Just thinking about my aortic valve replacement surgery which was 3 years ago tomorrow. Despite issues regulating my INR level, I feel way better physically ...Read more
Just thinking about my aortic valve replacement surgery which was 3 years ago tomorrow. Despite issues regulating my INR level, I feel way better physically
than prior to the surgery. The whole process from accepting the reality of needing valve replacement, pre-surgery testing and preparations, surgery, to recovery and cardiac rehab was a real journey but, thank God, it went wit
hout a hitch for me. I wish everyone going through this process has the experience I had.
Catie B Wonderful report, James! I'm glad for your great update!
15 days post-op today. Yesterday was the first day with zero painkillers. The place on my neck where there were tube and wires bothers me more than the incision ...Read more
15 days post-op today. Yesterday was the first day with zero painkillers. The place on my neck where there were tube and wires bothers me more than the incision site. My insurance is paying for a daily visit from a visiting nurse. Yesterday I had a little setback, i.e. low blood pressure and dizziness, my heart rate was higher than its been which was already higher than before the surgery. Also, extreme (for me) fatigue. I have an appointment with my cardiologist this afternoon and hope he can sort all this out for me.
Peggy Whitecotton I had that happen too it was the medication I was on. I was afraid it was my new valve but it wasn't. ... Read more
Peggy Whitecotton I had that happen too it was the medication I was on. I was afraid it was my new valve but it wasn't.
Petey Bello James, Sorry you are having some issues, we all seem to have some bumps in the road. Glad you are abl ... Read more
Petey Bello James, Sorry you are having some issues, we all seem to have some bumps in the road. Glad you are able to have a visiting nurse, I'm sure that is a big relief. Good luck!
A week ago tonight I was in CICU, breathing tube, etc. Today I was able to walk around the block once in the morning and once just a few minutes. A visiting ...Read more
A week ago tonight I was in CICU, breathing tube, etc. Today I was able to walk around the block once in the morning and once just a few minutes. A visiting nurse came by this morning and will come every day for a week to check vitals and assess my recovery. I meet with the surgeon tomorrow for the first time since discharge. It's weird for me in that this whole journey seems like a dream. When I think about the work that was done on my stopped heart I get a little overwhelmed and have to put those thoughts aside. I guess at some point, I'll be able to process this.
Franklin Wyrick Sounds as though you are doing well James, I was just ahead of you in surgery, June 2nd. I wish you ... Read more
Franklin Wyrick Sounds as though you are doing well James, I was just ahead of you in surgery, June 2nd. I wish you well and keep walking.
Linda Yaff Sounds like you are recovering well. My surgery is the 27th and it's great to hear you are up and ar ... Read more
Linda Yaff Sounds like you are recovering well. My surgery is the 27th and it's great to hear you are up and around in a week! Keep up the great work!
Michael Meyer It is an awesome feeling. Keep walking.
Wanda Mroz It is a surreal feeling.... 10 months post op and I marvel at what I went through and got through as ... Read more
Wanda Mroz It is a surreal feeling.... 10 months post op and I marvel at what I went through and got through as well. Glad things are going well! 💞
Richard Puckett Five days, that's what I'm planning on! Great news!
Franklin Wyrick Great news, James. I had aortic valve and ascending aorta replacement on June 2nd. Came home on the ... Read more
Franklin Wyrick Great news, James. I had aortic valve and ascending aorta replacement on June 2nd. Came home on the 7th and am now walking 2 miles a day. You will do great.
Clare Auten I have one in the aortic position. Ticking away since 1/9/2014.
Kate Watson I have two- both my mitral and aortic valves! I am just 8 weeks post op. My Coumadin level is star ... Read more
Kate Watson I have two- both my mitral and aortic valves! I am just 8 weeks post op. My Coumadin level is starting to stabilize and I'm adjusting to the sounds of my new valves.
James Waller I understand that this valve requires a lower level of blood thinners. Has this been your experience ... Read more
James Waller I understand that this valve requires a lower level of blood thinners. Has this been your experience?
Denise Campbell I take 5 mg a day on sun, mon, wed, Thursday, sat and 2.5 mg tues and fri. It will depend on your v ... Read more
Denise Campbell I take 5 mg a day on sun, mon, wed, Thursday, sat and 2.5 mg tues and fri. It will depend on your vitamin k intake and how your body clots or metabolizes They can adjust to your diet
Clare Auten My target INR is 1.8 - 2.4. This is lower than others I think. I have been on the same dose for almos ... Read more
Clare Auten My target INR is 1.8 - 2.4. This is lower than others I think. I have been on the same dose for almost a year. My surgeon's assistant did say that in Europe the On-X valve has been approved for anticoagulation with a 325 mg aspirin. The FDA has not gotten there yet.
James Waller Thanks for the input. At my surgeon's suggestion, I Google "On-x" valve and went to the valve manufa ... Read more
James Waller Thanks for the input. At my surgeon's suggestion, I Google "On-x" valve and went to the valve manufacturer's website. Very interesting and informative. Of course they make their product seem like the greatest thing since sliced bread. My surgeon said this would be the valve he would use and seemed pretty enthusiastic about this valve. The thought of going through additional procedures in the future to deal with the aortic valve after a tissue valve starts to wear out sort of seals the deal for a mechanical valve, at least for me. I think I'll be o.k. dealing with whatever blood thinners I have to use.
Meredith Bray Be careful what you Google! My first-ever search for the valve my surgeon prefers came back as http:/ ... Read more
Meredith Bray Be careful what you Google! My first-ever search for the valve my surgeon prefers came back as http://www.onyxvalve.com/. I couldn't help but laugh! Anyway... I have an OnX valve, and am happy with it - but then again, I don't have anything to compare it to. About a year after my surgery I received a letter from OnX to give to my cardiologist letting him know the the FDA approved a lower INR for OnX recipients. My target range is 1.5-2.5. My nurse and I both prefer to keep it above 2.0 just in case. Yes, it ticks (most of them do...) but I've gotten used to it. OnX also will send you promo stuff if you call them and ask. Best of luck!
-Meredith
Met with surgeon Mark Connolly this afternoon and I'm scheduled for aortic valve replacement & aortic root repaIr June 7. Mechanical valve vs. tissue valve ...Read more
Met with surgeon Mark Connolly this afternoon and I'm scheduled for aortic valve replacement & aortic root repaIr June 7. Mechanical valve vs. tissue valve still up in the air. Dr. explained pros and cons for each. I have a friend who is now 72 and has had a metal valve for nearly 20 yrs. but has struggled with blood thinners the whole time. Dr. told me the new metal valves don't require the high levels that the older valves did. I'm turning 65 in July but I am in pretty good shape. My family history is good, everyone seems to get into their mid-80's, early 90's. The thought of going through another surgery in my 80's disturbed me bit being on blood thinners is also a concern. Any advice?
Emily Rowley With you needing an aortic root repair will need to be taken into consideration, therefore I would be ... Read more
Emily Rowley With you needing an aortic root repair will need to be taken into consideration, therefore I would be asking more information from Surgeon. Especially as we have different heart anatomy and one part can effect other parts such as with my case-what I have for my Mitral Valve will effect my Aortic (possibly pushing up into it due to the closeness and my anatomy). Also what do you feel comfortable with.
Steven A Husted OPEN HEART SURGERY SCARED ME TO DEATH BUT NOW I AM ON THE OTHER SIDE I COULD DO IT AGAIN IF I HAD TO ... Read more
Steven A Husted OPEN HEART SURGERY SCARED ME TO DEATH BUT NOW I AM ON THE OTHER SIDE I COULD DO IT AGAIN IF I HAD TO IT IS NOT THAT BAD AND I AM 67 YEARS OLD I STARTED OUT WITH WANTING THE LONGEVITY OF THE MECHANICAL BUT THEN I HEARD THAT THEY COULD FAIL TO PLUS THE IDEA OF A BLEED OUT SCARED ME AND THE TICKING AND THE DIET WITH THE ADVICE OF MY DOCTOR I CHOSE A BOVINE VALVE AND I AM GLAD I DID BECAUSE BY THE TIME I NEED A REPLACEMENT I CAN USE THE TAVR AND EVEN IF I HAD TO HAVE OHS AGAIN NOW I KNOW I COULD DO IT AGAIN WITH OUT THE FEAR OF CHECKING OUT IT IS A PERSONAL DECISION BUT FOR ME I DONT THINK I COULD PUT UP WITH THE INR TROUBLE AND BLOOD THINNERS HOPE THIS HELPS SOMEONE
Cathleen Weed I'm sure that if you get a tissue valve now you will qualify for TAVR later should you need another r ... Read more
Cathleen Weed I'm sure that if you get a tissue valve now you will qualify for TAVR later should you need another replacement. TAVR won't be an option if the mechanical valve fails, and of course the blood thinners..ugh. I would ask about that.
Cathleen Weed Joanna..Depends on your valve size...that's why surgeons are starting to implant larger tissue valves ... Read more
Cathleen Weed Joanna..Depends on your valve size...that's why surgeons are starting to implant larger tissue valves during the first OHS in anticipation of TAVR later. My native valve happened to be quite large to begin with..and my last OHS tissue valve was a 27...and they do a slightly smaller one than the original when they do TAVR since it's squeezing in...so this bovine is now a 25...which means I have plenty of space to go and could get more no problem as long as it continues on this path. Right now they don't see any issue with it. In fact, at my Cedars Sinai appt last Thursday they said "maybe we will find out what the record number of valve in valves will be" lol. I don't worry much about it. Just happy it was an option :) Who knows what they will come up with in the future!
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Had a TEE on Tuesday, confirmed "severe aortic stenosis" and disclosed an anurism in the "aortic root"(?). I meet with the surgeon on 5/31 and suppose a surgery ...Read more
Had a TEE on Tuesday, confirmed "severe aortic stenosis" and disclosed an anurism in the "aortic root"(?). I meet with the surgeon on 5/31 and suppose a surgery date will be scheduled then. This is starting to become real to me, not just tests, but surgery and I'm starting to get very nervous (apprehensive) about this.
Peggy Whitecotton Of course you are and know exactly how you feel. My cardiologist had been mentoring my aortic valve f ... Read more
Peggy Whitecotton Of course you are and know exactly how you feel. My cardiologist had been mentoring my aortic valve for years was always showing mild on the echo , in fact I had actually convinced myself that it was not going to happen to me. So when the symptoms started I went into denial, blamed it all on my age and my weight. So when my valve went to severe in one year I saw the surgeon. Had a heart cath and a TEE which showed my valve had gone from severe to critical in just a few weeks. My valve was completely closed and was leaking I almost waited too long. But I am now 9 months post op feeling great. It is so amazing what medical science can do today. My grand mother died at 55 years old with the same heart problem as mine because there was no OHS back then. Peace and blessings
Duane Beeman James: On June 9 of last year I went in for replacement of a severely stenotic aortic valve. Ever ... Read more
Duane Beeman James: On June 9 of last year I went in for replacement of a severely stenotic aortic valve. Everything that could go wrong, did go wrong. My point is, I'm still here typing this. My aorta actually began to come apart during surgery (dissection) and a portion of it had to be replaced. I had a stroke during surgery, I had pulmonary embolisms. I spent 27 days in the hospital (23 in ICU) and when it was over I walked out of there (well, I had some help) but I made it. You can't possibly hit the "bad luck" lotto that I hit. You'll be like most others and pop out the other end of this just fine. I'm feeling pretty normal today and enjoying a sunny weekend in Northern Michigan. You're allowed to be nervous, but don't let it overcome you. It's time to get your game face on and do what you have to do. Always remember that there are people out there who have problems that cannot be fixed. They go to bed every night wishing that they were you. You'll be a different man when this is over, but my guess is you'll be a better man. Hang in there.
Tina Maroon Best of luck to you in your surgery James. I know that has got to be scary. Duane I had my surgery ... Read more
Tina Maroon Best of luck to you in your surgery James. I know that has got to be scary. Duane I had my surgery on June 9,2015 too. Wow that is cool to know someone else who had surgery on my same date of surgery. Wishing I could meet up with some of the people who had their Open Heart Surgery a year ago.
James Waller I so appreciate the encouraging words from everyone. I read Duane's prior posts and enjoyed his can ... Read more
James Waller I so appreciate the encouraging words from everyone. I read Duane's prior posts and enjoyed his candor and humor about a difficult and challenging situation. I hope I can go through this process with the same attitude.