Paige's Journal

Lacresia Falls  Great advice!  I have surgery coming up June 20th and I will definitely try to do these things!  Thank you!

Anna Ma  These are excellent tips!  I wish I knew to strengthen neck and upper back muscles. I was fortunate that y legs were strong enough that I found very helpful post surgery.

Max Jam  I would probably recommend starting to use, and at least understand how to use the intensive spirometer. The breathing exercise plastic thing you use post op 

Sue Maize  Thanks for these suggestions Paige—good reminder for me to keep up my prehab! 😇Did you end up having your surgery in Italy or the US? So happy to hear your good news! ❤️

Nancy Bukowski  Glad to hear you are home, Paige.  And, thank you for the tips.  I am headed to surgery in about 4 weeks so will try to follow them.

Paige Hahn  Yes I agree it would have been useful doing breathing exercises like the spirometer before. Sue, yes I did do the surgery in Milan Italy by an excellent surgeon named Alamanni. Good luck everyone! 

Barbara deLoache  Hi Paige.. I am also exactly one month before my OHS! We do have a slight 48 year difference in age though. I look forward to finding out how you are doing along the way. I hope you have a very successful  surgery. Your photo is beautiful.

Meredith Bray  Get yourself a travel pillow if you don't already have one. Reason? Your head is heavy, and you use a lot of energy holding it up. I used one in my recliner to get some really good rest in the weeks right after surgery. You'll also want some extra throw pillows or bed pillows handy - use them under your  armpits/elbows when in your recliner to take some weight off your shoulders when resting.

And keep looking forward - soon the waiting will be over and you'll have recovery goals to work on!

Meredith
Oak Ridge, TN

Abhishek Sharma  Just relax, and follow your doctor's advice. Eat healthy .. and best of luck for surgery.. i am 38 nd my surgery was 6 months ago..

Rose Madura  You guys should look at David Rasmussen's profile. He did a regiman prior to surgery that seemed to really help his recovery.

Stephanie Cole  Paige you will do amazing. It’s not actually that painful. Keep a strong, positive attitude, you’ll fly through it! 

Civita Fahey  Keep a positive attitude, continue walking as you will need to after and just have faith your surgical team.  When that day comes you will feel at peace and all will be well. Preghero' per te , Cara.  

Klara Čičić  Dear Paige, I was 33 at the time of surgery, my recovery wasn't that bad, but I saw people here (who were older, btw) whose recovery was much faster and couldn't believe. Each person is different. I took it slowly, went for a rehab 2 months after surgery. Rehab lasted 3 months. After full 5 months I got back to my normal life (back to job, back to cycling 2x a week...). Regarding timing of surgery that one is almost always tricky and one simply can not pinpoint exact moment when it is best to do so. I was in the same dilemma with my mitral valve. So I asked for second and third opinion (all cardiologists). I also did a lot of research and looked at current most recent guidelines on when to operate and made my decision based on all of that. It isn't easy decision. You have to weigh on risks of waiting and having surgery earlier. I wish you a lot of strength, peace and knowledge! This site is precious. Ask anything and people will help. You can do this! 

Kyle Griffin  Paige I just had my mitral valve repair and am 34. Minus a few set , I was home in 6 days and am already feeling essentially normal!  My left ventricle had just gone from mild dilation to moderate dilation a few months before my surgery and im glad i got it done. Longer you wait as far as dilation goes, its my understanding the harder it becomes to remodel back to normal

Allen Carkner  I had my Ross aortic valve replacement at 24 years old. I’d say I was 80%-90% back to normal around 8-12 weeks. Pretty much 100% around 4-6 months. 

Paige Hahn  Ok thank you so much everyone for sharing your stories! This gives me a bit of clarity on how to organize my year with work! 

Abhishek Sharma  I am 37 ,had a valve and aneurism surgery 3 month ago. Recovered 70-80% ,  feeling more energetic than before.. soo be positive and good luck ..

Adam Pick  Hi Paige, Great to meet you!  

I just saw the email you sent me.  Yes, I am not very familiar with the AVNEO / Ozaki procedure.  I know the procedure is being used by select physicians and it appears to a potential fit for certain patients.  But, I have not had time to really dig into it, or speak with many patients who have received it, or discuss the technique with surgeons who perform it.  

I'll be at the STS conference in San Diego this weekend.  I'll ask around and see what I can learn. Sound good? 

Also.... Did you see "Fact #6" at this post with Dr. Said? There is some discussion of the procedure on that post. https://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/learning/pediatric-aortic-valve-surgery/

Marie Myers  I am sorry you have to go through this at a young age. I had my regurgitant aortic valve and aneurysms operated on at age 63. You have a lot of research to do! I know how difficult it was for me choosing mechanical verses tissue valve. Perhaps some of the younger patients will respond with their thoughts. Wishing you all the best!

Paige Hahn  Hi Marie! Thank you for the message and congratulations on your successful surgery :)! The doctors I spoke with told me that patients under 30 years old have an immune system that will try to “reject” the biological valve at about 7-10 years after surgery. Yes, I’m curious to speak to others that are under 30 and if they are being told the same information. 

Richard Munson  Marie, you're treading on dangerous ground. I am young at heart. Notice i said heart. Having to make those decisions under 30 cannot be easy. 

Rose Madura  Paige, I also had a bicuspid valve and was followed by a cardiologist since I was about 7.  Didn't need my surgery though until I was 59 five and a half years ago so I went with tissue valve.  I've heard the same thing about tissue valves not lasting as long in younger patients. I was on the fence between tissue and the Onyx. Do plenty of research and get a second opinion. Also, whatever route you take, it will be the right decision for you. Please keep us updated. And God bless you.

Patrick Petch  I was diagnosed with a murmer in my teens however no follow up was done until my 30's when I went to see a Cardiologist...had my Aorta stem and Valve done when I was 46. The decision for me was that my young sons played baseball and i coached which meant being hit with bats and baseballs fairly regularly...My decision was based on blood thinners only and concern about the numerous assaults from 6 year and 8 year olds on the little league field...LOL. 

Had that not been a concern then I likely would have leaned towards mechanical to avoid another surgery and had I needed the surgery when in my 30's I would have gone mechanical as well. Wishing you all the best with your journey and I have not been back to Ital since my surgery so that will be happening for my 10th anniv surger date!