Garrett Payment - Heart Valve Journal

My Journal

Garrett Paymentposted an update

107 days ago

Pamela Gregory, Darrell Malone, Kimberly Eisenhut and 2 others reacted to this

Well ... i go for surgery today, having my sternal wires taken care of / removed. wish me luck

Suzette Schear Wishing you the best. Hopefully this will relieve your discomfort.

Pamela Gregory I hope everything goes well

Grace Mason Good luck! Hope you are feeling more comfortable with no wires soon.

Garrett Payment I had 3 broken / dancing wires. Im sore after removal and they wanted to discharge me but i insisted... Read more

Garrett Payment I had 3 broken / dancing wires. Im sore after removal and they wanted to discharge me but i insisted against it as it is still bleeding and in pain plus i live a hr away.. this website and the friendships and support i have received are a invaluble resource and i cant thank everyone enough, i will continue to advocate for my own heatlh and heart health aswell as others! happy heart ticking and beats everyone

Daisy Tanner Wow! Hope you’ll be feeling much better soon! 🙏🏼💞 Btw…your gown is so much nicer than th ... Read more

Daisy Tanner Wow! Hope you’ll be feeling much better soon! 🙏🏼💞 Btw…your gown is so much nicer than the gowns we have at our hospitals in San Diego. ☺️

Pamela Gregory hope you are feeling better today (Friday)

Grace Mason Yikes! It's no wonder they were bothering you. Glad you are advocating for yourself. Hope you are fee ... Read more

Grace Mason Yikes! It's no wonder they were bothering you. Glad you are advocating for yourself. Hope you are feeling much better soon.

Suzette Schear Geez no wonder why you were hurting. That sounds horrible like a flailing robot. I wouldn’t have ... Read more

Suzette Schear Geez no wonder why you were hurting. That sounds horrible like a flailing robot. I wouldn’t have gone home either.

Garrett Paymentposted a journal

285 days ago

Garrett Payment reacted to this

Almost the full 2 years post op, and am having alot of discomfort and random sharp deep pain in the center of my sternum when i say pull heavy things like doors ...Read more

Almost the full 2 years post op, and am having alot of discomfort and random sharp deep pain in the center of my sternum when i say pull heavy things like doors or wrenches... is this what a non union feels like or is it wires?

Robert Miller I didn't have this issue after my first surgery but have it after my second surgery. No issues at all ... Read more

Robert Miller I didn't have this issue after my first surgery but have it after my second surgery. No issues at all at the beginning but after maybe a year I started to get this sting, especially when doing physical work but sometimes also otherwise. I think it's related to the wires as it's at very specific places. Discuss it with your cardiologist.

Garrett Paymentposted an update

527 days ago

Grace Mason , Garrett Payment reacted to this

So my question is this.. i was born with a bicuspid aortic valve, my surgeon discussed mechanical valve with me but if the opportunity to repair my ...Read more

So my question is this.. i was born with a bicuspid aortic valve, my surgeon discussed mechanical valve with me but if the opportunity to repair my own valve was given to try that first, anyways my question is what is the life expectancy of a repaird human valve vs a mechanical? Will i require a surgery in the next 10 yrs with my own valve?

Max Jam Thats a good question. Because if he repairs, can a tavr be done in the future if it fails?

c w This week, there was an episode on the Cleveland Clinic’s podcast that talked about this a little.

They said 91% of repaired valves were “still working” 10 years after surgery.

They said repaired valves that fail usually fail in the first 18 months — so if it makes it that long, odds are it will last longer than a biological valve. (Though perhaps not better than a mechanical valve.)

He said the valve would still be considered abnormal after repair, could still fail in 20-30 years.

pros:
+ less risk of stroke / infection
+ no blood thinner
+ normal life expectancy

My surgeon told me TAVR could be an option for me if my repaired valve failed… hope to not have to find out whether that is true or not.

I haven’t looked up research but this podcast made me realize I need to do so.

Here’s the link - the part about aortic valve repair is somewhere in the middle.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/love-your-heart-a-cleveland-clinic-podcast/id1435503691?i=1000645999684

All About The Aortic Valve

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/all-about-the-aortic-valve/id1435503691?i=1000645999684

Podcast Episode · Love Your Heart: A Cleveland Clinic Podcast · 02/20/2024 · 18m

Max Jam Nicee thank you

c w You’re welcome… those are the notes I took for myself because I seldom hear info about repaired v ... Read more

c w You’re welcome… those are the notes I took for myself because I seldom hear info about repaired valves and I need to absorb it all.

c w I would be interested in learning how that info jibes with what others here have learned / experience ... Read more

c w I would be interested in learning how that info jibes with what others here have learned / experienced…

Garrett Paymentposted an update

610 days ago

Anyone experience heart beating closer to the chest wall while deep breathing after a sternotomy and if so does it go away? It feels like anxiety atack ...Read more

Anyone experience heart beating closer to the chest wall while deep breathing after a sternotomy and if so does it go away? It feels like anxiety atack but its just my heart beating throughout my entire chest when i take a deep breath... never used to be like this before sternotomy.

Rita Savelis Yes. The loud beating is common after surgery. I think it happens because the lining of the heart get ... Read more

Rita Savelis Yes. The loud beating is common after surgery. I think it happens because the lining of the heart gets cut into during surgery. One is also SO much more aware of everything going on with ones heart after surgery. It can be overwhelming. Take care.

DeWayne Adamson Sometimes my whole bed or chair moves. Strong beat.

Jennifer Fuller Yes. I actually fell asleep last night counting my heartbeats instead of sheep. The beats are so stro ... Read more

Jennifer Fuller Yes. I actually fell asleep last night counting my heartbeats instead of sheep. The beats are so strong that I don’t need to take my pulse, I just listen to the beat in my head. Hopefully this will diminish in time.

Grace Mason I also felt like mine was rocking my bed, for about 6-8 weeks, it seemed so strong. It has either dim ... Read more

Grace Mason I also felt like mine was rocking my bed, for about 6-8 weeks, it seemed so strong. It has either diminished or I am getting accustomed to my new beat🥁

Rose Madura After six plus years, I still hear my heartbeat strongly when in bed. Most doctors, whey they hear i ... Read more

Rose Madura After six plus years, I still hear my heartbeat strongly when in bed. Most doctors, whey they hear it for the first time are taken aback. I have a very strong heartbeat and I'm thankful for it.

Allen Carkner Yes, mine has gotten less noticeable over the past 6 months.

Rich Butela Me too. Surgeon says it should go away eventually. At 9 weeks out it's a lot less noticeable that it ... Read more

Rich Butela Me too. Surgeon says it should go away eventually. At 9 weeks out it's a lot less noticeable that it was.

Garrett Payment Mine is only noticeable when i take a deep breath and hold, otherwise its a normal heart beat, its ... Read more

Garrett Payment Mine is only noticeable when i take a deep breath and hold, otherwise its a normal heart beat, its almost like lungs are inflating against the heart i that makes any sense? My surgeon was very good at what he does however a couple days after my surgery he moved to another province, i was referred to another surgeon after my discharge from hospital 7 days so some aspects of my post op care have fallen through the cracks with manitobas health care system under cutbacks and surgeon's leaving hospitals for vast lists of reasons from pay to overworked, i definitely am grateful however i dont feel my concerns are taken seriously.. id rather listen to a fake heart valve that feel my actual heart beat hard against my sternum when i breathe..

Garrett Paymentposted a journal

621 days ago

Time has gone by fast, nov 9 was officially 1 year since i was cracked open... the first 6 months was hell honestly between the physical pain 😫 ...Read more

Time has gone by fast, nov 9 was officially 1 year since i was cracked open... the first 6 months was hell honestly between the physical pain 😫 and the mental fog from being on pump i still have memory issues occasionally but here is to another year

Suzanne Nash Hi Garrett. I am 15 months post surgery and it took much longer than I expected to feel totally reco... Read more

Suzanne Nash Hi Garrett. I am 15 months post surgery and it took much longer than I expected to feel totally recovered. You are young and I'm sure you will go from strength to strength!

Grace Mason Congratulations Garrett on your 1 year chest crack❤️‍🩹. Recovery is a process for sure!May e ... Read more

Grace Mason Congratulations Garrett on your 1 year chest crack❤️‍🩹. Recovery is a process for sure!May every week be a better one than the week before. To another year and many more 💐

Andrea Babcock Congratulations Garret! Best wishes for getting back to normal very soon.

Garrett Paymentposted a journal

669 days ago

Grace Mason , Garrett Payment reacted to this

discharged nov 14 2022 6 months of recovery and gym time, walking track and biking working to get over 100 km goal. Felt great
Present day- I am currently ...Read more

discharged nov 14 2022 6 months of recovery and gym time, walking track and biking working to get over 100 km goal. Felt great
Present day- I am currently back to work not the same physical demand but work no less, i am active taking my black lab for walks (somthing i took for granted) and i generally feel great. however Recently i had symptoms of a minor stroke and some eye issues that were a problem after waking up from surgery but since resurfaced and go some depression in regards to new limitations and my scar. Moving forward in life scares me alot more today then it did before my surgery because i have so many hurdles my way with marfans syndrome that most people cant grasp or appreciate and will never truly understand.. the anticipated likelihood i will need further surgeries of my aorta, valves and heart as i age is my new biggest fear... as i have seen first hand what my father struggles with his disection and the need for a mechanical valve all of what i dont ever want to go through... my surgery was the hardest thing i have ever had to face and i went into it with peace of mind but now, my mind isnt at peace knowing i may have to be opened up multiple times... Re living that feeling of disorientation fading in and out of consciousness after waking up from surgery and the pain....

yet i want more than anything the sternotomy wires in my chest removed as they cause so much discomfort...

Clifford Teoh Hi Garrett, I'm Frances, Cliff's wife. I wanted to let you know that I ready your journal entry and ... Read more

Clifford Teoh Hi Garrett, I'm Frances, Cliff's wife. I wanted to let you know that I ready your journal entry and agree that even though most of us will not truly understand what you're dealing with, that we can and will pray for you. It's been five weeks since my husband's surgery and he still doesn't have the same energy as before, so you sound like you're doing well with building up your stamina. As for future surgeries, we all hope that you and others that will need them, will have less invasive options whent that time happens. Finally, I have read that sternotomy wires can be removed and that it's a short procedure, so you should definitely look into that. Sending you a lot of positive energy!

Grace Mason I hope you are able to connect on here with others that also have to deal with Marfans syndrome. I a... Read more

Grace Mason I hope you are able to connect on here with others that also have to deal with Marfans syndrome. I and many others can relate to the fear of additional surgeries, so you are not alone there. Hopefully advancements will continue to be made as much as they have advanced in the past years. There are studies now where they are trying to grow whole valves and tissues in a lab. Wouldn't that be amazing to see! I am glad you have your dog to walk with and I hope you can find out something about removing your sternal wires so you can get some relief there. It's great that you have reached out and shared your story. I think this site is invaluable for the comfort it can provide thru its members and information. Wishing you all the best Garrett