Greg's Journal

7 years post AVR surgery.  Everything going very well until this COVID thing came around. I'm sure you have all heard of it.  Anyway, after getting COVID for the second time (I think - could be more) I was having slow heart rates that were noticeable lying in bed.  Further self-checking found rates in the 20's bpm.  Long story short result was a pacemaker as the result of AV node malfunction.  Rhythm doctors attribute it to the heart valve surgery.  I'm not 100% convinced.  As it starts almost immediately (within a few weeks) of having COVID.  But regardless, I now have a nice pacemaker in addition to the new aortic valve and ascending aorta.  Prior to having COVID there were some EKG indications of a right bundle branch block, but no actual heart rate effects.  

Does anyone with the Carpenter Edwards PERIMOUNT Magna Ease 3300TFX have any real data about longevity? Have they been lasting as long as predicted? Looking for factual data, personal experience or results from recent studies.

Well it has been almost 2 years since I was laying on the table. I have to say the time has gone fast and I no longer think much about the surgery. I am doing fine (need to lose some more weight) but no heart related problems. I hope these CE 3300 TFX valves prove to be durable. I am not ready to go through this operation again for a couple more years. But the entire experience was worth the result and I am grateful everyday for another day to spend with my wife and three grandkids. I believe that being on either side of the table gives one a different view of life and for me has helped me to appreciate the daily sunrise, coffee and a kid sleeping in your lap. I would like to stop Metoprolol but both cardiologists I have seen suggest I keep on it. "well tolerated well known drug to reduce blood pressure and help your heart valve to last longer". Has anyone had any success with Hawthorn? I have heard of some using this to reduce blood pressure with less side effects.

I'm finally feeling normal, actually probably better than the 6 months preceding the surgery. Just returned from a 10 day vacation in southern Italy ( gained 5 lbs from wine and pasta ). Now I'm spending 11 days in Houston working. I'm able to walk and climb the mountains along the amalfi coast and survive the humid Houston weather. I'm actually starting to have long periods where I forget about the surgery. Maybe even whole days. Sternum pain is mostly gone. I did go to the driving range last weekend and hit 90 balls. That made me recall the surgery. I've stopped taking Coumadin and am working with my dr to reduce the other meds to nothing if possible. I hope everyone here quickly recovers and I can finally confirm that it really does get awesome again. There were times I had my doubts ....

I am 10 weeks out from AVR surgery and have been getting very tired that last three days. Always in the afternoon about 2:00 pm. But looking through other posts I see that many (or at least a few) AVR patients have mentioned a 8 week echo test as a routine procedure. Is this normal? Are most OHS patients getting some type of proactive testing done at a prescribed time after surgery? My cardiologist originally saw me once at 2 weeks after surgery and then scheduled my next appt in August - 5 months after surgery. The INR nurse thought this was too long and changed the appt to June, but not with the cardiologist but with his assistant nurse. So are many of you getting follow up ECHO tests after OHS?

It has been difficult to get my INR level above 2. In fact (now 7+ weeks post-op) was the first time it was above 2, and it was 3.6! I went from 10mg/7.5mg every other day, to 10mg every day and my INR went from 1.6 to 3.6 in 1 week. Now this morning I have significant blood (bright red) in the stool. I mean 10x anything I have seen from hemorrhoids in the past. From what I can find an INR of 3.6 is still a reasonable level and should not be causing any internal bleeding problems. But the stool blood makes me nervous and in general I don't feel very good. What does internal bleeding feel like? Do you just get tired and general malaise, or is there sharp and specific pains associated with it? And at what levels of INR would this be a concern?

Ok, I have read some of the posts where this OHS surgery changes your outlook on life and everything is different and you feel more and appreciate more. But I was always focused on the facts and details (I am an engineer). Then I sat down with my wife the other night and she had rented The Sound of Music from the local library on blue ray. I was crying before Maria left the convent. Maybe it was the HD and dolby sound, but I don't think so. Anyway, if you have recently had OHS and are having some of those 'blue' days, I highly recommend setting aside a couple of hours and watching this movie again.

I had hoped that after week 4 or so progress would be steady. But yesterday I was feeling good and today I am tired with sweats and general malaise. Breathing is ok but I have had a couple of dizzy spells. I guess I'm wondering if this up and down day by day situation is normal or if there is something else going on?

My cousin had a TAVR procedure the day after my ohs. March 03 2015. We both had our aortic valve replaced. He came out of the surgery much faster than I did. He was even back at work in week 2. But was readmitted the other day with bacterial infection of the valve or pacemaker wires. Heavy antibiotics seemed to help the first day but last night they put him back on the ventilator. I pray the antibiotics kick some ass and he can start breathing again and get off the vent. It was much more 'fun' when we were getting better together.

I've been experiencing high blood pressure this last week. Sometimes as high as 164/110 with pulse rate 85. Metropolol seems to knock it down but is this normal in recovery phase? My pressures immediately after surgery were normal 110/75 range. They went up after the fluid in the lungs ordeal and they started me on pregnisone.

Starting week 5 of recovery. I had no idea it would take this long to begin to feel ok again. I am walking 2+ miles each day and that is about all I can do. I feel pretty good in the mornings but I still get tired by the end of the day. I was able to sleep the entire night ( well until 5:00 am) in my normal bed. It hurts the chest a little but that is probably good as it is stretching out the scar tissue. Deep breaths still cause some discomfort and coughing really hurts. I see a cardiologist on Tuesday and hope to begin cardio rehab at this time. Still trying to stop all pain meds. But they help sleeping so much that I probably will continue them at nights for a while. I definitely can see improvement each day now and that is comforting.

Heading to Chicago (NMH) for my three week post-op checkup. I will see the surgeons nurse. My cardiologist. And get an MRI. Everything is feeling good so I expect only good news. Able to walk over 2 miles a day and my heart rate is dropping. However my blood pressure is increasing also. Going to have a nice steak dinner at RL's with a Napa cab tonight.

Home from second stay in hospital due to fluid in my left lung. Almost spent as long in hospital due to this as the original surgery. They wanted to be sure there was no infection as I kept running a fever. But better now. Still coughing all the time. Slept last night flat in a normal bed and I think it helped to clear up my lungs. I have no explanation as to why. But I am going to retire the recliner for the evenings and only use it for day-time golf napping with the cat. I go to Chicago tomorrow for follow-up MRI and dr consultations. I hope it is the final review with the surgeon. Then just more recovery time and rest. Walked 1.5 miles today with no real issues. Will try to add another 1.5 this afternoon and then build from there.

After being admitted due to liquid in the lungs I am feeling better and ready to roll out of here. They extracted 1+ liter of fluid I had some significant pain in the side where the did the extraction. Slight breaths caused severe pain. Very sharp and localized. Dr's seem to think it is normal. I don't see anything normal about someone shoving a needle int o my lungs and pumping a bunch of fluid out. I hope it is done. I sleeppt of K but still gave side cramps where the needle went in. We find out today if there is ant infection. That goes along with the fluid.

After discussing risks vs benefits with the dr I decided to go forward with the extraction. The risk of leaving potentially infected liquids in there can be severe. They took out 1 liter of reddish liquid. Looks like a lot when I saw it. Everything seemed ok for the first hour. But then severe side cramps and pain taking anything but shallow breaths. This doesn't seem normal. Can't get the dr back in the room Just more pain killers and a muscle relaxant. See how I sleep tonight

I was still coughing so I went to my local doctor they did some x-rays found fluid in my left lung determine that I should check into the ER of the local hospital where they admitted me. They're doing some cultures and then plan on extracting some fluid from my Lung space tomorrow. It sounds like the fluid may go away on its own and is a natural part of the operation. So I'm not convinced i want them shoving a needle into my back to extract the fluid - anyone have any opinions on that?

I have started to develop a persistent cough. Nothing coming up yet. No high fever. Just 99.8 or so. It is a deep cough and wonder if it is just part of the healing process or a sign of trouble?

14 days post-surgery and ready fo a nice glass of wine. I can't recall any contraindications for alcohol. I'm not operating any heavy equipment. Anyone else see any reason not to have a bottle of wine at this point?

Still sleeping in a recliner. I only get about 4-6 hours of sleep a night and not in a row. Usually awake from 3-4 am then a few more hours of sleep after that. Hesitant to use any sleep aids as my objective is to get off all medication as soon as possible. Each evening I get a low grade fever running up to 100.8. It breaks over the night but causes excessive sweating and discomfort. Drs don't seem concerned. Relate it to my body being anemic and recovering. Hope it goes away soon. I can feel my heart thumping when I breathe. If I take a deep breath there is a clear and unsettling thumping coming from my sternum. It is something I am going to ask the surgeon about during my follow-up check. Now I guess it is the time to relax. Don't do anything stupid to damage the repairing sternum. Don't get sick and generally just chill for a few weeks.

Day 6 after surgery. I was discharged from the hospital on Friday (day 4). Seems ridiculously early to me. I was ok with it, but I still didn't feel really comfortable yet. Some fevers ( 99.7), high heart rate (110 - 120) and some lower blood pressure readings made me feel a little anxious. But I didn't really feel bad, and all the doctors said I looked good, could walk some stairs, etc.. So it was Ok to go. We (my wife and I) decided to stay three additional days in the Chicago hotel to be near the hospital incase something went wrong. I spent Friday night in the hotel, couldn't sleep on the flat bed, the chair was designed as a torture device for 6' 2" medieval knights. The sofa would suck me into the corner where I couldn't move without aid or splitting my sternum. So on Sat we headed home to DSM to a recliner and our cat. We got here at 1:00 am, unloaded and I sat down in that chair and slept solid until 7:30. missed one whole season of pain meds. It was bliss and much needed. I will need to arrange to get the additional INR testing done here on Monday, but that will be a breeze. Most terrible symptoms and pains have gone away. Still some issues breathing and sweating but otherwise I can feel the body getting better now. INR: My INR was at 1.1 when I went into the hospital. After being on warfarin for about 4 days it went to 1.2 then back to 1.1. I'm not too concerned about it yet, but want to be sure that I get it trending in the right direction. Which it is not yet.

Out of surgery. Working with the spirometer. Tubes are out. Steady rhythm. I use a cpap machine and can't get a reasonable answer as to if that is a good thing right now. I can breath better with it. Not as much pain. But when I use it at night I can breath well no pain. But then I turn it off and it is really hard to breath for an hour or two.

Getting ready to head to Northwestern Memorial Hospital for the surgery - Aortic valve (C-E Perimount Magna Ease 3300) and a aortic root/ascending aorta replacement. A little nervous but not too bad. Really ready to get started recovering, instead of just waiting.