Lisa's Journal

Hi All. I had my surgery 1 week ago today on 10/28/21. I now have the On-X mechanical aortic valve, and according to my surgeon, a perfectly fashioned Dacron graft in place of my ascending aortic aneurysm. Surgery went well. I was moved from ICU the next morning after walking the hall, built up my laps in the CV Step Down unit, and was discharged home on Monday, 11/1. All of the staff at St. Luke's Hospital were outstanding, and I had excellent care. It is SO GREAT to be home. We have had some beautiful and cool fall days here, so I am walking my laps inside in the mornings and out in the driveway when it is a little warmer in the afternoons. I am at 17 minute walks today. I feel grateful each day for all the love, support, and prayers from my cheering section of family and friends, as well as everyone on this site who wished me well. I send my best wishes to all of you who are waiting for your surgery, recovering from surgery, or well beyond surgery and living life.

I had my pre-surgery cath yesterday. It went smoothly and looked great, so that's one less thing to worry about. I am still working through the decision making process on tissue vs mechanical for the aortic valve replacement, and it's very stressful. I know it's an entirely personal decision, but I'm just struggling with it. Just as I feel I'm settling in on one, I learn something else and swing toward the other. What is currently occupying space in my head is the potential effect of warfarin on progression of age-related macular degeneration, of which I have some family history and worry about it for myself. I just learned about the Visivite AREDS2 E-free product for people on anticoagulant who can't take Preservision AREDS2, so I'm relieved to hear that option exists if/when I needed. However, if anyone out there is familiar, or has AMD and is taking warfarin, any feedback would be greatly appreciated with regard to possible worsening of AMD related to warfarin use. Thanks.

I am not a social media person and have never been into posting details of my life, but I came upon this community within the past couple weeks in a state of total despair after learning I will need surgery. I really did think and hope I'd be one of the few lucky ones who'd keep my bicuspid aortic valve stable and skate through life without surgery. I take very good care of myself and have been asymptomatic. So, the shock of learning that my ascending aorta enlargement had reached a point of concern really hit me hard. As I have been researching and reading the success stories on this site, I have been inspired, and those success stories from this community are helping my outlook to be more positive. I am scheduled for surgery on 10/28/21. I have been sad, terrified, nervous, anxious, worried, and generally freaked out. But, I work each day to find a little acceptance, optimism, and calmness. I know the next 3 weeks will go quickly and there is no getting around how scary this is, but I am encouraged to know how many people out there have gone through this and are doing great.