Natalie's Journal

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Hi All! I haven’t posted on here in 1.5 years, as I’m very active on the Facebook page and find it easier to use and chat with the heart valve community. I just celebrated my 48th birthday and am doing great! Besides some high blood pressure, all of my cardiology appts have been perfect 🙏🏻 with zero valve leakage. I have been very careful during the pandemic (ugh, I hate that word 🤯), and now that I’m fully vaccinated and the CDC has eased up, I have started eating out and seeing more friends. I’m so grateful for science, technology and health care workers! I’m still exercising with long walks a few times a week. I have gained some pandemic weight so am trying to take it off now 🤪. Anyway, just wanted to say hi and update and check in with you all. Hope you’re all doing great! ❤️ PS. I’m trying t

Today is my one year Valversary!! In that time since I had my valve replaced with the Inspiris Resilia and my aneurism repaired by Dr. Svensson at the Cleveland Clinic, I have exercised almost everyday, took my daughter on college tours to New Orleans and Michigan, celebrated Thanksgiving and Chanukah, took a family cruise to the islands, visited my parents in Los Angeles and hiked up to UCLA, and finally got to go to my son’s Gator tailgate and football game!! I am doing well and back to life as normal. If you are in recovery or waiting for your surgery, just want you to see that you will get back to your life. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ Also, Go Gators, beat Georgia! 💙🧡 (always have to add that in there 😉 )

Was just taking an after dinner stroll with my hubby and we realized that my surgery was exactly 6 months ago today! Our walks are much faster now than they were 5 and 6 months ago, lol! ❤️❤️❤️

6 months ago, when I found out I needed OHS, I was devastated to have to cancel my trip to New Orleans to tour Tulane with my husband and daughter (I went to school there so was beyond excited to go back with them). Well, yesterday was my 5 month valviversary, and I didn’t even realize it! I was too busy on my rescheduled trip to New Orleans having the best time with my hubby, daughter and her friend. Just want to show all of you in the “waiting room” and recently post op that you will recover and life will go on like normal❤️ I also want to add that I had the most energy of our group, including two 16 year old girls! 🤣🎉

Visiting our son at his fraternity family weekend at University of Florida. Go Gators! 🐊🐊

Just had my 4 month post AVR/aneurysm repair follow up with my cardiologist. Not only did he lower my blood pressure meds, but I’m also excited to say that I now have NO exercise restrictions! When I’m out of breath, I can push myself to keep going. I can lift up to 100 lbs (not that I would, lol)! These are things I was never allowed to do growing up, as I knew from age 7 that I had a bicuspid valve and aortic aneurysm. Now I just have to train my brain to allow myself to do those things, lol! It’s a whole new world for me. Hope this will help someone who is in the “waiting room” to keep positive and know you’ll be ok ❤️💪🏼🤩 — feeling fantastic.

I’m so happy to say that at 3 months post heart surgery, I have successfully completed cardiac rehab! I have worked hard at exercising since 5 days post surgery to get to this point of no cardiac limitations, and I’m proud of myself!

Here’s to a New Year filled with laughter, love, prosperity, and GOOD HEALTH for all! 2019, we are ready for you! ❤️👊🏻🥰 #grateful #family #friends #love #goodhealth

I’ll be 8 weeks post AVR and aneurism repair on Monday. Today was big day, as I said bye to my recliner, lol! Here are some other milestone things I’ve done in this 8th week of recovery:
❤️45 min cardio workouts in rehab (bike, elliptical, and treadmill) 3-4 times/week
❤️finally driving!
❤️sleeping on my side comfortably
❤️washing and drying my long hair by myself
❤️going out more-mall, dinner, etc
❤️last but NOT least, my 6 week echo came back NORMAL! No leakage, for the first time ever in my 45 years! 🙌🏼

I still do become very tired, as I’m still anemic. I’m also still pretty sore, so I still take Advil twice a day. The physical therapist said it’s my pectoral muscles and is very common after heart surgery. He showed me some stretches to do until I start physical therapy in January.
Hope you all have an amazing end to 2018 and an even better year in 2019! ❤️❤️❤️

My AVR and aneurism repair was exactly one month ago today! I’m doing well but still get pretty tired and achy, esp under my right arm. (Dr says it’s muscular). Looking forward to having my energy fully restored! How long

Hi everyone! Just wanted to give an update. My AVR and aneurism repair was 3 weeks and 2 days ago. Overall, I’m doing really well and up to two 20min walks/day (luckily, I live in sunny, warm South Florida)! I am still pretty achy and tired, but each da

Hi Everyone! I have some updates, so this may be a little long. So I had my AVR and aneurism repair this past Monday, 10/29, with Dr. Svensson in The Cleveland Clinic, Ohio. Last night, 11/2, was my first night in the hotel. I was lucky to be out of the hospital after 4 nights!! I have to say that you NEED a recliner if you’ll be in a hotel. There was NO WAY I could move around a flat bed without help. The recliner is like a MIRACLE, make sure you have one if you don’t have a hospital type reclining bed, so you can get up and down yourself.

I also wanted to share why I chose the valve I did. I am young-45, and very healthy. Dr. Svensson told me that even if I chose a mechanical valve, I’d have to have it replaced in 20-30 yrs. Yes, mechanical valves last forever, but most young, healthy ppl who get one will eventually have tissue growth over it and need it replaced. So with that in mind, I decided to go with the new Inspiris Resilia cow valve. It’s been studied for about 4 years now, and so far, ZERO leaks or malfunctions. Based on new technology and animal studies, it’s expected to last 15-25 years. So, although I know I’ll prob need it replaced eventually, at least this way I won’t be on meds, worry about internal bleeding, blood testing, and clicking sounds (I’m a light sleeper, so that’s a big deal to me). If I need a 3rd valve (prob in my 80’s), I should be able to have TAVR, no problem! And who knows what technology will be developed in the next 20 years??
Anyway, there is NO wrong choice, but I wanted to explain my tissue choice as a young person. Hope you all have a fantastic day! ❤️❤️
PS. My valve was discovered as UNICUSPID in surgery! Also, the Dr was able to repair my aneurism instead of replacing it! Nice surprise! Interesting!!

All done! I received the Inspiris Resilia valve with Dr. Lars Svennson. Doing great and healing well! Thanks for all of the well wishes. Wishing a speedy recovery to everyone with upcoming surgeries❤️❤️❤️

Well my surgery is tomorrow, Monday 10/29. My surgeon is Dr. Lars Svensson at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. I have decided to go with the newly FDA approved Inspiris Resilia valve. Praying it’s the right choice, as the dr pretty much left it up to me LOL! Anyone here have this valve? Ty ❤️

My hubby and I ❤️❤️

Hi Everyone! This is my first post, although I’m frequently on the Facebook support page. I have known about my aortic insufficiency since I was 7 years old, and now at 45, it’s finally time for surgery, Oct 29 at Cleveland Clinic