Jeff's Journal

I am 11 years post new bovine valve. I’m 69 years old. I know i’m going to need a new valve because I plan to live a while and stay active into……well as long as my higher power gives me.


My question. can i pick the time for my new valve or do i have to wait till it picks me? maybe i should ask my surgeon Dr Shemin at UCLA.

just wondering if anyone had similar thoughts. Thank you everyone for keeping this community going and especially thanks Adam

on August 11 it will have been 12 years since i had my aortic valve replaced at UCLA. I am 69 now and feel great. I am so grateful for Adam because if he had not started this site, because he loves to help others, I never would have understood my disease nor found my Dr. Thank you Adam you have made many many people happy with the work you do…. not only for the patients, their wives and kids, but every other person that that has person touches is connected back to you and even all the drs who are touched by your love and dedication who take that gift to their patients and their families. I would conservatively estimate that you have touched over a million people. WAY OVER. Keep it up Adam and let’s pray we all KEEP ON TICKING

The past year saw some tremendous mental and emotional challenges and breakthroughs I would never have thought would come to pass. I stopped a 40 year bad habit and I brought my 2 sons together after 15 years. I have a new staff at work and my wife and I are happy as ever. We are on a 2 week trip with our family to Club Med Punta Cana. My health is great and my scar is literally invisible. Thank you Adam for this resource and all the time you have devoted to all of us and especially to those who don\'t even know how much you are going to help them in the future. Peace

Hi folks Its hard to imagine what I have accomplished in the past year but it started when i googled the words \"aortic valve replacement surgery\" and found Adam\'s site. From that I learned what my problems were and what I had to do about them. it opened my eyes to my health and survuval in a way no dr had been able to. I searched this site to locate my great surgeon, Dr. Richard Shemin. Since the surgery I have come back to almost 100%--the only thing I have not done is Martial arts and submission grappling. Most people say I should have not have been doing that even without my heart condition. Last weekend I did a 20 mile mountain bike ride in Kernville with my son. I was the last one up the hill but my heart rate was around 140. Not 200 like it was before the surgery. I was among the first downhill though. We did 2 runs down the Kern river in inflatable kayacks. This week I am in Aruba with my family for our yearly scuba diving trip. Last summer was the first one I mised in 8 years. I plan to do 10-15 dives. I am doing real well physically and mentally and best of all I have a non leaking aortic valve which means I won\'t die from congestive heart failure like I was probably going to do in 5-10 years without the surgery I had. So to all you who are facing this problem and wrestling with the choices you have to make trust your instincts and do your homework. Things will get better. Take action and be happy . All the best. Jeff

Hi Friends. Recently saw my cardiologist for a checkup. When I last saw him I had terrible shoulder pain which I attributed to the large dose of a statin drug I was on. We started Crestor .25@ day and after 3 months everything looks great. Started Accupuncture and body work on my shoulders and they are 80% better. I now am sure it was the incision that altered my anatomy ever so slightly and caused the pain. I have gone snowboarding plus played golf, surf kayaking and yoga and am back in the gym. I saw the dr yesterday and he was very pleased with the drop in my cholesterol levels and said my EEG looked great. He stopped one of the 3 heart drugs I have been on (amniodorone) and hopefully in 30 days will stop another. Happy Year of the Dragon to everyone. All good things to everyone Jeff

Hi Friends. I\'m 4 months post surgery. I completed 30 sessions of rehab at UCLA which included jogging. I recommend rehab to everyone. I put in a full day of snowboarding yesterday and today with my son and I feel great . i still need to loose a little body fat and I think the surgery affected my shoulder anatomy so both my shoulders hurt but all in all the surgery was a complete success. Its been a great year Hope everyone has a great holiday and an even better 2012

Well I haven\'t written in 7 weeks-- the week before my surgery. The procedure went great. I was in the hospital 5 days. what an incredible place UCLA is spectacular is all i can say about the staff and the facility Got a new valve, a small scar and a few holes but I am doing great now. Walking, driving, working and looking forward to new energy. I had my stress echo last week and was cleared for everything BUT HE said start slow. So that is why I am going to get in a rehab program so I can be monitored and pushed at the same time. I suggest that for all who can get in it. I saw a picture of my old (removed,diseased) valve and the new valve in place. Dr Shemin signed the photo \" Valves By Shemin\". What a great guy. He saved my life. We all have so much to be thankful for with the people who care for us and help us that we need to be looking for ways to give back and help. In whatever small or large way we can. Wishing all my heart friends a happy and a healthy New Year and all your dreams and hopes should come true.

i am less than a week to my surgery i spoke again to dr Shemin\'s assistant and she told me the dr had my echo reviewed by the worlds best echo reviewer and he agreed i needed the replacement as planned. my earlier post about the cardiologist who tried to torpedo my surgery was correct. i have to get a chest echo and labs and another test at ucla next wed and dental clearance that am (to make sure i have no infections) and then to the hosp at 5 am on thurs today i am going to the back store to check out those great recliners and try and buy one used on the internet. got some walkie talkies so i don\'t have to yell for my wife too. take care all and have a great weekend

it\'s Thursday and in one week at this moment iwill probably be on my way to the OR. I am nervous and excited. The cardiologist who did my angiogram last week ( I don\'t need bypass) tried to sabotage my surgery telling my surgeon my leak wasn\'t that bad. He never said anything to me in the OR about that and I was very angry that he would go behind my back like that. After speaking with the surgeon again and asking him to review my TAA again while sewers on the phone he agreed we would do the surgery as planned. Some Drs are just stuffed shirts that think their opinions out weigh those of the patients and that they don\'t really need to take what\'s best for THAT patient into account. And most people would be happy to hear a dr say \" I have good news. You might not need the surgery now after all\". The moral is you must be your own advocate cause no one else will be. Talk to you soon

I am interested in finding out if anyone went or was placed on a special pre surgery diet not specifically for weight loss or due to some other condition. Just something to speed the recovery. Thanks