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 ...Read more
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.
Holly Wale Lisa - such great news! Thanks for sharing! Way to go!
Rose Madura Sounds like you are making great progress. Congratulations and may the rest of your recovery be unev ... Read more
Rose Madura Sounds like you are making great progress. Congratulations and may the rest of your recovery be uneventful.
Ginny Turner Wonderful to read your great update, Lisa! Congratulations on having your surgery behind you and best ... Read more
Ginny Turner Wonderful to read your great update, Lisa! Congratulations on having your surgery behind you and best wishes as you recover. Your post is so encouraging.
Sara Latina Great to hear it was a success and how well you are doing. Keep it up!
Congratulations on your successful surgery and how well your recovery is going. God bless you
Colleen Fisher Thanks for sharing your journey. You are just a bit ahead of me and when I read your posts they are ... Read more
Colleen Fisher Thanks for sharing your journey. You are just a bit ahead of me and when I read your posts they are my thoughts too. I'm so happy your surgery went well and you are recovering. Prayers and hugs for you.
Jay Heagerty Great to hear your surgery went well and you are in recovery mode! congratulations and continued succ ... Read more
Jay Heagerty Great to hear your surgery went well and you are in recovery mode! congratulations and continued success. I had pretty much the same surgery in August.
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 ...Read more
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.
Marie Myers The choice of tissue verses mechanical valve was the hardest decision I ever had to make. Also, I Wis ... Read more
Marie Myers The choice of tissue verses mechanical valve was the hardest decision I ever had to make. Also, I Wish I had some info on the macular degeneration and warfarin issue, but I cannot help you there. Wishing you some peace during your waiting period for surgery!
Cameron Peek My mother in law has macular and her blood thinners for a fib are making it progress much faster and ... Read more
Cameron Peek My mother in law has macular and her blood thinners for a fib are making it progress much faster and treatment less effective
Tom Everson I have Macula Degeneration ( since 2009 ) and had a aortic valve replacement 14 months ago (Tissue va ... Read more
Tom Everson I have Macula Degeneration ( since 2009 ) and had a aortic valve replacement 14 months ago (Tissue valve ). I am 79. Fyi. I PLANNED THE OPERATION AROUND BY EYE SHOT. ( every 4 weeks on #134 now) The operation had NO effect on my vision . I am on 325 asprin every day ( as my blood thinner) Since you have family members that see a Ophthalmologist frequently have them ask your question.
Tersia Rogers When I learned I needed my pulmonary valve replaced, I researched, and for myself, I didn't want a me ... Read more
Tersia Rogers When I learned I needed my pulmonary valve replaced, I researched, and for myself, I didn't want a mechanical valve, for the very reason of blood thinners being needed for the rest of my life. I'm already anemic and take iron supplements, fortunately my doctor's decided a bioprostetic valve was the best option. Unfortunately, I will need it replaced again in about 10 years, BUT, it will be trans vascular vs cracking my chest open again.
Always, weigh your options, your pros and cons, and make the best decision you can for yourself.
I myself am a praying woman, so I prayed, a lot.
Lisa Balmer Thank you all for your feedback. I appreciate all the information.
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 ...Read more
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.
Richard Munson Sad,terrified,nervous,anxious, worried, freaked out, you left out scared blank less is a state of min ... Read more
Richard Munson Sad,terrified,nervous,anxious, worried, freaked out, you left out scared blank less is a state of mind we have all had prior to heart surgery. As we used to say, don’t feel like the lone ranger. Showing my age. Once it’s over you will wonder what the big deal was all about. You will get some great advice on this site from some wonderful people i feel lucky to now know.
Marie Myers I, like you, was not into any of the social media platforms. But this site has been a big help to me ... Read more
Marie Myers I, like you, was not into any of the social media platforms. But this site has been a big help to me in the last 4 years. Like you, I had what I thought was a “healthy” bicuspid valve, and like you I eventually developed an ascending aortic aneurysm and root aneurysm. I was shocked, overwhelmed, anxious-you name it, I felt it. This site was great for me to see that MANY people have the same thing I did, and that there are a lot of helpful things posted here. I had my surgery March 2017. Listening to “acceptance” videos on Utube helped me, as did yoga and meditation. If you have any questions, ask away. There are many people here who have been down the road that you will travel soon! Welcome to the site!
Lisa Balmer Thank you for the nice welcome. Yes, I am quickly seeing how supportive everyone here is and that is ... Read more
Lisa Balmer Thank you for the nice welcome. Yes, I am quickly seeing how supportive everyone here is and that is certainly a comfort. I also practice yoga, Marie, and have been doing so for a number of years, so that is something that helps me a great deal. Breathing exercises are a must right now. I am having a cardiac cath on Monday to check for any blockages before surgery. I'm a little nervous about that as well and hoping it goes smoothly.
Lisa, this is the only social media I do and ever done. When I found this site I felt like you. I’m ... Read more
Lisa, this is the only social media I do and ever done. When I found this site I felt like you. I’m grateful I found it and that Adam founded it for the same reasons we use it. The heart warriors here are always willing to share their experience and knowledge and love, support and care. I will pray for your peace of mind and acceptance and we will be here to welcome you into recovery. God bless you
Marie Myers Lisa, I was pleasantly surprised how easy the cath was for me. I got a little sedation through the IV ... Read more
Marie Myers Lisa, I was pleasantly surprised how easy the cath was for me. I got a little sedation through the IV, and I vaguely remember seeing the screen. It was not a bad experience at all. Let us know how it goes!
Tom Everson Hi I have two points to add
1. ALWAYS REMEMBER YOU ARE IN CHARGE OF YOUR OWN HEALTH. Doctors, fam ... Read more
Tom Everson Hi I have two points to add
1. ALWAYS REMEMBER YOU ARE IN CHARGE OF YOUR OWN HEALTH. Doctors, family,friends, strangers ( me) may offer suggestions but You are the decision maker
2. Since you are so young , you have a choice of what kind of replacement Aortic Valve ( assuming it can not be repaired)
Tissue or Mechanical. There is no right or wrong choice. Both have advantages and disadvantages. The choice is yours and which ever you choice is the right one ( do not second guess yourself . This site is full of caring people that will tell you how they made their choice. ( if you ask for advice) Everyone is different Good luck you are not alone
Rose Madura So glad you found us! I am not on Facebook or Instagram or Twitter. Just this site that is totally ... Read more
Rose Madura So glad you found us! I am not on Facebook or Instagram or Twitter. Just this site that is totally helpful. I've not seen anything negative on it. We're all in the same boat (not Richard's boat) and are here to help. Your feelings are totally normal. I had a bicuspid aortic valve, rheumatic fever as a child, aneurysm and arch repair in 2017 at age 59. It's not an easy journey but very doable. Let is know if you have any questions. Godspeed on your heart journey.
Richard Munson Rose, i liked the boat insert. Funny. Could we do a comedy act together? With our matching tattoos.
Rose Madura Richard, I dare say you are in a class of your own!
Richard Munson I’m taking that as a compliment. When my wife says it, not so sure.
Glad Richard answered to Rose’s boat insert, it was funny and I knew he would love it.
Ginny Turner Hi Lisa, welcome to the most amazing community. I’m also waiting for my surgery (mitral/tricuspid r ... Read more
Ginny Turner Hi Lisa, welcome to the most amazing community. I’m also waiting for my surgery (mitral/tricuspid repair in January) and have found this group to be the best remedy for my fears and anxiety about having such a big surgery. Thanks to Adam’s thorough information, up-to-date research, hospital/surgeon recommendations, and patient success stories and encouragement, I feel comfortable and confident in the decisions I’ve made so far. I’m optimistic and hopeful for a successful surgery and a full recovery. Thinking of you and wishing you the same!
Lisa Balmer Thank you, Ginny. I wish you a successful surgery and recovery as well. And thank you Ana, Marie, R ... Read more
Lisa Balmer Thank you, Ginny. I wish you a successful surgery and recovery as well. And thank you Ana, Marie, Rose, Tom, and Richard for your encouragement.