Dan Poppe - Heart Valve Journal

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Dan Poppeposted a journal

2071 days ago

An update I'm hoping Adam or any one of the followers can answer. After my May 24 post, the pericarditis went away, only to return and send me once again to ...Read more

An update I'm hoping Adam or any one of the followers can answer. After my May 24 post, the pericarditis went away, only to return and send me once again to ER in late June. Steroids and motrin clear it up each time, but after 3 bouts I'm wondering what's up. Dr. is saying there is no medical reason why it keeps coming back, and now is thinking maybe pleurisy or fibromyalgia coupled with stress/anxiety. So weaning me off of the colchicine and starting Cymbalta. I'm getting frustrated as the daily shoulder pain after 9 months is really wearing on me and no concrete answers. Has anyone else gone through this?

Anna Jones Hi Dan, I am sorry you are going through this. I have not experienced it. What I do when my husban ... Read more

Anna Jones Hi Dan, I am sorry you are going through this. I have not experienced it. What I do when my husband or I have recurring bouts of whatever and the doctor is uncertain and guessing, I find a specialist to work with. If I am already working with a specialist, I get a second or even a third opinion. Usually that helps to put my mind at ease that my doctor is doing the right things or we figure out the real problem and get it treated correctly. Sending best wishes.

Dan Poppeposted an update

2161 days ago

Kelly Stoll, Mark Wilbur, Judy Shaw and 1 other reacted to this

Update. OHS aortic valve replacement 7 months ago. On my second round of pericarditis. Cardiologist said he would rather I push a little. But I evidently ...Read more

Update. OHS aortic valve replacement 7 months ago. On my second round of pericarditis. Cardiologist said he would rather I push a little. But I evidently went too hard at Fitness Center and golf course. Hurts worse than surgery. Lesson...take recovery slow.

Mark Wilbur Very sorry that you are having problems, Dan. I hope they can be resolved soon. Thanks for the advic ... Read more

Mark Wilbur Very sorry that you are having problems, Dan. I hope they can be resolved soon. Thanks for the advice.

Dan Poppeposted an update

2315 days ago

Hello. First time post here. I am a 58 year old male and 8 weeks after a bovine aortic valve replacement. At 5 weeks my cardiologist declared me the "poster ...Read more

Hello. First time post here. I am a 58 year old male and 8 weeks after a bovine aortic valve replacement. At 5 weeks my cardiologist declared me the "poster child of cardiac rehab" (the curse :)) Three days later I was on life flight back to the hospital. Turned out it was pericarditis resulting from the surgery. Still feeling effects 3 weeks later. Anyone else experience this?

Mike Czaplewski Almost 1 year since I had the same type of surgery that you did. Never had that problem. Blessings an ... Read more

Mike Czaplewski Almost 1 year since I had the same type of surgery that you did. Never had that problem. Blessings and prayers for you, and your care takers/support group, as you continue to heal.

Dan Poppe Thanks Mike. Now on second round of pericarditis. Rumor has it I need to slow down a little. :) Gl ... Read more

Dan Poppe Thanks Mike. Now on second round of pericarditis. Rumor has it I need to slow down a little. :) Glad to be blessed with great docs.

Dan Poppeposted an update

2422 days ago

New to this site, so just reaching out. Diagnosed with bicuspid aortic valve 13 years ago. Although no real physical symptoms yet other than a little fatigue, ...Read more

New to this site, so just reaching out. Diagnosed with bicuspid aortic valve 13 years ago. Although no real physical symptoms yet other than a little fatigue, the aorta valve area is narrowing, the blood velocity is increasing, and the aorta diameter is increasing. So am being told it is better to move forward with a healthy patient rather than wait for an unhealthy one. But hard to justify cutting open when no real symptoms. Thoughts?

Jennifer McInerney I have severe asymptomatic aortic stenosis. My Cardiologist is closely monitoring me to check pressur ... Read more

Jennifer McInerney I have severe asymptomatic aortic stenosis. My Cardiologist is closely monitoring me to check pressures and narrowing. He wants to wait for symptoms, I just want to get it over with. I live in Canada so maybe that explains the more conservative approach.

Bill Walsh I am post op day 5. My procedure was a "mini" less invasive aortic valve replacement. They have been ... Read more

Bill Walsh I am post op day 5. My procedure was a "mini" less invasive aortic valve replacement. They have been watching my stenosis worsen over the past 7 years. The procedure was very successful, I believe, because my heart and arteries were in good shape. My though was to do it sooner rather than later. So far, I

MARIE PICUN I am being watch also. I go every 6 months for my echogram. It has been a year I knew about my heart ... Read more

MARIE PICUN I am being watch also. I go every 6 months for my echogram. It has been a year I knew about my heart aortia valve. I

Phyllis Petersen I had mitral valve repair, which is definitely different. I didn't recognize what was happening as sy ... Read more

Phyllis Petersen I had mitral valve repair, which is definitely different. I didn't recognize what was happening as symptoms, even though I complained to my PCP about sudden bouts of fatigue for years. When the valve started to go, it was a pretty rapid change in how I felt, so finding the best balance can spare you the downward spiral. Do you have an experienced surgeon that can give you the full picture and you feel confident with?

Gerald Poulton Hi Dan, one month post OHS for the same thing. I went from moderate to critical and still was Asympto ... Read more

Gerald Poulton Hi Dan, one month post OHS for the same thing. I went from moderate to critical and still was Asymptomatic, one of the reasons for no symptons is often when like me, you have no blockages so what blood does get past the valve has clear sailing😀Not sure of your age or physical condition but it is much much better to get operated on when healthy than wait for syptoms and further deterioration of the valve and artery.
Healthy makes a HUGE difference with the operation, complications and recovery.

Kathy Blank i had mitral valve repair with no symptoms- so glad I caught it early. However I will always wonder i ... Read more

Kathy Blank i had mitral valve repair with no symptoms- so glad I caught it early. However I will always wonder if my aorta- which is dilated to 4.0- could have been prevented if my severe MV regurgitation was caught early. I went to 3 surgical consults and the visits and info helped me determine timing and type of surgery.

Rita Savelis Some patients are asymptomatic but their echos show definite signs. Other patients have lots of sympt ... Read more

Rita Savelis Some patients are asymptomatic but their echos show definite signs. Other patients have lots of symptoms when their echos aren't that bad. That's how this stuff works, alas, which is why the decision as to when to go in is specific and personal and singular. Everyone has their story and their body. This call is a hard one to make, Dan, and you have to trust your surgeon to lead you in the right direction.
Take care.

Dorothea Sautter I am in the same situation with severe aortic stenosis but barely any symptoms. The head of cardiolog ... Read more

Dorothea Sautter I am in the same situation with severe aortic stenosis but barely any symptoms. The head of cardiology at the University Hospital Leuven (I live in Belgium) explained to me that they prefer to operate when the heart has not yet been affected. 'A much better chance of recuperating and less risky'. I trust she knows what she's talking about! So in this respect we are the lucky ones, I guess, even if it is hard to accept when you are not feeling ill, I know.

Clayton Mcarthur Just be honest with yourself and try not to lay subtle changes in stamina to weather or age.The tests ... Read more

Clayton Mcarthur Just be honest with yourself and try not to lay subtle changes in stamina to weather or age.The tests are good indicator s but not the only one s

Civita Fahey Dan I had pretty much the same symptoms as you with some slight SOB when going up stairs etc. My valv ... Read more

Civita Fahey Dan I had pretty much the same symptoms as you with some slight SOB when going up stairs etc. My valve was at moderate to severe stenosis so like you it was advised to go forward while still healthy. I had the AVR in April and am feeling great.. Still get a bit tired by end of day, work full time, gym etc, but otherwise all well and I'm glad its behind me. I think its best to talk to your doctors and you both decide what's best for you.

Catie B A surgeon who frequently does aortic procedures will be the best one to guide your decision. He'll t ... Read more

Catie B A surgeon who frequently does aortic procedures will be the best one to guide your decision. He'll take into account the ways the stenosis may affect the rest of your heart.

Bob Gillespie I just kept reminding myself that the aneurysm, leaky valve were only to get worse, not better. It a ... Read more

Bob Gillespie I just kept reminding myself that the aneurysm, leaky valve were only to get worse, not better. It also helped to realize that most families find out about the aneurysm when the autopsy is performed. We are blessed indeed

Cathleen Weed Definitely go by the numbers and not the symptoms. I had no symptoms with my severely stenotic aortic ... Read more

Cathleen Weed Definitely go by the numbers and not the symptoms. I had no symptoms with my severely stenotic aortic valve and it had an opening as small as a coffee stir straw when they got in there. Best wishes.

Dan Poppe 7 months later doing well, except for 2 rounds of pericarditis. Need to learn to slow down. Thanks ... Read more

Dan Poppe 7 months later doing well, except for 2 rounds of pericarditis. Need to learn to slow down. Thanks for all of your comments.