Tomorrow is my 4th week ssurgery. I went to the hospital where the surgery was done to have the wound checked out and have my last questions answered. Everything ...Read more
Tomorrow is my 4th week ssurgery. I went to the hospital where the surgery was done to have the wound checked out and have my last questions answered. Everything looked great! I can start driving now. I can stop taking baby aspirin 3 months after surgery. I will use up the remaining 13 days of amiodarone and then quit taking those. So I will have no pills to take that I wasn't taking before surgery. I can lift 5 more pounds every two weeks so I can lift 10# starting tomorrow with each arm (I had her clarify this). Therefore using both hands I can lift 20#.
I wondered about my sternotomy because it didn't look like a full one but didn't look like a min-sternotomy either as shown in the photo above. They are usually about 3-1/2" long starting at the top of the chest. Mine is 5-1/2" long and starts lower. I was told that it was a full sternotomy but the surgeon lifted the skin and cut the bone underneath it so there would be no scar showing on the top of my chest. Amazing!
I'm now able to sleep on my stomach. I'm walking as much as I have time for without even breathing hard. I feel great thank the Lord! Good luck Janet and Cindy tomorrow. You can do this. The surgeon will do his job and then you will take over. You will be like new before you know it.
I'm feeling really good. There is still sensitivity on both side of the zipper but not too bad. I had an episode of heart rate variation last Saturday and ...Read more
I'm feeling really good. There is still sensitivity on both side of the zipper but not too bad. I had an episode of heart rate variation last Saturday and again on Monday. The surgeon told me to stop the metoprolol. I did and hopefully that did the trick. I saw my cardiologist Wednesday and he did an EKG which looked normal. I'm crossing my fingers. Still taking amiodarone until the pills are gone which is about another 3 weeks and baby aspirin. Does everyone have to take baby aspirin forever? Sleeping great or as great as before surgery. I always have woke up a lot. I can sleep on my side easily now. I'm still thinking about whether I want cardiac rehab. I am very self motivated and hate having to be somewhere at specific times instead of going to the gym on my own schedule. We shall see. I'm still losing a little weight. Down 10# since I got home. I have a great appetite eating full meals so maybe it's all the walking and of course the healing inside that's going on.
I'm very please with the job Dr. Glenn Barnhart did on my heart. I feel good and the wound is healing fast. Good luck to Kristin, Vickie, Ruben, Tamika and Cindy this next week. Like I have said multiple times, it is not as bad as you imagine it. You can do this.
Cindy Williams Hi Bob, sounds like you are doing great all around, so good to hear! I'm a side sleeper so I hope I ... Read more
Cindy Williams Hi Bob, sounds like you are doing great all around, so good to hear! I'm a side sleeper so I hope I can do that at 3 weeks too :) I'm curious about the baby aspirin too. I'm starting to get anxious, so I really appreciate your support and letting us know it's not that bad :) Im going in with positive thoughts and will try to use some relaxation techniques. Enjoy your weekend 💖
Rose Madura I am 10 weeks out and still on high doses of amiodarone and metrolpol and have lots of side effects. ... Read more
Rose Madura I am 10 weeks out and still on high doses of amiodarone and metrolpol and have lots of side effects. I've put a call into the cardiologist to see if we can reduce. We don't have to go see him until mid September. I'm on a full aspirin a day - for how long, I don't know. It's better than any blood thinner as far as I'm concerned. Glad you are doing so well. Regarding rehab, I'm not going to do it. I'm with you...I want to be in control with when I exercise. I'm still on restrictions until next week but have been walking most days.
Alina FH Bob, GREAT to hear you are doing so well. I am on the baby aspirin forever, and I was before the surg ... Read more
Alina FH Bob, GREAT to hear you are doing so well. I am on the baby aspirin forever, and I was before the surgery, too, for many years. I, too, lost weight for a bit after surgery and didn't start gaining till 6-8 months after it, till the healing inside was closer to being done, although I had my appetite back at about a month from surgery. Keep doing well and thank you for the updates.
Civita Fahey Glad you are doing so well Bob.. As time goes on you will feel even better.. my turning point was abo ... Read more
Civita Fahey Glad you are doing so well Bob.. As time goes on you will feel even better.. my turning point was about 4 weeks. I take a baby aspiring also and I'm assuming its for life.. let us know how you are doing as you progresss.
Marie Myers I am on a baby aspirin also, and assume it is forever....Glad to hear you are feeling well!
Steven A Husted yes i take baby aspirin i started before surgery and i will take it the rest of my life i enjoy cardi ... Read more
Steven A Husted yes i take baby aspirin i started before surgery and i will take it the rest of my life i enjoy cardio rehab it is very good fellowship with other heart patients and you always have a nurse and therapest there to help you if you need them i will keep going to cardio rehab the rest of my life i have made some great friends there (popeye) steven a husted
Melissa Alfred yes baby aspirin forever. glad to hear you're doing so well.
Things continue to improve. I'm going for 1 mile walks a couple times a day as the weather permits. Anything over 80 and I demur. My pedometer says I walk ...Read more
Things continue to improve. I'm going for 1 mile walks a couple times a day as the weather permits. Anything over 80 and I demur. My pedometer says I walk over 3 miles/day. I'm not taking any painkillers. Not even Tylenol so that is good. I see my cardiologist this Wednesday and I'm hopeful he will allow me to stop taking amiodarone and metoprolol. My weight has stabilized about 7# less than when I came home. I'm really surprised it hasn't gone up since I scarfed down a bunch of cinnamon rolls my daughter-in-law made me. I have no problems with appetite. My wound is healing nicely. I am sleeping in our bed now with just two pillows to raise my head a bit. The last two nights I have begun to sleep on my side too. My spirometer reading is almost back to normal with a max of 3500mm but usually closer to 2500 (I topped it out at 4000mm before surgery).
I consider myself very lucky and fortunate so far in my healing (knock on wood). I am constantly God for taking care of me. Good luck to all on this journey.
Cindy Williams This is great to hear! My husband is picking me up a sperometer today, two weeks before surgery hope ... Read more
Cindy Williams This is great to hear! My husband is picking me up a sperometer today, two weeks before surgery hope that's enough practice time. Thanks for sharing your recovery experience, congratulations on your recovery, nice to hear the good ones 😊💖 have a great weekend!
Bob Fessler I think that should be plenty of practice time. 😉 I've been lucky in my recovery as have others o ... Read more
Bob Fessler I think that should be plenty of practice time. 😉 I've been lucky in my recovery as have others on this site. Some have had problems but they seem to eventually get resolved. Try not to worry about the surgery itself as It is not as bad as our minds imagine it.
0ne week after surgery and though my energy level is low and I need lots of breaks, I feel pretty darn good. Taking showers on my own standing up and climbing ...Read more
0ne week after surgery and though my energy level is low and I need lots of breaks, I feel pretty darn good. Taking showers on my own standing up and climbing the 12 step stairs at will. Also doing domestic things like emptying the dishwasher, setting the table and BBQing the pork steaks for dinner. So physically I'm doing great. I've lost about 4# and today I took my last lasix. Still taking amiodarone for my short afib episode in the hospital. No side effects that I can ascertain. Also taking metoprolol. No blood thinners. Taking 4 Tylenols each day and one oxy at bedtime to help me sleep. My back gets so sore from trying to sleep on it all night. Probably will cut back on the Tylenol soon.
Of course the timing of my surgery could have been better. My 97 year old mother-in-law moved to a memory care unit from an assisted living apartment today. My wonderful wife took the truck to start packing her furniture, toiletries, wall hangings, tv, dresser, most of her clothes (she had wayyyy more than she needed), etc etc etc to bring to our house. We were glad that she was able to take her lift chair to her new room. I now have 2 shower chairs I don't need. Anyway, I couldn't tag along as I'd get worn out and there aren't too many items that weigh under 5#.
Okay, I rambled on, live with it. 😉 Good luck Lori with your surgery on Monday. I did it and you can do it. One of the hardest things was talking them into letting me leave the hospital after 4 days. The food there is terrible. Good thing I had no appetite. I slept through the surgery.
Marie Myers Glad to hear things are going well for you! I am impressed that you can stand up to shower- that too ... Read more
Marie Myers Glad to hear things are going well for you! I am impressed that you can stand up to shower- that took me a couple weeks to get there. Isn't it amazing how well you are doing just 1 week after such a big surgery?? It is all a miracle!
Rose Madura Bob you are doing great! This is good news. I hope and pray your journey of recovery remains smooth ... Read more
Rose Madura Bob you are doing great! This is good news. I hope and pray your journey of recovery remains smooth!
Laura Jacobs Wow, you are doing phenomenally well. Outstanding!! I just started standing in the shower and I am fi ... Read more
Laura Jacobs Wow, you are doing phenomenally well. Outstanding!! I just started standing in the shower and I am five weeks out (I probably could have done it sooner but I stuck with my routine). My family did not allow me to do anything for several weeks. Best wishes to you and your wife getting her mom settled etc.
Bob Fessler Thanks everyone. God has taken care of me. I'm crossing my fingers for the future. Especially I ho ... Read more
Bob Fessler Thanks everyone. God has taken care of me. I'm crossing my fingers for the future. Especially I hope the afib does not come back so I can get off some of these drugs. Anyone have experience with metoprolol? Do you eventually get to get off it? Have an appointment with the cardiologist Aug 16th so I need to get my next question list going. Marie...definitely a miracle.
Melissa Alfred YAY! You did it and you sound amazing, i'm so glad to hear it. I only have 2 more weeks of cardiac ... Read more
Melissa Alfred YAY! You did it and you sound amazing, i'm so glad to hear it. I only have 2 more weeks of cardiac rehab, so I probably won't be seeing you before you join. Good luck with your post op, although it sounds like luck is on your side already :)
I sure am having fun now. Afib at 160 bpm. I didn't even feel the heartbeat change. They put me on fluids, amiodarone, magnesium and who knows what else. ...Read more
I sure am having fun now. Afib at 160 bpm. I didn't even feel the heartbeat change. They put me on fluids, amiodarone, magnesium and who knows what else. This may delay my trip home until Wednesday. At least my drain tube was pulled today so I was able to have a shower. One iv line and the two pacemaker leads are all that are left. I have no appetite but I guess that is normal. I have about 10 lbs of extra fluid so I'm on lasix. It'll all get straightened out. It just takes time and patience.
Good luck with your surgeries Kelly and Russell.
Jill Krajnovich You have a good attitude, Bob. Hope that you are back on track soon!
Roger Bideleux I too reached 160bpm shortly after my surgery, no fun in that. Hope it all settles down and wishing ... Read more
Roger Bideleux I too reached 160bpm shortly after my surgery, no fun in that. Hope it all settles down and wishing you well.
Rose Madura I know the Afib scene and it's not fun. I was very symptomatic so I felt it horribly. Sometimes it ... Read more
Rose Madura I know the Afib scene and it's not fun. I was very symptomatic so I felt it horribly. Sometimes it takes time to work the med out etc. You are in the right place and they'll figure it out. I'm sorry you have to go through this. Keep us posted.
Bob Fessler Feeling a lot better today. Best night of sleep yet. The afib stabilized last night around 9. Gues ... Read more
Bob Fessler Feeling a lot better today. Best night of sleep yet. The afib stabilized last night around 9. Guess you need to be stable for 24 hours prior to release. Unless I have another episode I should be able to leave tomorrow. I'm literally forcing myself to eat as I have no appetite. They would like a bowel movement before I leave. We shall see.
Yeah!!! I made it to the other side and am doing great. Drugged and thirsty but feeling pretty good. No pain unless you count breathing in deep. I just ordered ...Read more
Yeah!!! I made it to the other side and am doing great. Drugged and thirsty but feeling pretty good. No pain unless you count breathing in deep. I just ordered a snack since I haven't eaten for 24 hours.
Catie B Way to go, Bob! Hope your recovery is swift and strong!
Rose Madura Glad you are on the recovery side now. I hope and pray you have no complications. God bless you.
Lilly Black Great news! now it's just a matter of recovering....for me, lots of walking helped me recover quickl ... Read more
Lilly Black Great news! now it's just a matter of recovering....for me, lots of walking helped me recover quickly :) good luck, wishing you a speedy recovery!
Laura Jacobs Good for you Bob!!! Best wishes for a smooth recovery!!!!
The surgeon I saw today does not want me to leave the hospital without getting a new valve so I guess I won't have to go through the worry and anxiety associated ...Read more
The surgeon I saw today does not want me to leave the hospital without getting a new valve so I guess I won't have to go through the worry and anxiety associated with waiting. He said it would be unethical to let me leave. I concurred so surgery is tomorrow morning. I'll get back to you when I can. I got this. I wonder if I will make the surgery board tonight.😉
Laura Jacobs Good luck tomorrow Bob!!! Have a restful night....nothing like making it an emergency with no symptom ... Read more
Laura Jacobs Good luck tomorrow Bob!!! Have a restful night....nothing like making it an emergency with no symptoms!!! You are going to do great. Let us know how you are feeling when you can. We will be waiting for you on the recovery side.
Marie Myers Wow! Nothing like jumping in... Best wishes for a smooth surgery and recovery !
Rose Madura Hope all goes well. It must be very critical so thankfully they realized it before it was too late. G ... Read more
Rose Madura Hope all goes well. It must be very critical so thankfully they realized it before it was too late. God bless you.
Alina FH Bob, I know you got this! BEST of luck and know I am praying and cheering for you! See you on the oth ... Read more
Alina FH Bob, I know you got this! BEST of luck and know I am praying and cheering for you! See you on the other side!
Hope all goes well. Goid luck. You got this
Best wishes Bob! Cheering for you. You're right ... no time for worry and anxiety. Bless you.
Bob Fessler Thanks guys! With a little warning, I could at least have brought my chargers for my phone and iPad ... Read more
Bob Fessler Thanks guys! With a little warning, I could at least have brought my chargers for my phone and iPad (which I luckily brought and is at 79%). My wife has all the work tonight driving 1.5 hours home, arranging for chicken sitters, finding my "to bring to the hospital list", packing stuff and driving 1.5 hours back either tonight or tomorrow morning. Surgery at 6:30 am. Good to get it out of the way. It interferes with our traveling.
Soggy Rodent Sending warm, happy healing vibes for a successful surgery and a smooth recovery :)
I met with the interventional cardiologist last Monday to talk about the Partner 3 program and have all my TAVR questions answered. The answers were all as ...Read more
I met with the interventional cardiologist last Monday to talk about the Partner 3 program and have all my TAVR questions answered. The answers were all as I had expected having researched the crap out of it. Though there was one answer that he gave that surprised me. He said to expect the valve to last between 5 and 10 years. He guessed 8 years. I then had a CT scan with contrast to make sure my arteries and valve were okay for the procedure.
The next day, I told my wife that I was 95% sure that I wanted to go minimally invasive SAVR….a mini-sternotomy if I qualify for it. There were too many TAVR minuses for me to ignore. Being relatively young and healthy, I thought I should hold off on the TAVR until the next go around.
A few days later after phone calls and thru emails I learned that I was not a suitable candidate for TAVR after all because my valve annulus was too large. I felt relieved as that saved me from having to tell them I did not want to be in the trial program. The upshot is I will get a very large valve (lots of good blood flow) and the cardiologist says a valve in valve can be done if needed in the future. Even two of them with the size valve I will need.
I see a surgeon tomorrow and am in the process of setting up an interview with a 2nd surgeon. The journey goes on.
Phyllis Petersen By the time you have surgery, you should feel confident in your decisions. You've certainly put the w ... Read more
Phyllis Petersen By the time you have surgery, you should feel confident in your decisions. You've certainly put the work in to find yourself the best surgeon and technique for your needs. Each person is different and there really are not many easy decisions in this process.
Anne Walpole I appreciate your comments about TAVR. Right after I had my TAVR (from which I recovered super-quick ... Read more
Anne Walpole I appreciate your comments about TAVR. Right after I had my TAVR (from which I recovered super-quickly with no complications), I was thinking, "Wow! A TAVR is SOOO much better that open heart surgery!" And, for me, I definitely believe it was clearly the right choice. But there are so many variables to take into consideration, and I have come to understand how important it is for each person's situation to be thoroughly evaluated by at least one (preferably two) surgeons to help people weigh the pros and cons of the various options for that specific patient. My surgeon did stress that the duration of a TAVR valve is basically unknown. Initially, they were only put in people whose health was too fragile to allow them to withstand open heart surgery, so a lot of those patients died in a few years anyway of other (not necessarily cardiac) causes. TAVR's haven't been implanted in a large enough number of younger, fairly healthy people to determine how long they'll last. Bob, when your surgeon said it might last about 8 years, do you think he was basing that on data or did he say there was lack of data to say one way or the other?
Bob Fessler Hi Anne. I hope you are doing great in your recovery! Everyone makes their own choices and when it's ... Read more
Bob Fessler Hi Anne. I hope you are doing great in your recovery! Everyone makes their own choices and when it's made, that's the right one for them. No right answer for everyone. The cardiologist I was talking to was Dr. Danny Dvir. I'm sure he was using the data in a study he was involved with last year to come up with the 8 year guestimate. The good new is the valves are getting better. The new Sapien 3 is a better design now with the leakage skirt added so it should perform better. Here's an article on the study if you are interested. I think they have been doing TAVRs longer in Europe than here.
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/864039
Melissa Alfred That's so great you've made your decision on your own! And Dr. Divir seems like a genius, when I met ... Read more
Melissa Alfred That's so great you've made your decision on your own! And Dr. Divir seems like a genius, when I met him I was very impressed with him. So happy to hear you're at UW!
Bob Fessler Still haven't determined whether I'm goin with Dr. Verrier at UW or Dr. Barnhart at Swedish. I meet ... Read more
Bob Fessler Still haven't determined whether I'm goin with Dr. Verrier at UW or Dr. Barnhart at Swedish. I meet Dr. Barnhart next Thursday. I'll decide then. I spent at least half an hour with Dr. Dvir talking about his study on TAVR longevity and other issues I had. I was impressed too.
This process is moving on. I have an appointment with a cardiac surgeon and an interventional cardiologist at the University of Washington Medical Center on ...Read more
This process is moving on. I have an appointment with a cardiac surgeon and an interventional cardiologist at the University of Washington Medical Center on June 26th. I'll also have a CT scan that day. I believe this will do two things. It will verify that I have a tricuspid aortic valve and that my arteries are large enough to allow a TAVR. If all goes well, I think I can be in the Partner 3 trial for low risk parients and have a 50% chance of a TAVR and a 50% chance of a minimally invasive SAVR. Of course, I have a ton of questions to have answered before I would feel comfortable having a TAVR at my young age. Depending on the answers, I may just skip the trial and opt for the SAVR. We shall see.
Cathleen Weed Hi I had TAVR in August 2015 at Cedars Sinai in Los Angeles...age 44. 😊❤️👍
Alina FH Best of luck, Bob! Hoping for good answers! Keep us posted!
Melissa Alfred Hi Bob! I am also in Bremerton, moved from NY 2 years ago. I just had open heart surgery at UW April ... Read more
Melissa Alfred Hi Bob! I am also in Bremerton, moved from NY 2 years ago. I just had open heart surgery at UW April 11th with Dr. Verrier! I met with Dr, Divir the head TAVR surgeon prior to ohs & had a CT there as well, we were thinking it was an option but my bad valve was way too small for that. Good luck on June 26th! I'm headed to cardiac rehab down by Harrison today lol.
Phyllis Petersen The process and decisions can be one of the most stressful parts of the journey. Hopefully, you'll fe ... Read more
Phyllis Petersen The process and decisions can be one of the most stressful parts of the journey. Hopefully, you'll feel comfortable with your decisions and can move on the surgery and recovery soon.
Bob Fessler Hi Cathleen. Thanks for the reply. I know you were young but you had no choice due to your other su ... Read more
Bob Fessler Hi Cathleen. Thanks for the reply. I know you were young but you had no choice due to your other surgeries. I mention my age not because they can't do a TAVR but because I could most likely do okay with a SAVR. I may have a choice and may need to decide weighing the TAVR increased rate of mild and severe regurg, increased stroke risk, increased frequency of required pacemaker and the lack of durability evidence beyond 5 years vs no heart lung machine, less pain and way easier recovery. I want to be convinced to go the easy route with the TAVR. At least the new Sapien 3 valve is a regurgitation improved design. I've heard they can also use filters in your carotid arteries to help reduce stroke incidence. Lots of things to consider and ask about.
Bob Fessler Hi Melissa! So you must be going to the glass building. I volunteer to take people to their doctors ... Read more
Bob Fessler Hi Melissa! So you must be going to the glass building. I volunteer to take people to their doctors appointments so I have been there many times. The little cafe there sure makes good soup. Dr Verrier has been one of the two at the top of my surgeon list. The other being Dr. Barnhart at Swedish. Glad to hear your doing so good. Have fun at rehab!
Bob Fessler Hi Alina. Sure hope things are going smooth with you. Relaxing a little bit now maybe? Take care.
I wanted to pass on my angiogram experience today. Everything looked great. Yahoo!! No coronary heart disease so I should be eligible for minimal invasive ...Read more
I wanted to pass on my angiogram experience today. Everything looked great. Yahoo!! No coronary heart disease so I should be eligible for minimal invasive surgery.
To anyone approaching this procedure, I can say that though time consuming, it really is quite painless with the conscious sedation they use now days. I came out of the sedation for a small period of time (he told me this was going to happen ahead of time) during the procedure so they could make sure my blood was oxygenated sufficiently for other heart tests but it was no big deal. From these tests, my cardiologist afterwards told me my EF, aortic valve opening size and condition of my heart (which he said was good and probably why I have minimal symptoms).
So on to the next step but definitely don't worry about this procedure. For me, I was more concerned about it than I should have been.
Juergen Li Since they offered it I asked to be not sedated because I wanted to watch it. There is really no pain ... Read more
Juergen Li Since they offered it I asked to be not sedated because I wanted to watch it. There is really no pain and it is fascinating to watch. Sometimes the view was little bit obstructed but still interesting. I also was very pleased to see the very professional staff - always reassuring. I later learned that I must have been one of the first/few ones who declined sedation.
I went to another cardiologist yesterday to get a second opinion. I actually liked his answers, explanations, demeanor and overall presentation better than ...Read more
I went to another cardiologist yesterday to get a second opinion. I actually liked his answers, explanations, demeanor and overall presentation better than my first cardiologist so he has been hired. Something he brought up has me doing my research again. A TAVR clinical trial on high and intermediate surgical risk patients has been completed. They were called Partner 1 & 2. The results look good but of course the time frame is small. There is also some question about regurgitation which I hope the new Edward Sapien 3 TAVR valve will improve. Also there are concerns about the increased incidence of strokes possibly due to the procedure going thru your artery and breaking things loose. Since the middle of 2016 they have been enlisting low surgical risk patients for a Partner 3 TAVR clinical trial. They need about 1600 patients. If my angiogram scheduled for May 22nd indicates no clogged arteries, I should qualify. Once you qualify, they randomly pick 50% for TAVR and 50% for SAVR. The University of Washington, which I was considering for my surgery, is involved with this study.
Now for my question to you the experts. Assume the TAVR fails in 10-15 years, can I have another TAVR valve put inside it. If not and I would need a SAVR to replace it, I would rather have the SAVR now at my tender age of 65 and the TAVR in 10-15 years when I'm less young. I can't find literature addressing this. I will bring it up to my cardiologist at my angiogram. Any thoughts? 50% chance not to have my chest cracked open sounds really appealing.
Here's a link in case you are interested:
http://www.mdedge.com/ecardiologynews/article/106513/interventional-cardiology-surgery/tavr-forges-ahead-partner-iii-low
Bob Fessler By the way, the article says there are 50 sites involved with this study. If you are healthy enough ... Read more
Bob Fessler By the way, the article says there are 50 sites involved with this study. If you are healthy enough to qualify, you might research this to see if you want to be involved.
Bob Fessler Here's another link from the Edwards website talking about the Partner 2 intermediate risk results.
h ... Read more
Bob Fessler Here's another link from the Edwards website talking about the Partner 2 intermediate risk results.
http://www.edwards.com/devices/Heart-Valves/Transcatheter-Sapien-3#tabs-2
Mary Rae Thewlis My husband had a TAVR six weeks ago, and he's intermediate risk. He was originally to be in the Partn ... Read more
Mary Rae Thewlis My husband had a TAVR six weeks ago, and he's intermediate risk. He was originally to be in the Partner 1/Partner 2 study, but by the time he had surgery, TAVR was available for intermediate risk patients. He's doing great; although I understand your worry about the valve failing in 10-15 years. Call us optimists-we're hoping in 15 years time medical science will have advanced so much the doctors can do the procedure by phone😄!
Bob Fessler Mary Rae. Thanks for replying. My question is..can they redo a TAVR after the valve fails? I don't ... Read more
Bob Fessler Mary Rae. Thanks for replying. My question is..can they redo a TAVR after the valve fails? I don't want to be opened up when I'm 15 years older. If that's the case, I would save the TAVR for later and be opened up now while I'm younger and more likely to do well. Does that make sense?
pam williams Hi bob I live in the UK so maybe things are done a little differently here,I am 73 years young end of ... Read more
pam williams Hi bob I live in the UK so maybe things are done a little differently here,I am 73 years young end of this month ,I had severe aortic stenosis due to rheumatic fever as a child, I was offered to enter into a similar program tavr v ohs ,I was unsure so I discussed it with my surgeon and asked the question if you were me what would you go for without hesitation he said ohs as I am otherwise healthy at 72 I would be a good candidate for open heart,I had my op 5 months ago and doing great ,this doesn't fully answer your question but my situation was similar to yours I had an Edwards bovine, best wishes pam
Mary Rae Thewlis Bob
I really don't know the answer to your question. I have heard of valve in valve replacement using ... Read more
Mary Rae Thewlis Bob
I really don't know the answer to your question. I have heard of valve in valve replacement using TAVR, but I expect the research is in its infancy, since TAVR is relatively new.
For my husband, there was no choice in his mind. He wanted to avoid OHS, and was afforded the opportunity to do so, so he took it. It may be a problem we have to face down the road. But he was out of the hospital after one night, with no ill effects (except tiredness.). He IS undergoing a program of cardiac rehab, since he was deconditioned and had several accompanying problems (thus the intermediate risk designation.). He's doing well, and the one thing he hasn't had to deal with are any after effects of surgery.
If your doctors are sophisticated enough to be involved in a follow up study, I'm sure they'll be up to date on the consequence of future surgeries.
Good luck.
Mary Rae
Bob Fessler I wrote to Cleveland Clinic about a 2nd TAVR to replace the 1st one and they referred me to a web cha ... Read more
Bob Fessler I wrote to Cleveland Clinic about a 2nd TAVR to replace the 1st one and they referred me to a web chat during which Dr. Amar Krishnaswamy said the following:
Amar_Krishnaswamy,_MD: "The overall risk of stroke for TAVR in most patients is around 1% and mortality is around 1%. Some patients, of course, may present a higher risk. It is rare for a TAVR to not work once it is placed, but there may be a circumstance under which another TAVR needs to be placed if that happens. Our assumptions based on bench-top testing and some clinical data is that the TAVR valves should last 10-15 years, similar to valves placed surgically. If the TAVR eventually fails over time, another TAVR procedure would probably be feasible."
When Dr. Krishnaswamy says "probably be feasible" it leaves a lot to the imagination but at least he didn't say it is not possible. I can understand that he might not want to say that 100% of TAVR valves could be replaced.
Bob Fotoples I'm thinking with the technology of heart surgery moving at the speed it is, when a TAVR valve needs ... Read more
Bob Fotoples I'm thinking with the technology of heart surgery moving at the speed it is, when a TAVR valve needs replacing in 10 years + down the road, a procedure will have been invented to safely replace it. I'm not going to concern myself now. I have to be confident that a TAVR replacement procedure will happen before I need it.
Yesterday, after I had an echo a couple weeks ago, my cardiologist says it's time to schedule AVR surgery. My first thought is it is now time to get a second ...Read more
Yesterday, after I had an echo a couple weeks ago, my cardiologist says it's time to schedule AVR surgery. My first thought is it is now time to get a second opinion. I started that process today. My wife and I are headed to Spain next month for 3 weeks so that makes it hard to schedule everything in. I've also asked for another echo at a different facility to confirm the LVEF that I got on the last echo (I hate it when I go in for an echo and the tech is looking at the last echo results...my suspicious nature showing). I'm asymptomatic, my left ventricle and atrium have normal size and wall thickness, and my blood pressure and pulse rate are normal. But....my LVEF is below normal at 43-45. I guess I will just visit the Alhambra, stay in a couple Paradors and enjoy life until April.
Alina FH Good luck and safe travels, Bob. The Second opinions and repeat of the echo will be, hopefully, able ... Read more
Alina FH Good luck and safe travels, Bob. The Second opinions and repeat of the echo will be, hopefully, able to reassure you, one way or another. I hope it all turns out well. Take care!
Lisa Giaccone The only real true measurement is by catheterization. My moms echo showed a 0.7 opening of her aorti ... Read more
Lisa Giaccone The only real true measurement is by catheterization. My moms echo showed a 0.7 opening of her aortic valve and the cath showed it was worse and two coronary arteries were 80% blocked. I'm not telling you this to frighten you. My mom just had surgery yesterday. We were in the same situation as you 3 weeks ago. I would try and get a second opinion before you travel. Or double check with your cardiologist that it's ok to travel. Good luck!
Jane Welp I was in such denial I talked to 3 heart surgeons before facing the facts. Not having symptoms made i ... Read more
Jane Welp I was in such denial I talked to 3 heart surgeons before facing the facts. Not having symptoms made it hard to accept the need for an AVR but I think getting other opinions is exactly what I needed.
Bob Fessler Lisa, the cardiologist said that it wasn't a problem traveling. Heck, with all the walking I'll have ... Read more
Bob Fessler Lisa, the cardiologist said that it wasn't a problem traveling. Heck, with all the walking I'll have to do, I may decide that I'm not so asymptomatic as I thought. The cardiologist wants to schedule the angiogram for after I get back.
Bob Fessler Jane, I've accepted I need the AVR. It's a matter of timing when is best to do it. A balancing act ... Read more
Bob Fessler Jane, I've accepted I need the AVR. It's a matter of timing when is best to do it. A balancing act between the risk of damaging my heart and waiting another 6 months or more. We'll see what the 2nd cardiologist says. Since I only found out about my stenosis the beginning of last year, I don't really know my cardiologist that well. I've seen him 4 times. Once before and after each of my two echos. Seems to know his stuff and he is patient enough to answer all my questions (I have a list each time). I just haven't known him long enough to be 100%+ sure about his surgery recommendation. I want no doubts.
Stephen Phayre Good to have some clarity Bob - go enjoy yourself and you can get ready for your surgery when you get ... Read more
Stephen Phayre Good to have some clarity Bob - go enjoy yourself and you can get ready for your surgery when you get back. IF you haven't already, check out the Bremerton Medical Center, and seriously consider visiting with Dr. King as an option for your surgeon. He was a *AMAZING* to work with and they have an excellent reputation.
Peter McHugh Thanks for your comment and support. Good luck to you as well.
Here is an interesting article that just came out today in Forbes about the device commonly used to heat and cool the blood during open-heart surgery being ...Read more
Anyone who's had open heart surgery since 2011 should beware: you could have a deadly infection brewing in your chest.
Ellen Leng If you've had surgery recently or are continuing to have fevers, I would definitely as if you're hosp ... Read more
Ellen Leng If you've had surgery recently or are continuing to have fevers, I would definitely as if you're hospital uses that devicertain during the bypass time!
Darlene Smith I heard about this too. And the release from the CDC says it could be years before you notice any sy ... Read more
Darlene Smith I heard about this too. And the release from the CDC says it could be years before you notice any symptoms!!! I was shocked.
Diane Zeigler Just one more thing for all of us to worry about. If the surgery isn't bad enough... Really not try ... Read more
Diane Zeigler Just one more thing for all of us to worry about. If the surgery isn't bad enough... Really not trying to be negative. Hopefully all of us will not have to deal with this complication!
Diane Zeigler After I left this site, I went to the e-version of my local newspaper. This information was on top o ... Read more
Diane Zeigler After I left this site, I went to the e-version of my local newspaper. This information was on top of the front page!
Darlene Smith One of the more interesting statements in the CDC release was that they couldn't recall all the devic ... Read more
Darlene Smith One of the more interesting statements in the CDC release was that they couldn't recall all the devices because that would leave hospitals without a way to conduct OHS. Ummmm.....ok....there aren't other manufacturers of the device???
Diane Zeigler I read tonight that 12 of the 28 deaths from this infection occurred in Pennsylvania.
I have a question. If a contrast CT Scan can be used to detect blocked arteries and some people are getting this procedure for this reason, why should anyone ...Read more
I have a question. If a contrast CT Scan can be used to detect blocked arteries and some people are getting this procedure for this reason, why should anyone have a coronary angiogram? Does it detect other issues? Is it more reliable? I read somewhere that the CT scan is 96% accurate in predicting if your arteries are clogged. I'd take that anytime.
I know they say the angiogram is the gold standard but is it so much better that it is worth the pain/discomfort/risks that this intrusive procedure requires?
I guess I'm just trying to figure out if it is a money maker for cardiologists or if it a tool for the cardiologist and surgeon which is much more valuable than the CT scan. Anyone have any views. This is me questioning everything as usual.
Herb Greenberg I've been asking myself the very same question. I'm suspecting the answer is to make sure you don't h ... Read more
Herb Greenberg I've been asking myself the very same question. I'm suspecting the answer is to make sure you don't have blockages, as well.
Joanna Prisiajniouk Angiograms are not always clear either. The 3D CT Scan though more radiation gives more detail. I hav ... Read more
Joanna Prisiajniouk Angiograms are not always clear either. The 3D CT Scan though more radiation gives more detail. I have a situation where the supposed blockage shown is not very clear that it is even an actual blockage. The surgeon thinks that it may clear up after my valve surgery (might be a platelet he said)....so a 3D CT will probably be ordered. Also, there is a yearly quota cardiologists must maintain to be able to do these angiograms according to a Cleveland Clinic cardioligust who wrote a book about heart surgery.
I did a CT scan without contrast and a coronary angiogram. Clean as a whistle for blockages guess it ... Read more
I did a CT scan without contrast and a coronary angiogram. Clean as a whistle for blockages guess it is just standard could be double dipping I don't care though.
Stephen Doherty That is a good question .. I know here in Australia, where we have universal health care and the cost ... Read more
Stephen Doherty That is a good question .. I know here in Australia, where we have universal health care and the costs of these tests are borne by the hospital and health care system, and they prefer an angiogram over a CT. I'm gathering with a CT the cardiologist can get a clear picture of exactly where he wants to look, rather than just the general picture with a CT? Not certain if this is the case but it does make some sense .. I had both done, with the angiogram I had an arterial spasm that meant that it was inconclusive, so was sent for a CT rather than putting me through angiogram again, to get a complete picture. I do know that my cardiologist would have preferred a clear angiogram though.
Stephen Doherty 'I'm gathering with a 'Angiogram' the cardiologist can get a clear picture ..' I meant, not CT, sorry ... Read more
Stephen Doherty 'I'm gathering with a 'Angiogram' the cardiologist can get a clear picture ..' I meant, not CT, sorry.
Bob Fessler Very true Dan. Double dipping is worth it if it is worth it. But if it is a flip of the coin and An ... Read more
Bob Fessler Very true Dan. Double dipping is worth it if it is worth it. But if it is a flip of the coin and Angiograms have some risk? Then I have to wonder.
Stephen, it sounds like you were gathering that the CT is a general picture and the Angiogram is more of a clear picture. Joanna says that's not always the case. I guess I will ask my cardiologist when I next see him about his thoughts and do what I think is best.
Nap Garcia I had a little point of contention with this with my cardiologist. He pushed for it at the last minut ... Read more
Nap Garcia I had a little point of contention with this with my cardiologist. He pushed for it at the last minute after I had my surgery date all set and I met with the surgeon, who assessed my condition and said I was low risk as far as arterial blockage and called my angiogram "optional", though my cardiologist pushed for it as standard practice. But I checked my TEE results, which my cardiologist didn't even refer back to, and it said low signs of stenosis and after some researching that meant my risk of blocked or narrowed arteries were low. I can see my cardiologist's point that while we got the hood open, might as well check everything else, but does the benefit of the procedure outweigh the risks? Though less than 10%, there is still some risk involved with an angiogram including excessive bleeding, stroke, or heart attack. Why would I want to introduce these risks when I know for certain that my mitral valve is the only thing that needs repairing? I did a quick survey of people who had heart valve repair surgery in one of these groups in FB and the results were almost even, half did not have angiograms before heart valve surgery (group I was in), and the other half did have angiograms. With some self-education and research, which my cardiologist said I was putting too much thought into it, I opted against an angiogram before my surgery. I'm a week discharged from mitral valve repair surgery, my surgeon said the surgery went perfect and did not mention any signs of valve calcification, which could be the result of blocked or narrowed arteries. So I'm glad I didn't go through with it. But it's ultimately your decision. I'm not saying I'm totally against an angiogram, or even CT scan which my cardiologist pushed for if I didn't do an angiogram, because if you've had prior history of heart issues such as stroke or heart attack, I would recommend it. For others like me, it seemed more like someone was trying to meet their quotas at the hospital as someone said above. Please don't let my strong opinion on this influence you, it is ultimately your decision and you have to go with what you're most comfortable with.
Herb Greenberg For me the goal is to avoid as much of that contrast dye as possible. The contrast agent they use in ... Read more
Herb Greenberg For me the goal is to avoid as much of that contrast dye as possible. The contrast agent they use in an MRA is different - likely less caustic to your kidneys. My cardiologist said most surgeons prefer CT over MRA, yet MRA is A) less radiation B) a kinder contrast agent to your kidneys.
Petey Bello I did a CT Angiogram and the tech said the machines are so advanced today that they are starting to b ... Read more
Petey Bello I did a CT Angiogram and the tech said the machines are so advanced today that they are starting to be used more often. Much easier then going through an angiogram!
Shannon Sullivan I had my CT Scan last Thursday. My cardiologist didnt want to risk an angiogram as my valve is narro ... Read more
Shannon Sullivan I had my CT Scan last Thursday. My cardiologist didnt want to risk an angiogram as my valve is narrowed to the point of critical. When i see the surgeon I will ask about one versus the other. Being in Canada, this will give a different perspective.
David C My impression was that the Angiogram gives a much clearer picture of the finer arteries. I looked at ... Read more
David C My impression was that the Angiogram gives a much clearer picture of the finer arteries. I looked at both. My contrast CT scan was good and accurate, helpful for a real clear picture of the aortic dilation and bicuspid valve. That being said the heart cath was crazy to watch. You could see all the arteries in infinitely higher fidelity. I wish I wasn't in that twilight space, I would have liked to look more closely at my beating heart. It was kind of awesome. Not a fan of sitting around for 4 hours after, however.
Lise Bowles I don't hear any of you mentioning a cardio Cath, my cardiologist in town insisted I have that and a ... Read more
Lise Bowles I don't hear any of you mentioning a cardio Cath, my cardiologist in town insisted I have that and a tee, and now I have found out when I get to CC I need to have a CT scan. To quote my local cardiologist my arteries are pristine, so isn't this redundant? I read in Heart 411 that the cardio Cath is equivalent to 400 chest X-rays! I had radiation to my breast 12 years ago for breast cancer and various other scans of my body from a car accident years ago, don't want all this radiation! Is this justified? PS the cardio Cath was $32,000. dollars, how bout that???
Since I found out that I will need AVR sometime in the near future, I have been trying to lose weight without losing muscle. I'm not overly heavy but does ...Read more
Since I found out that I will need AVR sometime in the near future, I have been trying to lose weight without losing muscle. I'm not overly heavy but does it make sense to think that the less weight I have to lift out of my recliner/bed the easier it will be? Has anyone been told that less weight would be beneficial for surgery or recovery?
Meredith Bray The more fit you are before the surgery the easier it is to become active after the surgery. I enjoye ... Read more
Meredith Bray The more fit you are before the surgery the easier it is to become active after the surgery. I enjoyed swimming the year before my surgery, and the day I could get back in the pool afterwards was perfection. Just try standing & sitting without using your arms - you'll learn pretty quick what muscles you need to work on!
-Meredith
Lynee Casper Bob, I believe it helped me in my recovery, I lost about 6-7 pounds because I focused in on exercise ... Read more
Lynee Casper Bob, I believe it helped me in my recovery, I lost about 6-7 pounds because I focused in on exercise as much as possible. You are right to stay focused on being healthy. If nothing else, it helps with working out the worry and building confidence! No one told me explicitly to , but I was told at pre surgery meeting with the surgeon, that my being fit would certainly help in recovery. And I agree with Meredith, it's amazing how many muscles we use for everyday movement that will be impacted.
Cheryl Shute Walter I consulted a bariatric doctor prior to my surgery, and together with my husband we went on a high pr ... Read more
Cheryl Shute Walter I consulted a bariatric doctor prior to my surgery, and together with my husband we went on a high protein diet. We both lost over 20 lbs. I think the healthier you are before hand, the easier it is. Walking is a great exercise. Best wishes for a successful surgery! I'm almost 6 months post AVR surgery and feeling pretty darn good!
Steven A Husted thank you for your comment i try to help any way i can as for losing weight i agree with the others h ... Read more
Steven A Husted thank you for your comment i try to help any way i can as for losing weight i agree with the others here the better shape you are in be four surgery the faster your recovery i was over weight before surgery and after surgery i made out pretty well of course i was in a rehab hospital after surgery for two weeks because i live alone they wanted to make sure i could take care of myself at home alone my problem after surgery was my weight and not my exercise it was my breathing from having such a big belly ha ha but now i am getting my exercise in phase 3 of cardio rehab it keeps me active so the better shape we are in be fore surgery the better the surgery and recovery love and prayers from your heart brother
Ron Broadhead Bob - Everyone is different and I don't pretend to be a physician, but I exercised almost daily (with ... Read more
Ron Broadhead Bob - Everyone is different and I don't pretend to be a physician, but I exercised almost daily (with my cardiologist's approval) in the 8 or 9 months before my surgery. I had been an avid runner most of my life, but was no longer able to run. So I did what I could, which was to ride a road bicycle. Closer to the end I had to ride slowly and in very low gear, but I was able to make about 7 or 8 miles a day taking frequent breaks. Had to rest after going up even short hills. This did keep me in the best condition I could and I think it did help me. After the surgery, a couple of the hospital staff commented on my strong core, which helped recovery. As October grew into November (my surgery was in January), my after-work bike rides grew interesting as I live in a rural area. With only my bike's headlight (it used rechargeable batteries of which I always had a spare pair) I rode through darkness, almost total during a new moon. Coyotes were howling around me. There was a herd of cattle (are they now related to me with my bovine valve?) and the rancher kept his bull out at night to scare away the predators- that old boy was bellowing away in the dark to keep his ladies and kids safe! So the night rides became a bit of an adventure. But I did it and it did help me keep my weight down a bit as well as keep me in the best shape I could. It also helped my attitude even if other bikers would sometimes fly by me. Of course now I can run again and I do, and I also work pretty hard to keep my weight down. I now run not only because it seems to work for me, but also just because I am able to. I do definitely like my moo valve. Best wishes to you for your AVR.
Briana Morgan Bob, my surgeon actully told me he likes it when his patients have a little extra weight on them. I' ... Read more
Briana Morgan Bob, my surgeon actully told me he likes it when his patients have a little extra weight on them. I'm sure being fit would be best, but I wouldn't worry too much about losing a little extra weight. Dr Stelzer said the extra weight was helpful for getting though the whole process of the surgery and recovery. For example, I didn't have much any extra weight to lose, so when I lost five pounds and some of my 122 lbs was water weight, I didn't look that great.
I hope everyone had a great weekend. If you are in recovery, I hope the last two days were days of improvement and hope.
It's funny how thinking about having ...Read more
I hope everyone had a great weekend. If you are in recovery, I hope the last two days were days of improvement and hope.
It's funny how thinking about having OHS makes you think about things differently. Lately, I've been thinking a lot about getting things done that need to get done before surgery. Physical things like replacing those rotten boards on the shed door, resetting those loose fence posts in concrete, power washing the driveway, getting an estimate for painting the house. Things you let slide until you realize that time could be short (to surgery). Well, off to the store for a spring hinge to replace the broken one on the door to the garage.
Barbara Laurie Bob, I'm cleaning drawers, getting the clutter cleaned out and otherwise trying to get stuff in order ... Read more
Barbara Laurie Bob, I'm cleaning drawers, getting the clutter cleaned out and otherwise trying to get stuff in order. But I need time to contemplate things too!! Don't over do it!❤️🌹
Joyce Shelby Right Bob, I spent the whole weekend cleaning and organizing my closet which I have been meaning to d ... Read more
Joyce Shelby Right Bob, I spent the whole weekend cleaning and organizing my closet which I have been meaning to do for two years...funny how surgery gives you that push...lol.
Janea Christensen, I saw that your surgeon was Dr. Glenn Barnhart at Swedish. That is one of the surgeons I was considering along with Dr. Eric Lehr for my ...Read more
Janea Christensen, I saw that your surgeon was Dr. Glenn Barnhart at Swedish. That is one of the surgeons I was considering along with Dr. Eric Lehr for my aortic valve replacement. Any thoughts about him I can use to make a decision?
Mike Mo Hi Bob, I'm from Kitsap too! I'm seeing Dr. Barnhart on 3/10 for initial consult. I heard from 3 ot ... Read more
Mike Mo Hi Bob, I'm from Kitsap too! I'm seeing Dr. Barnhart on 3/10 for initial consult. I heard from 3 other doctors he is the best for aortic valve replacement. Good luck
Gail Magnus Hi Bob, I just had my valve replaced at UW by Dr. Ed Verrier if you're interested in another opinion. ... Read more
Gail Magnus Hi Bob, I just had my valve replaced at UW by Dr. Ed Verrier if you're interested in another opinion. Same goes for you, too Mike. I am pleased so far with post op results.
This was my first visit to the Cardiologist since he surprised me with my severe aortic stenosis diagnosis three weeks ago. Heck, I didn't know what a heart ...Read more
This was my first visit to the Cardiologist since he surprised me with my severe aortic stenosis diagnosis three weeks ago. Heck, I didn't know what a heart valve was before then. I was prepared this time with my list of questions and he patiently answered and expounded on all of them. At the top my list was how he would determine when he thought I needed surgery. What factors does he consider. His answer was he uses a combination of the echocardiogram readings and most importantly, when I feel a change to my body that is just not right. It can be subtle but I will know when it is not right and it will then be time. I liked his answer as it shows that he knows I have control over the decision. So far I like the guy. So I will be lurking to pick up some nuggets for a future surgery while still living life to the fullest.
Ed Miskovic I can relate to your surprise. After surgery, patients are expected to perform ways of moving we aren ... Read more
Ed Miskovic I can relate to your surprise. After surgery, patients are expected to perform ways of moving we aren't physically able to do even before surgery, such as rolling out of bed without using your arms. Walking after surgery is hard. Balancing is hard. Laughing is hard. Coughing is hard. Breathing is hard. Because I've taken Pilates for 2+ years, some of the hospital staff noticed that I could do the baby movements more easily. I actually thought about what would I have done differently to prepare myself for the surgery. My answer was to include exercise into my life in my forties, rather than late 50s. Pilates for body movement & core strength; Tai Chi for smooth motion & balance. I would also master breathing techniques, perhaps Yoga. And of course cardio conditioning. There's no such thing as a free lunch. I only paid half the price so to speak. This is my 6th day home, for this 69 year old, after aortic valve replacement surgery, so my opinion may easily change. Thanks for posting your question. The best to you.
Bob Fessler Ed, I've gone to the gym every 2 or 3 days for the last several years mostly to lift weights. I've do ... Read more
Bob Fessler Ed, I've gone to the gym every 2 or 3 days for the last several years mostly to lift weights. I've done this ever since a physical therapist told me that losing upper body strength was the biggest weakness he sees in his older patients. I'm now trying to lose some weight thinking every sack of flour (10#) that I take off will mean less effort to lift out of that recliner or bed or whatever. I want to take off about a sack and a half. Sounds like you are doing great for the 6th day home. Just don't laugh or cough so much and you will be fine (kidding of course, where are those emoticons when you need them).
Elizabeth Kindregan Diagnosed with severe aortic stenosis last July. I need surgery within next year. Lucky I have that ... Read more
Elizabeth Kindregan Diagnosed with severe aortic stenosis last July. I need surgery within next year. Lucky I have that time since I:m currently in the process of packing and moving. Have help with packing as I get very tired quickly. Petrified of open heart surgery.
Bob Fessler Hi Elizabeth. I too am petrified of open heart surgery. That is only normal. But logic tells me I wi ... Read more
Bob Fessler Hi Elizabeth. I too am petrified of open heart surgery. That is only normal. But logic tells me I will survive and recovery will be unpleasant but manageable. I still want to get all the information I can and this place helps me do that. The moral support here is also wonderful. Welcome.
Elizabeth Kindregan Thank you Bob. It is important to do your research ad I've recently learned. I look forward to the ... Read more
Elizabeth Kindregan Thank you Bob. It is important to do your research ad I've recently learned. I look forward to the support here.
Ed Miskovic I laughed too loud , Bob, this afternoon. Now I am kicking up my heals relaxing on the recliner. I'm ... Read more
Ed Miskovic I laughed too loud , Bob, this afternoon. Now I am kicking up my heals relaxing on the recliner. I'm really happy you've begun to improve your body hopefully we'll in advance of surgery.
Ashok Vaid thats amazing , I think holding off till symptoms is the best thing for aortic stenosis
I have a question. Has anyone had an angiogram through the wrist? Is this something I should be asking about when it is my turn? I read that you don't have ...Read more
I have a question. Has anyone had an angiogram through the wrist? Is this something I should be asking about when it is my turn? I read that you don't have to spend a long period of time on your back afterwards and the severe bleeding risk is lowered. Any thoughts? Here is one site that talks about it: http://www.themedicalcity.com/newsroom/press_release_view/reaching-the-heart-through-the-wrist
The Advantages of Transradial CatheterizationReaching the Heart through the WristWhen a coronary angiogram was recommended to 47-year-old Nelson Lacap, he sighed as he thought about the discomfort, the risk of complications, and days of hospital confinement.An angiogram, also known as cardiac catheterization, is usually performed to investigate the possibility of blocked coronary arteries. Any catheter placement into a blood vessel is associated with a risk of bleeding. The femoral artery in the groin - near where the leg bends from the hip - is one of the blood vessels Interventional Cardiologists most commonly use to insert a catheter (a flexible tube that is smaller than the vessels) and thread it through the arteries to the heart to perform the angiogram.Nelson was thinking about this traditional approach which makes uses of the femoral site. His doctor, Dr. Michelangelo Sabas, Interventional Cardiologist at The Medical City (TMC), introduced him to the transradial access to cardiac catheterization.Nelson proceeded with his angiogram on July 17, 2014 at the TMC Catheterization Laboratory (Cath Lab). He arrived at the Cath Lab an hour before his 9 am procedure. The angiogram itself took half an hour.“I wasn’t in there very long,” said Nelson of the procedure. “With it done in the wrist, I could move around immediately. I was out of the Cath Lab before 12 noon,” he added. Nelson said he literally walked off the catheterization table after his angiogram.Dr. Sabas explained that after the transradial procedure, patients can sit up, eat, drink, or even walk without fear of causing bleeding at the access site.“This is helpful especially in patients with chronic back pain or other conditions that may make lying flat difficult,” continued Dr. Sabas. The transradial approach provides a safer alternative to catheterizations – especially for patients with medical conditions which increase bleeding risk such as those who are obese, have peripheral artery disease or are on anticoagulation medicine.Transradial access for catheterization is obtained by puncturing the radial artery at the underside of the wrist using a small needle, through which a fine wire is inserted into the blood vessel to guide the insertion of a small plastic tube called a sheath. The sheath keeps blood from spurting out of the artery and allows other devices to go into the body’s cardiovascular system. From this access site, doctors can perform coronary angiogram (mapping of the heart arteries) and angioplasty or stenting (opening of blocked arteries).At TMC, interventional cardiologists had utilized femoral artery as the preferred route for coronary procedures in the past years. The radial artery default access for angiography and coronary intervention at TMC was started in April 2010 by Dr. Sabas and Dr. Paolo Prado and since then, has become the preferred access for coronary procedures by most of the interventional cardiologists.Dr. Sabas cited the benefits of transradial catheterization, which includes a lower risk of bleeding at the incision site, less risk of major complications that require blood transfusion or surgery, and less hematoma formation after the procedure.A femoral procedure requires patients to lie flat for about six (6) hours while transradial patients can move around and walk to the bathroom after the procedure. The patient just wears a wrist band to control bleeding. He is merely advised to refrain from doing activities that entail flexing the wrist where the procedure was done for the next 24 hours. Early ambulation and early discharge after transradial catheterization make it more attractive than femoral procedure for elderly patients and those patients with back pain, chronic obstructive lung disease, and prostatic hypertrophy.Lowered risk of bleeding, early ambulation and discharge translate to significant savings for the patient. When patients are able to ambulate sooner, nursing costs are also lessened.Procedures such as transradial coronary angiography may actually be done as an outpatient procedure in low-risk patients or those who have no other serious illnesses that require further monitoring in the hospital. The procedure generally takes around 15 to 30 minutes.In the Philippines, TMC is one of the first hospitals to offer transradial catheterization. TMC Cath Lab currently uses transradial access in almost 90% of its coronary procedures. This is the highest percentage, by far, of all the Cardiac Catheterization Labs in the country and matches the leading centers in Europe and Japan.The transradial approach to diagnostic and interventional cardiac procedures at TMC Cath Lab is a testament of the efforts of TMC Cardiovascular Center to further improve quality of patient care by offering new and better options aimed at improving patient safety and comfort, and decreasing procedure costs.For more information about transradial catheterization, you may contact tel. nos. 988-1000 or 988-7000 ext. 6278.–end-
Sharmin Atker I would ask your Dr. how he intends to do the procedure. When I had it done, they tried to go throug ... Read more
Sharmin Atker I would ask your Dr. how he intends to do the procedure. When I had it done, they tried to go through the wrist, but due to too much bruising, switched to the groin. I was able to leave the hospital after a few hours.
Barbara Adams I had angiogram thru wrist. They will assess to see if this is best procedure for you. It was a very ... Read more
Barbara Adams I had angiogram thru wrist. They will assess to see if this is best procedure for you. It was a very easy and quick procedure because no blockages were found. Not anything to be concerned about!
Debra Gann They did mine through groin because they wanted left and right heart.
Jason Lathrop I had a wrist artery entry. No big deal. They put a serious zip tie on it to keep it under pressure w ... Read more
Jason Lathrop I had a wrist artery entry. No big deal. They put a serious zip tie on it to keep it under pressure while it stopped bleeding. Good luck.
Bob Fessler Thanks for the info. I know I have lots of questions to ask my cardiologist when I see him Wednesday ... Read more
Bob Fessler Thanks for the info. I know I have lots of questions to ask my cardiologist when I see him Wednesday. A whole big list actually since this whole stenosis thing was dropped on me on one and only visit with him a few weeks ago. That being said, do they use local anesthetic or do they give you something similar to what they use for colonoscopys.
Sharmin Atker I had concious sedation. I was awake through the whole procedure, but no control of my muscles. Som ... Read more
Sharmin Atker I had concious sedation. I was awake through the whole procedure, but no control of my muscles. Some people are able to watch the monitors during it.
Casey Overcamp I had the wrist angio. No problem and I hear it's a quicker healing process than groin. Expect a bi ... Read more
Casey Overcamp I had the wrist angio. No problem and I hear it's a quicker healing process than groin. Expect a bit of bruising on the wrist. And they shaved part of my arm hair which looked weird. Good luck!
Jim Kelly-Evans Definitely preferable to have a cath through the wrist...much more comfortable.
Wanda Mroz I had a wrist angiogram. They even had issues breaking through some scar tissue but it went well. B ... Read more
Wanda Mroz I had a wrist angiogram. They even had issues breaking through some scar tissue but it went well. Bruising was pretty bad... But I'm fair skinned and bruise easily. They did left and right through my wrist too. I was conscious but sedated.
Lise Bowles I had the wrist procedure and it was a breeze. The only thing I didn't like was apparently the radiat ... Read more
Lise Bowles I had the wrist procedure and it was a breeze. The only thing I didn't like was apparently the radiation is equivalent to 400 chest X-rays??? Omg, I am going to glow in the dark!
I'm not from New York as my picture might indicate. I'm on the left coast near Seattle. In December my doc discovered I had a heart murmur and scheduled an ...Read more
I'm not from New York as my picture might indicate. I'm on the left coast near Seattle. In December my doc discovered I had a heart murmur and scheduled an echocardiogram for me. Much to my surprise, I discovered I already have severe aortic stenosis. Geez...somebody could have given me a warning. My jet velocity is 4.57, gradient is 41, have a valve area less than 1 and I'm asymptomatic. So I've started doing my due diligence and that has led me to here. This looks like a wonderful place to figure out what is going to happen in the near future. Everyone seems so supportive and willing to share the good and the bad. They both are important to know. I'm looking forward to meeting you all. Good luck and prayers to everyone!
Tammy Pilcher Welcome Bob! My surgery was Oct. 31, 2014 and I've done really well. I'll keep you in my prayers fo ... Read more
Tammy Pilcher Welcome Bob! My surgery was Oct. 31, 2014 and I've done really well. I'll keep you in my prayers for the same great results. Psalms 28:7. God bless!
Welcome to this community, Bob. Isn't it scary that your heart can be working so hard and you don't e ... Read more
Welcome to this community, Bob. Isn't it scary that your heart can be working so hard and you don't even realize it? I am willing to bet that as you start to think about things, or after you have surgery, you will see the things that are different. I have minimally invasive AVR on 12/1 for a bicuspid aortic valve. My symptoms felt minimal, but I knew what to look for. I felt TIRED all the time and just crashed when I got home. I am now 8 weeks post op and can tell I have more energy than before. I also can walk up stairs without getting heart palpitations. Thankful for technology. Do you have a surgery date set? This site is so wonderful and the people on here understand this experience in a way other people in your life won't understand. Glad you were able to catch this issue before it came a major problem. Best wishes!
Bob Fessler Hi Laura, no decision yet on when to have surgery. I've only seen the Cardiologist once. I'll see h ... Read more
Bob Fessler Hi Laura, no decision yet on when to have surgery. I've only seen the Cardiologist once. I'll see him again in 4 months. Another echocardiogram will probably tell me wonders on the disease progression. I've got a sneaky feeling it will be fast since no doctor previously has heard the heart murmur.
I may be silly or even stupid but, once a day I've been running up and down 13 steps in my house multiple times to see if my heart would palpitate like yours did. Other than a little tired in the legs and maybe a little out of breath....nothing. I've done a similar thing at the gym, walking up a 5% grade at a 20 min mile pace and once again nothing.
I know the surgery is coming sometime so why wait? It's almost like I should just get the darn thing done now. But without symptoms that is a tough decision. I'm retired so I don't "go to work" but I haven't felt any out of the ordinary tiredness. Life goes on.
I saw that last month they approved a sutureless valve for use in traditional AVRs. Don't know if I'd want one but the point is surgical improvements are always being made. Another "recent" development was the MECC for the heart-lung pump. It's a weak reason to put off surgery until symptoms appear but It factors into my thinking.
Was your minimally invasive surgery a mini-sternotomy or a mini-thoracotomy? How was the pain for the first day. I don't know if I qualify but I sure would like to go minimal if I can.
Hi Bob, doctors told me there is a window for when you want surgery...when the valve needs to be repl ... Read more
Hi Bob, doctors told me there is a window for when you want surgery...when the valve needs to be replaced, but told me not to wait long enough that I damaged my heart. The doctors also told me to listen to my body when I exercised and it was recommended for me to keep my HR around 145 pre surgery. My surgery window was estimated to be a year according to my surgeon and I did surgery on the earlier end (mainly because I could do it during the holidays). I had a mini-sternotomy. It wasn't as hard as I had imagined in my mind. It wasn't fun, but I was out of the hospital 3 days post op and started cardiac rehab at 2 weeks out and was back at work 6 weeks out. I chose a tissue valve and my surgeon implanted one that was on the larger end of my valve opening with plans to do a TAVR when I need another valve. He said this will buy me another 10-15 years before I need another open heart surgery. At that point, who knows what technology will be like. Best wishes to you. Glad you are being monitored and hopefully technology will keep evolving to where you have lots of choices when you need surgery!
Bob Fessler Thanks for the info Laura. I definitely don't want to get an enlarged left ventrical or thicker hear ... Read more
Bob Fessler Thanks for the info Laura. I definitely don't want to get an enlarged left ventrical or thicker heart walls and other heart damage. I'll have to make a value judgement eventually but until then live life to the fullest.