Well, my surgery was 10 days ago. Yesterday, I went outside for the first time for a little walk on the grounds of the rehab hospital. I went down a ramp ...Read more
Well, my surgery was 10 days ago. Yesterday, I went outside for the first time for a little walk on the grounds of the rehab hospital. I went down a ramp that covered the equivalent of six stairs, sat for a rest, went down another six stairs and walked 50 meters to take some pictures, and then...developed double vision. I made my way back, got checked out and was told to rest for the rest of the day. The ramp walks were equivalent to walking for 20 minutes and the stairs another 20 minutes.
Lesson learned!
Dave Graham Take a break Chris... I'm glad to hear your walking around. I hope the surgery went well. Everyday br ... Read more
Dave Graham Take a break Chris... I'm glad to hear your walking around. I hope the surgery went well. Everyday brings another challenge. You will be up and running soon. All the best on your recovery.
Tammy Pilcher Take it easy,Chris. Best wishes on recovery! God bless you!
Chris Engel Thanks, folks! It's a bit of a challenge for me to find the right pace when it comes to walking: how ... Read more
Chris Engel Thanks, folks! It's a bit of a challenge for me to find the right pace when it comes to walking: how much is too much for one day? My pt told me to watch my pulse: if it goes over 120. Or if there is a 20 beats per minute change in my pulse, then stop and rest. Trying to figure out daily targets is trickier..
Tammy Pilcher Chris, I think I was still only walking three times a day for 10 minutes at a time when I was 10 days ... Read more
Tammy Pilcher Chris, I think I was still only walking three times a day for 10 minutes at a time when I was 10 days out. I slowly added more time and was careful not to let myself get out of breath for awhile. I'm now seven and a half months post op and walking an hour a day, sometimes twice a day. I'm going around 3 miles an hour. Best wishes!
Chris Engel Thanks, TMy - that is very helpful! Good night!
Well, I'm all set for tomorrow. Bags are packed, chlorhexidine all applied, and ready to go. I'll be offline for a few days but I hope that I'll be able to ...Read more
Well, I'm all set for tomorrow. Bags are packed, chlorhexidine all applied, and ready to go. I'll be offline for a few days but I hope that I'll be able to post a brief note Wednesday or Thursday. Thanks for encouragement and support!
Chris
Jeanette Davidson Chris , all the best to you! Sending prayers and healing your way!💗
Terry Shermeister Best wishes and healing thoughts your way Chris!! It will be one month for me this Thursday and I re ... Read more
Terry Shermeister Best wishes and healing thoughts your way Chris!! It will be one month for me this Thursday and I remember all the feelings and thoughts.
Oh well ... surgery was to be done on Wednesday April 22. Unfortunately, that's on hold now while people figure out what to do with a blood problem - von Willebrand, ...Read more
Oh well ... surgery was to be done on Wednesday April 22. Unfortunately, that's on hold now while people figure out what to do with a blood problem - von Willebrand, which reduces the ability for the blood to clot. The hematologist ran the tests on Friday on a hunch after hearing about the gastric bleeder I had earlier on in January/February. The stenotic heart valve can affect the blood by removing a certain clotting factor because of the stress caused by the stenotic heart valve. Oh well....
Tammy Pilcher Chris, I'll keep you in my prayers for your doctors to figure out the blood issue. I know it's hard ... Read more
Tammy Pilcher Chris, I'll keep you in my prayers for your doctors to figure out the blood issue. I know it's hard to have to reschedule, but it's good they found this problem before surgery. Best wishes!
I know you must be disappointed after planning to get your surgery behind you.....but as Tammy said, ... Read more
I know you must be disappointed after planning to get your surgery behind you.....but as Tammy said, thank goodness this was discovered prior to a major surgery. Praying this is all resolved soon, for you.
Chris Engel Actually, my wife was more upset than I was, as she was coordinating all the different things that ar ... Read more
Chris Engel Actually, my wife was more upset than I was, as she was coordinating all the different things that are happening around the surgery, and now has to shift things again.
Bill Cherry I had something similar (not sure if it was von Willebrand) that was NOT found before surgery. They w ... Read more
Bill Cherry I had something similar (not sure if it was von Willebrand) that was NOT found before surgery. They went to thin my blood but it was too thin already. They had to add platelets. Not sure what caused it, but I've recovered pretty well. I had a bovine AVR and am just taking 81 mg aspirin per day.
Chris Engel From what I read in the blood test results, it looks like I've got a combo of mild anemia and von Wil ... Read more
Chris Engel From what I read in the blood test results, it looks like I've got a combo of mild anemia and von Willebrand. So, no surgery until this is cleared, which is disappointing...
Sharon Madden Be thankful your Doctors are on the ball and found this before your surgery. I am in my second count ... Read more
Sharon Madden Be thankful your Doctors are on the ball and found this before your surgery. I am in my second countdown to surgery. Unlike you my was postponed because my cardiac cath showed surgery wasn't warranted at that time. In some ways I wish it had been done then. Waiting again is no fun. I hope they get everything worked out in short order so that you can be on the other side recovering and getting back to normal.
Chris Engel Well, I've got lots of appointments now, so getting bored while waiting won't be much of a problem! ... Read more
Chris Engel Well, I've got lots of appointments now, so getting bored while waiting won't be much of a problem!
Denise Cockayne So are you up for the 9th of June with me?????? Blessings galore I sure know about appointments...bel ... Read more
Denise Cockayne So are you up for the 9th of June with me?????? Blessings galore I sure know about appointments...believe me
Well, it's been an eventful month. I had something called Dieulafoy's lesion in the small intestine. It was quite the bleeder: in the end, I had to have another ...Read more
Well, it's been an eventful month. I had something called Dieulafoy's lesion in the small intestine. It was quite the bleeder: in the end, I had to have another 12 units of blood before it was sealed up, and from what the surgeon said, it could recur. This of course has an influence on what type of heart valve I'll get: biological or mechanical. My heart surgeon told me that if the risk of recurrence was anything but minimal, then the mechanical valve would be ill advised because of the need for warfarin. So, more discussions will have to happen to figure out the risk, though my guess is that the GI surgeon will classify the risk as moderate, not minimal. In a way, that would be welcome: it would simplify the decision making process.....
Bob M Sounds like this is a sign for your upcoming decision. I pray that your surgery and recovery will be ... Read more
Bob M Sounds like this is a sign for your upcoming decision. I pray that your surgery and recovery will be uneventful. God bless and rise up!
Well, I'm now home from that adventure. Strike Celebrex off my list of meds for a bad neck! Blood count is back up above 100 now, no leaks.
I managed ...Read more
Well, I'm now home from that adventure. Strike Celebrex off my list of meds for a bad neck! Blood count is back up above 100 now, no leaks.
I managed to see my heart report, so I've got the stats:
AVA = 1 square centimeter, mean gradient is 46 mmHg, peak aortic velocity is 4.5 m/s. The aorta is at the upper end of the normal size. I guess I'll find out more when I have an angiogram on the 19th...
Meredith Bray My AVA was 1.1 a year before surgery. It was .9 six months before surgery. It was .75 a month befor ... Read more
Meredith Bray My AVA was 1.1 a year before surgery. It was .9 six months before surgery. It was .75 a month before surgery. Six months before is when i really started feeling/noticing the symptoms.
Jim Kelly-Evans Numbers indicate you're probably ripe for AVA...get a good evaluation of your aorta. Best wishes.
Kimberly Biddick I'm with Jim... would be a shame to not get that aorta nipped in the bud, too, while they are already ... Read more
Kimberly Biddick I'm with Jim... would be a shame to not get that aorta nipped in the bud, too, while they are already in there! Good luck!!!
Chris Engel Thanks, folks - The cardiologist scheduled the angio for february 19 as a prep I guess, and in his wo ... Read more
Chris Engel Thanks, folks - The cardiologist scheduled the angio for february 19 as a prep I guess, and in his words, "clean up some of the extra stuff". To add to the fine, my wife caught the flu so when I got home, I did a bit of cleaning up. Loaded the dishwasher and picked up the garbage which involved going up the stairs a few times. And that was all it took to get me puffing and sweating. Uggh...
Well, that was an eventful few days. I was just diagnosed with aortic stenosis last Friday. I'd been feeling really rough for a few weeks, and was glad to ...Read more
Well, that was an eventful few days. I was just diagnosed with aortic stenosis last Friday. I'd been feeling really rough for a few weeks, and was glad to get things identified. Still had to get a cardiologist though.
This past Wednesday night, I had a long luxury bath, and had just gotten ready for bed. All of a sudden, I had a really bad pain in my chest. I try thought "that really hurts" -and the next thing I know, I was hearing my wife talking to 911. EMS, fire dept, police all showed up and it was off to the hospital.
It turned out that the celebrex I had been on had burned a hole in my stomach. 4 units of blood later, my bp went from 90/55 to something more normal, haemo went from 54 to 91, and heart rate went back down to a modest 90 bpm.
The cardiologist at the hospital took on the heart side of things. The first consult was a general one, but then 15 minutes after that, he got the records of all my tests from my GP, and I had another consult. This time the conversation tree ion was far more direct: Surgery asap , giving some time to completely heal the stomach and fix the blood chemistry up, then angiogram and surgery. Forbidden from driving shoveling snow, lifting things , work etc.
Apparently the aortic valve opening is some sized, so surgery is to be done swiftly.
Well, that one way to get a cardiologist quickly..but not recommended!
Hope to be going home tomorrow for a few weeks and then. In for surgery. Any advice for preparation for this surgery?
Chris
Tammy Pilcher Wow Chris, you have had some eventful days! Prayers and best wishes for your healing now and your su ... Read more
Tammy Pilcher Wow Chris, you have had some eventful days! Prayers and best wishes for your healing now and your surgery!
Meredith Bray Holy mackerel! Boxer shorts & your own toothbrush for the hospital, maybe some chapstick, everything ... Read more
Meredith Bray Holy mackerel! Boxer shorts & your own toothbrush for the hospital, maybe some chapstick, everything else should be supplied for you. Spend some time in the kitchen now, making freezer food. While you're in the kitchen, pay attention to how much activity you do with your elbows away from your body. *Those* are the activities you will not be able to do for the first few weeks. Like pulling something heavy out of the fridge, or reaching for something on the top or bottom shelf. Make yourself a "recovery corner" in the living room/family room. A comfortable place to rest, a recliner or comfortable couch. Maybe a rolling cart that can hold iPad/tablet/laptop, charger, phone, snacks and drinks etc. Netflix! I planned to read during my recovery, but I dozed off so easily and I never had the energy to hold up a book.
You'll get loads of suggestions, I'm sure!
-Meredith
Jim Kelly-Evans Once you get a surgery date, rent a medical power recliner for after your discharge since you may hav ... Read more
Jim Kelly-Evans Once you get a surgery date, rent a medical power recliner for after your discharge since you may have difficulty sleeping in bed for a while. Make lots of notes and do some research so that you know what questions to ask your cardio and surgeon. Post here often! Best wishes.
Kimberly Biddick Best wishes to you Chris. The good news is, soon you will have this behind you and will be feeling s ... Read more
Kimberly Biddick Best wishes to you Chris. The good news is, soon you will have this behind you and will be feeling so much better. We're all rooting for you. Keep us posted and I hope you heal up very soon!!
Yeah - I just got my cardiologist. It turns out that she did her fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic. Her name is Jenny Wu, and I hope to meet with her soon... ...Read more
Yeah - I just got my cardiologist. It turns out that she did her fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic. Her name is Jenny Wu, and I hope to meet with her soon...
Chris Engel And glad to say, no time wasted: I've got an appointment for February 4..
Edith Dim It sounds like you made a very good choice.
Well, I was just told that I've got aortic stenosis. We knew that my aortic valve was bicuspid, and that there was a heart murmur, but the progression from ...Read more
Well, I was just told that I've got aortic stenosis. We knew that my aortic valve was bicuspid, and that there was a heart murmur, but the progression from last March to last week was fast: asymptomatic last March, a few symptoms last August, then nothing, and then symptoms again this week. No marathons for me! (or home renovations .. :) )
Chris Engel I still have to wrap my brain around this, though...
Bob M I pray that your doctors will select the right journey for your heart health.
Edith Dim I know exactly how you feel, Chris. My murmur is so loud that it can be heard with the stethoscope b ... Read more
Edith Dim I know exactly how you feel, Chris. My murmur is so loud that it can be heard with the stethoscope being held a little away from chest. That is is the severe aortic stenosis. Mine went from moderate to low severe, and Ina matter of months to severe. We have to be strong, and pray for the best outcome.
Peter Duplin My friend sandra has a murmur that the dr called impressive I think it was the wrong adjective to use ... Read more
Peter Duplin My friend sandra has a murmur that the dr called impressive I think it was the wrong adjective to use
Jim Kelly-Evans Welcome, Chris, from another proud bicuspid valve owner at least for another few weeks :) Keep postin ... Read more
Jim Kelly-Evans Welcome, Chris, from another proud bicuspid valve owner at least for another few weeks :) Keep posting and let us know what your docs say. Best wishes!
Meredith Bray Hi Chris, I knew I was bicuspid with a murmur for about 10 years, then deteriorated in the span of ab ... Read more
Meredith Bray Hi Chris, I knew I was bicuspid with a murmur for about 10 years, then deteriorated in the span of about 18 months. 11 months post-op I have a tick instead of a murmur, and (if I wanted to, which i DON'T), I could do a marathon or home renovations. In March 2013 my AVA was 1.1 cm2. In August 2013 I was down to 8.7, and January 2014 I was 7.9. The symptoms really made themselves known around Thanksgiving 2013, and by surgery time I was struggling to stay awake for my drive home from an 8 hour work day. Now I'm struggling to stay awake for the drive home from a 14 hour work day, and happy to have the energy to work for 14 hours a day!
Chris Engel Thanks folks! I've been doing some reading around, and have seen that ubiquinol has helped some peo ... Read more
Chris Engel Thanks folks! I've been doing some reading around, and have seen that ubiquinol has helped some people temporarily with the lack-of-energy issues. I may give that a try today. I hope that the surgery can be quickly arranged though - the mortality stats for this are scary!
Meredith Bray Ah, but the mortality rates for the surgery are outstanding!
Chris Engel So I'm wondering here, given that I don't have a cardiologist yet or surgeon to point out what to exp ... Read more
Chris Engel So I'm wondering here, given that I don't have a cardiologist yet or surgeon to point out what to expect until things get better (surgery), what symptoms would be "average" symptoms, and what symptoms would be "get to the emerg NOW" type of symptoms? Right now, a shopping trip is rough, it feels like I get lightheaded. Occasionally, I get some chest pain that could be the heart, or it could be acid reflux (which I'm prone to). Once I sit down and relax, things feel fine though...
Meredith Bray My main symptom was fatigue. I wasn't sleepy, but boy oh boy was I tired. I would get winded walkin ... Read more
Meredith Bray My main symptom was fatigue. I wasn't sleepy, but boy oh boy was I tired. I would get winded walking across a parking lot at a "normal" pace. I learned to slow down - I really wasn't in a hurry to get anywhere. I would imagine the classic heart symptoms - difficulty breathing, chest pain, and fainting would be really good reasons to get to the ER. Everyone's situation is different though. You'll get a much better understanding of it after talking with a cardiologist and a surgeon (although they will each have their own opinions and viewpoints!).
Chris Engel Thanks, Meredith . The "getting winded" part I've now tested out. A walk through the grocery store ... Read more
Chris Engel Thanks, Meredith . The "getting winded" part I've now tested out. A walk through the grocery store yesterday was a bit of a challenge. The fatigue part I know too. Chest pain? I can't tell, could be acid reflux but I'm thinking maybe not. My heart seemed to skip a few beats this morning, so that's got me concerned. I'll call my doctor and ask about that..