Mark Jaycox - Heart Valve Journal

Susan Lynn Wow! That was definitely a sign. I didn't have anything so definitive, but I did have that sense of calmness before going into the OR. I do believe that ... Read more

Barbara Wood Yes! I was a panicky mess before surgery. About a week before the date we went for a walk on the beach. We came to a rock outcropping that my husband wanted ... Read more

Mike Roskowinski That is awesome Mark. Yeah I did not have any signs but I went to church the Saturday night before my surgery and prayed and worshiped. After walking out ... Read more

Mark Jaycox Hey Mike, I completely forgot I went to church the Sunday before my surgery too and had the prayer pastor say a prayer with me and my family. It was that night ... Read more

Rose Madura Awesome story! I had lots of praying going on. My Pastor and his wife came to the hospital and prayed with us the night before the surgery. But I kept reminding ... Read more

Dan Baltazor Great pic, bummer game for sure. Don’t rent a scary movie, wait until until 8 weeks. We did, I jumped and hurt my chest. I hugged my pillow the rest of the movie. 🤣

Bob Fessler I know how you feel. Glad they made the playoffs and with the experience gained this year, next year is going to be a great year for the Seahawks.

Louanna Miller You look great!!!

Judy S Lot of love in that pic—you’re a lucky man!

Dan Vechiola You looking great Mark and sorry about the Seahawks. I has a similar experience watching my Bears lose on a double doink field goal attempt.

Mark Jaycox Dan, I wanted the Bears to win so bad and as soon as the kicker made the first field goal when the Eagles called time out I knew he was going to miss the next ... Read more

Bob Fessler My condolences are with you Mark. Definitely a heartbreak loss.

Lisa Guinan I just bought Merdema at Walgreens. Can’t really attest to how well it works though.

Tom Bartolomei I’m going with twice daily application of conventional Vitamin E oil. I’ve read all the pros and cons so not sure its actually doing anything. Surgeon ... Read more

Janice Smith I used Palmer's Cocoa Butter, and it worked great.

Rita Savelis My recommendation for your scar is to keep it out of the sun for a year. Then your scar should be able to eventually match the color of the rest of your skin. Take care.

Louanna Miller My surgeon’s Physician Assistant recommended Cica Care from Amazon. I started using it at 7 weeks when the scar was completely healed shut. They are a silicon ... Read more

Anders Carlos I've used Newgel+. Reading through the medical literature there is a lot of hokum out there. What appears to be the most effective is a combination of silicone ... Read more

David Moore Hey Mark - My husband David did. It hurt him worse than the sternal incision. Someone told him it was "radial" pain from the drain tubes. It lasted about ... Read more

Barbara Adams That back shoulder pain was the worst part of my recovery. It will subside after a couple of weeks!

Richard King Hi Matt, I got it because of fluid retention around the lungs (pleural effusion), a side effect of my surgery. I was on a strong diuretic (lasix) so fluid retention ... Read more

Charlotte Kaye I have been through the shoulder thing 2 times: first AVR in 1981 caused left shoulder pain that was horrific, I never got a clear explanation. The pain would ... Read more

Susan Lynn Good luck, Mark!!! You've got this!

Steve Corkhill Good luck Mark.

Dan Baltazor Good luck today Mark. It's a beautiful day here in the Seattle area, going to be a nice sunny day. That is a good sign for your surgery. We'll be thinking ... Read more

Dan Baltazor I'll also be wishing your wife and daughter good luck and sending prayers for them in the waiting room- It's a tough goodbye and wait.-Stephanie

Jill McDonald Steady hands and swift recovery! Welcome to the recovery side!

Rob Sparling A little late in posting but thoughts and prayers, Mark and family! ❤️💪

Louanna Miller I agree with Kim Carpenter. I used a heating pad on my chest and still do so if I have incision or chest discomfort. Hope this gets better soon.

Dan Baltazor Yes, Yes! I wish I had a hospital bed these past 2 weeks. It’s been a real problem trying to get back to normal sleeping pattern. The last time I was truly ... Read more

David Moore We went ahead and just invested in a Sleep Number I10 bed that allows both of us to set our heads and feet at different elevations. (Full disclosure - we had ... Read more

Nancy Luth I gotta say I slept better in a recliner than in the hospital bed. But I knew the hospital bed was not working for me while I was still in the hospital. I ... Read more

Jennifer John Recliner worked for for about 4-6 weeks. Tough to lie flat, no matter what type of bed.

Rob Sparling Will it fit through the door of the bedroom?

Sommer Russell Mark, in my research it seems that everyone is very pro simple recliner. Nothing fancy. My surgery is in 13 days! We shall go through this together. Best of luck to us.

Jennifer McInerney Honestly Mark, my recliner was worth it’s weight in gold. I got an electric one and I’m so glad I did because I don’t think I could have comfortably ... Read more

Mark Jaycox Thanks' Sommer I'll be following you closely since your right ahead of me. We'll get through this together.

Lise Bowles Mark, I did it without a recliner, BUT I had a difficult time because I couldn’t lie down flat! What I did was we have a small couch in our bedroom and I ... Read more

Dan Vechiola I have a recliner but found the couch and ottoman to work better because I sat straight up and it was easier to get up. I also preferred to sleep in my bed ... Read more

Barbara Wood I used a memory foam wedge pillow, about $30-40 from Amazon. We did buy a recliner for our downstairs guest room, but I never used it & gave it away a few months ... Read more

Lisa Guinan I slept in my recliner for about 2 weeks. I just couldn’t get comfortable in bed. In a recliner, more of your weight is on your butt. It also takes awhile ... Read more

Sommer Russell We sound identical. My cardiologist set me down in front of the computer 2 weeks ago and went over my Echo's from most recent to 6 months prior. He told me ... Read more

Sommer Russell I must add, I am a little different because I have an aneurysm as well that will be repaired at the time of my OHS. I have AVR with BAV with moderate to severe regurgitation.

Mark Jaycox Thanks' Sommer it's nice to know there is someone else experiencing the same thing I'm going through.

Marie Myers That is a thought decision. Have you already had the consult with the retiring surgeon? If so, what did he think? In my humble opinion, if the surgeon said ... Read more

Dan Vechiola You may want to go to a top cardiac hospital in your area for a second opinion. They usually like to wait to you have symptoms before having surgery. However, ... Read more

Rob Sparling Mark, this is a tough call and a very personal one. I had the same thing but my regurg was severe (though asymptomatic). My cardiologist suggested waiting 6-12 ... Read more

Bob Fessler Mark, I had AVR surgery at Swedish in July 2017 and Dr. Barnhart was my surgeon. I also interviewed Dr. Verrier at UofW. I am 100% happy I went with Dr. Barnhart ... Read more

Mark Jaycox Thanks' Bob, I'm still going through the testing right now. My next test is an MRI which is now scheduled for November 6th. If that test confirms I have severe ... Read more

Ricky Stutts Mark
I had my surgery ( Aortic valve replacement & aortic aneurysm repair) performed here in Houston last Wednesday September 26. I was released to go home ... Read more

Mark Jaycox Thanks' Ricky, I'm glad I found this site too. It's reassuring to see others are going through the same thing. I hope I recover as fast as you did!

Catie B The surgeons know when it's just the right time. There is a tipping point and you don't want to become very symptomatic and possibly damage your heart. They ... Read more

Richard Buckley I hadn't really had any symptoms before having a mitral valve repair three weeks ago. But my surgeon said there was beginning to be some atrial enlargement, ... Read more

Susan Lynn Many of us feel the stress of waiting for surgery is worse than the procedure, itself. Unfortunately, our conditions don't get better on their own. If you ... Read more

Rob Sparling Mark, I had AVR same day as Ricky. I am probably going to return to work the last week of Oct. My local cardiologist told me we could wait and monitor. My ... Read more

Dan Baltazor Hi Mark, we are in Tacoma. We(Dan) have been exactly where you are now. Just try and take it one test and one test result at a time. We would look too far ... Read more

Jennifer McInerney One suggestion everyone makes is have a recliner to sleep in for the first few weeks at home. Preferably an electric one. I bought one but you can also rent them.

Mark Jaycox Thanks' Jennifer, never thought about that.

Dan Vechiola Hi Mark! I had AVR on September 6, 2018. I think it is safe to say that a return to work 2 1/2 to 3 weeks after surgery on a part time basis is doable. I ... Read more

Steve Farthing My doc mentioned even though you might feel much better after a few weeks or months, the heart may continue to recover from pre-op issues for 2-3 years!

Marie Myers I went back to work part time at 8 weeks. But like it has been said, everyone is different.
I rented an electric recliner for a month, and I really liked it. ... Read more

Sommer Russell Great question. I have been wondering the same. Did anyone do cardiac rehab? I'm thinking this might make going back full time more difficult for the first few months.

Jennifer John Mark, allow enough time to recover your mind and your body. This isn’t a race. If you get medical leave, take it. 👍🏻And definitely yes to cardiac rehab, Sommer! Check out my recent journal posts.💪🏼❤️

Dan Baltazor Hi Mark, sorry for your news. I’m in the same boat as you. I found out a little over a week ago and know exactly how you feel. I’m 44 and am also navigating ... Read more

Terry Goin Hi Guys, 55 here and got similar news about a month ago. I stumbled across this site and feel so lucky that I did. One of the first things I did was download ... Read more

Marie Myers I can really sympathize with you. I was in your shoes a couple years ago, with a diagnosis of ascending aortic aneurysm. I had never been admitted to a hospital ... Read more

Meredith Geneja Hi Mark! I am in the identical diagnosis position. Surgery is on Thursday. Like Marie Myers, I have chosen a tissue valve. You will choose the right one for ... Read more

Willie Radl Welcome Mark, at 57 you are in the gray area regarding choice of valve. You will find this site to be a great resource to hear from others in your position ... Read more

Joey Hardee Hey Mark - I am 54 and almost the same diagnosis. I am also getting very close to surgery and have undergone the same battery of tests you have over about that ... Read more

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