I read that heart surgery can cause hair loss. Did any of you go through that? Did it get better over time? Did you take any supplements?
Robert Miller My wife claims that the thin hair on top of my head got thicker/more dense. Before the surgery, I use ... Read more
Robert Miller My wife claims that the thin hair on top of my head got thicker/more dense. Before the surgery, I used to take supplements from Costco that supposedly help with hair but it didn't do anything. But to answer your question, no, I did not experience hair loss after surgery. Other people might have different experiences.
Yumiko Ishida I lost hair but it’s not specific to heart surgery. I lost a lot of hair after other procedures. Wh ... Read more
Yumiko Ishida I lost hair but it’s not specific to heart surgery. I lost a lot of hair after other procedures. When it happened the first time my doctor checked my B12 and iron level. B12 was fine but iron was low, so he prescribed iron. He did not prescribe but suggested biotin, too, so I took biotin, too. It takes a while but it does come back.
Richard Munson Thats it robert, i just signed up for ohs. My heart is fine but i am getting a bald spot. Adam can ha ... Read more
Richard Munson Thats it robert, i just signed up for ohs. My heart is fine but i am getting a bald spot. Adam can have a hair care for men ad on his site.
Rita Savelis Some meds give you hair loss, usually temporary. Mention it to yr doctor or dermatologist. Sorry you ... Read more
Rita Savelis Some meds give you hair loss, usually temporary. Mention it to yr doctor or dermatologist. Sorry you are going through this, but yes it can happen. Supplements don't usually help but people believe in them so can feel better taking them.
Valerie Allen I remember one woman on here who had significant hair loss after surgery. Yes it took some time but i ... Read more
Valerie Allen I remember one woman on here who had significant hair loss after surgery. Yes it took some time but it grew back. Hair loss can be a reaction of the body to trauma. I had hair loss after another severe illness but not after heart surgery. It grew back.
For those who have a mechanical valve, is there any food you don't eat? Can you always eat the same dose? How do you dose? Does it get easier over time?
Richard Munson I have read your recent posts with interest probably because you are from portugal and i was born and ... Read more
Richard Munson I have read your recent posts with interest probably because you are from portugal and i was born and raised in new bedford, massachusetts which at one time had a huge Portuguese population, and still does. As a young man, all my friends parents spoke your language. Many could not speak english at all which always seemed like such a huge disadvantage in life. Its good to see you ask a lot of questions on this site due to the many experiences we have all had after heart valve surgery. One thing to keep in mind is that we all have different bodies and our surgeries are not all identical because of that. That also is true when it comes to recovery . Some faster than others, some different than others. So just because richard was in the hospital 5 days does not mean you will also be there 5 days, etc. my biggest issue once getting home was taking a shower. That might not be true for you or someone else. Keep asking questions however as that is how you reach your final destination. The bottom line is you probably need the surgery or you would not be here, so no matter what the recovery timeline is, you will lead a better life after you have it.
Cátia Ribeiro Thank you very much for your words. Sorry if my English isn't the best. all the best for you :)
Richard Munson Your english is fine. Probably better than mine and i was born here. I will follow your journey close ... Read more
Richard Munson Your english is fine. Probably better than mine and i was born here. I will follow your journey closely as you get nearer your surgery. Keep asking questions. We are on i think different ends of the age cycle, you sound very young, i am over 80 and had my surgery at 79 but our hearts beat the same.
Cátia Ribeiro Thank you very much for your kind words. I'm 33 years old. I really appreciate this website for b... Read more
Cátia Ribeiro Thank you very much for your kind words. I'm 33 years old. I really appreciate this website for being able to answer my questions. Keep me more calm knowing that I'm not the only one going through this, and knowing that people can overcome it and return to your life.
Richard Munson You will be fine as long as you don’t consider that everyones experiences will be exactly what your ... Read more
Richard Munson You will be fine as long as you don’t consider that everyones experiences will be exactly what yours will be like. A big part of my recovery other than my wonderful wife of course was the love and devotion i received from my dog cassie. She stayed by my side once i returned home like glue. That does not mean you should run out and get a dog. You might notice on my hvs site picture, me in bed on my first day home from the hospital and my girl with her head on my coughing pillow.
Trygve Harris Hi Cátia I think you need to take coudamin with the mechanical valve? Generally they tell you to limit your greens (Vit K--including broccoli and asparagus) and that you can eat them, just not much, or that you have to "be consistent" with eating and match the same amount of the drug to the greens to manage you INR.... I found it very difficult, and actually couldn't manage it, as I'm vegetarian/pescatarian and trying to lose steroid weight from chemo and I eat a lot of greens. I also do not have a mechanical valve
So I went back on eliquis. I don't know if it's as effective for me but the dietary thing was huge for me. Some people find it ok, and it also I think it differs with your body. Mine was never good on warfarin, aside from the food issue. If you are concerned then maybe think about what you eat, and if you have strong habits and if this is something you can manage, if you have a choice about it. But again, the food is not an issue for everyone. I'd ask as many people as possible.
Trygve Harris Hi Cátia I think you need to take coudamin with the mechanical valve? Generally they tell you to limit your greens (Vit K--including broccoli and asparagus) and that you can eat them, just not much, or that you have to "be consistent" with eating and match the same amount of the drug to the greens to manage you INR.... I found it very difficult, and actually couldn't manage it, as I'm vegetarian/pescatarian and trying to lose steroid weight from chemo and I eat a lot of greens. I also do not have a mechanical valve
So I went back on eliquis. I don't know if it's as effective for me but the dietary thing was huge for me. Some people find it ok, and it also I think it differs with your body. Mine was never good on warfarin, aside from the food issue. If you are concerned then maybe think about what you eat, and if you have strong habits and if this is something you can manage, if you have a choice about it. But again, the food is not an issue for everyone. I'd ask as many people as possible.
Hope this helps
Rita Savelis I have never changed my diet during my 9 years on coumadin. There is nothing I don't eat. Everything ... Read more
Rita Savelis I have never changed my diet during my 9 years on coumadin. There is nothing I don't eat. Everything in moderation. I eat lots of green vegetables. Most current medical advice is to eat what you like and adapt your meds to it rather than the other way round.
Yumiko Ishida I echo Trygve and Rita’s comments. You can eat whatever you want and your doctor or nurse will adju ... Read more
Yumiko Ishida I echo Trygve and Rita’s comments. You can eat whatever you want and your doctor or nurse will adjust the warfarin dose. Once you get used to it, you would be able to adjust it yourself. My coumadin clinic nurse told me they only had to ask a patient to modify their eating/drinking habits once, when someone was drinking multiple 32 oz cups of iced green tea a day. So yes, everything in moderation… Consistency is key. I found it helpful to track what I was eating. The most random food or beverage will affect your INR level.
Cátia Ribeiro Thank you very much for your help. You are amazing! Do you follow any eating plan or do you eat wi ... Read more
Cátia Ribeiro Thank you very much for your help. You are amazing! Do you follow any eating plan or do you eat without worrying too much, even if you are careful? It seems like something that gets easier over time. I like to eat vegetables, I never eat a dish of spinach, for example, but I always eat soup and lettuce, but almost always in similar quantities. It may not be a problem. Do vegetables make INR lower?
Luke Taylor You don’t have to change your diet but being consistent with leafy green servings week to week is i ... Read more
Luke Taylor You don’t have to change your diet but being consistent with leafy green servings week to week is important. I have an at home test and check my INR weekly and I have been at the same dose of warfarin several months now. The cardiologist’s office manages your dose.
Rita Savelis I eat without worrying. But I worried my first year because everyone makes you worried for no valid r ... Read more
Rita Savelis I eat without worrying. But I worried my first year because everyone makes you worried for no valid reason. Eventually I relaxed and now it's been 9 years. INR will go up and down. That's what it does. Everyday, all the time. It is not static. It will change for reasons that are not explainable. And then it will go back to where it was. At some point one relaxes about that. It takes some bodies longer to get used to, but at some point you will know how your body reacts on INR and it may be high or it may be low but you will be okay. None of this is easy, but do not overthink it. That said, I do wish that a young body like yours (age 33?) did not have to have heart surgery so young and did not have to be on any meds. Know that you are different than most people on this site and I feel for you. There is no perfect solution.
Good morning Who has a mechanical valve, how does your valve sound? Do other people listen? I would really appreciate it if you could help me. Thanks
KD Singh I was able to hear mine initially after the first few months after surgery and now I barely hear it a ... Read more
KD Singh I was able to hear mine initially after the first few months after surgery and now I barely hear it at all. It usually apundes like a clock ticking...
Who has a mechanical valve, what is our INR and what is the valve model?
Do you bruise easily?
Thanks to anyone who can help
Rita Savelis I have 2 mechanical valves. My target INR is 2.5 to 3.5 . This is in the high range, but it's because ... Read more
Rita Savelis I have 2 mechanical valves. My target INR is 2.5 to 3.5 . This is in the high range, but it's because the mitral valve is involved. My valves are Italian-made (Sorin bicarbon fitline) and not marketed to the general public, but to cardiac surgeons. I get bruises, but I think that bruising easily also comes with age (I'm 62).
Cátia Ribeiro But do you get bruises without being hit? Do they only appear? Thank you Rita :)
Rita Savelis I rarely hear my valves. At the beginning I would hear them if it was very very very quiet, but now h ... Read more
Rita Savelis I rarely hear my valves. At the beginning I would hear them if it was very very very quiet, but now hardly ever. I don't get bruises unless I bump into something.
Rita Savelis Yes. I think some are bothered more than others. And even with tissue valves one is often more aware ... Read more
Rita Savelis Yes. I think some are bothered more than others. And even with tissue valves one is often more aware of the loud pounding of one's heart. (I'm not promoting mechanical valves, Cátia, I'm just saying that their sound never bothered me.)
Has anyone had a mini sternotomy? How much recovery time? What is the biggest challenge?
J Alexander Lassally From what I've heard, it is basically the same procedure as full sternotomy. Just less cosmetic impac ... Read more
J Alexander Lassally From what I've heard, it is basically the same procedure as full sternotomy. Just less cosmetic impact. They stretch things further... There are no shortcuts here!
Nancy Bukowski Hi Catia, I had a mini sternotomy about five weeks ago (AVR). Was in the hospital for four days. Re ... Read more
Nancy Bukowski Hi Catia, I had a mini sternotomy about five weeks ago (AVR). Was in the hospital for four days. Recovery is slow and steady. The right side of my chest is still sore, but other than that I am doing well and continuing to walk each day. I have a follow-up appt with my surgeon on 7/15 and hoping to start cardio rehab after that. The biggest challenge for me was the fatigue and tiredness. That seems to be getting better now and I feel like I have more energy.
J Alexander Lassally Cátia - I don't think so... Most nurses told me it is the same when I asked last year.
Suelynn Hanegraaf I’ve had both - mini the first time (13 yrs ago) at age 54 and a full sternectomy the second time ( ... Read more
Suelynn Hanegraaf I’ve had both - mini the first time (13 yrs ago) at age 54 and a full sternectomy the second time (SAVR “redo”) in April 2024. In 2011, I was in the hospital for 5 days; in 2024 - 10 days but from developing a-fib. The incision from the full sternectomy is definitely “more” - experienced long-lasting aches in shoulder and in upper back/neck, lifting restrictions (needed my husband to help me with showering and dressing for a couple of weeks), driving was delayed until my neck and shoulder/arm pain was tolerable to be able to turn my head and the steering wheel, and it was weeks before being able to sleep on my side. My PT said my aches were from the full sternectomy and my age. 12 weeks post op - happy to report that I am 90% back.
Anna Ma I had mini, I don’t think there’s much difference in terms of recovery time. I actually heard min ... Read more
Anna Ma I had mini, I don’t think there’s much difference in terms of recovery time. I actually heard mini is more painful which I experienced for the first few weeks. But on the other hand, I feel the small incision site is healing nicely, I feel I have less area to worry about?
Cátia Ribeiro What was the doctor's prediction for mini sternotomy recovery?
Sue Maize Apparently mine was a median sternotomy, so not quite a full but bigger than a mini I guess? I’ve e ... Read more
Sue Maize Apparently mine was a median sternotomy, so not quite a full but bigger than a mini I guess? I’ve experienced the exact same outcome as Suelynn, so perhaps an extra inch or two of incision doesn’t affect recovery all that much.
Sue Maize I feel pretty good—it’s still very tender, not the incision so much anymore but there’s a dull ... Read more
Sue Maize I feel pretty good—it’s still very tender, not the incision so much anymore but there’s a dull ache from the bone fusing itself back together. Better each day—I haven’t needed any pain meds except a few Tylenol since leaving the hospital 2 weeks ago, and that was more for my sore neck and shoulders from the surgery.
Anna Ma To me, the discharge information is the same as full sternotomy.
Richard Munson Never feel desperate. Desperation leads to irrational decisions. Heart surgery should be an informed ... Read more
Richard Munson Never feel desperate. Desperation leads to irrational decisions. Heart surgery should be an informed decision. The beauty of this site is that it can help point you in the right direction but the ultimate decision is still up to you and you medical team.
From 1 to 10 how painful is it to have chest tubes removed?
Does it ease afterwards? Do they give medication beforehand?
Marie Myers That was one of the things I was concerned about also. I did not think it was painful, just uncomfort ... Read more
Marie Myers That was one of the things I was concerned about also. I did not think it was painful, just uncomfortable. It was fast, also. The worst part for me was laying flat after the removal. I preferred having my bed in the head up position. Being untethered was great!
Rita Savelis I don't remember it being painful, but each person has their own reaction. Ask for meds if you need t ... Read more
Rita Savelis I don't remember it being painful, but each person has their own reaction. Ask for meds if you need them. Hospitals are good at managing pain.
Grace Mason Hi Catia, For me I would say 0 or 1. I was offered a pain med 1/2 hour before removal. I asked to ... Read more
Grace Mason Hi Catia, For me I would say 0 or 1. I was offered a pain med 1/2 hour before removal. I asked to take 1/2 the pill they offered. It was over before I realized and was definitely more comfortable immediately after chest tube removal. I found the removal of the pacemaker wires more bothersome in the queasy, weird feeling of it.
Darrell Malone Definitely something I thought would hurt. But it didn't hurt as much as is just felt weird. It's pr ... Read more
Darrell Malone Definitely something I thought would hurt. But it didn't hurt as much as is just felt weird. It's pretty quick and easy. No meds were needed for me.
Richard Munson The pain of not having the surgery would be worse.
Rose Madura It wasn't too bad for me. It was great once they were removed.
Marlene Holder No pain for me at all. Felt much better after they were gone!
Daneen Douglas 1! It was weird but not painful. Everything felt better with them removed!
Susan Dunne Chest tubes removed did not cause me any pain only a,slight pulling sensation. I guess it depends on the individual.
Susan Dunne Chest tubes removed did not cause me any pain only a,slight pulling sensation. I guess it depends on the individual.
J Alexander Lassally It is a weird and painful experience but short lived. They usually have you take more pain medication ... Read more
J Alexander Lassally It is a weird and painful experience but short lived. They usually have you take more pain medication at that point so it is not a big deal. Truthfully, the relief from having them out is worth every ounce of the discomfort for the minute or so.
Lynne Anderson Not painful at all, just a weird sensation. And although the tubes didn't bother me when they were in ... Read more
Lynne Anderson Not painful at all, just a weird sensation. And although the tubes didn't bother me when they were in, there was a marked improvement in my recovery once they were out. Removal of the wires (which were near the chest tubes) was the worst. Not painful but an EXTREMELY weird sensation as you can feel the wires moving all the way down your chest like a worm or a snake.
Larry Peterson Not particulary painful for me. Just a quick pull inside your chest cavity that feels pretty strange ... Read more
Larry Peterson Not particulary painful for me. Just a quick pull inside your chest cavity that feels pretty strange.
I intend to have a biological valve to have children and then have a mechanical one because it's more definitive and because I know that ...Read more
Good morning
I intend to have a biological valve to have children and then have a mechanical one because it's more definitive and because I know that you cannot have a lof of reoperations Do you consider that average life expectancy is decreasing? I'm 33 years old
Thank you
Adam Pick Hi, I don’t have a specific answer to your question but here is some excellent information that mig ... Read more
https://www.Heart-Valve-Surgery.com - There are several myths about pregnancy and heart valve disease. While some patients believe they cannot get pregnant ...
Robert Miller I am not quite sure what you mean with the average life expectancy decreasing. You mean your life exp ... Read more
Robert Miller I am not quite sure what you mean with the average life expectancy decreasing. You mean your life expectancy decreasing by having a mechanical valve from the beginning rather than later? I have no idea how a mechanical valve affects giving birth. You might want to check with your surgeon. But purely based on your age, I would go for a mechanical valve. Having said that, was a repair already excluded? In my case they tried to repair it first and only if after the repair didn't work (checked during surgery), they would do a replacement.
Good morning Did you feel a lot of pain after surgery? I'm very scared.
Thank you to this incredible group for everything
Grace Mason Hi Catia, It is totally understandable to be fearful of this surgery. Like you, I was also very a ... Read more
Grace Mason Hi Catia, It is totally understandable to be fearful of this surgery. Like you, I was also very afraid of the pain. The good news is, I didn't feel pain after surgery. Once the sedation wore off, it felt like a small, but heavy, child was sitting on my chest. The discomfort I felt most was a sore throat and discomfort in shoulders and back, and eventually the drain tube which came out not long after I really noticed it much. Don't wait to ask for pain meds if you need them because being comfortable is important in healing too.
Cátia Ribeiro Thank you so much. I hope i can be okay after a few sweeks.
Marie Myers I was also pleasantly surprised by experiencing little pain. I would say I was more “generally unco ... Read more
Marie Myers I was also pleasantly surprised by experiencing little pain. I would say I was more “generally uncomfortable” and very tired. My sternum didn’t hurt, but my back and shoulders ached like I needed a massage. The shoulder and neck aches bothered me more than my sternum. I started cardiac rehab in 3 weeks, and went back to work part time in 8 weeks. Overall, it was an easier experience than I expected. Hope you find the same thing ! My surgery was in 2017, and i had an aortic valve replacement and 2 aneurysms repaired.
Thank you so much for your answer Which valve did you choose?
Richard Munson I know its not politically correct to admit you had any pain but the reality in my case is that i had ... Read more
Richard Munson I know its not politically correct to admit you had any pain but the reality in my case is that i had some. But i was provided meds to get beyond it. There are so many variables to heart surgery like what kind, who did it, where they did it, how they did it etc its pretty difficult to predict pain or no pain from person to person. I prepared myself for wicked pain and it was less than i expected but never the less, i had some. In my case it was while changing positions mostly. Plus some folks just deal with pain better than others i think. My recent prostate biopsy however was more painful than my post heart surgery pain. It was a pain in the butt.
Marie Myers Catia- I chose a tissue valve. I was 63 at the time of my surgery, and am hoping for TAVR next time. ... Read more
Marie Myers Catia- I chose a tissue valve. I was 63 at the time of my surgery, and am hoping for TAVR next time. It was the most difficult decision that I have made.
Maggie Ma Today is my one week anniversary after surgery. After discharge this Tuesday, I only take Tylenol as ... Read more
Maggie Ma Today is my one week anniversary after surgery. After discharge this Tuesday, I only take Tylenol as pain killer and pain is very manageable and not an issue for me
Maggie Ma Marie, it was a very difficult decision on valve option for me as well. I’m 53 years old. Finally I ... Read more
Maggie Ma Marie, it was a very difficult decision on valve option for me as well. I’m 53 years old. Finally I decided to have tissue valve. I don’t want to take Warfarin for the rest of my life. Hopefully next generation of tissue valve with 25+ years will be developed in 10 years.
Rita Savelis Having your sternum cut is not painful (unlike the ribs). The anesthesiologist told me this and it wa ... Read more
Rita Savelis Having your sternum cut is not painful (unlike the ribs). The anesthesiologist told me this and it was true for me (and many others). I felt no pain but I do not have words to describe the incredible exhaustion I felt for weeks afterwards as well as much discomfort. No pain, just much discomfort. Those who feel pain often have it because they were in awkward positions on the surgical table and so have muscle pain. But of course, each person has his own reaction to surgery. I was surprised at the lack of pain. In any case, there are very good meds for pain these days and one should ask for what one needs and be vocal about pain.
Sue Maize Hi Catia, I learned yesterday that it’s very important to manage your pain—don’t try to push th ... Read more
Sue Maize Hi Catia, I learned yesterday that it’s very important to manage your pain—don’t try to push through it because it’s important for you not to have it inhibit your breathing and coughing exercises post surgery.
Thomas Brusstar My pain was manageable with just regular tylenol / acetominophen dose starting 48 hours after the sur ... Read more
Thomas Brusstar My pain was manageable with just regular tylenol / acetominophen dose starting 48 hours after the surgery. I never needed more than that again. Up to that point I was mostly in the ICU, and there the pain came from the drainage tubes going into my abdomen. Once those were removed, it got better fast.
I agree the sternum did not really hurt generally, other than when I was trying to stress it by lifting or pulling or something. They really don't cut muscles much when they cut the sternum, so it doesn't ache.
And DEFINITELY stay ahead of the pain: keep a schedule and don't let the pain get bad. You don't get points in heaven for suffering more every 4 hours!
Cathy Byrne The unexpected was the worst part for me too. My experience was very similar to Marie Myers and Grace ... Read more
Cathy Byrne The unexpected was the worst part for me too. My experience was very similar to Marie Myers and Grace Mason Not nearly as bad as I thought it would be. Mostly uncomfortable. I did take Tylenol and if I missed a dose I knew it. I slept in a recliner for a couple weeks. I started rehab in 5 weeks and was feeling back to normal in about 3 months. I had sternotomy to repair mitral valve in July ‘22
Yumiko Ishida I had pain, but as Rita says, not necessarily in the sternum. Rigid fixation is supposed to reduce pa ... Read more
Yumiko Ishida I had pain, but as Rita says, not necessarily in the sternum. Rigid fixation is supposed to reduce pain. Mine was traditional wire closure.
Yumiko Ishida Richard, I don’t know what you mean by politically correct, but I think it is not helpful to downpl ... Read more
Yumiko Ishida Richard, I don’t know what you mean by politically correct, but I think it is not helpful to downplay the negative aspects of the surgery. We need to know what we are getting into. Pain perception is very individualized, for sure, but it is NORMAL to feel pain after being cracked open in the chest while being contorted. I’ve had worse pain for various reasons before my surgery, for sure, but what I experienced when I had to sneeze after surgery was pretty high up there on the pain scale. At least it was relatively short lived. Little pain? That’s a blessing. No afib? Hallelujah! Hope you are recovering well after your recent pain experience?
Hello
I'm 33 years old, and I'm undecided between a biological or mechanical valve.
I don't have children and I didn't want to rule out that possibility forever. ...Read more
Hello
I'm 33 years old, and I'm undecided between a biological or mechanical valve.
I don't have children and I didn't want to rule out that possibility forever. But they say I'm too young to have a biological valve.
What is your opinion, based on your experience?
Rita Savelis Catia, you are very young to have a biological valve but of course you can have one if you want. And ... Read more
Rita Savelis Catia, you are very young to have a biological valve but of course you can have one if you want. And you can be reoperated in the future after you have had children. You must find a doctor who is ready to work with you and who understands the difficult situation you are in. Not every doctor is ready to do that, but there are also very understanding doctors out there. Sadly women in the heart surgery world who are of childbearing age have much harder choices to make than men do. Please try to find a doctor who understands your situation and is ready to work with you. Take care.
Cátia Ribeiro Thank you. In this age do you know how many years the valve can lady? Thank you
Susan Lynn I posted this link on my journal recently. Hope it's helpful to you. It provides a new option for ... Read more
Susan Lynn I posted this link on my journal recently. Hope it's helpful to you. It provides a new option for young patients who require valve replacements. https://www.facebook.com/100064935241938/posts/pfbid02mjru8KgrLVtV1kppyBk1wM697hBp5QvdKwmi2a68U2byiJzHZ19XYSzC9DUUryEjl/?app=fbl
During #HospitalWeek, we’re celebrating the innovative care our Heart and Vascular team provides to the community. The world's first transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) using the new,...
J Alexander Lassally Two big questions. Do you want to live with daily dietary restrictions and warfarin regiments. And t ... Read more
J Alexander Lassally Two big questions. Do you want to live with daily dietary restrictions and warfarin regiments. And two, what is your appetite for resurgery. Most bio valves last ~10-15 years it seems and from what I am told, the lifetime durability of a mechanical is not guaranteed ... But longer than bio if you stick to regiment. Sadly, no perfect solutions...
Rose Madura I've also heard that vio vales do not last as long in a younger person. Catia, you should have these ... Read more
Rose Madura I've also heard that vio vales do not last as long in a younger person. Catia, you should have these discussions with your cardiologist And surgeon. Also get more than one opinion.
Rita Savelis No one can tell you how long a tissue valve will last but it is known that unfortunately valves last ... Read more
Rita Savelis No one can tell you how long a tissue valve will last but it is known that unfortunately valves last a much shorter time in younger patients (under 50 is young in the cardiac world). A doctor can only give you an average estimated time. Your valve could last a shorter or a longer time. It could be 5 years, it could be 10. You need to have this discussion with a doctor because the issue of having children is an important element for you and some doctors do not have experience with mechanical valves and pregnancy or with young female patients and the choices they need to make as to starting with a tissue valve in order to have a less complicated pregnancy.
Matthew Malooly I'm so sorry, that's such a hard and unfair choice to have to make. I just had surgery at 34, and I was able to find a surgeon that was able to do a repair of my aortic valve. It worked because I didn't have stenosis on my valve so I was in a lucky minority. I went to Mount Sinai in New York, under Dr. El-Hamamsy. He's done thousands of cases, and specializes in repairs/Ross procedures. A lot of the data about Ross procedures came out of Mount Sinai, as well as a lot of new data specifically about the choice between tissue and mechanical in young patients. A lot of surgeons wouldn't even agree to put a biologic valve in someone our age, but we actually decided on that as a preferential option to mechanical in our conversation (over Zoom) based on what he had to say. He was wonderful and compassionate and easy to talk to. I truly believe if you are able to discuss your case with the team there, you'll be able to make a fully informed decision where they won't take options off the table for you if they're possible. Cleveland clinic told me I could ONLY get a mechanical valve. Mount Sinai made a plan that gave me the chance of repair first, followed by Ross, followed by bioprosthetic, followed by mechanical. All four were possible, and they could attempt all of them in surgery that day if something didn't work right, or the findings weren't ideal when they opened me up. So I flew from Wisconsin and got it done, and despite the normal kind of complications after surgery, couldn't be happier with how things went a year and a half later. Please reach out to me if you wanted to talk more! https://profiles.mountsinai.org/ismail-el-hamamsy
Matthew Malooly I'm so sorry, that's such a hard and unfair choice to have to make. I just had surgery at 34, and I was able to find a surgeon that was able to do a repair of my aortic valve. It worked because I didn't have stenosis on my valve so I was in a lucky minority. I went to Mount Sinai in New York, under Dr. El-Hamamsy. He's done thousands of cases, and specializes in repairs/Ross procedures. A lot of the data about Ross procedures came out of Mount Sinai, as well as a lot of new data specifically about the choice between tissue and mechanical in young patients. A lot of surgeons wouldn't even agree to put a biologic valve in someone our age, but we actually decided on that as a preferential option to mechanical in our conversation (over Zoom) based on what he had to say. He was wonderful and compassionate and easy to talk to. I truly believe if you are able to discuss your case with the team there, you'll be able to make a fully informed decision where they won't take options off the table for you if they're possible. Cleveland clinic told me I could ONLY get a mechanical valve. Mount Sinai made a plan that gave me the chance of repair first, followed by Ross, followed by bioprosthetic, followed by mechanical. All four were possible, and they could attempt all of them in surgery that day if something didn't work right, or the findings weren't ideal when they opened me up. So I flew from Wisconsin and got it done, and despite the normal kind of complications after surgery, couldn't be happier with how things went a year and a half later. Please reach out to me if you wanted to talk more! https://profiles.mountsinai.org/ismail-el-hamamsy
Good morning Does anyone have a mechanical valve and have I become pregnant? Should pregnancy be avoided? who operates the mechanical valve, what are ...Read more
Good morning Does anyone have a mechanical valve and have I become pregnant? Should pregnancy be avoided? who operates the mechanical valve, what are the main restrictions? Do they have a "normal" life?
Thank you ❤️
Rita Savelis I'm sorry that you have to go through this so young. Choices are harder for young women. A pregnancy ... Read more
Rita Savelis I'm sorry that you have to go through this so young. Choices are harder for young women. A pregnancy is possible with mechanical valves/anticoagulants but you'd have to find a doctor who is willing to work with you. Some women wait till they have had children before having a valve operation or they start with a tissue valve and are reoperated later. Your doctor should be able to answer your questions. The main restriction with a mechanical valve is that you must take anticoagulants everyday and have a blood test once a month in order to make sure your dose is correct. Take care Càtia.
Cátia Ribeiro Thank you Rita. I really appreciate your answer.
After surgery, were you able to pick up objects? Were you willing to read?
Rita Savelis Yes. One can read. I love reading but felt too tired for many days after surgery. Not too tired to pi ... Read more
Rita Savelis Yes. One can read. I love reading but felt too tired for many days after surgery. Not too tired to pick up a book, but too tired to concentrate and sometimes too tired to open my eyes. In fact, I was exhausted. I felt no pain, but lots of exhaustion!
Cátia Ribeiro And how did you feel psychologically?
Was it open chest surgery?
Valerie Allen I’m a reader too. It took me about 3 weeks to start up again.
Rita Savelis It's a big surgery and you need some time to recover. But everyone is different so it's hard to know ... Read more
Rita Savelis It's a big surgery and you need some time to recover. But everyone is different so it's hard to know beforehand how much recovery time you'll need. Some people have more complex problems than others. You can't predict your recovery time but your doctor can give you an idea as he/she knows you.
Christine Maiorano Yes I agree, it’s a big surgery. I had a full sternotomy and didn’t feel like reading for about 3 ... Read more
Christine Maiorano Yes I agree, it’s a big surgery. I had a full sternotomy and didn’t feel like reading for about 3 weeks. I did enjoy listening to audiobooks!
Grace Mason Yes, picking up things less than 10lbs is ok post sternotomy. I am a big reader but I wasn't real ... Read more
Grace Mason Yes, picking up things less than 10lbs is ok post sternotomy. I am a big reader but I wasn't really able to concentrate or focus on reading a book again for several weeks either. Eventually when things "normalized" I think I able to get back into old routines, like reading. I think it was hard to read because I was learning a new routine of finding a comfortable position, a new and changing schedule of meds for a few weeks, trying to use the spirometer once every hour and people visiting. It wasn't conducive of getting uninterrupted time to get engrossed in a book.
Yumiko Ishida I’m assuming we are talking about sternotomy? There are limits on how much weight you are allowed t ... Read more
Yumiko Ishida I’m assuming we are talking about sternotomy? There are limits on how much weight you are allowed to carry. You are supposed to keep your upper arms close to your body. The restrictions are there so your sternum can heal, and that typically takes about 8 weeks. I limited myself to audiobooks during that period, as it was very hard to hold a book or even my phone up for any length of time. It is also very hard to focus mentally, so I stuck to light reading, often books I’ve already read, so if I dose off I won’t feel the need to rewind.
Robert Miller I assume you have open heart surgery because you ask about weight limits. I don't recall for sure but ... Read more
Robert Miller I assume you have open heart surgery because you ask about weight limits. I don't recall for sure but I think for the first few weeks the limit was 5lb using both your hands and keeping things relatively close to your chest. Then I could increase it to 20lb. After 12 weeks you can do pretty much anything including lifting any deadweights, etc. As for reading, I used to read a lot but these days I just read news and technical stuff. Unless you look at an oversized book with hundreds of thick pages, picking up a book should not be a problem. Staying awake reading it is a different story... Instead of reading and doing computer stuff, I did a lot of walking after surgery.
Teressa Phillips I consume a lot of books through both reading and audio books. I couldn't concentrate enough for eith ... Read more
Teressa Phillips I consume a lot of books through both reading and audio books. I couldn't concentrate enough for either for about 4 weeks. I could handle short 15 minute podcasts. I also couldn't watch tv shows that I had not seen before because I couldn't follow the story. It took about 6 weeks for me to really be able to think and process complex information.
Hello ☺️ I have read that many people, after valve replacement surgery, become depressed. Did the same happen to you?
Susan Lynn Welcome, Catia! Cardiac depression is possible and sadly is not explained as thoroughly as it shou... Read more
Susan Lynn Welcome, Catia! Cardiac depression is possible and sadly is not explained as thoroughly as it should be by most surgeons prior to its onset. But, depression isn't experienced by every cardiac patient. There are different schools of thought about why it happens, but regardless of the cause, patients should seek help as they would for any other post-operative symptom. I had a repair and didn't experience depression, but it's important to be aware that it can happen.
Rose Madura Hi Catia. I did not suffer from depression either. But agree with Susan that if you do, please reac ... Read more
Rose Madura Hi Catia. I did not suffer from depression either. But agree with Susan that if you do, please reach out for help because it is a real deal. There were times in my recovery when I was frustrated. I had a good support system where I could vent when needed.
Rita Savelis Yes, this is true. About 60% of cardiac patients will experience depression. Depression is common in ... Read more
Rita Savelis Yes, this is true. About 60% of cardiac patients will experience depression. Depression is common in the general population as well. Often we make it through the physical part of surgery and those around us are relieved that surgery went well. But surgery is just one part, and there is recovery to go through. And one can feel like a different person after surgery and it can take time to find a new normal. There is pressure to be strong, to present as okay to the world. One's emotions can come out months later. Please let your cardiologist or your general practitioner know if you feel down. Talking to a therapist can help, meds can help. There is still shame around feeling depressed so it can be hard. But talking about it is a start. I went through a depression after cardiac surgery which began about 5 months after surgery and lasted about 7 months. When I stopped the betablocker metropolol a year after surgery I also felt so much better, more positive, more energetic.
Daneen Douglas I cried a lot in the hospital due to some complications I had, but I don’t think I had/have depress ... Read more
Daneen Douglas I cried a lot in the hospital due to some complications I had, but I don’t think I had/have depression. I’m 4 weeks post surgery and have felt very positive. Interesting, Rita! That is interesting to know. Glad you are doing better.
TRACIE H I'm not depressed per say. Just sucks because I'm very independent. Im already on Wellbutrin anyway. ... Read more
TRACIE H I'm not depressed per say. Just sucks because I'm very independent. Im already on Wellbutrin anyway. Do what you feel is right 💜
Daneen Douglas I’ve been on Wellbutrin for years and I’m very independent as well. Give it a couple more weeks ... Read more
Daneen Douglas I’ve been on Wellbutrin for years and I’m very independent as well. Give it a couple more weeks and you will be regain most of your independence.
Feels weird asking my husband to lift, open jars, etc… when I was really good at doing everything like that on my own. I would open jars for him sometimes, lol!
Robert Miller All in all, I was happy. I am pretty active and try not to depend on people. So the limitations after ... Read more
Robert Miller All in all, I was happy. I am pretty active and try not to depend on people. So the limitations after surgery was a bit of a bummer. But while the first few weeks after surgery were hard, the fact that my heart was better again, and that I have more years ahead of me was a good event.
Having said that, every person is different. And when you leave the hospital, they will ask you if you need any physical and mental support. If you do, you should agree to the help. If you declined it and later on feel you need it, reach out again (either the hospital or maybe even better the insurance).
Kathy Ozio I thought I had escaped the surgery with no depression. It hit me a few months later. But I knew what ... Read more
Kathy Ozio I thought I had escaped the surgery with no depression. It hit me a few months later. But I knew what it was. And it did pass, thankfully. I think being aware is crucial and then knowing if you should ask for meds.
c w I would not say I had depression, but I had a lot of mental health issues (trauma, anxiety) due to my ... Read more
c w I would not say I had depression, but I had a lot of mental health issues (trauma, anxiety) due to my medical history. My cardiac rehab center offered both group and individual therapy. It is really hard to find an in-network therapist, so I totally took advantage of the opportunity. It was especially great because, being affiliated with cardiac rehab, she understood the specifics of my experience. Sometimes I would just vent, but we also did a lot of CBT-style exercises to reframe things. I found it so helpful. I reread my journal from the weeks after surgery, and I have a lot of empathy for past-me. I am so grateful for this therapist for helping me move forward. I recommend it for anyone experiencing mental health issues.
Civita Fahey I didnt have depression, but I did get anxiety. I was obsessed over my heart rate. but, thankfuly a l ... Read more
Civita Fahey I didnt have depression, but I did get anxiety. I was obsessed over my heart rate. but, thankfuly a low 5mg dose of Loprexo helps.
Susan Dunne No depression. I am just so happy to be alive😊
Teressa Phillips I started medications for my anxiety and OCD prior to my surgery, which I am grateful I did. They hav ... Read more
Teressa Phillips I started medications for my anxiety and OCD prior to my surgery, which I am grateful I did. They have kept me from spiraling. I encourage you to be open and honest with your care team and your support team. If you need assistance for your brain chemistry it is no different than assistance for your blood chemistry. There are many medications and therapy that can help. Heart surgery is a HUGE deal. Cardiac depression can happen even if you have never had depression before. Even with treatment, I've had some bad days, but luckily have not dropped into a true depression. It could still happen. I suffered from PTSD for a while after what happened my first night after surgery. I'm doing better now. Heart surgery is traumatic even if everything goes perfectly. Plus, there is something about mucking with the blood systems and bypass machines that throws your whole body into chaos.
I hope things go well for you.
Cátia Ribeiro Thanks for all the responses.
Even though you had some type of depression, did you later return to no ... Read more
Cátia Ribeiro Thanks for all the responses.
Even though you had some type of depression, did you later return to normal?
Rita Savelis Yes Catia. In the same way that you physically heal from surgery (each person at his own singular pac ... Read more
Rita Savelis Yes Catia. In the same way that you physically heal from surgery (each person at his own singular pace), you also heal emotionally at your own pace. Everyone has a different experience and you can't really compare yours to anyone else. Every experience is normal.
Kathy Ozio I think you end up with a different outlook. The depression was a part of recovery. Smaller things t ... Read more
Kathy Ozio I think you end up with a different outlook. The depression was a part of recovery. Smaller things that worried me before, don't upset me now. My husband says it's the heart meds keeping me calm (😉), but going through something like this can give you perspective.
I am from: Lisboa, Portugal
I'm 33 years old. I really appreciate this website for b... Read more
