Greg 's Journal

It's been 7 months since my valve replacement and thought I'd stop in and post an update.

My recovery has been going well. I haven’t felt better in years. I've had some work to do. But that sure beats the alternative.

8 weeks into recovery, I had put on even more weight. Eating frequently and not getting much exercise while I let my body heal. Going back to work after 12 weeks I was as heavy as I've even been.


I started a moderate diet at that time. I lost 5 lbs the 1st month. I had started monitoring my blood glucose levels since my sugar level spiked big a little before and definitely after the surgery. Requiring insulin injections while hospital bound was shocking to me.

I talked to my primary car doc and they suggested a diet change to include eliminating refined sugar, complex carbs and intermittent fasting.

After a fair bit of research, eventually, beginning September 1st, tapering down to one meal a day without sugar and low carbs. I've lost 40lbs since then and my blood glucose levels have come back around to normal levels.

In the last month, I've been disiplined enough to walk 2-3 miles everyday. Also doing a good deal of stretching and some light weight resistance training.
I was just in to see my primary care doc yesterday. My labs look fantastic..including A1C. My heart and lungs sounded good and was told whatever I was doing to keep doing it.

I have to credit my darling wife in all this too. She is super at cooking the foods she knows I can have. And she won't let me slack on those days I'd rather not venture outside for my walk.

All in all, I'm very blessed. All the doctors, nurses and technology that have allowed me to be optimistic about my future deserve tons of credit. This site was also extremely helpful and I'm grateful it existed to help answer my many questions. And a wonderful, supportive wife who has been a great caretaker and continues to have my love and admiration.

Best wishes to you all for a healthy and prosperous 2023!

Just completed my 30 day echo and the new valve is functioning excellent! Cleared to drive and pain med free for awhile now. Not even a Tylenol for the last week.

Incision is healing well although there is an occasional itch. I'm out of the recliner and back to sleeping through the entire night in my bed.

Getting in a couple mile and a half walks per day. Breathing well and no longer have that pressure band feeling around my chest when a grade elevates my heart rate.

Grateful for how things are going

Out of surgery on a Tuesday and home Friday.  4 days from arrival to departure is better than I imagined. 

Full sternotomy that wasn't as traumatic as I anticipated.  After getting a good look inside, my surgeon determined my aorta was fine.  He had warned me that although it was inside the guidelines for intervention, there may be some disease and he was prepared to address it if needed.

My first day home after surgery and I'm doing my best to stay active with the spirometer and short walks. 

Very pleased with how things have gone so far.

Out of Surgery. Surgeon was happy how it went. Says my heart is in good shape and didn't need to work on the aorta.

2cnd day and most of the tubes have been removed and now in a regular room.

It's my last weekend before surgery.  Mostly ready and just going to enjoy the next few days.  I had my usual breakfast with friends this morning and going to hang out with a few more Sunday night.  

My profile photo includes my wonderful bride.  She's such a pleasure to have in my life, especially at a time like this.  
We've been together many years now.  But only officially married less than a month ago.  

See, we had a large wedding planned May of 2020. Covid hit right before and the wedding had to be cancelled with only about a month to go.   Family flying in from out of town, venue, catering, flowers..all had to be cancelled.

We were talking about a reschedule of our wedding when my last echo changed our plans again.
So while it wasn't the wedding I wanted to give her, we did get married in a very nice civil service.  
I've promised her a ceremony with all our friends and family to show her off in her beautiful dress.  
I'm looking forward to posting those photos once the task at hand is completed.

Continuing My Valve Story.....
I was sent to see an Interventional Cardiologist for testing and consultation concerning a TAVR valve procedure. I had my first ever CT scan. The technology is amazing! Later that day, We discussed my options while looking at a "this is you" 3D model of cardio system. Although TAVR was this doctor's specialty, he was suggesting a SAVR...leaning towards a mechanical valve. I have a Sievers Type 0 Bicuspid Aortic Valve that is extremely oval and his opinion was a TAVR valve would most likely leak. An appointment with a cardiac surgeon was scheduled along with a Coronary Angiogram.
A big THANKS to this site and many other resources on the internet. I spent nearly every waking moment researching my options. When I met with my Surgeon, I had a list of questions and over a dozen valve options. My objections to a mechanical valve were replaced by an openness after investigating the ON-X valve. Still, I wanted his thoughts on a tissue valve.
When I asked for his thoughts on a tissue valve he just barely got the word Inspiris out of his mouth when I finished his sentence with Resilia. He considered this a very good option for me and I was delighted as I had secretly hoped for this valve option while remaining open to what ever he considered to be the best option. He went on to explain the benefits he believed made this valve a good choice. Although my aorta measures under the guidelines for intervention, I'm told it often goes hand in hand with the irregular bicuspid valve. He'll be prepared to address aorta problems should there be any integrity questions while he's there.  It was a very positive meeting and it ended after he asks when I wanted to get this done. "The sooner the better."
That meeting was last Monday. This coming Monday is Memorial Day. I report for pre-surgery admission the following Monday. Along with my fantastic wife, we've been in a mad dash to prepare for my post-op home recovery. The prospect of returned energy and stamina is exciting!