gail's Journal

Have completed 3 months post surgery cardio rehab. Very grateful that everything is going well. I am no longer taking a blood thiner- just a daily small aspirin. Greetings to all.

Six weeks post surgery, and feeling very well. I continue my post op cardiac exercise, and use the elliptical 6 times a week for about an hour- lower level. My heart likes it. I will be off my platelet thiner in 4 weeks, so will just have my daily aspirin. I am very grateful to have this quality of life and thank God, my surgeons and my family.

I think it has been said often that struggles are all different, and that it is not an easy procedure. I agree, and also the fact that one has to gain confidence in one’s heart again. After all the major discomfort has passed, the random pains give pause, but then ecah day brings more strength- and I am only 4 days post surgery!

March 5 surgery went well. I have been discharged from hospital and feel I am reentering the real world again. I was intubated, they used the 2 femoral arteries, 2 wrist arteies, and a TEE- trans esophageal ECHO in my esophagus stomach area, to better “see” to place the valve. They used a Sentinel embolism catcher in the arteries above the heart. They say in 99% of cases, they do colect either embolisms, calcium debris from the valve, or other debris. All. Ery interesting to me. The femorals are healing nicely, I am walking many times a day, and resting. My husband and I remain in the NYC area as I will fly back to SC in a week. They tell me the valve is not leeking, and all is going well. I need to remain hydrated and will take Plavix and an aspirin daily for 6 months. In 5 weeks I will return to Columbia Presbyterian Hospital for another ECHO and review. In the meanwhile, I will start cardio rehab in Beaufort. My body had discomfort from all the activity during the procedure, but that has lessened, and have no discernible problems now. I am so thankful for all the support from my heart valve friends, and my adult children and super husband. A lot of thanks for the strength God has given me during this story of my heart! Ore later.

I was very interested in the responses to my question about the breathing tube. Are there folks who have has the TAVR who can tell me if they had a breathing tube or just drugs. I did not ask doc yet about this.

I will have TAVR for a bicupid leaking aortic that has given me severe aortic stenosis on March 5, 2019 at Columbia- Presbyterian in NYC. Dr Martin Leon and Dr Tammin Navif will lead the team.