Met with my surgeon this afternoon and I am scheduled for next week. It will be my second open heart aortic valve replacement after the 12/23 TAVR continued ...Read more
Met with my surgeon this afternoon and I am scheduled for next week. It will be my second open heart aortic valve replacement after the 12/23 TAVR continued to regurgitate. He will not replace the mitral valve at this time, explaining that the tremendous regurgitation from the aortic valve was causing it and will stop after the aortic valve is in place. He will also do a ligation of the left atrium appendage at the same time. I am optimistic that I will feel so much better and looking forward to a beautiful early Spring. This southern (Eastern Shore of Mobile, AL Bay) girl is ready to plant some flowers!
Yumiko Ishida So sorry you have to have another OHS. Have the doctors discussed doing a maze procedure? I see in yo ... Read more
Yumiko Ishida So sorry you have to have another OHS. Have the doctors discussed doing a maze procedure? I see in your journal that you’ve had ablation done before. While they were replacing my mitral valve they also did a maze plus left atrial appendage occlusion / ligation and my afib did not return post surgery (so far).
Ana Brusso Evelyn, you have the right attitude and your surgeon knows what he is doing. You are in good hands an ... Read more
Ana Brusso Evelyn, you have the right attitude and your surgeon knows what he is doing. You are in good hands and you will do well and be able to plant your flowers this Spring. Will pray for your successful surgery and recovery. God bless you 🙏❤️
Daneen Douglas So sorry you are needing a second OHS to replace the failed TAVR. I pray this time your regurgitatio ... Read more
Daneen Douglas So sorry you are needing a second OHS to replace the failed TAVR. I pray this time your regurgitation and MV gets taken care of and work properly.
I have heard that the removal of the left atrial appendage reduces risk of atrial fibrillation. I will be asking my surgeon about this.
Evelyn Buttram Thank you all for your comments & encouragement. I am now 10 days post-op. This is my 2nd day hom ... Read more
Evelyn Buttram Thank you all for your comments & encouragement. I am now 10 days post-op. This is my 2nd day home from hospital. It wasn’t as easy this time around, but I’m far from a little chickadee at this stage of life. I’m still healing from all the drain lines of course, and am past dizziness but have shortness of breath on exertion. They are watching a little fluid in left lung so we will see how that goes. The ligation could not be done due to too much scarring of L atrium & there is a heart block. Still having some A-fib but not as often. I am still optimistic and enjoying these 70+ degree days down here on the Alabama Gulf Coast. Best to all of you
I had my 2nd aortic valve replacement (TAVR) Dec 6. Was remitted on Dec 17th for very high heart rate & tachycardia. The TAVR procedure failed and is still ...Read more
I had my 2nd aortic valve replacement (TAVR) Dec 6. Was remitted on Dec 17th for very high heart rate & tachycardia. The TAVR procedure failed and is still regurgitating. Now I am heading for a re-do of aortic valve replacement, open heart this time (as was 1st one 7 years ago for stenosis). Mitral valve regurgitation is moderate so surgeon wants to repair or replace it at same time.I’m 78 & am fairly hearty considering stage 2 heart failure and troubling Rheumatoid Arthritis. Electrophysiologist has me on Amiodarone for rhythm (failed ablation last April) expecting more A-fib post next surgery. On weekly injections for RA; currently in a flare. I pray for strength to recover from open heart valve disease, ability to stay on Amiodrane before serious side effects and deal with RA pain. Your prayers are very welcomed.
Valerie Allen I would suggest getting 2nd opinions (at least) from heart surgeons well known for re-dos. In a top c ... Read more
Valerie Allen I would suggest getting 2nd opinions (at least) from heart surgeons well known for re-dos. In a top cardiac hospital. You want to be sure you know your options after a failed valve. My prayers are indeed with you.
Antoinette Weale Sending positive thoughts and will keep you in my prayers 🙏💛
J Alexander Lassally Sounds like a lot on your plate for sure. Please make sure you are going to a high volume surgeon (tr ... Read more
J Alexander Lassally Sounds like a lot on your plate for sure. Please make sure you are going to a high volume surgeon (true center of excellence) who can really weigh all of the topics and explain them to you.. There are specific mitral valve centers of excellence (one in Atlanta) which might provide context on tackling the mitral now... Let me know if you need link.
Rose Madura This is a terrible pill for you to swallow. Amiodarone is awful as is Afib. The advice above for a se ... Read more
Rose Madura This is a terrible pill for you to swallow. Amiodarone is awful as is Afib. The advice above for a second opinion and make sure you choose a high volume and experienced surgeon. I will keep you in my prayers. Godspeed.
Grace Mason 🙏🏼so sorry to hear about the unsuccessful TAVR and a pending redo. I also hope you talk with mo ... Read more
Grace Mason 🙏🏼so sorry to hear about the unsuccessful TAVR and a pending redo. I also hope you talk with more than one surgeon before you decide on who will do the redo. Wishing you well ❤️🩹
Ana Brusso I will lift you up in prayer dear Evelyn. God will give the strength you need if you ask him. 🙏❤ ... Read more
Ana Brusso I will lift you up in prayer dear Evelyn. God will give the strength you need if you ask him. 🙏❤️✝️
Barbara deLoache Thinking of you and all you have going on. Prayers and a hug coming your way. Having to go through an ... Read more
Barbara deLoache Thinking of you and all you have going on. Prayers and a hug coming your way. Having to go through another surgery must be very stressful. We are all with you 💕
Jill Porter Sending prayers your way. Stay strong and patient!
Daneen Douglas Praying for your recovery. So sorry you are going through this .
All pre-op tests are completed for my 2nd aortic valve replacement on Dec 6. The first replacement (open chest/pig valve) done 7 years ago has failed and regurgitation ...Read more
All pre-op tests are completed for my 2nd aortic valve replacement on Dec 6. The first replacement (open chest/pig valve) done 7 years ago has failed and regurgitation has progressed to severe. I will have TAVR this time. Have any of you needed a pacemaker during the procedure? I’ve been told the team will have one on hand in case.
Linda Ritchie I had the TAVR on Tuesday. I did not need a pace maker.
Had successful aortic valve replacement 7 yes ago. I’m now 78 YO with recent echo showing severe regurgitation (AI). Cardiologist referring me to their valve ...Read more
Had successful aortic valve replacement 7 yes ago. I’m now 78 YO with recent echo showing severe regurgitation (AI). Cardiologist referring me to their valve specialist. I am asymptomatic as of now but have other things wrong with heart; ablation for A-Fib in April. Did not stop arrhythmias and have diagnosed other arrhythmias as well. Greatly enlarged L. Atria, hy of heart attack, congenital aortic bi-valve, a patent for amen o ale (newly diagnosed).There’s more but I won’t go on. my valve replacement was pig valve/open heart. Will I be a candidate for another valve replacement. Echo report indicates abnormal functioning bio prosthetic aortic valve.
Marie Myers That has to be very disappointing for you! Sometimes the tissue valves just don’t last very long. ... Read more
Marie Myers That has to be very disappointing for you! Sometimes the tissue valves just don’t last very long. Please keep us posted on your journey.
Grace Mason Evelyn, So sorry you are facing another surgery so soon. It's amazing what surgeons can do these day... Read more
Grace Mason Evelyn, So sorry you are facing another surgery so soon. It's amazing what surgeons can do these days. Wishing you all the best with your upcoming meeting with the valve specialist
Sharon Behl It can be so discouraging! Remember that the list of what is "right" with you is longer than the li... Read more
Sharon Behl It can be so discouraging! Remember that the list of what is "right" with you is longer than the list of what is "wrong!" Keep asking questions and hang in there.
Rose Madura Evelyn, I'm sorry you must endure yet more! You have been through so much already. God bless you and ... Read more
Rose Madura Evelyn, I'm sorry you must endure yet more! You have been through so much already. God bless you and please keep us posted.
Evelyn Buttram Thank you all for your messages and concerns. I have a wonderful, supportive husband of nearly 60 yrs ... Read more
Evelyn Buttram Thank you all for your messages and concerns. I have a wonderful, supportive husband of nearly 60 yrs as well as nearby family & church.
Richard Munson Great pictures, you must have gotten married at 10 years old.
Jill Porter I too have been through many things with my heart. My sister tells me to "keep moving forward." We ju ... Read more
Jill Porter I too have been through many things with my heart. My sister tells me to "keep moving forward." We just have to deal with one thing at a time as they come up. Day by day. Prayers sent for great healing to you.
Ana Brusso Hello Evelyn and welcome. Sorry to read about your issues. Glad you are talking to a valve specialist ... Read more
Ana Brusso Hello Evelyn and welcome. Sorry to read about your issues. Glad you are talking to a valve specialist. Keep us posted. God bless you in your journey
Dr. Luis Castro is a world-renowned heart valve surgeon that has performed thousands of heart valve operations that include minimally-invasive techniques.
I am from: Daphne, Al
I have heard that the removal of the left atrial appendage reduces risk of atrial fibrillation. I will be asking my surgeon about this.