Eddie's Journal

Two year valversary today! Was supposed to skydive with my kids but the weather didn't cooperate. Two years ago today at 50 years old I walked into a hospital and put my life in the hands of a total stranger. Luckily those were some gifted hands!. My surgeon told me without surgery I had maybe a year and a half left so now that it has been two years I am getting to experience things I never would have without surgery, on bonus time if you will! Still do all I did before and a good bit more, still can hang with the 30 somethings on the softball fields and even try to do mud runs when I can. Life is Good! For those waiting take heart, there is a lot of good stuff on the other side. For those that have been around a while and helped me get through this, thank you so much, doubt I would have kept my sanity without you.

Been a while but I have been following everyone. Coming up on two years in a couple of months. I rarely think about my surgery anymore. Of course the scar will catch my eye in the mirror sometimes but my surgeon was great and the scar is barely there. I do everything I did before surgery and more. I lift weights four days a week without issue and still play sports in my 50s. If you are about to have or have recently had surgery know that you can be back to where you were and things can become normal after surgery. Good luck and best wishes.

For those who have past the one year mark what did you do if anything to mark the occasion? I am going skydiving with my kids on exactly the one year mark then fathers day the next day. Spent fathers day in icu last year which made it all the more special. I got bonus years with my kids last year for Father's day, hard to top that.

First night of softball. Man I was nervous going out. Lots of what ifs. But I held my own, played with a lot of really young what I call kids, hell I am 51 I am at least 10 years older than the next oldest on the team. Played shortstop, yes the team sucks that bad. Held my own, triple, two doubles and a single. Man it felt good. When I was told last April I had to have open heart surgery I thought for sure these days were over. Nothing better than going out and proving to yourself that this surgery only put life on pause for a bit and did not mean times like this was over. I am 10 moths out from AVR. If you are about to have surgery or have just had it know that there is life after. Have faith, a positive attitude and work hard. Wish everyone well. Thanks for being there through those tough times.

So today I get a call from someone at Edwards Life Sciences. The lady says Mr. Patton this is Edwards Life Sciences calling.... So first thing through my mind is "Oh shit, my valve is being recalled". So after my heart skipped a couple of beats and I regained my faculties she says "we would like to send you a replica valve" and I think she said something about a globe but the first few words was all I focused on. I think I croaked out an OK and she took my address. Took about 10 minutes to get myself together then I thought "Damn is that cool or creepy?". Oh, well guess the valve is doing good if I didn't have a heart attack from the way the call started.

9 months since AVR today. Feeling great and doing well. Even signed up for some co-ed softball and had my first practice this week. I'm 51 and playing with some people a LOT younger than me. They asked if I played last year and I told them a couple of games before the doc made me stop. Should have seen the face on those kids when they asked me why and I told them I had OHS last June! Hope everyone is doing well and good luck to those who are about to go in.

Thanks to all in this group who helped me get through 2015 not sure I could have kept my sanity without you. It has been memorable to put it mildly. May those who had surgery before this year keep ticking away through the next one. For those like me who had surgery this year may the next one be considerably less dramatic than this one. And for those who will have surgery in the New Year may you have peace of mind and smooth and complete recovery. Cheers.

Merry Christmas to all of you valvers and those soon to be. As much as it sucks to have to go through this remember that this is a gift of life for you and a gift of time that your family would not have without it. In the not too distant past this gift was unheard of so celebrate, hug your family and raise a glass to the professionals and staff that did the work and those who cared for you when you were most vulnerable. Here's to Christmases gained.

Since tomorrow is Thanksgiving here in the US, just want to say first, I am thankful to be alive and to have all of the Thanksgivings to come that I would not have had, I am Thankful for the awesome surgeon I had and the wonderful nurses and staff that took care of me when I was at my most vulnerable. Centennial Heart Center ICU staff will always have a special place in my heart, Also, I am so thankful for this group and others like it. My diagnosis of BAV with severe stenosis came as a shock. Finding out I had to have open heart surgery scared the hell out of me,. Having groups like this for a reality check and to see the successes so many had really helped me to get through without being a complete basket case, Thanks to all that contributes to this site. I am forever grateful. For those about to undertake this surgery know that there is a new life on the other side, I am better than I have been in years, Be thankful that this surgery exists and is so routine now, you get a chance people less than a century ago would not have had.

Can't believe it's been that long since I walked through those hospital doors and into the unknown. Things for the most part have gone really well. My exercise tolerance is a lot better than before surgery which I have been taking advantage of as much as I can. Still a little minor discomfort around the sternum sometimes but nothing more than an occasional nuisance. Going into surgery I was like most of you wondering if I would ever be back to where I was before all of this started and I can say I am pretty close, it's not been nearly as bad as I thought it would be. Good luck to those waiting, and for those on this side of surgery, keep on ticking.

I completed the Warrior Dash this weekend with my daughter. If you have surgery coming up know that you can still do great things after the surgery, I am better than I have been in years. I never thought 6 months ago when I found out I had a bicuspid valve that needed to be replaced that I would even be able to consider this but there I was at the finish line getting my medal and enjoying a celebratory beer with my daughter. Something that will be extremely special to me from now on. Have faith, trust your professionals and fight on.

Just did this today for the first time. Thanks to Adam for having this site. Amazing how a few months erases and changes your thoughts and memories. Reading about the days when I couldn't believe what I was being told to the days of acceptance and prepping for surgery to the scary time right before, to the first few days after when you are relieved it's over but still concerned about if you are out of the woods and how it's all going to play out if you get out of the hospital. And those amazing days when step by step get stronger and start to put your life back together and realize, I am gonna be ok maybe better than I thought. As the Greatfull Dead said "what a long strange trip it's been". Good luck to those with upcoming surgeries.

It's been 3 months, sometimes it seems like it's been forever ago and sometimes it seems like it was yesterday. Just grateful to have the years that I wouldn't have had if it wasn't for this amazing surgery and the doctors that perform it. They won't be wasted.

My daughter and I are going to do the warrior dash in october. I am 3 months post avr and she just found out she inherited a bicuspid valve from me. Gonna get a couple of mended heart t-shirts and represent. Just intend on finishing not looking to compete. Should have some cool pics. https://www.warriordash.com/location/2015-warrior-dash-tennessee/