Elyse's Journal

Has anyone out there had screws from their sternal plates retract? I am 1 1/2 years post op from AVR and this is happening to me. I have a bump in the middle of my chest where the screws are coming out, but my sternum has long ago fused. Anyone else have this issue and how have you dealt with it? Cleveland Clinic says it’s no problem and that they can make a small incision and remove the screws, replacing them with larger screws so that this does not happen again OR with no screws at all.
TIA for any advice from those who have had this issue.

Hi, there! I am an aortic valve replacement veteran from 01/15/2021. I feel great but 2 of my sternal screws are backing out (I had an X-ray an this issue what the radiologist’s report stated) and I have a hard bump in the middle of my chest.
Has this happened to anyone else? If so, what did you do about it? TIA for any help you guys can offer!
Continued good health to you all…
Elyse

I am a little over a year past aortic valve replacement surgery. I am not in pain and feeling generally great except for the fact that I have a small bony bump about an inch down from where my incision started. In addition, the top area of my chest (left and right sides) doesn’t feel as it did before, a sort of “tingling semi-pain” feeling. Has anyone else experienced this? Maybe I’m unrealistic but I expected to always feel like I did before the surgery without any after effects at all.

Good morning! I am one year post aortic valve replacement at Cleveland Clinic. I sometimes feel a “sticking” inside my chest (both sides, left and right as well as center) as if the sternum repair has rough edges and is scratching me. Has anyone else had this happen? It isn’t constant, only sometimes. Thanks in advance and hope everyone is doing well 😊

Good morning, Heart Warriors! Yet another question for you guys...I am 4 weeks post AVR and was expecting a faster recovery, possibly unrealistically. I was in great physical shape and asymptomatic going into surgery and was told by my surgeon I’d “ready to resume normal activities” in 6 weeks. I went for my 4 week check up yesterday at my cardiologist’s office and was told that complete healing of the sternum doesn’t take place until 12 weeks and I’d have to sleep on my back until then. It still feels uncomfortable. Anyone else have this issue? TIA for your help, I’m frustrated.

Yet ANOTHER question for you guys...did anyone else experience tightness in their sternum after AVR? I know the sternum is broken during the procedure and has to be either wired or plated back together, just want to make sure what I’m feeling is “normal” and you are my incredibly awesome barometers! Please let me know, and I thank you all from the bottom of my no longer 💔!

If anyone is considering the Ozaki procedure for AVR, feel free to contact me. I had this procedure done on 1/15/21 and can hopefully answer any questions you might have.

Hi, Heart Valve Family! I am 12 days post AVR. When does this tiredness stop? Is this normal? Am I being too hard on myself? The simplest of household chores seems to wind me!

Had my AVR Surgery by Drs. Unai and Petterrsson rat the Cleveland Clinic on Friday and just got to their step down unit last night from ICU so o couldn’t write until now. They performed the Ozaki procedure, which is relatively new here but used almost exclusively by Dr. Ozaki and other cardio thoracic surgeons in Japan with great results. Instead of using a cow valve, they fashion a custom valve from the pericardium of your own heart. The projected result is the shelf life of the mechanical valve without the blood thinners necessary due to the non-calcification of the valve! Feeling somewhat sore but ready to start thread today!

Had my cardiac cauterization today and you were all right, my Heart Valve Family...my anticipation was a lot worse than the actual procedure. And the good news was that there were no blockages! My everlasting thanks to you all, I could not get through this process without all your support ❤️

Heading out to Cleveland Clinic today for AVR on Friday! Lots of pre-surgical testing, including cardiac catheterization this week on Wednesday. Has anyone had this who can share details? Again, thanks to my Heart Family here for your support, I couldn’t do this without you guys! 💔

I can’t believe that in one week, I will be in the OR of Cleveland Clinic getting my new aortic valve! It’s been a “process” but thanks to the support of all of you, it has been far easier than it might have been, and I thank you from the bottom of my 💔! I’ve asked this before but haven’t received any response, so I’ll ask again - has anyone had the Ozaki Procedure done? Please let me know and thanks!

Hi out there, Heart Valve Family! Hope everyone who has had their surgeries are on the mend and feeling better! Has anyone had the Ozaki procedure done at Cleveland Clinic (or anywhere else)? It’s a procedure for AVR that uses your own pericardial tissue to fashion the valve, as opposed to a porcine, bovine or mechanical valve. It supposedly lasts as long as the mechanical valve with no blood thinners necessary. Let me know and, as always, thanks so much for your support ❤️

Happy New Year to all my fellow Heart Warriors! I hope 2021 is a good one for you all! How have all of you dealt with pre-surgical anxiety? I was kind of okay until it started getting closer to the New Year (my AVR surgery is on 1/15). The flipping over to 2021 made this a reality for me and I’m having sporadic panic attacks. I’m usually a strong person but, as I am asymptomatic, I’m having difficulty wrapping my head around this surgery, though my echo and cardiac CT Scan readings put me past the “severe” into the “critical” range. Friends and family tell me that I’ll “feel better after the surgery is over” but I’m not feeling badly now. Since the surgery is two weeks away, I’d assumed I would be more committed and at peace about it at this time, but I’m not. Has anyone else experienced this? My apologies for rambling, but I have no friends or family members who have been through this and nobody knows what to say to me to make me feel better. TIA, if I didn’t have you guys, I don’t know what I’d do.

Has anyone needed an AVR who had absolutely no symptoms? My echo readings and cardiac CT readings are off the charts and I'm considered "critical". Everyone tells.me.I'll " feel so much better after the surgery" but I feel.fine now. I'm a very active 66, walk 5 miles per day at a fast clip and play pickle ball. Before COVID closed the gyms, I would go for 7 hours per week. Has this happened to anyone else, needing the surgery with no.symptoms!s?

Did anyone feel like they had pre-surgery brain once you were scheduled for surgery? I feel like I can’t keep my mind straight or focus on anything except for the upcoming surgery! Ugh.

Good morning, fellow Heart Warriors! Hope all of you are doing well and wishing a speedy recovery to all who have recently undergone surgery. Has anyone heard or or had the Ozaki procedure for aortic valve replacement as a result of critical aortic stenosis? I have a choice to have this done at Cleveland Clinic (as opposed to traditional AVR with bio prosthetic valve) by Dr. Unai and Dr. Pettersson. Also, has anyone had surgery with either of these surgeons and, if so, what did you think?