Sherri's Journal

I went to Cleveland for a year after surgery check up and found that I have something built up on my new valve. They do not know what it is. The valve is also narrowed mild to moderately, and has a slight regurgitation. Has anyone had this happen to them after a valve replacement? Does it seem like a long time to wait, another year, to get it checked again?

I am 2 1/2 weeks out from having my aortic valve replacement. In that time I have had 4 episodes of AFib lasting from 12 hours to 33 hours. I am currently experiencing an episode that has thus far lasted for 9 1/2 hours. Thankfully I don’t get any symptoms with it other than the sensation of your heart beating too fast! Has anyone experienced this after surgery? It is very unsettling!

I had an aortic valve replacement with an Inspiris Resilia done through a hemisternotomy J- incision. I had Dr. Aaron Weiss at the Cleveland Clinic, and I can't say enough good about him! He's wonderful! I have had two times of AFib afterward so far, one of them lasting 33 hours. That was wearying! I have been put on meds and blood thinners to try to help with that. I have to say it is a miracle what they can do today with valve replacement! Surgery went very well, and I am recovering at home!

My heart surgery is now scheduled in Cleveland Clinic on August 30.  I was allowed  the opportunity to have designated blood donors donate blood prior to my surgery date.  Unlike Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic works with the Red Cross to accomplish this!  I am having the Inspiris Resilia aortic valve replacement.  Further CT scan, to verify the size of the aorta as seen on the echocardiogram, the day before surgery will decide whether or not anything needs to be done with the aorta.  I know this is not going to be an easy thing to go through, but I am looking forward to it being done and pray that God will be with the surgical team throughout the whole procedure and guide them!  

I had an exercise stress test done at Mayo Clinic this past week along with chest xrays.  I had a preoperative visit with an NP there and was told that Mayo policy is such that you cannot donate your own blood ahead of surgery or have a trusted family or friend donate for you!  Basically they said that if I signed up for the Bloodless surgery, and I needed blood during surgery, they would not give me blood.  I would have to die.  Can you believe this is a policy of a hospital who claims that the patient always comes first?  I canceled the rest of my appointments there and am now checking out Cleveland Clinic to see how their policy on blood donation is.  Does anyone have  any experience donating their own blood or having trusted blood of their choosing donated for them at Cleveland Clinic?  

I have just been diagnosed with severe aortic stenosis. it went from mild/moderate to severe in a year and a half. I have known that I have bicuspid aortic valve for many years and have been having it monitored regularly. Thankfully I have had not had any symptoms of the stenosis. My cardiologist has said it will be in the near future that I will need a surgical intervention of some sort. I have yet to see the surgeon assigned to me at Mayo clinic in Rochester. Anyone else have this done with a bicuspid aortic valve? Were you able to donate blood for yourself ahead of time or have a designated donor of your choosing? I am feeling very anxious about all this and would appreciate any help!
I am also reluctant to go on blood thinners for the rest of my life if i don't have to.  Is the only option to have a replacement tissue valve or repair of my valve to not have to go on blood thinners?