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Diagnosis: Aortic Stenosis, Bicuspid Aortic Valve

Member Since: May 7, 2025

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Martin Smith posted an update
11 months ago (August 17, 2025)
3 months post aorta replacement (Inspiris Resilia) and ASD repair and recovery seems to be going according to plan and the doctors are happy with my progress. Until my next scheduled checkup I have a couple of questions that hopefully this hive mind can help with. 1. I have some... Read more.
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Robert Miller
11 months ago (August 17, 2025)
1) I did have discomfort in that area plus neck, plus lower back mostly because I had to only sleep on my back. After 3 months you should be able to sleep however you want, though. Maybe you got used to sleep in a certain way which still affects your... Read more.
Martin Smith
11 months ago (August 17, 2025)
Robert, thanks so much for such a quick response, you've definitely helped. I have always been fit and healthy (until I wasn't!). From initial diagnosis to waking up after surgery was a total of 4 weeks so I really didn't have any time to dwell on things. Thankfully not having... Read more.
Richard Munson
11 months ago (August 17, 2025)
My right shoulder has never been the same since my 7 hour surgery 4 years ago. I was told that my arm was raised in a somewhat unnatural position the entire time. On the bright side, my mitral valve is still working.
Robert Miller
11 months ago (August 17, 2025)
As Monty Python says: "Always look on the bright side of life"
John Cook
11 months ago (August 17, 2025)
1) I too am having a lot of back stiffness and rib pain as I'm trying to return to my pre-op level of activity. During the day it usually isn't bad but it wakes me up at night. At Rehab, they told me it's the connective tissue between the ribs... Read more.
J Alexander Lassally
11 months ago (August 17, 2025)
Hey -- regarding 2.) there are no rules on the mental health recovery. We are have all been through a war of sorts and we need to let things happen as they happen. I found that the Drs I encountered post surgery were poorly trained to handle any aspect of... Read more.
Martin Smith
11 months ago (August 18, 2025)
A BIG THANK YOU to everyone. Just to know that others have experienced the same or similar really helps. I have a suspicion that I tried to do too much too soon, gonna be taking it a bit easier for now 😁.All my cardiologists have been great and my GP... Read more.
Martin Smith posted an update
1 year ago (May 16, 2025)
Well, that went from 0 to 100 real quick. At 61 years old, from never knowing of any problem to being diagnosed with calcified bicuspid aorta and an ASD on the 25th April to being 4 days after surgery on the 16th May. I think that's impressively quick.Ouch! But it's... Read more.
Richard Munson
1 year ago (May 16, 2025)
Glad you are better. Hospital food is never 5 star anyplace. Its done on purpose to get you to leave faster.
Richard Munson
1 year ago (May 16, 2025)
Since reading you are from bulgaria, i checked it out on line. Sounds like an interesting place with a varied historical past. I assume you are not a native bulgarian but only base that on your name. Hope you are turning the corner heart wise.
Marie Myers
1 year ago (May 16, 2025)
On the bright side, at least you didn't have too much time to dwell and worry on the upcoming surgery! Welcome to recovery!!
Pamela Gregory
1 year ago (May 16, 2025)
I have been to Bulgaria twice. Glad you are already on the mend! For me the worse part was waiting and thinking about it. You will do great❤️
Rose Madura
1 year ago (May 16, 2025)
Wonderful news. Glad all is better.
Martin Smith
1 year ago (May 16, 2025)
Thank you everyone for your kind words. And yes Richard, I'm a Brit, I wonder if things would have happened so quickly in the UK
Susan Lynn
1 year ago (May 16, 2025)
Martin - Glad surgery is behind you! Welcome to recovery!!
Martin Smith posted an update
1 year ago (May 9, 2025)
Warfarin!I'm sure I wrote this before but I can't seem to find it.3 weeks in from aortic stenosis diagnosis to surgery (next week) and I'm still trying to process all this I lead a fairly active and boisterous life (no contact sports), and I am really quite concerned about taking... Read more.
Brian Leonard
1 year ago (May 9, 2025)
I have been on warfarin for nearly 6 years with no issues - and I'm not worried about my valve wearing out like a biological valve - that was the trade off or so I've been told betting on my mechanical valve now
Martin Smith
1 year ago (May 9, 2025)
Hi Brian, Thanks for that. I'm not planning on slashing myself with knives anytime soon 😂 but occasional accidents do happen. And it sounds like more than a sticking plaster might be needed. Any experience of that? Also, currently, I I do like a few glasses of wine or whisky... Read more.
Rita Savelis
1 year ago (May 10, 2025)
I've been on warfarin for 10 years with no issues. I remember being so stressed and worried the first year and then just getting on with my life. There are some special bandages you can buy (forget what they're called) that help one coagulate faster when you get cuts and... Read more.
Rita Savelis
1 year ago (May 10, 2025)
As far as alcohol goes, it's okay to drink just not excessively. So if you drink a lot, perhaps warfarin is a bad choice, but then I guess drinking a lot is a bad choice for many reasons. I drink occasionally - a few glasses of wine or a few... Read more.
Rita Savelis
1 year ago (May 10, 2025)
I'm sorry that you have to make a valve choice - it's not easy for anyone and there is no right or wrong choice. Just the choice you make and then you have to move forward. I imagine you are young (in the cardiac world) if you are thinking of... Read more.
Martin Smith
1 year ago (May 10, 2025)
Rita, thank you thank you so much. Oh and am 61, so I don't know where that puts me on the scale. For me, all this has happened only in the past 3½ weeks, it's good that everything is happening so quickly, so I'm told. But it means that everything... Read more.
Susan Lynn
1 year ago (May 10, 2025)
Martin - if you're 61, you may want to consider a bio valve, specifically one that's large enough to accommodate a TAVR, if needed in the future. The newer bio valves have a pretty significant life span and a future TAVR procedure is not as traumatizing as OHS. Just curious... Read more.
Martin Smith
1 year ago (May 10, 2025)
Believe it or not, I haven't spoken to any surgeons yet. Prior to 3 weeks ago,I was a fit and healthy guy, who'd never had any health complaints. I'm going to the cardiology hospital on Monday and hopefully the surgeons there will help me decide the best course of action.
Susan Lynn
1 year ago (May 10, 2025)
Martin- Don't panic, yet. You're just starting your research. It's easy to jump to the conclusion of a mechanical valve and the blood thinners, but that's only one choice. Make a list of your questions for the cardiologist and you can always come back to this site for more input.... Read more.
Rita Savelis
1 year ago (May 10, 2025)
A 2nd or 3rd beer is fine Martin. Cheers!
Martin Smith
1 year ago (May 11, 2025)
Rita...perfect answer, thanks ♥️
Susan Harris
1 year ago (May 11, 2025)
i was going to say pretty much what susan lynn said-must be in the name. i'd suggest asking surgeon and cardiologist about TAVRs later. a cardiologist at john's hopkins said he's seen a bio tissue valve and then two TAVRs. a surgeon at cleveland clinic told my 26 yr old... Read more.
Robert Miller
1 year ago (May 13, 2025)
I only have been on Warfarin for a very short time as they repaired my valve. However, I am on a blood thinner probably forever. Warfarin is a bit harder to manage but as for bleeding side effects, I have more blue/black spots when I hit something (even if I... Read more.

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