Craig's Journal

Craig Cole  Ps- to those who may be curious, I did opt for the Edwards Ispiris Risilia bioprothetic valve. It seemed to offer the best combination of durability and longevity that I was looking for without the necessity of blood thinners. Unfortunately not necessarily a permanent solution but may provide some future options down the road. Hardest decision I had to make and I urge anyone considering this surgery to research and ask questions. There is a wealth of good (and sometimes overwhelming) information out there.

Deena Elani  Congratszzzzz and welcome to recovery, Craig! It's the best feeling ever to know that the surgery is over with and that your life has been extended successfully.

Lynn Loudermilk  Craig I also have that valve and yes it seemed to be the best choice so that I wouldnt' have to be on blood thinnners, it can also have a valve in valve if needed with TAVR.

Tom Everson  You hit the nail on the head with your comment about the JOY of going to the bathroom without setting off alarms. That was a big highlight for me. I also have your valve ( 9 mos ago) At night I can feel the strong steady beat ( a good reminder of what we accomplished)

Cheryl Mann  Congratulations and welcome to recovery Craig! Sounds like you are doing well. You will become accustomed to the new heartbeat in time. Keep up the great work!

Adam Pick  Go Craig! Go! Great job finding Dr. Svensson!!! https://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/surgeons/dr-Lars-Svensson-Cleveland-Ohio.php

Herb Greenberg  Congrats. Dr. Svensson did mine over a year ago. That scar will fade and pretty soon you won't know anything had been tinkered with on the inside! Enjoy recovery.

Ana Brusso  Yay Craig, so great to hear you are recovering well and soon will be home. God bless you and continued good health.

Natalie Galpern  Congrats, Craig! I had the same surgery with the same valve with the same surgeon in 2018 at age 45 and doing great. Wishing you a speedy recovery 😊

Marshall Rader  On-X mechanical valve !! I'm a 60 year old veteran !! Physically fit and don't care in thinking of reopening at an older age !!

Michael Morrison  Being younger (48) I really didn’t want to be on blood thinners for the rest of my life, but the biggest fear was being able to hear the click of the mechanical valve and it driving me bonkers (I have misophonia and repetitive sounds literally trigger an anger response). For this reason alone my surgeon recommended going with tissue. It also made the decision a little easier in that by the time a tissue valve fails, the chances that it can be repaired with TAVR by then (they already can now) will be even greater

David Moore  When my 62 year old husband was diagnosed with needing a new valve and quickly, I searched this site and found a woman who had done research and suggested the Edwards Inspiris Resilia Valve. It's fairly "new" but built to last longer than previous models and pre-planned for TAVR replacement in 20-25 years - depending. No blood thinners, other than aspirin therapy, and no clicking noise. He went with that. Here is a link to the website. Hope it helps. Prayers for your successful outcome. - Cheryl
https://www.edwards.com/devices/heart-valves/inspiris-resilia

Marie Myers  I was 63 and active at the time of my AVR and aortic aneurysm resection. Valve choice was the hardest decision of my life, and I went back and forth many times. I decided on a tissue valve, mainly to avoid Coumadin. Only time will tell if I chose wisely.

Marshall Rader  I'm physically active 60 years old too. My choice will be the OnX. A friend of mine has the St Jude in him 20 years now. He told me once you get stabilized on coumadin which is not long after surgery. He also told me that he eats whatever he wants as long as he has a vegetable during supper time, and in a 20 years he's taking the same dosage every night. He checks at home his INR level and it's been stable for the last 20 years. He does whatever he wants like snowmobiling baseball etc and not thinking twice about bleeding.

Craig Cole  Hi all! Thanks for the quick feedback and perspective. 60 years old seems to be that murky middle... + or -10 years and its kind of an easier decision which way to go. For me its a two horse race: CryoLife/OnX or the Edwards Inspiris Resilia. In the end, regardless of which way I go, hopefully I will look as healthy & happy as all those folks in their marketing materials!

Quick question for those who opted for the mechanical route. OnX speaks to their lifetime valve durability and potential for lower INR requirements. However they don't say much about possible valve noise. Any thoughts/experiences you would be comfortable sharing?

Andrea Doherty  Hubby's surgery is scheduled for Apr. 20. He's 50 and going with OnX. He's also very concerned about the noise. We've searched online but haven't really found any good information about who it will bother or if there's anything to predict who will be louder. I'll be following this for people's thoughts as well.

Marie Myers  I loved having an electric recliner for the month. It allowed me to get up and down easily and without help.I could sleep pretty well in it, also. I bought a wedge for my bed, but did not find it useful. I think renting a hospital bed is probably not necessary for most people.

Herb Greenberg  Craig, you came to the right place for answers. You'll get quite a few. Dr. Svensson did my surgery last March. I had some of the same questions you did about recliners, etc. I even wondered if I should rent one for the hotel room for the period between hospital/home, when I would be staying in the hotel. I specifically mentioned it to Dr. Svensson's nurse, Becky, is a phenomenal resource. You should make sure you pepper her with all of your questions/concerns. She is VERY patient and feel free to mention my name. On the recliner, she had a visceral "don't get one" reaction. I had a 9" full sternotomy and her view was that it's ok to sleep on your side with the help of pillows and that a recliner, esp an electric one, would be a waste of money. She was right. I think the thing that surprised me was how much I could do. I was admittedly in pretty good shape and my core was adequately strong, so I could easily get in and out of regular chairs without a problem – and even maneuver the leg rest of the recliner in the hospital by myself. You look like you are in good shape so you will probably surprise yourself. Caveat: I was in the hospital for 8 days, so by the time I got to the hotel for the remaining two days I was in pretty good shape. Can't say how it would have been if I was released in 5 days. Anyway, everybody has different experiences. Feel free to reach out if you ever want to talk. Dr. Svensson and his entire team are beyond remarkable. You are in exceedingly good hands.

Barbara Wood  I bought a recliner & never used it. I found a wedge with a bunch of pillows I could move around worked fine for me. I transitioned slowly to side sleeping, a little further every night using a body pillow for stability. Like Herb I had no trouble getting in and out, up & down from beds or chairs. Also had a full sternotomy. Very best to you :)!

Thomas Brusstar  My two cents: I had a full sternotomy (MV repair) Tuesday morning and was home for dinner Friday using just Tylenol. I didn’t have any special equipment. The transition from standing to lying down in bed was dramatic at first, but it was ok and I just slept on my back for a few weeks. After a few weeks, I could sleep on my side. My regular armchair was comfy for naps, but I was able to focus and roll using weight to make transitions ok. So I was 54 and not in great shape, and I was fine with no equipment. So my advice is to get it, if it will make you more peaceful; but also feel confident in your own decisions. I suspect if you have a big problem you can get the equipment you need in very short order.

Susan Lynn  Craig - My advice would be to have several options. I used a recliner, wedge, and bunches of pillows. From one day to the next, I didn't know what would work for me. I will say, I ultimately found sleeping in my regular bed with 2 or 3 pillows worked out best after the initial few days at home. My biggest recommendation is sleep whenever it works for you and in whatever increments are comfortable. Don't worry about getting back to a strict sleep schedule - you'll get there when you're ready. Take whatever rest you can get - it's such an important part of recovery. All the best! ❤

David Smith  I rented a hospital bed for a month. It was in my recovery room when I got home. It was pretty comfortable and made it nice to get in and out of bed

Susan Lynn  Craig - I had a leaking mitral valve that was difficult to hear via stethoscope even by one of the surgeons I met, but during a stress echo, the screen lit up like a Christmas tree! Under exertion, I was so breathless because I couldn't get enough oxygenated blood and it was clear that I had pretty significant regurgitation. I was glad I had the test done, but it's definitely your choice. Best of luck to you. ❤

Craig Cole  Hi Susan Lynn - Thx for your perspective! I plan on moving forward with the stress echo. I'm a competitive guy and I look at all these different tests as individual challenges...! :)

Tom Everson  Hi. Every hospital has different rules. Mine in Southern Calif ( August) allowed nothing Until after I was through with the first ICU ( 2 days) Then I had a phone. A long extension cord , 3m post notes/ pencil. Electric shaver toothpaste/ brush. Light Sweatpants. I had a book but never opened it. Time really went fast. Busy walking the halls. If you want a complete list check out the post by Eddie Patton ( posted to Lisa Goombe on 1/9/21. ) That list is very complete Trust the Lord, trust your Heart Team and keep a positive attitude. The process works

Ana Brusso  Hi Craig, first welcome. Love the name of the city you are from”Harmony”. Also thank you for your well wishes for 2021, we wish them right back to you. There is a lot to learn when you start researching valve surgery. It can get confusing and overwhelming. For me the answer came after three consultations and my last one was with the surgeon I chose. Once I met with him and even though it was a very short visit, I knew he was my surgeon and I was going to be in good hands. I had the Bentall procedure and here I am. I hope you find the right answers for you. Be well and keep us updated. Happy 2021!

Craig Cole  Hi folks! Thanks so much for the quick responses! Very helpful as I prep my "go-bag" for my inevitable hospital stay. Nothing booked yet, but definitely in my future. Another surgical consult & tests at Cleveland Clinic next week to see how things are progressing~

Pat Bluemel  I packed light for both of mine for easy escape! Just a back pack with 10 foot long charging cord, basketball shorts, a button down shirt for get out day, razor, toothpaste and deodorant.