Kathryn's Posts

This is a great question Kathryn. Fyi, next weekend I'm going to attend The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Conference. I will do my best to get you some feedback from the surgeon's perspective about their techniques and their thoughts on any research regarding the patient experience. That said, I'm hopeful some of the women in our community may respond to you directly about their experiences. Stay tuned!

Hi Kathryn, I had a mini aortic valve replacement May 2024, so I am 8 months post-surgery. I of course have nothing to compare it too, but I found the procedure to be great. The recovery was good. I would say 90 days post surgery I was feeling like my old self again. The first few months my heart rate and blood pressure bounced around a lot, but I was told this is normal as your heart is recalibrating with the new valve. I don't seem to have any nerve damage and as for pain, I would say it was minimal and my scar is about 1 inch. So, pretty remarkable all in all. If I can answer anything else let me know.

Adam, Can you please ask some questions about Tricuspid regurgitation and if it is always best to wait until it is at the severe stage, I really want to know if what I am being told and advised is the best advice. It is so difficult getting straight answers for Tricuspid. Thank you, Kim

Kathryn, I am not a women but had minimally invasive valve replacement and it went well. I was walking the day of the procedure and discharged 4 days later. I took only tynenol for pain and that was only for a week. I did what my doctors said. Two months post surgery I was able to become the caregiver to my wife what broke her heel and was on crutches not able to do anything for 3 to 4 months. You got this, just do what the doctors tell you and get active post and pre surgery. Good luck on your journey

My particular surgeon does rigid fixation based on a larger body type. I was/am heavy but not in the obese category, so I was at the low end of when he would agree to do it. As I understand it, some docs are not as stringent. I believe I have a couple wires plus several plates (rigid fixation). No problem with either. PS I think I was told they still did a couple wires in case they had to get back in quickly.

I've opted to go the rigid fixation route with Dr. Marc Gerdisch on April 2nd. I haven't really been given any options for minimally invasive surgery from any of my consults, so the rigid fixation looks much more appealing from a recovery standpoint. I have 3 valves that need repair and/or replacement as well as a bypass and possibly a completion of a mini-maze procedure that I've already had. Open heart/thoracotomy is my only choice. Rigid fixation just seems to make more sense.

I was on a Medicare advantage plan when I had mitral valve repair at the Cleveland Clinic. They had no issues with my advantage plan. My total out-of-pocket for the surgery was $200. Some of the pre-surgery testing had copays but the charges were less that $100 in total if I remember correctly.