Ken's Journal

Patsy Stewart  So thankful for your post! Sounds like you were blessed that they did the surgery when they did. That’s totally amazing that the valve came off like that, and also a very scary thought. I hope you continue to progress uneventfully with your recovery, and sail through cardiac rehab with no hitches. ~❤️

  Wow Ken, congratulations! I have not stopped praying for you and now I’m glad you posted. Glad all is going well for you and wish you continued good health and smooth recovery.

Susan Lynn  Good for you, Ken! The goal is in sight! You've selected a top surgeon and world-class facility; you'll be putting your procedure in the rearview mirror, soon, You've got this!

Susan Lynn  Ken - I'm sure you'll get a response from one of our heart warriors. We have all had our coronary arteries checked before undergoing our valve procedures. I guess they figure while they're in the neighborhood, they might as well fix everything. My guess is that your recovery will be similar to those who have sternotomies with a single procedure. The discomfort we feel after surgery has to do with the entry, close, and positions during surgery. The soreness is very controlled with just Tylenol in many cases.
You should be back to life's great adventures in a few weeks. Remember- walk, rest, repeat. They're the keys to getting back to the fun stuff in your life. You've got this! ❤

Craig Atwater  Ken -- I needed to replace my aortic valve (severe/critical stenosis) and the cardiac catheterization showed that I had significant blockage in the main artery to the heart. The surgeon performed 2 CABGs (Cardiac Artery Bypass Grafts) while also doing my valve replacement. So a full sternotomy with all that entails. I am 70 years old and was considered to be in OK-enough shape that I was a good candidate for the proceedure. Using this website and what others have written as a baseline, my recovery has been the same or better. I am 3 months post surgery and have had no complications and experienced very manageable pain. The drug regimen may be somewhat more extensive, but I have no basis for comparison. I'd be happy to answer any further questions you have.

E Taub  Just had same situation but I got to have a triple bypass. For me making recovery a little slower but no additional Discomfort. I was only on pain pill for 4 or 5 days and then fine with Tylenol.

Holly Hart  Hi Ken, I too will be having a Heart catheter procedure in the morning and will meet with the surgeon regarding my Mitral Valve. They feel they will be able to repair vs replace so I hope it can be. I hope all goes well with your tests tomorrow.

Susan Lynn  Ken - Best of luck! They're both easy procedures - think clean arteries! The TEE may also tell you if you're eligible for a repair rather than a replacement. Most mitral valves can be repaired by experienced surgeons. If you don't have any blockages, you may also be eligible for a minimally-invasive entry. Please keep us posted! ❤

Theresa Miller  Both of these tests caused me needless anxiety. They were both a snap, although I don't remember them very well:)

Else Reed  Are you sure you need replacement, not repair? If possible, check out repair, do you will not have to be on blood thinners for the rest of your life

Deena Z  Hi Ken, you really have been threw a lot of surgeries and chronic issues. The mitral valve repair/replace will, indeed, be much easier. That said, I agree with Else regarding repairs. With an experienced surgeon (high mitral valve repair surgery volume, great outcomes), most mitral valves can be repaired, not replaced. And if you have no calcification on your mitral valve nor other heart related issues such as a clogged artery, then your surgery can be preformed usually minimally invasively. I had severe calcification and three areas of linkages on my mitral valve and had it repaired in NYC. There are incredible surgeons in Southern California. I would check on this website for the best one for a mitral valve repair, including at
USC. You can use the search function on the website. Take care and tell us how it goes and we will help you along the way!

Cameron Peek  I would recommend Adam’s book to help with the process. He has it well broken down step by step. As you will read here often try to find a surgeon specialist in MV repair. The waiting is hard.

Lisa Coombe  The waiting is the hard part, I’ve waited 8 months and my surgery is 5 days away (I’m in Australia so it’s Wednesday now) best group of people to support you through this journey

Dylan Kempers  Ken, I had robotics MV repair 5 weeks ago at Cedars-Sinai in LA. Let me know if you would like more details about my experience.

Ken Ferber  Thanks all so much. Allow me to address your points. The determination for replacement was made during my emergency stay at UCLA in March. Since then, my breathing has become far more challenged. The surgeon I will be using has performed over 10,000 cardiac surgeries and is the chief thoracic surgeon at UCLA. Additionally, in a few weeks, I will be having an angiogram and a transesophageal echocardiogram which will provide a more definitive diagnosis. Of course, I will post the results. And I deeply grateful for all of your comments and concern. I was so spoiled in my cancer treatment at City of Hope in terms of support systems, so your interest in my care is warmly appreciated.