Two years since my (second) valve surgery (AVR Edwards Bovine). Everything is going great. Just returned from a long game of pickup soccer and feeling good! ...Read more
Two years since my (second) valve surgery (AVR Edwards Bovine). Everything is going great. Just returned from a long game of pickup soccer and feeling good!
Had an Echo this morning and everything is looking good for the Bovine valve (good = same as last time, trace leaking which is not concerning the cardiologist). ...Read more
Had an Echo this morning and everything is looking good for the Bovine valve (good = same as last time, trace leaking which is not concerning the cardiologist).
1 year anniversary with my Edwards bovine valve. A bit of bad news, the valve has a small leak but not where a leak would be expected. On a regular echo it ...Read more
1 year anniversary with my Edwards bovine valve. A bit of bad news, the valve has a small leak but not where a leak would be expected. On a regular echo it looked liked a paravalvular leak (on the outside of the valve). TEE showed that it was inside the valve but not in the center. The leak is pretty minor for now so we will watch and wait (check back in 4-6 months from now)
On to the good news. I otherwise feel fine, heart function and size is normal. I am off on a big vacation in a week that will include a 12 day hike in the alps!
Phyllis Petersen Hopefully, it continues to be minor. Enjoy your vacation! I'm incredibly jealous. It's a very long ti ... Read more
Phyllis Petersen Hopefully, it continues to be minor. Enjoy your vacation! I'm incredibly jealous. It's a very long time since I hiked in the alps.
Civita Fahey I hope it continues to be a minor problem Steve.. keep up the good work!
Just got back from the cardiologist. My sternum is healed and my echo results look good. My left ventricle is back down to basically normal (that was fast!) ...Read more
Just got back from the cardiologist. My sternum is healed and my echo results look good. My left ventricle is back down to basically normal (that was fast!) and my murmur is gone. The bovine valve looks good. My EF is a bit lower than normal, it was 55 preop and it is down to 45-50 but without the regurgitation which was letting about half back in.
Steven A Husted best wishes and prayers for a great recovery
Bob Fessler Wow, less that 8 weeks and your sternum is healed and the echo results look good. Sounds like surger ... Read more
Bob Fessler Wow, less that 8 weeks and your sternum is healed and the echo results look good. Sounds like surgery results that I want. Congratulations.
Kevin Lee Steven that is awesome. Also glad to hear that the over all heart is healing as well. Looking forwa ... Read more
Kevin Lee Steven that is awesome. Also glad to hear that the over all heart is healing as well. Looking forward to my echo results in March to see the over all effects of my surgery.
Corey Sines Awesome! EF can take a little time to bounce back as your heart remodels and adjusts.
Steven Dean Thanks everyone. Its nice to get good news from an echo for the first time in a long time (if ever). ... Read more
Steven Dean Thanks everyone. Its nice to get good news from an echo for the first time in a long time (if ever). Last surgery my very first echo revealed the repair didn't work so this was quite a relief .
Elizabeth Ott Hi Steve, it seems I have fallen into the same situation that you did in2012. I had mitral valve repa ... Read more
Elizabeth Ott Hi Steve, it seems I have fallen into the same situation that you did in2012. I had mitral valve repair 10/5/15 and had a follow up echo 3 months later which showed severe regurgitation again. I had a bunch of tee echoes over the past six months and my cardiologist says I shouldn't wait years to do the redo. I recovered well from the surgery with the exception that it triggered Chronic migraine. I am more afraid of the second surgery exacerbating that problem. Also, what made you changed your mind to go with a bioprosthetic valve replacement when you are under 50 years old? I'm 50 and very athleitic but I don't want to have a guaranteed 3rd OHS in my future. Glad you are doing well. One other thing, did your first surgeon give you any explanation as to why the repair failed?
Tomorrow is 6 weeks. Sort of hard to believe. I went for a "jog" (didn't go too far and a good deal of walking involved) this evening since the weather was ...Read more
Tomorrow is 6 weeks. Sort of hard to believe. I went for a "jog" (didn't go too far and a good deal of walking involved) this evening since the weather was nice and I am eager to get back on the soccer pitch. It seems like it is a little ways off still but I think this was a good first step. Recalling last recovery I think I was a little further along at 6 weeks though I had a smaller incision that time. I have been back to work for almost 2 weeks which has been good. The first week back I really missed the couch but this week not as much. I have an echo next Thursday and a visit with my cardiologist a week from Tuesday. Hopefully everything is looking good.
Bridget Sawmiller Sounds like you are doing great! I have an echo next Wednesday and will have a 30 day heart monitor, ... Read more
Bridget Sawmiller Sounds like you are doing great! I have an echo next Wednesday and will have a 30 day heart monitor, so hopefully everything will look great for both of us. Tell Gloria and your Mom hello from Jay and me!
It has been a little over two weeks and I am feeling pretty good. Overall I think recovery is going even better than last time (outside of the first couple ...Read more
It has been a little over two weeks and I am feeling pretty good. Overall I think recovery is going even better than last time (outside of the first couple of days, which were a bit tougher due to the tubes having to stay in longer). I walked over 4 miles total yesterday and felt great. Working on getting back focus and energy. Thanks to friends, family and neighbors for all of the support!
Bridget Sawmiller So glad to hear you are recovering well! It is so great to get out and walk and sounds like you are d ... Read more
Bridget Sawmiller So glad to hear you are recovering well! It is so great to get out and walk and sounds like you are doing fantastic. I did about 5,500 steps today, which included 2 walks outside today, one in the morning by myself and one in the afternoon with Jay and my neighbor Jen. Glad to hear you are recovering well!
Juergen Li Steven - glad ro hear you are making great progress with the walking. You know tha this will heal you ... Read more
Juergen Li Steven - glad ro hear you are making great progress with the walking. You know tha this will heal you and make you feel better much faster - keep up the great recovery.
Steven Dean Thanks to both of you. So glad that you are both doing so well. Walks outside are so nice, especially ... Read more
Steven Dean Thanks to both of you. So glad that you are both doing so well. Walks outside are so nice, especially when the weather is good, which it has been here the last two days.
Franklin Wyrick Glad to hear that you are doing so well, Steven. Keep up the walking, its the greatest medicine ever ... Read more
Franklin Wyrick Glad to hear that you are doing so well, Steven. Keep up the walking, its the greatest medicine ever.
They almost made us stay the weekend for an x-Ray on Monday but they saw the look on our faces and talked with the cardiology fellow who has been looking after ...Read more
They almost made us stay the weekend for an x-Ray on Monday but they saw the look on our faces and talked with the cardiology fellow who has been looking after me and they let us go. The drive was no problem for me, we made good use of rest stops. At home getting up to the second floor (a couple times already) was also no problem. Last time i was released from the hospital on day 4 and was in bad shape when I got home. This time saying in almost a week I feel pretty fine now that I am home. Pain is mostly in the arms and some other collateral damage areas. Still some discomfort all around but feeling pretty good overall.
Catie B Congrats! So glad they sprang you out of there so you could go home! Great to hear you're feeling so ... Read more
Catie B Congrats! So glad they sprang you out of there so you could go home! Great to hear you're feeling so good this early. : )
Bridget Sawmiller Fantastic news, continued prayers for a speedy recovery! So great to meet you and your Mom, bummed w ... Read more
Bridget Sawmiller Fantastic news, continued prayers for a speedy recovery! So great to meet you and your Mom, bummed we didn't get to meet Gloria. Our best to you, Bridget and Jay
Priscila Marino What a blessing to be home!!! I am glad the second time around was better for you!!! But,would you c ... Read more
Priscila Marino What a blessing to be home!!! I am glad the second time around was better for you!!! But,would you care to elaborate " other collateral areas"???
Steven Dean Priscila, my left arm do example is very sore. I think from the position it was in while under.
Corey Sines Awesome to hear Steve!, hope the rest of recovery is speedy and uneventful.
I get the feeling that my stint as guest blogger is nearing its end. Steve picked up his phone this evening and checked his own email and texts, which has ...Read more
I get the feeling that my stint as guest blogger is nearing its end. Steve picked up his phone this evening and checked his own email and texts, which has to be some sort of modern-day surgery recovery milestone.
Other milestones from the day include: Steve was freed from the drainage tubing contraptions midday. One was removed completely; the other two ports were disconnected from the yards of tube and the plastic box things and attached to small plastic bulbs to catch the remaining drainage. Once that was done, it was less hard to stand up and move around a little.
Steve also took his first walks down the hall this afternoon. We're going to go again soon, after he wakes up from a nap.
Gloria
Adam Pick Gloria, You have been an amazing 'Guest Blogger'. Thanks so much for keeping our community informed a ... Read more
Adam Pick Gloria, You have been an amazing 'Guest Blogger'. Thanks so much for keeping our community informed about Steve's progress. :)
Juergen Li Yes - the plastic balls are a really special fun experience, especially walking with them when they a ... Read more
Juergen Li Yes - the plastic balls are a really special fun experience, especially walking with them when they are attached to your gown below the belt line? I hope Steve will enjoy this as well - is for a short time only.
Steve is 3 days out from surgery now. Yesterday was a hard day, with little identifiable progress. A bright spot was Bridget's visit from the sixth floor. ...Read more
Steve is 3 days out from surgery now. Yesterday was a hard day, with little identifiable progress. A bright spot was Bridget's visit from the sixth floor. Yesterday Steve ate a little, but nothing tastes good as a result of the anesthesia still in his system and all of the other medications. (For the sake of science, urination was also one of yesterday's achievements and everyone was relieved that there was no need to recatheterize like last time around).
Steve still has all of his chest tubes in. Two of the three continue to collect some drainage, so it is likely he will keep those two another day. All of the tubing makes it even harder to stand up and move from chair to bed (as each tube is attached to its own plastic box contraption), and the whole tubing situation is just very annoying but necessary.
The goal for today, in addition to losing at least one of the drainage tubes, is to walk a little in the hallways. I am sure it will be hard, but I think getting out of the room and feeling progress will be really good for Steve.
Steve was amazed to hear that his photo from yesterday morning made it to Facebook and has over 1,500 comments - he's not quite ready to read them all, but it will be a nice thing to do when he's feeling a bit better, and he continues to appreciate the supportive notes.
I think we're likely to be here at the hospital until Wednesday, but that's really just a guess.
Gloria
Joanne Casserly We aware that what can happen and it did to me, they kept me in ICU too long and I developed ICU phyc ... Read more
Joanne Casserly We aware that what can happen and it did to me, they kept me in ICU too long and I developed ICU phychosis, (sp) it was not nice, at all, so you make sure he's up about and moved into step down, ASAP or there is a good chance this can happen and I would wish it on my worst enemy surrounded by top surgeons, no one knew what it was, but for my cardio doc when she came up and she pitched a fit and demanded that I be moved out, I was home 2 day's, after that. God Bless and trust me, it will get better, I'm 8 weeks today, in fact. :heart
Gloria Maier Thanks, Joanne - that sounds really tough. Glad your recovery is better now. Luckily Steve is out of ... Read more
Gloria Maier Thanks, Joanne - that sounds really tough. Glad your recovery is better now. Luckily Steve is out of ICU, but even so he is just very very exhausted. The cardiac rehab nurse came by and told him that they would do some walking this afternoon, which we are looking forward to.
Patrick Dowd Stay strong Steve. That first walk down the hall is tough but soon it will be around the nursing sta ... Read more
Patrick Dowd Stay strong Steve. That first walk down the hall is tough but soon it will be around the nursing station. Then down for a shower, then home and down the block, then around the block GoGoGo.
Juergen Li I can relate to the tubing and all the cables - was annoying but then this is for a short time only. ... Read more
Juergen Li I can relate to the tubing and all the cables - was annoying but then this is for a short time only. In my case they replaced those plastic suction units with little round suction balls after day one - gave me great mobility and also reduced the noise that those suctions made. My experience - walking is the best medicine as it helps physically and emotionally.
Catie B Sorry to hear it's been so tough. But I hope standing up and moving will be excellent medicine and en ... Read more
Catie B Sorry to hear it's been so tough. But I hope standing up and moving will be excellent medicine and encourage you much. Hope your days start getting easier from this point on.
Steve and I are both pleased to report that he is out of the ICU and into a private room in the cardiac step-down unit. I just read him my journal posts from ...Read more
Steve and I are both pleased to report that he is out of the ICU and into a private room in the cardiac step-down unit. I just read him my journal posts from yesterday and all of the comments and guestbook posts. Steve sends his thanks! (and shout out to Adam Pick - thanks for creating this community space!)
Steve is napping now. He is feeling a bit more pain in his chest after the move from ICU to the new room, which is hopefully just a result of the extra exertion that it took to move from bed to bed. His drainage tubes will remain in until tomorrow, because there's still a lot of drainage from the chest, but once those are out it will be easier for Steve to start moving around, little by little. Having been through this once before, Steve is already diligently doing his breathing exercises about once an hour.
Steve's mom and I got to spend about 2 hours with Steve in the ICU this afternoon. We saw him briefly just after he arrived in the ICU at about 3 p.m., while ...Read more
Steve's mom and I got to spend about 2 hours with Steve in the ICU this afternoon. We saw him briefly just after he arrived in the ICU at about 3 p.m., while he was still intubated, and then we had a longer visit after the breathing tube was removed. We were able to give him ice chips and then water as the anesthesia wore off and he became able to handle them.
We also read him a few of today's text messages from friends and family, which he appreciated. While he couldn't quite keep his eyes open, he managed to grimace (appreciatively!) at all of the promises of hugs, and he wanted me to remind you all that he just had his chest cut open and can't hug for a while. We didn't quite get through all of the messages today, as he tired out, but I am happy to have some material on reserve for the morning.
The ICU nurses seem to think that he will likely get discharged from ICU tomorrow and moved to a step-down unit in the afternoon. Fingers crossed.
-Gloria
Bridget Sawmiller Excellent, I am still in ICU, hope to be in step down tomorrow, maybe I can do a walk and come over ... Read more
Bridget Sawmiller Excellent, I am still in ICU, hope to be in step down tomorrow, maybe I can do a walk and come over and visit for a few minutes
Franklin Wyrick Sounds like things are going well. I wishing you a speedy recovery now that you are on the other sid ... Read more
Franklin Wyrick Sounds like things are going well. I wishing you a speedy recovery now that you are on the other side.
Steven A Husted praise the lord you made it thru i know those ice chips must have tasted good they did to me i never ... Read more
Steven A Husted praise the lord you made it thru i know those ice chips must have tasted good they did to me i never knew ice chips could taste so good best wishes for a great recovery
Bridget Sawmiller The ice chips were the best tasting thing ever!!!!!
Steve is out of surgery. We met with the surgeon, Dr. Johnston, who told us that everything went smoothly. He replaced Steve's aortic valve with an Edwards ...Read more
Steve is out of surgery. We met with the surgeon, Dr. Johnston, who told us that everything went smoothly. He replaced Steve's aortic valve with an Edwards Perimount valve, which is a cow tissue valve. The hope is that if the tissue fails in the future, it can be replaced through a less-invasive transcatheter procedure.
We will get to see Steve briefly in ICU in the next hour - he will be pretty out of it for the rest of the day, but I look forward to sharing your messages with him when he's more recovered.
-Gloria
Priscila Marino Great news!!!! Speedy recovery to him!!!! Keep us posted!!
Denise Kirchner Wonderful news! Praise God for a safe and successful surgery!
Bridget Sawmiller Great news! What floor is he on for ICU? I am still in ICU, 6th floor
Hello friends, family, and HVJ community! Just wanted to update you on Steve's surgery. Surgery started at 8:50 this morning, and at 11:26 they started the ...Read more
Hello friends, family, and HVJ community! Just wanted to update you on Steve's surgery. Surgery started at 8:50 this morning, and at 11:26 they started the major portion of the surgery. We expect it will take a couple more hours, and we hope to see Steve in the ICU by around 5 this evening.
-Gloria
Lise Bowles Thank you Gloria! Omg, tell Stephen I think he is Superman! Having to go through this twice requires ... Read more
Lise Bowles Thank you Gloria! Omg, tell Stephen I think he is Superman! Having to go through this twice requires bravery beyond words! I know there's no choice in the matter but God Bless Him. Stephen I hope and pray your recovery is bearable and you feel better ASAP! Lots of prayers heading your way!
Susan Schweter praying for you Steven. Hoping your recovery is an easy one.
Early start tomorrow. If 2012 was any indication Gloria will bee keeping you updated regularly. Cannot express enough how much I appreciate the support from ...Read more
Early start tomorrow. If 2012 was any indication Gloria will bee keeping you updated regularly. Cannot express enough how much I appreciate the support from friends, family and members of this community.
Looking forward to getting back out onto the pitch,on my bike, and into the backcountry. Surgeon told me not to cancel my October backpacking trip in Oregon. We will see.
Just finished. Not nearly as bad as I thought. They went through my right wrist so it's tough to type on my phone. Just like to thank everyone for support and ...Read more
Just finished. Not nearly as bad as I thought. They went through my right wrist so it's tough to type on my phone. Just like to thank everyone for support and well wishes!
Bridget Sawmiller Great news, had mine yesterday too, went through the wrist. Where are you staying?
Steven Dean We are downtown until tomorrow and then have an air bnb near the CC
It has been a while since I have updated this. I didn't think I would be using it this time around but it is both a nice way to update friends and family and ...Read more
It has been a while since I have updated this. I didn't think I would be using it this time around but it is both a nice way to update friends and family and an amazing community of fellow HV friends. It has been just over 4 years since my previous surgery, an attempted AV repair, and I have known since a few weeks after the surgery that the repair didn't take and a follow up surgery would be coming and I am pretty thankful I got 4 years (though I was hoping for 5 at the time). The last 4 years have been pretty great, probably the best 4 I have had, so I am feeling okay going into the surgery because I know OHS will not really slow me down. If anything my physical activity has increased (fairly significantly) since the surgery.
The plan is for Dr. Johnston at CC to put in a bioprosthetic valve. Even though this will mean another surgery in the future I am hopeful that I can get at least 10 years and that the next surgery will be valve-in-valve TAVR. This will allow me to keep playing soccer, which I started playing extensively after my last surgery (up to 4 days a week).
I might have a few more posts between now and the surgery but Gloria (now my wife!) will be keeping everyone updated during surgery and in the early recovery. She is pretty excited about yoga on the roof at Cleveland Clinic.
Wishing everyone whose surgery is coming up or has just happened the best and maybe I will see some fellow HVJers walking the halls in Cleveland.
Franklin Wyrick Best of luck to you Steven. Its very likely that by the time your bio valve fails you should be able ... Read more
Franklin Wyrick Best of luck to you Steven. Its very likely that by the time your bio valve fails you should be able to have a tavr. That's what I'm counting on.
Denise Kirchner Hi Steven. I too will be going through surgery #2 at CC on September 13th. A re-do on my mitral val ... Read more
Denise Kirchner Hi Steven. I too will be going through surgery #2 at CC on September 13th. A re-do on my mitral valve repair. The valve started to leak again shortly after my repair in May 2012 and a TEE in June confirmed it has progressed to moderately severe. Dr. Eric Roselli did my first surgery and will be doing the re-operation. I will keep you in my prayers. I think I followed your story the first time around. Take care and God bless you!
Steven Dean Thank you both. Denise, we did both have surgery late May 2012. Sorry to hear that you are going thro ... Read more
Steven Dean Thank you both. Denise, we did both have surgery late May 2012. Sorry to hear that you are going through it again. Hopefully we both get better results this time around!
Corey Sines Good Luck Steven, wishing you a speedy recovery. I have a near future surgery upcoming for replacem ... Read more
Corey Sines Good Luck Steven, wishing you a speedy recovery. I have a near future surgery upcoming for replacement of a failed Mitral repair, so you aren't alone!
Catie B Wishing you the best, Steven, on your upcoming surgery, and a very speedy recovery.
Cathleen Weed Steven I had TAVR last August after 3 AVR's...it was amazing!!! Good luck with your surgery and know ... Read more
Cathleen Weed Steven I had TAVR last August after 3 AVR's...it was amazing!!! Good luck with your surgery and know that technology will be even more advanced in 10 years so as you said hopefully this will be the last OHS!
Hey everyone,
Is anyone out there who has gone through or is going through surgery a federal employee? It is open season and since there is a chance I will ...Read more
Hey everyone,
Is anyone out there who has gone through or is going through surgery a federal employee? It is open season and since there is a chance I will need surgery again I am trying to choose an insurance that will allow me the most/best hospital options with reasonable coverage. I would appreciate any input.
Otherwise, I am doing great. Been up to pre-surgery standards (which was good for me) for a while now. Back on my bike and playing soccer. I hiked old rag a couple weeks ago and felt fine.
Thanks,
Steve
Hey everyone,
Sorry I haven\'t posted in a long time. At this point it has been easiest for me to not think to much about everything.
I saw the cardiologist ...Read more
Hey everyone,
Sorry I haven\'t posted in a long time. At this point it has been easiest for me to not think to much about everything.
I saw the cardiologist last week and everything is the same as last time, which I guess is about as good as I could have hoped for. No second surgery for now. The plan is to monitor every three months.
I am otherwise feeling great.
I will post again if anything comes up.
Love you all,
Steve
Sorry for the long delay on the update. I am still alive but not so great news from the echo. Looks like there is still leaking. I don\'t know too much at this ...Read more
Sorry for the long delay on the update. I am still alive but not so great news from the echo. Looks like there is still leaking. I don\'t know too much at this point but am going in for a follow up echo in Sept. Plan for now is to just go on and not really think about it much.
I am otherwise feeling great with my recovery.
Hope everyone else is doing well.