I have an area of my incision that is getting irritated (ingrown hairs etc) at three months. Has anyone used tea tree oil on the incision area? Has it promoted ...Read more
I have an area of my incision that is getting irritated (ingrown hairs etc) at three months. Has anyone used tea tree oil on the incision area? Has it promoted healing?
Thanks!
Frances Halley I did and it worked wonders! I am a nurse and I came up with my own concoction that consisted of one ... Read more
Frances Halley I did and it worked wonders! I am a nurse and I came up with my own concoction that consisted of one part Tea Tree Oil, four parts witch hazel and three parts pure aloe. It worked very well for cleansing, healing and soothing the incision.
Cathleen Weed Vitamin E capsules worked for me...break them open and rub it on there :)
Cathleen Weed p.s. if it's a keloid scar you can get cortisone injections to reduce the inflammation and flatten th ... Read more
Cathleen Weed p.s. if it's a keloid scar you can get cortisone injections to reduce the inflammation and flatten the scar...any dermatologist.
Blessed to be where I am today. Celebrating my three month anniversary by running 10km at the same time I was being operated on just a few months ago. I'm still ...Read more
Blessed to be where I am today. Celebrating my three month anniversary by running 10km at the same time I was being operated on just a few months ago. I'm still reminded every day with aches and pains but for those going through this surgery the recovery is fast and the benefits are worth it. I've been given a new start to my life due to the skills of the medical community and I'm thankful for that. I went from having a critically narrow aortic valve to a normal functioning valve for the first time in my life. While it never restricted me to now know that I have a valve that will keep up with me is amazing. This community has been very supportive and I hope I can keep updating as my training progresses.
Onward and upward!
I have a suture coming out of one of my drain holes after nine weeks.....anyone else had this. Should I pull it out or does this require medical intervention? ...Read more
I have a suture coming out of one of my drain holes after nine weeks.....anyone else had this. Should I pull it out or does this require medical intervention?
Wanda Mroz I wouldn't pull it myself. I'd just leave it be and ask the Drs office. I didn't have sutures that ... Read more
Wanda Mroz I wouldn't pull it myself. I'd just leave it be and ask the Drs office. I didn't have sutures that far out but I wouldn't pull on it.
Neil Collins They were all removed but it "grew out" this morning. It must have been leftover from the week after ... Read more
Neil Collins They were all removed but it "grew out" this morning. It must have been leftover from the week after surgery.
I just had one pop up this past week (7 weeks postop). I believe it was part of the dissolvable stitc ... Read more
I just had one pop up this past week (7 weeks postop). I believe it was part of the dissolvable stitches and it didn't dissolve. I agree with Wanda that you should at least ask your doctor/surgeon about it before you do anything, but I was ignorant and pulled it out with a pair of tweezers and then chased my kids around with it. :) Best wishes!
Michael Shaughnessy It's probably a piece of dissolvable vicryl. Clean with betadine or iodine and should pull out easily ... Read more
Michael Shaughnessy It's probably a piece of dissolvable vicryl. Clean with betadine or iodine and should pull out easily. If it feels tethered to something dont pull harder go see your doc.
I took the valve out yesterday on it's first test run at 7 weeks post AVR. I kept my heart rate below 130 and did 6 km in about an hour running and walking. ...Read more
I took the valve out yesterday on it's first test run at 7 weeks post AVR. I kept my heart rate below 130 and did 6 km in about an hour running and walking. It went well and feel good today. I've been walking in the forest near the house for the past couple of weeks with some good hills so I knew I could cope with a return to running. I'll try and ease back in slowly as my sternum is still a little sore.
Happy to be back moving again! This journey is life changing!
Just over two weeks out of AVR and going well.....except.....choked on water at dinner and coughing was soooo painful! Thought the coughing would be better ...Read more
Just over two weeks out of AVR and going well.....except.....choked on water at dinner and coughing was soooo painful! Thought the coughing would be better but it's gotten progressively worse since leaving hospital. Normal? Am I doing too much. Not lifting anything heavy but doing regular things with my arms. That choking was harsh tonight but I guess I should be thankful I haven't sneezed in 17 days!
Kimberly Biddick I had one of those coughing fits, too. It's horrible!!!
Elaine Cutri It takes a few months before coughing, sneezing ad hiccups are a minor event. 😯 Go easy for a few ... Read more
Elaine Cutri It takes a few months before coughing, sneezing ad hiccups are a minor event. 😯 Go easy for a few more weeks.
Sophia Ridley Sneezing - ouch! That's not to be repeated! I now hold my nose at first sign of a tickle. Pain seems ... Read more
Sophia Ridley Sneezing - ouch! That's not to be repeated! I now hold my nose at first sign of a tickle. Pain seems to have got worse since I had the dressing removed and the more irritating thing is that it spikes my pulse. Hadn't even considered hiccups, they must be worse :(
Getting out today! This fragile bird moves out into the scary world! Recovery going well considering I'm day 4 post surgery. I'll just be on regular Tylenol ...Read more
Getting out today! This fragile bird moves out into the scary world! Recovery going well considering I'm day 4 post surgery. I'll just be on regular Tylenol and/or Advil so that's good. Did not like the narcotics and the robots that kept coming into my dreams last night as a result weren't much fun either!
Jean Knappik Best wishes Neil...best wishes for a great recovery
Wanda Mroz LOL... the narcotics are something else aren't they? I thought the nursing staff was plotting to kil ... Read more
Wanda Mroz LOL... the narcotics are something else aren't they? I thought the nursing staff was plotting to kill me my 2nd night in ICU! But some rational part of me kept telling me "relax, it's just the drugs". Best wishes for a speedy and good recovery!
Jason Leber Great news! I was going to come visit today but I'm pleased that you're on your way home. Robots in d ... Read more
Jason Leber Great news! I was going to come visit today but I'm pleased that you're on your way home. Robots in dreams is too funny.....I had the same images! I'll catch up with you over the next few weeks.
Steven A Husted best wishes and prayers for a great recovery
Liz Burroughs Hi Neil, that's great news! Best wishes for a full recovery! Take care. Liz
Doran Herritt Btw. I didn't use the narcotics either. Took them back to the pharmacy. Didn't want them around my th ... Read more
Doran Herritt Btw. I didn't use the narcotics either. Took them back to the pharmacy. Didn't want them around my three teenage girls. They are the entry drug to heroin. The worlds a dangerous place. Those of you taking narcotics. Make sure they are away. Kids these days get hooked on them all the time. It's an epidemic! Take care. Sorry for being a downer. Drn
Well on the board now. Keeping busy this week getting the house ready and our busy kids' schedule written down for those who will be looking after them. We ...Read more
Well on the board now. Keeping busy this week getting the house ready and our busy kids' schedule written down for those who will be looking after them. We leave tomorrow and I'll stay in Vancouver for a couple of weeks. The surgeon wants to see me 7-10 days after discharge so we'll just stay close to the hospital. I feel mentally ready and want to get on with the next phase and back to being active. I'm going to have to be careful to not push myself.
Kathleen F. Good luck; thoughts and prayers with you tomorrow and for a great recovery!
Christine Oliva Good luck with your surgery and best wishes for your recovery. It will start speeding up once you get ... Read more
Christine Oliva Good luck with your surgery and best wishes for your recovery. It will start speeding up once you get past two weeks. I'm 5+ weeks out now and the last couple of weeks have started to fly. You will do the same as you start picking up on your recovery. Blessings to you and your family.
I'm headed in for AVR on Friday. Mildly freaked out especially after talking to a nurse saying I'd walk into the OR. Was everyone wheeled in? Were you medicated ...Read more
I'm headed in for AVR on Friday. Mildly freaked out especially after talking to a nurse saying I'd walk into the OR. Was everyone wheeled in? Were you medicated by then? Seems a bit awkward.."I'll sit right here, go about your business!" LOL. I was hoping I wouldn't see the OR.
Elaine Cutri I think they were trying to lighten the mood.
Charles Haas I was wheeled into the OR, and as soon as they slid me into the table, I think they started the IV se ... Read more
Charles Haas I was wheeled into the OR, and as soon as they slid me into the table, I think they started the IV sedation then I was out cold.
Susan Wozniak You will be wheeled in feeling no pain!
Doran Herritt Here's how it worked in philly. Walk into the hospital. Check in at desk. Walk to a pre op room. Get ... Read more
Doran Herritt Here's how it worked in philly. Walk into the hospital. Check in at desk. Walk to a pre op room. Get changed. Lay down on cart. Anesthesia group will get an iv port in. Lots of questions through the process. Wheeled to operating room. Move from wheeled bed to operating table. More questions. They start the iv. You are out. 4-5 hours later. Wake up. Get on with your life.....I think they asked me if I wanted anything for anxiety in the changing room. The whole process of getting ready was unbelievably quick. I want to say that I arrived at the 6:45 and was asleep by 7:15, 7:30, or so. My advice would b to not arrive to early. No sense having more time to think. You will do great! Prayers coming your way. Take care. Drn
Neil Collins Thanks. We're staying at a hotel a block from the hospital so we should be right on time. Seemed weir ... Read more
Neil Collins Thanks. We're staying at a hotel a block from the hospital so we should be right on time. Seemed weird that I'd walk in and lie down on the table. I'll try to resist the urge to run!
Steven A Husted from what i can remember mine was close to the same as Doran only when i woke up after surgery they w ... Read more
Steven A Husted from what i can remember mine was close to the same as Doran only when i woke up after surgery they were wheeling me down a hall and i said to the nurse standing next to me when are they going to start and she said you are all done and then i fell back to sleep and woke up the next morning and they were proding and asking a whole lot of questions
Christine Oliva I remember very little pre-op. Once they got me in the gown, I just waited for the doctor, nurse and ... Read more
Christine Oliva I remember very little pre-op. Once they got me in the gown, I just waited for the doctor, nurse and the guy who puts you to sleep talk to me. I was kind of nervous, but my hubby helped. Once they rolled me in the operating room down the hall, I only saw a quick peak & lots people with masks and then I fell asleep for 5.5 hours plus 4-5hrs. I don't remember anything but my husband said I waved to him a couple of times that night. I slept the next day, talked a few times which I don't remember. It wasn't until the 3rd day I start remembering.
Remember everyone is different so if you do feel pain go ahead and ask for the medicine. I felt pain, not discomfort and yes the medicine helped a lot. This is not to scare you, but some people like to be prepared so they can go ahead and conquer it. You can do it like so many of us and will do it. Good luck kiddo!
Enrique K I was wheeled in same experience as Doran. They will give you a nice cocktail:-)
Doran Herritt One other thing I should mention so if you go through it it won't freak you out....when I first came ... Read more
Doran Herritt One other thing I should mention so if you go through it it won't freak you out....when I first came out of the anesthesia I could hear what people were saying but couldn't open my eyes, talk, or move. I was trying to wave to them to let them know I could hear, but then I fell back to sleep. I don't know if everyone experiences this but it was weird. Not scary, just weird.
Emily Rowley
Hi Neil,
When I arrived at the Hospital in the early morning hours, I had to wash so many times with ... Read more
Emily Rowley
Hi Neil,
When I arrived at the Hospital in the early morning hours, I had to wash so many times with special antiseptic soap. Then I was given anesthetic slowly injected into my arm. I had to wait til the Surgeon was ready (apparently the guy before me had complications). My gear went into a marked hospital plastic bag under my bed, given blankets to keep warm (very cold at Theatre!) and wheeled via bed (still awake). Waited for ages behind the surgery doors for around 1/2-1hr (felt like forever), I could hear them cleaning the tools and I was feeling ill, get grumpy "When will I go to sleep, can't they just hurry up, where is everyone?". Then once they pushed my bed through, they counted 1, 2, 3, Lift to transfer me onto the operating table. Once on there, placed sleepy mask onto me and all grouped around me saying I could count down from 100, I already began counting down from 10-made it all the way and feel off to sleep.
I think I'm mentally ready for surgery now. I never thought I'd get to this stage. I also thought I'd never decide on which valve to choose. This journey is ...Read more
I think I'm mentally ready for surgery now. I never thought I'd get to this stage. I also thought I'd never decide on which valve to choose. This journey is crazy!
Two weeks today we will leave. Now I just have to get physically ready. Should I bring books? Magazines? Movies?
Clare Auten I found it hard to focus on reading at the hospital so I enjoyed magazines more, short articles with ... Read more
Clare Auten I found it hard to focus on reading at the hospital so I enjoyed magazines more, short articles with lots of pictures. I don't think my hospital room had a dvd player but if so that would be good, although I have been known to sleep through a movie. Get a good Playlist going of music you enjoy and a good set of headphones or ear buds. Packing a phone charger with a long cord is also a good idea because you can't be sure where the nearest outlet will be.
Doran Herritt Me too. I thought I would read more, but found myself clicking on the tv and closing my eyes and dosi ... Read more
Doran Herritt Me too. I thought I would read more, but found myself clicking on the tv and closing my eyes and dosing on and off. I would still bring a book and some magazines just in case. I spent some time on my iPad too. Keeping up to date with the world outside and wasting time on clash of clans. I also was blessed to have a great roomate and we talked a lot about our health and family. Praying for you. Take care.
Drn
Steven A Husted i think they have pretty much every thing you need tv reading and sleeping the less you take with you ... Read more
Steven A Husted i think they have pretty much every thing you need tv reading and sleeping the less you take with you the less you have to take home when you leave most of what i did was tv and sleep even at the rehab hospital i exercise twice a day and watch tv and sleep
Michael Meyer Neil:
Bring what you enjoy, but as others have suggested you are going to do a lot of napping. Some ... Read more
Michael Meyer Neil:
Bring what you enjoy, but as others have suggested you are going to do a lot of napping. Some drug induced, others just part of the healing process. You will also do lots of walking to get you out of the bed.
Counted 28 days on the calendar to my surgery date. I'm not sure if that makes me feel better or worse! Glad to have the valve choice behind me but but definitely ...Read more
Counted 28 days on the calendar to my surgery date. I'm not sure if that makes me feel better or worse! Glad to have the valve choice behind me but but definitely getting more anxious about the "countdown"....
Jean Knappik As anxious as we all are these procedures are performed everyday with no problems. Keep the faith!
W. Carter That's not as bad as mine. I got a call on Monday from the coordinator over thoracic surgery at the V ... Read more
W. Carter That's not as bad as mine. I got a call on Monday from the coordinator over thoracic surgery at the V.A. Hospital. She asked me if I could check in Thursday of the same week to have surgery Friday morning. I had been waiting over a year and a half so I said hell ya. 3 days notice, 1 week before Christmas. LOL Keep your chin up, there's nothing to worry about. Open heart surgery is extremely safe these days.
susan kotansky Waiting was by far the worst part for me, it's normal. But you can have total faith that it's just an ... Read more
susan kotansky Waiting was by far the worst part for me, it's normal. But you can have total faith that it's just another day at the office for your surgeon and all will be wonderful. Stay busy, distract yourself, meditate...it will be here and done before you know it.
Enrique K It should make you feel better. Just think how well you will feel after a couple of weeks of your sur ... Read more
Enrique K It should make you feel better. Just think how well you will feel after a couple of weeks of your surgery. I'm in my 2nd week post op and feel great. Take it week by week not day by day.
Ginger Marine Waiting is difficult, but it provided a contrast for me--after the waiting was over I feel SO MUCH be ... Read more
Ginger Marine Waiting is difficult, but it provided a contrast for me--after the waiting was over I feel SO MUCH better!
Doran Herritt Stay busy. Visit with family and friends. Focus on fun. Surgery day will get here soon enough. Sounds ... Read more
Doran Herritt Stay busy. Visit with family and friends. Focus on fun. Surgery day will get here soon enough. Sounds like you have a plan. Trust it and move forward. Praying for your peace leading to surgery. Take care. You'll b fixed and on your way living in no time. Drn
After MUCH deliberation and going back and forth I think I am going with a tissue valve. I realize that at 44 it feels like a "crazy" decision but I've gone ...Read more
After MUCH deliberation and going back and forth I think I am going with a tissue valve. I realize that at 44 it feels like a "crazy" decision but I've gone back and forth SO much I feel that I'm just not ready to commit to a mechanical valve. The surgeon agrees with my decision and the hospital I will be getting my surgery in is a pioneer in TAVR so everyone seems confident that this should be feasible upon replacement. The stats and studies don't support that thought right now but it's hard to get and accurate picture of the patient population when they are exclusively high risk. If my valve fails before the technology is practical then I will go mechanical. My gut says do "one and done" but my head says go tissue, live your life and see how the technology plays out.
Hopefully the surgery and recovery are easier than coming to a decision.
Elaine Cutri It sounds like you came up with a decision you can live with. The tissue valve will give you a decade ... Read more
Elaine Cutri It sounds like you came up with a decision you can live with. The tissue valve will give you a decade of a great quality of life. Ten years from now, more advanced procedures will be available.
Steven A Husted every person is different there have been patients who have had a tissue valve for 31 years and then ... Read more
Steven A Husted every person is different there have been patients who have had a tissue valve for 31 years and then had a TAVR so i am glad i chose a bovine tissue valve i am 1 year out and doing fine with no problems and doing phase 3 of cardio rehab every week i think you will do fine with a tissue valve and even if you need a second ohs it was really not that bad so many others have had it done 3 and 4 times and are doing fine
Pat Bluemel I'm 43 and have a Trifecta valve, quite pleased with everything 8 months out. You are doing the righ ... Read more
Pat Bluemel I'm 43 and have a Trifecta valve, quite pleased with everything 8 months out. You are doing the right thing for you. Don't look back.
Neil Collins Thanks. It feels so much better now that I've made the decision. I feel like I can now start to prepa ... Read more
Neil Collins Thanks. It feels so much better now that I've made the decision. I feel like I can now start to prepare myself for the surgery. Went on a 13km run today....hoping I can continue by next summer.
Elaine Cutri Wow, great run. I'm not a runner, but seeing the stories around here, I think you'll be running befor ... Read more
Elaine Cutri Wow, great run. I'm not a runner, but seeing the stories around here, I think you'll be running before Spring is here!
Ash Berryman Hah, I should have been braver! Good choice for your job, great choice all round. Good luck Neil #jea ... Read more
Ash Berryman Hah, I should have been braver! Good choice for your job, great choice all round. Good luck Neil #jealous
Kathleen F. That's awesome. If Dr. Stelzer hadn't been available to do the Ross I was leaning toward tissue too. ... Read more
Kathleen F. That's awesome. If Dr. Stelzer hadn't been available to do the Ross I was leaning toward tissue too. Smarter brains than ours are working on valve solutions; thank goodness! Looking forward to reading about your great recovery soon!
Gregg Nissly Hi Neil, Thanks for sharing your decision and rationale. I know you made the right choice.
Gregg Nissly Hi Neil, Thanks for sharing your decision and rationale. I know you made the right choice.
I'm 54 and facing the same choice as you. I've been leaning towards tissue for the last week, but I'm not firm - I little bit more on the fence the last two days. One thing that I've really started to think about lately is that I've gone on 7 to 10 day back country backpacking trips with my three older boys and now it is my youngest son's turn. On these trips I would be at least 24 hours from a hospital in case of emergency. That is making me think that the mechanical valve might be too risky with the Warfarin. I'm sure that I can live with the ticking of the mechanical, the daily pills, the diet adjustment and blood testing, but this one factor is really working to sway me towards Tissue. I still have time to decide since my Surgery is December 4. I'm setting my decision date at November 17, which is my next appointment with my surgeon.
LETICIA DE LA ROSA-CREASEY I'm on the same train of thought. Make sure valve is big enough to accommodate a less invasive procedure like tavr down the road. And in those 10 to 15 years live a wonderful full life :)
Phase 1 Complete! CT scan done. Like many on here other than this heart valve thing, hospitals are foreign to me. Had my first IV today...well had two because ...Read more
Phase 1 Complete! CT scan done. Like many on here other than this heart valve thing, hospitals are foreign to me. Had my first IV today...well had two because the first one didn't seem to be working. The dye they use felt really weird. The general reaction today was "wow, you're really young." I think that being a heart patient well below the "average" age this will probably be the norm.
Meeting with the surgeon tomorrow and have lots of questions. I'm still leaning towards the Ross Procedure, with mechanical if anything doesn't lone up for the Ross.
I think I will be very used to hospitals at the end of all of this.
Any Ross Procedure stories on here? How long ago was your surgery? How experienced was your surgeon? Any complications?
Thanks!
Adam Pick Hi Neil, Welcome to the site. I'm hopeful the people and information here will help you along your jo ... Read more
Adam Pick Hi Neil, Welcome to the site. I'm hopeful the people and information here will help you along your journey. Fyi, I had the Ross Procedure done almost 10 years ago. I'll post some links below to help you get familiar with the Ross. Adam
Adam Pick Overview of the Ross and a patient story I filmed with Peter Woglom - http://www.heart-valve-surgery. ... Read more
Adam Pick Overview of the Ross and a patient story I filmed with Peter Woglom - http://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/ross-procedure-statistics.php.
Adam Pick Free Ross Procedure eBook - http://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/ebook-ross-procedure-download-webinar. ... Read more
Adam Pick Free Ross Procedure eBook - http://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/ebook-ross-procedure-download-webinar.php.
Adam Pick Some patient questions about the Ross - http://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2009/07 ... Read more
Adam Pick Some patient questions about the Ross - http://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2009/07/20/ross-procedure-autograft-homograft-failure/
Adam Pick All about Autograft wrapping techniques - http://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2012/ ... Read more
Adam Pick All about Autograft wrapping techniques - http://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2012/08/24/autograft-valve-wrapping-ross-procedure/
Terrie Syvertsen Great "Job" and information Adam! You "Be" THE MAN! (Haven't bugged you in awhile so I thought I woul ... Read more
Terrie Syvertsen Great "Job" and information Adam! You "Be" THE MAN! (Haven't bugged you in awhile so I thought I would pop up and applaud you for once again, being there with information! Knowledge is Power.....
Neil Collins Thanks Adam.....I know from reading your book (which I can't thank you enough for writing and telling ... Read more
Neil Collins Thanks Adam.....I know from reading your book (which I can't thank you enough for writing and telling your story) that you are a Ross success story. Thanks for the links. Trying to go into the surgery consult as informed as I can. Just got the last report and my aortic valve is 0.7cm and I was just about to do an Olympic distance triathlon.
Kenny Knox Hey Neil, I had the Ross at a younger age (15). It served me very well and I had no complications wi ... Read more
Kenny Knox Hey Neil, I had the Ross at a younger age (15). It served me very well and I had no complications with it. I was very active afterwards and the valves lasted me 18 years!
Kathleen F. Take a look at my journal; I'm 7 months post-Ross with Dr. Stelzer and just getting ready to leave fo ... Read more
Kathleen F. Take a look at my journal; I'm 7 months post-Ross with Dr. Stelzer and just getting ready to leave for the weekend for a triathlon I'm doing on Sunday. Highly recommend Dr. Stelzer!
Kathleen F. I viewed the whole thing as if it were an endurance event. My bivalvathon. No complications at all. ... Read more
Kathleen F. I viewed the whole thing as if it were an endurance event. My bivalvathon. No complications at all. I was on the heart-lung bypass machine just under 4 hours, which is similar to my best marathon time (3:55 at age 40), but it is a 7 hour surgery overall. I was diagnosed exactly a year ago today with severe aortic stenosis, and am very happy that I didn't wait too long to address the problem. Dr. Stelzer and Mount Sinai Hospital were amazing. I am fine now, everything is normal and I'm exercising just as much as before. The scar is the only external indication of what I went through this past year. The hardest part was deciding to do it. Which is the case with any great undertaking, I believe. Best of luck...
Kathleen F. Take a look at Amy DiGiovanni Noack's journal too - she's also Canadian and had the Ross not too long ... Read more
Kathleen F. Take a look at Amy DiGiovanni Noack's journal too - she's also Canadian and had the Ross not too long ago.
Neil Collins Thanks Kathleen. Your blog gives me so much inspiration. Great time on the marathon before your surge ... Read more
Neil Collins Thanks Kathleen. Your blog gives me so much inspiration. Great time on the marathon before your surgery! 3:55. I did my first last year in 4:05 and was going to try and beat 4 this year. Good luck on the Tri....and I'll check out the links.
Well, the journey is beginning. Just found out that the cardiologist and surgeon met and there was consensus that my Bicuspid Aortic Valve will need to be replaced. ...Read more
Well, the journey is beginning. Just found out that the cardiologist and surgeon met and there was consensus that my Bicuspid Aortic Valve will need to be replaced. After 44 years, three half marathons, one full marathons and two triathlons it's time to start thinking about the next race. I've been reading all the stories and just got through Adam's book and I feel like while ready, I'm also not ready at all for what's coming up over the next six months. My flight or fight is kicking into full gear and telling me to run to the hills.
I'm leaning towards the Ross Procedure and if that can't happen hoping for the On-X mechanical valve. I would like to return to triathlons and I feel that the Ross with the native valve will allow me to still compete at a high level. Barring that the On-X valve seems to have great hemodynamic flow.
Any other athletes out there? Curious about your valve choice.
Michael Donohoe You have this Neil. I am at week four today, 47 years with a bicuspid aortic valve and replaced with ... Read more
Michael Donohoe You have this Neil. I am at week four today, 47 years with a bicuspid aortic valve and replaced with an On-X valve as well. Forgive yourself now for taking recovery time, and understand getting the blood thinners will take time, but you will be better than ever. Praying for you brother.
Clare Auten I don't really consider myself an athlete but I ran 7 or 8 half and a whole before surgery. Since sur ... Read more
Clare Auten I don't really consider myself an athlete but I ran 7 or 8 half and a whole before surgery. Since surgery 18 months ago I have done 2 half marathons using a walk/run approach. As a slightly overweight middle aged woman who had heart surgery, I will take any finish I can get. I am 47 and have an On-X valve.
Neil Collins Anyone who can run a mile is an athlete in my book. Did you consider the Ross procedure. Pretty sure ... Read more
Neil Collins Anyone who can run a mile is an athlete in my book. Did you consider the Ross procedure. Pretty sure that tissue isn't what I'm looking for. It's been like watching and waiting for many years and I'd like to move on.
Carlie Lyndoe I have heard from numerous cardiologists and from first hand experience, that tissue valves are known ... Read more
Carlie Lyndoe I have heard from numerous cardiologists and from first hand experience, that tissue valves are known to age even faster when you're active. They said any where from 3-7 years if you're lucky.
We have a 35 yr. Old (?) friend who had a pig valve that only lasted 3 years. He's one of the most active people we know. He runs, cycles, swims, skis, etc. He decided to get a mechanical valve the 2nd OHS, and he's still just as active, if not more. He said after he got the mechanical valve put in, he didn't realize how terrible he felt before with the pig valve. He can run even farther and faster times and has better endurance with the mechanical. He also says he doesn't feel sluggish or tired anymore at all.
Good luck on your decision. You will make the right one :)