me. I think the surgeon was often in other surgeries and not readily available. I still followed up with the surgeon at his office several times but had someone I could reach immediately. ...make sense?
Anne Walpole Thanks, Clare. That does make sense. I guess I would not be his only patient for the week. :-) I had ... Read more
Anne Walpole Thanks, Clare. That does make sense. I guess I would not be his only patient for the week. :-) I had been looking at it as if the surgeon dumps you and is never heard from again. But looking at it the way you said sounds good--- having a team approach where the NP's would be available and be able to take care of 95% of stuff, but if the other (unexpected) 5% popped up, they could contact him. And Mary, thanks for info on another Virginia option. Has anyone out there had surgery at Virginia Commonwealth University?
Mary Wagner All my family docs have graduated from VCU but nothing else. My doctor replaced a former VP's heart ... Read more
Mary Wagner All my family docs have graduated from VCU but nothing else. My doctor replaced a former VP's heart so I imagine his reputation is stellar. The NP's were available at all hours as Clare mentioned.
I had NP's manage much of my care after surgery. My surgeon came by once or twice a day for a few min ... Read more
I had NP's manage much of my care after surgery. My surgeon came by once or twice a day for a few minutes, but the NP's managed the removals of tubes and pacing wires. The NP's called the surgeon when I was concerned about something and I also had a doc came in within a few minutes when I was worried about some swelling. I think our unit had a general cardiologist or GP close by at all times. It didn't bother me, but I had a pretty simple case and I understand your concerns. Best wishes to you.
Hi. I am going to have an aortic valve replacement and ascending aortic aneurysm repair some time in the next year or so. I have been having a lot of spontaneous ...Read more
Hi. I am going to have an aortic valve replacement and ascending aortic aneurysm repair some time in the next year or so. I have been having a lot of spontaneous dark red bruises and, if I am cut, it takes a lot longer to stop bleeding than it should. I read that people with severe aortic stenosis can develop bleeding problems (acquired Von Willebrand's) because the platelets get torn on the way through the ragged, calcified aortic valve. My cardiologist had never heard of that, but agreed to send me to a hematologist. She did a bunch of blood work and it showed that I do have me lad Von Willibrands and prolonged bleeding time, and that I'll need to get platelets with my surgery. Has anyone else out there had this issue? I go back to see my cardiologist in June. My
Lenore Mitchell Dark red bruises sound like a reason to see a physician sooner than June. Good luck.
Anne Walpole That's what I was thinking, but the hematologist (who I felt was very good, took time, explained thin ... Read more
Anne Walpole That's what I was thinking, but the hematologist (who I felt was very good, took time, explained things well) said I should get platelets during the surgery but there was no reason to do the surgery any sooner. (I have severe aortic stenosis, valve area 0.8, and have been told that since I am not having symptoms and my echo looks good except for the valve, we should wait until I develop symptoms before scheduling surgery. But the cardiologist at my stress echo last December said he is virtually sure that I will need surgery within the next year.) I'm wondering if, since the bleeding issue is almost certainly due to the stenosis, I should go ahead and have the surgery sooner rather than wait for symptoms.
Denise Campbell Anne if I was you I'd get a second opinion. Waiting till you have symptoms is crazy. You're alr ... Read more
Denise Campbell Anne if I was you I'd get a second opinion. Waiting till you have symptoms is crazy. You're already at severe. I had my surgery March 15. Mitral stenosis was severe but I didn't have symptoms. I'm 50 and my doctor said it was time. The worse it gets the more complications can happen. Good luck and God bless.