Craig's Journal

Rose Madura  I have a tissue valve and am on one aspirin daili (325 mg). Not sure for how long but I assumed for life. Good question for my cardiologist when I go see him in late February.

Gerald Poulton  Tissue valve and low dose or 81mg each day, yes you are supposed to take it every day for life, people with mechanical valves have to be on warfarin for life so no need for a low dose aspirin.

Dee Dowda  I have a tissue valve and on low dose (81 mg/baby) aspirin, but I also had a CABG. Aspirin is good not only for heart attacks but for preventing strokes. As usual (?), the recommendations are based on age, gender, previous heart attacks, etc. Only your doctor can decide but I, personally, would research the regimen and ask your doctor questions. You are your best health advocate.

Adam Pick  I have a tissue valve (homograft) and no coronary artery disease. My doctors have yet to recommend a low does aspirin. I'll ask about this.

Marie Myers  I had Tissue AVR, ascending aneurysm and root in March and I take a baby ASA daily.Age may have something to do with the decision, as well as other medical history.

Craig Wise  Thx so much everyone. A low-dose (81 mg) “baby” aspirin for tissue valves seems very common - perhaps even a standard protocol.
I wish steady healing and sustained health to us all. Craig

John Dodson  Once my cardiologist confirmed severe aortic stenosis he told me to start taking 81mg aspirin. My AVR is scheduled in two weeks, so good question, I was wondering the same thing and thankful it's the only thing I'm taking.

Aubrey Skelly  I had a tissue replacement, I was told I will be permanently on Asprin unfortunately because of the sever acidity in my stomach, I also have to take another tab to counteract that.

Civita Fahey  Wow.. I'm sorry you have to go through this.. do they have any idea why this happened? I hope you feel better soon..

Marie Myers  I believe Craig said that mega doses of NSAIDs contributed to the non healing. Hoping the plates do the trick. Eat lots of good protein for healing!

Catie B  I'm sad to hear what a difficult, painful ordeal your recovery is, Craig. I hope things ease for you and that you heal well.

Steve Farthing  You could even ask your doc if a TENS unit would help: https://www.verywell.com/electrical-stimulation-for-faster-bone-healing-2549331

Phyllis Petersen  Sorry to hear you're going through so much pain and difficulty. Hopefully, these plates will allow you to go forward with your recovery and the pain will ease soon.

  I am sorry this has been so painful for you. It's like adding insult to injury. I hope your sternum heals and your pain improves.

Joey Hardee  Hate to hear you have to go through this, Craig. Praying for relief and for this to be behind you soon.

  I've been thinking about you and wondering how this surgery went. This surgery sounds very painful with the manipulation of the muscles, etc.. So put yourself first and stay on top of the pain. It WILL get better. Sending you positive thoughts Craig for a smooth and uneventful recovery this time.

Richard King  Hi Craig, sorry to hear about your setback. I hope all goes well from here. Wishing you the best on recovery.

  oh Craig, I'm so sorry you had this happen, it doesn't seem fair, but you will get through this! Stay strong! Sending healing thoughts and prayers. Day by day, you've got this!

Lilly Black  Craig, so sorry to hear! I understand sternum pain and it's awful! this sounds like a rare occurrence, isn't it? this is the first I heard of it. Did they tell you the reason why your sternum had not fused? I used ice packs for sternum pain, and then for several months I used an infrared heat lamp to manage the nerve pain surrounding my sternum. oh by the way, I broke my collar bone in 1989 and it took 8 months to heal! like you, the bones just weren't fusing together :( I wish you good luck and hope in time your sternum will heal!

Catie B  Ohhhhh. I really, really hope this heals quickly and well. And that they manage your pain better, going forward. I'm so sorry you're having to deal with this, Craig.

Jennifer McInerney  Yikes, that sounds awfully painful. I will keep you in my prayers. Hope it heals quickly now you have had this new surgery

Rita Savelis  Oh, Craig...You are moving forward, taking the next steps, but a second surgery and painful recovery is not what you expected or deserved. Just hearing about it makes everyone cringe, and yet you went through it. You are a tough guy even if you feel bad right now. You certainly had more "challenges" than most. I'm sorry you had to go through this. Looking forward to easier times as the weeks/months go by. Take care.

Laura Jacobs  I am so sorry Craig. My heart goes out to you. It makes me hurt just thinking about it. I hope the pain gets manageable soon. In the meantime, take care of yourself.

Amy Steele  I haven't been on the site for awhile and just saw your post about having surgery to fix your sternum. I hope that the pain will subside soon and that your sternum will heal properly this time. I'm very interested in hearing how your recovery goes since this surgery is something that I may face in the next months. You are in my prayers!

Craig Wise  thank you so much for all kind wishes and thoughts. Amy, if you want to call or email, I can discuss. Might be better to wait several weeks, as I am in a very hard place; the bleakest physically and mentally since beginning this process in March.

  Oh, I can not imagine how painful that must be. I am so sorry. I do hope you heal quickly and have reduced pain. I hope this does the trick

Juergen Li  Craig I wish you all the best and also a speedy recovery. I hope you will experience the benefits of this better "craftsmenship" used for this repair. Would be great to hear back from you. Juergen

Kelley Turnbull  Sending you strength with the power of prayer that you are healed. Hopefully the doctors magical hands are guided with a soft touch.

Judy Stokes  Don't lose your spirit! God will give you the strength to get through this bump in the road. Stay positive.

Jill Krajnovich  Tuesday is the day I am having surgery too! I don't want to do it the first time so I can certainly understand why you don't want to do it again. Hope all goes as planned and we can put this experience behind us!

Kathy Blank  Prayers the second surgery solves the problem with the eternal non union. So sorry you have to go through this Craig!

Rita Savelis  Unhappy is probably an understatement of all that you are feeling. Your experience is hard and I feel for you. You are moving forward and taking the next steps, and this setback will be solved. Lots of compassion and hugs to you...

Rose Madura  I'm sorry you have to go through a second surgery. Hopefully this will take care of things. Keep us posted.

Steve Fowler  Best of luck to you. Sorry for your setback, but sounds like they will get it fixed. Prayers for your quick recovery.

Catie B  My heart goes out to you. I hope this procedure will stabilize your sternum completely. Much success!

Darlene Smith  Oh boy, that is certainly disappointing!! Sounds very painful. Wishing you the best and that this surgery will be your last!

Rose Madura  So very sorry to hear this Craig. I'm just curious what your surgeon had to say was the possible cause?

Craig Wise  Rose, surgeon can't explain. Says it's so rare, he and his colleagues only see a few cases per year.

  That's awful. So sorry to hear.
I broke my sternum in an mva once but no plates. I do have plate and screws in my arm. Hopefully it heals and they can be removed. Keep us posted please

  Craig, Sorry to hear you are going through this, im sure this fix will definitely be a successful fix! When will they do this?
Cindy

Juergen Li  I had plates installed right after my AVR OP a year ago - something that my surgeon was doing on a routine basis. I think this is much better aince it avoids a lot of pain (due to movements in the sternum tied together just wth wires). I needed heavy pain meds for one day, then switched to Tylenol. Was back to work after 2.5 weeks and did my first 30 mile bike ride after 6 weeks. I hope you will have a similar experience. I am at a loss why the cardiac surgeons ar still deploying a 60 year old technique...

Jill Krajnovich  So very sorry to hear, Craig! Hopefully, you will have the same outcome as Juergen Li and can move on with your recovery. I will continue to pray for you!

Craig Wise  Juergen, I agree with your assessment. Plates seem much better. Your recovery is rocking along. And, since I only had AVR, I really wish my surgeon had done the limited sternectomy or arrowhead cut, as you describe. I believe for the right patient and procedure (aortic generally), that it is clearly the superior method.

Craig Wise  Rose, I have not been given anything conclusive as to why my sternum did not heal or re-fuse. It is a relatively rare outcome. I had a strong feeling something was wrong at the three and certainly, four-week point post op, because my chest pain simply never reduced. Every time I tried to reduce and wean myself from pain meds, the pain became debilitating. The "known" risk factors for sternal non-union are (per the research literature): diabetes, severe obesity, smoking, steroid use, and in some cases, use of NSAIDs like ibuprofen. Remarkably, I was discharged from hospital with mega doses of ibuprofen, which I took for weeks. When pain never resolved, my surgeon was so "opioid averse", that he increased my NSAID dosages. I believe this is what kept my sternum from healing. NSAIDs specifically impede the enzyme pathway that stimulates the healing and bone growth process (as well as other prostaglidans). It's all over the internet. Sadly, when I informed my surgeon of this, he apologized, and said he was unaware.

Jennifer McInerney  Im so sorry you are experiencing this. I have no useful information for you, just will keep you in my prayers and hope this can be resolved

Jill Krajnovich  So sorry, Craig! Please keep us updated after your CT scan and surgeon appointment. I pray that there is a simple solution for you to fix this!

Eric Linnenburger  So sorry this has happened, Craig. It must be so disheartening. Hopefully there is a simple fix and you'll be back on the road to recovery in no time.

Laura Jacobs  Oh no!!! Please keep us up to date. In the meantime we will be thinking of you and hoping for the best.

Cathleen DeWitt  Yikes...no fun. I recall that you had some issues with pain management post-op so maybe this is a continuation of something that was already happening. Hopefully they will find the source and it will be fixable. ❤️

Craig Wise  I am just so grateful for everyone's words of encouragement and hope. thank you. My pain and worry feel much less burdensome; just hearing from all of you. Yes, Cathleen, I have had continuing pain (and pain meds) which made me feel guilty and baffled me. But, yes, maybe after CT scan Wednesday I'll understand why.

Rita Savelis  Oh, Craig, do not apologise for "tough" news. It's all tough! So sorry to hear that you have to go through more...
Wishing you the best.

Amy Steele  Craig, I had aortic valve/root replacement and aortic aneurysm repair a little over 9 months ago and was diagnosed with sternal non-union in April. I have felt movement and popping from the beginning, and ended up having increasing sternal pain around 4 months post surgery. A CT scan showed that my sternum is entirely separated and it did not knit together at all. My surgeon isn't quick to jump back to more surgery to fix the problem, however. It's a pretty big surgery and requires another 6-8 weeks of healing like the first one. I still have dull pain most of the time and sharper pain if I move the wrong way. Since the sternal wires are holding, I just go about my daily activities and view the discomfort and mild pain as my new normal. I see my surgeon again in a month and will discuss the path forward at that time. I hope your sternum wires are still intact and that your sternum will heal on its own!

Craig Wise  thank you Amy. I'm sorry that your journey still involves this. I fear your description fits me; and I feel depressed that another surgery (with speculative results, and high risks) will be the response. I may like to email you directly.

Laura Jacobs  I hope you find an acceptable solution that works for you as well Amy. I feel so bad for both you and Craig. Best wishes to you both!

Craig Wise  Amy, I tried to send you a direct message, but not sure I was successful. I am very discouraged and worried, and I was hoping to speak with others (like you, perhaps) who might be able to help me understand sternum problems, etc. If you are able to direct message me, I could send my email or cell number to you. Best Regards, Craig

Catie B  I did a search on that site and found an article that would cost $20 to view. Not sure whether it's the same one you read.

Craig Wise  Hi Catie; yes, I may have paid for it. I can't recall. It didn't provide me with any "going forward" guidance regarding extending the life of tissue valves. However, I am still going to search around and seek some input.

Catie B  Hope you find something helpful! I've never heard anything definitive to date, as far as extending...

Marie Myers  Wish I knew. Only idea I have is: if tissue valves last longer in the elderly than in young patients, I am guessing that the more "wear and tear" of a younger more active lifestyle may take a toll. Got to find that sweet spot of just enough activity...

Juergen Li  Craig - as far as I know a mechanical valve is not subject to wear and tear or calcification but we all are advised to follow a heart healthy lifestyle of adequate physical activity and nutrition.

Rita Savelis  Hi Craig, I understand your need/desire to do the right things and control what happens with your valve. But that is out of our control. As is so much else.
Sending you positive thoughts and wishes for peace.

Rita Savelis  Pain really varies and can't be compared. I'm sorry that you have to go through this, but only you know how your particular pain feels. Here's hoping you improve soon. Take care.

Marie Myers  Have you asked your surgeon about this? He may be able to shed some light on the amount of pain you are having.

Linda Richards  My doctor only did 2 things for Oxy. I'm glad. i just took this stuff at night. I had minimal invasive. My first cardiologist was a NUT, but he gave me Ambian ... I just wanted to sleep at night. Pain during the day was OK ... you just have to deal with it.