Martin's Journal

Susan Lynn  Martin - Glad you're a candidate for ablation. Did you try cardioversion? I'm on medication for arythmia and thinking about other options. Please keep us posted on your progress!

Martin Carr  Thanks Susan we did discuss it but Dr Wang felt cardio version was an option but there was no guarantee that my heart wouldn’t revert to Afib. Ablation it was felt provides the better chance of a permanent outcome.

Barbara Wood  Best of luck on your ablation. I had one along with my valve surgery & it has worked out great for me - no afib for 3.5 years now...nsr is not over- rated!

Rose Madura  Hi Martin. I had a cardiac ablation in 2007 to correct SVT (Supraventricular tachycardia) with phenomenal results. The doctor told me I was 97% cured. And I haven't had another issue since. I realize that SVT is much different than Afib, but wanted to share my positive experience with you.

John Hannon  I had an ablation in August 2018 when I had an atrial flutter going on for about a week that was causing major shortness of breath with any exertion. As far as procedures go it was an amazing thing in that I was able to stay awake and watch things progress on the monitors the whole time. The first part was one of those TEE procedures where they put the echo thing down your throat to get a better look at things. That was the hard part. Then they did 27 individual ablation sessions (not sure what they call them, but each one is a session of running an electrical current to make little marks in the heart wall). Mine ranged from two seconds to 221 seconds long. I was getting really nervous that nothing was changing as they racked up more and more "sessions". Finally on the last one my heart rhythm changed back to normal and they were done. I think I stayed the night in the hospital that night and then home the next day. I was on eliquis for a month after in case it came back. Other than the little incision everything was back to normal lifestyle wise the day after surgery. It's been all good since then although the atrial flutter was a clue that it was getting time to get my valves fixed and we did that a couple months later.

Marie Myers  Sorry to hear about the a fib, but it sounds like it happens quite a bit post op. Hope you are back in regular rhythm soon!

Harris Chrysanthou  Hey Martin, I have irregular heartbeats every now and then. Im 28 and had aortic valve replacement 8 months ago.

  Hi Martin, I myself can’t help you with any answers on your particular issue, but wanted to send you a warm hello. Can’t believe humidity starting there already. Hang in there or write a note to Marie Myers, she is very knowledgeable and answers a lot of our questions also you can send a message to Adam Pick. Hope you are feeling better and staying safe. God bless you

Marie Myers  I think that as things heal and scar tissue changes, you might have a little resurgence of aches and pains. You are probably getting more active, too, and that might contribute to some discomfort. Hope it passes quickly!

Martin Carr  Thanks folks. It was quite a surprise after so many weeks. Our old friend Tylenol did it’s job the following night.

  Martin, praying for them and all the personnel in the front line of this Pandemic is the best thing we can do for them. let keep praying and thanking them for all they do.

Jim Wilson  AMEN Martin...I had surgery on January 22nd and was blessed to have some of the most caring staff on the planet....I thank God for them each and every night and hope that they are doing well in this current crisis.

Marie Myers  Congratulations on your recovery! Sounds like you are doing well .
I miss my gym time also. I have been riding my bike and walking around the neighborhood for exercise. Luckily our weather has been great for outdoor activities. Keep on recovering, and stay well!

Bridget Supple  Side sleeper here and it took a while. Not sure how long, but somewhere around 3 months post surgery, I realized that I was sleeping on my side again, all night, without any discomfort or pain. Good luck to you! Almost three years since my surgery and I feel great. Hoping you do the same!

Marie Myers  I slept in a recliner for 4 weeks, and then went between the couch and bed for another few weeks. I think at about 3 months for me, I was able to sleep on my side again. My sleep was still a bit disrupted all that time, though. Once I quit napping in the day, my sleeping improved also.

Lorraine Mobley  My husband bought me a small MY PILLOW for Christmas and it is a perfect fit between my shoulder and ear for my neck....I can sleep soundly with it!

Rose Madura  I think it was a couple months for me. I used a travel pillow in the recliner and that helps a lot! Hang in there!

Catie B  Hope things settle down for you soon, Martin!
Yep, I had several bursts of afib. Back and forth between sinus and afib. And days with various more innocuous palpitations, too. (PACs and PVCs) The non-dangerous ones didn't "feel" non-dangerous, so I was checked out and wore a holter monitor a few times. I stayed on Amiodarone a few weeks....

Rose Madura  I had afib and/or Aflutter for about six weeks after surgery. It's very common. Hopefully it will subside for you soon.

Mike Roskowinski  I took two in the hospital and that was it. They sent me home with some and I never used them. I might have a high threshold for pain. Have not used any pain medicine since ICU to this day. I agree try not to get addicted to those.

Lorraine Mobley  As a pharmacist, my advice is take them sparingly, when you need them if tylenol is not effective. When used appropriately for acute pain and limited time addiction is not an issue. People get in trouble when using them long term for chronic pain....

Martin Carr  Thanks Lorraine that’s good advice. I’ve also listened to the visiting nurse. So far I’m using Vicodin only just before bed time. Used it twice and definitely got better sleep albeit I was a little groggy in the morning

Marie Myers  I would say take it if you need it. I probably only used 4-5 pills of the 10 that I was prescribed. Mostly used them at night to get some sleep. I don’t think you will get addicted in such a short period of time, especially if you are aware of the risk. You have a legitimate reason to use them for your post op recovery time.

Adam Pick  Martin... One of the reasons I started this website was due to my short-lived Vicodin addiction after surgery. I fell into the depths of cardiac depression after surgery and Vicodin was one of the reasons I struggled so much. As Marie states above, use the pills as needed and as prescribed. But, be very careful of getting hooked on opioids. I've read that up to 10% of patients can get hooked after a major surgery. P.S. Are you scheduled for cardiac rehab yet?

Martin Carr  Adam, no cardiac rehab as yet. I’ve been walking for 20 minutes every morning so I now feel strong enough for a further afternoon walk. I return to see Dr Varghese for a follow up appointment on 2/6

Catie B  Sorry to hear things became complicated and frustrating! The administrative side of medical care can be very trying these days. Hope things come together quickly for your ongoing needs.

Lisa Ferguson  How frustrating! More than frustrating actually! There are so many little details post recovery and you would hope they are well coordinated. It must seem like a waterfall of little things that have not been well coordinated. Glad you have an assigned contact and hope the stories you've read have given you a hint into what to expect as you continue you recovery. Best wishes Martin!

  Martin, I totally get your frustration but don’t stop trying to get your care. I had a few frustrations after surgery with follow up and other post op care. But I persisted and eventually stopped Coumadin, pain meds and I am feeling so much better, today is two months exactly post op. Your case manager should be able to help you navigate the medical system and you will do just fine. Hang in there and be thankful you have a family helping you through this. God bless you

Martin Carr  Thanks - the visiting nurse came today and that was very positive. Great follow up call from my case manager at the insurance company. Jus need to dig deep for a little while longer

Susan Lynn  Martin - Sorry to hear about the afib and the bureaucracy. I have to say, I was caught a bit off guard when I was asked about my choice of home health care after surgery. I didn't even know that was going to be necessary. Thankfully, I had a contact at one in my local area. The hospital did all the work reaching out and coordinating the details.
Hang in there. Every day gets a little better. The worst (the waiting) is behind you! ❤

Marie Myers  I rented an electric recliner for a month. It was great to nap and sleep in, as well as easy to get Up and down by myself. I don’t think I could have slept in my bed- too uncomfortable! I did take either a pain pill or Tylenol at night to help get some sleep. I was so exhausted when I got home from the hospital; it was very difficult to get any sleep while in the hospital due to noise and nurse visits. Glad you are home!

  Hi Martin, glad you are home. I used a wedge pillow on my bed and got a few hour sleep at first and little by little I stopped waking up two or three times a night. I sleep ok if night sweats are not too severe. I am 8 weeks post op. Hope you find your comfy place.

Alex Sigalov  Hi Martin, a recliner is great for recovery period both for napping and sleeping some nights at first

Pamela McKay   electric recliner is the best thing we got though pricey. I learned from a prior liver surgery that i'd need this.

Susan Lynn  Give yourself a few choices that work for you. You're going to be like Goldilocks for awhile, so you definitely need options to find what's just right! Best of luck! ❤

Frank Giovanniello   Martin, welcome home. Did you miss the nurses waking you at 2am to weigh you? Well, I've been in a power recliner, the only way I can get comfy.

Rita Savelis  Sleeping is hard for awhile after OHS. Heavy sigh. Wedge pillows, recliners, whatever works. I never had a recliner but I did take sleep meds every few days just to get some sleep.

Lorraine Mobley  Electric recliner for first 3 night, eventually and carefully got comfortable in a bed on night 4 with lots of pillows and slept max 4 hours between doses of tylenol---it gets better--I also played deep sleep music (diurinal beats) on my phone and that helped a lot!

Jennifer Winslow  Oh see.....I've been pushing my husband to get me power recliner. I hope you got some sleep last night!

Martin Carr  Eventually I found a chair and footrest we have seems to be getting me there. Last night felt more like being awake for a couple hours In the middle of the night as opposed being awake all night and managing a couple of hours

  Love your daughter's response. So cute.
Prayers for you and your family.
Please keep us updated. Best of luck!

Jennifer Winslow  I'm sure that wasn't an easy conversation but love how you told her and how she responded. Children are the best parts of us. thinking of you and praying for a speedy recovery so you can go home to be with that little girl.

Skipper Kagamaster  I was surprised how well my 7 year old took the news, too. I think, at that age, they're just not aware enough about what everything entails to be overly scared. Funny thing is, given mortality rates and how successful valve operations seem to be these days, our kids' attitudes are probably the appropriate ones!

Thomas Brusstar  That's sweet. My son was 13 when I had my mitral valve repair. We thought it best if he not see me in ICU with breathing tube etc., so we had him stay the night with a friend the night before and night of my surgery (so my wife could be free to come and go), then we waited until the day after my surgery for him to visit. I was able to sit up in the chair in my room and he visited for a while at dinner. He wasn't freaked out by it. He even ate my dessert from dinner, so he felt at home. He knew it was a big surgery, but we didn't stress the downside any more than necessary.
After the surgery, he told me he missed the old heartbeat. I never realized it, but when he sat next to me watching TV or reading, he got to know my heartbeat sounds, and noticed the big difference afterward. I sure don't miss my swish-dub heartbeat! There's an all-encompassing intimacy to how kids experience their parents, and they notice more than we think!
After I got home, my son would "take me for a walk" like a dog. (We joked about a leash, but never got one.) Your daughter will be a cheerful and helpful companion.

Martin Carr  Thanks Thomas - we think the same about ICU. Hopefully I'll be in the step down ward at the weekend so that's when I've asked her to visit (if she isn't busy :-) ). Big difference I feel with an 8 year old is we really need to make sure things are normal as possible for her. So I have no choice other than to head to Mt Sinai on my own. My wife will take our daughter to school then follow on.

Thomas Brusstar  There is honestly no need for assistance to check in. You'll be swept away and sedated pretty fast, so with all the good wishes in the world, assure your wife you'll be fine checking in without her. My son made it clear he wanted to take over my heart pillow when I was done with it. So he has a heart "stuffed animal." Your daughter might like it.

Peter Woglom  Hi Martin. Looks like you're from Larchmont? I'm just a few miles down the road in Rye and had my Ross at Mt. Sinai several years back. Happy to chat about what to expect (from the patient side at least) if you're interested. Just shoot me a note at pwoglom@yahoo.com

Marie Myers  Yes, I got the nose swab check also. I had to do the antibiotic ointment in the nose, and the antiseptic shower the night before. The morning of surgery, I wiped my entire self down with antibiotic towelette to minimize the amount of bacteria on my body. It is all part of the fight against post op infections.

Mike Roskowinski  Yes Martin I had to do the same as Alex. I washed the night before with surgical soap and then the morning of my surgery. Did the nose swab thing the same as the washing.

Lorraine Mobley  Yes, I had to do the shower regimen for 3 days pre-op and the oinment in the nose. That ointment if it is bactroban/mupricinon is to protect you from MrSA (methicillin resistant staph aureus) which sometimes gets passed around hospital patients and is hard to treat. Keep the remainder and put it in your nose when traveling on planes or in large groups of people (like concerts). MRSA is a killer bacteria.

Susan Lynn  I had to use the nose ointment for a week and the shower soap for three days prior and game day. Made it through without any infections! It's definitely a process, but sooooo worth it. Good luck!

William True  I think an exercise bike with light resistance would be a great way to recover. If you are having a traditional surgery, involving cutting the sternum, you will want to consider a recumbent exercise bike. This will keep you in a very comfortable seated position.

Susan Lynn  I walked inside the house for weeks during the winter. You may also want to try a local mall once you get a few weeks behind you. You'll be just fine.

Joy Vera  Hi Martin. I also had no symptoms with my aortic stenosis when I had my first valve replaced in 2010. Yes, I do believe it helps with recovery to be reasonably fit going in. For one thing, cardiac rehab when you are released to do it will be easier to do & no doubt welcome since you are working out regularly now. You'll find many success stories here so do read them to calm any nerves you may have. Finding an activity that is calming is also helpful. For me it's yoga but you'll know best what works for you. Best wishes!

Adam Pick  Hey Martin, Wonderful to have you here as one of our newest members.
Like you... I was mostly asymptomatic (from a bicuspid aortic valve) and I went for the Ross Procedure. I'm guessing you have selected Dr. Stelzer at Mount Sinai. If so, great choice. Dr. Stelzer and his team are one of the leading Ross Procedure centers out there. Regarding your question about exercise before surgery... I think you received excellent counsel from Dr. Stelzer about focusing solely on the aerobic exercises. Like you, I enjoy exercising. My surgeon, Dr. Starnes, gave me the same advice. Years ago, I filmed this video with Dr. Larry Cohn, who was one of the leading heart valve surgeons of his time. Not only was Dr. Cohn an excellent surgeon but he also had an aortic valve replacement. In this video, you will see his advice for preparing for heart valve surgery. I hope this helps you! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4w6nspRniY&feature=emb_logo

Martin Carr  Thank you both and Adam I was referred by my cardiac doctor to Dr Varghese at Mt Sinai. I will most certainly take a look at the video after my work day is done

Marie Myers  I had no symptoms as well from my bicuspid valve and ascending aneurysm. I do think being in good shape helped me recover quickly from surgery. You will get a lot of good info on this site, and ask any questions that you may have.

Mike Roskowinski  Hello Martin. My story is just like yours is. I had no symptoms at all and was working out a lot and playing in many different sports (volleyball, softball, golf, and weight training). My cardiologist suggested that I cut back on the heavy lifting and just do some light weights. He said to keep up with the cardio but not as hard as I was pushing myself. Besides my 16 day stay in the hospital I rebound back very fast since I was in great condition going into surgery. I only did cardio rehab for the half the time that is usually required. On the days I was not going to rehab I would go to the gym and do the same routine that they had me doing. I was quickly walking a few miles a day within a month of my surgery. Even when I was in the hospital I had to stay on my floor and I would walk 4-5 laps around my floor for 5 to 6 times a day. There are a lot of us out here that have walked the same path as you. Just read through everybody's journals and you will get lots of helpful information. Let me know if you have any questions.

John Lant  Hi Martin, I also had my heart repaired at Mt. Sinai Hospital in NYC. My surgeon was Dr. Adam's who Replaced my Aortic Valve, Repaired my Mytril Valve and did a Double Bypass on me. Everything went perfectly and it has now been a year and a half since my surgery. I feel great and the scar on my chest is barely visible now. You picked a great hospital & doctor to do your surgery. Good luck and keep us updated.

Ripley Casdorph  I was riding my bike about 60 miles a week and walking 12,000 steps a day before my surgery; new aortic valve and aorta. After surgery I started walking 5-10 miles a day in my third week and was able to go back to work after 7 weeks. If you can mange it, keep walking as much as you can. It will make a huge difference later!

Chris Calhoun  Being in good shape ALWAYS helps - I was out of the hospital in 6 days - back to work full force 19 days after surgery - jogging 3 miles 21 days after surgery at a slow pace but doing it

Kathleen F.  I had the Ross 5 years ago at Mt. Sinai, you'll be in good hands there. The doctors and staff are great. Like you, I had no symptoms, and had done a 16 mile run a few days before the echo that showed my aortic valve had narrowed to 0.8 (severe). I had no idea and was fortunate I had made the appointment for my routine cardiology check-up, since I was training for a marathon, and had just run the Big Sur marathon the year before. It definitely helped to be fit during recovery. I was released from the hospital on Jan. 3, and I walked around the supermarket where it was warm; walked to the library (warmed up there) and walked back. You can map out short routes. With a bike, you just need to be sure you don't lean with your arms. Your chest will be sore for a while. All my best!