Steven's Journal

Susan Lynn  Steven - Expect to be exhausted even from small amounts of activity. You'll have days when you feel energetic, but resist the temptation to overdo it as it could take days to recover. Slow and steady wins the recovery race. Multiple, short walks throughout the day are preferred rather than a single, long one. Also - don't be afraid to grab a power nap or two - you'll get back to your regular schedule eventually. Best of luck to you!

Andy Teel  Steven, couldn't agree more with Susan... I never took naps before and here I am now napping about midday. Stay on top of the pain too. I thought I could be superman and it really got out of control. YOu got this!

Kathy Ozio  Awesome - I totally get the emotions. I cried when we were about two miles from home and then again when our neighbors and their kids were in the driveway waving at me when we went by. It's hard but just take it easy and don't expect too much at first. Really learn to listen to your body and in a few weeks, you'll be doing well!

Ana Brusso  Oh my sweet Angel Susan Lynn has great advice Steven. Welcome home and remember that it’s not a contest. One moment at a time and be patient with your body. God bless you 🙏❤️

David Seligman  Congrats on a successful surgery and coming home, that is huge!  I second the great advice from everyone - you got this!  There’s a lot of emotions I’m sure and they’re all ok.   👍  Listen to your body, the great news is you are actively in healing mode ❤️‍🩹🙏

Rose Madura  First day or two I had trouble forming words.  Also, the narcotics made me hallucinate and the nurses looked like the giant balloons that you see at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade.  All improved in time.

Steven Weber  Thanks for sharing Rose. I had a delusion that my hospital room was the front lobby of a big hotel. The NBA basketball games were on several tvs and I had dinner there with my brother and sister-in-law. I couldn’t call a simple phone number or follow simple instructions from a respiratory nurse. Although I provided entertainment to my family, 🤭 I was a real piece of work for the nursing staff. I’m not sure how this is helpful to anyone, but this lasted for a couple days. I was definitely emotionally, physically, and mentally rattled. It was good to have family with me at the hospital to help the nurses manage this. I got through it, but it was definitely a surprise element of my procedure. 🙄😂❤️‍🩹

Rita Savelis  Yes, "delirium" happens, and more so in older patients. A lot of it depends on your body's reaction to anasthesia and to pain medications like morphine. Believe me, hospital staff are very used to this.  I asked for morphine in ICU, not because of pain but because I wanted to forget where I was (5 days in ICU). Morphine makes you okay with your situation but gives you hallucinations that seem very real. I still wonder if some of the things that "happened" in ICU really happened. But they were very real to me, so they did happen in my mind. I also had delusions about being in another place, a restaurant where nurses and patients were hanging out drinking, having a good time. I think this was my psyche's way of dealing with how hard ICU was. I had to go to another place to survive.

Deena Z  I like that the delusions were happy places, that's a comforting place to be. I didn't have such, but I barely remember my first two days, so out-of-it. So, you have lots of company. Hang-in-there, it will drastically improve soon. You are getting over the hump.

Richard Munson  I never thought i was after my surgery but nancy says i have been delusional for 56 years. I must have chosen her in a moment of clarity.

Susan Lynn  I worked in an oral surgeon's office in my younger days and we saw patients with a number of reactions to coming out of anesthesia - and that was the mild stuff! Everyone has a different sensitivity, but now you have some good stories to tell! Lucky you!!

Rose Madura  Thanks for the update. Glad all is going well.  Take one day at a time during recovery and listen to your body.  

Ana Brusso  Steven, Welcome to recovery and glad you are feeling better. Be patient with your body and continued healing. God bless you

Marie Myers  I think for those of us who felt fine prior to surgery, it was tough to accept the need for such a huge surgery. I know I felt this way!  But like Rose said, the odds are in your favor, and we know that leaving things as they are will not help you in the big picture.  Hoping you find peace and acceptance!

Susan Lynn  Good question. Unfortunately, our hearts will never get better on their own. No matter how good someone may feel before surgery, their future health will be impacted by their failing valve(s) without treatment.

Rajan Parrikar  My congenital bicuspid aortic valve was first diagnosed in 2014. For 9 years the stenosis was monitored via Echocardiograms. It is only in 2022 that it was deemed to have progressed to the 'severe' stage. I had absolutely no symptoms and was physically active. But my cardiologist suggested intervention and I agreed. That is the consensus in the specialist community now, to treat it before the onset of symptoms so that the left ventricle does not suffer damage. I got the valve replacement (tissue valve, Edwards Inspiris) via open heart procedure done in Iceland exactly 10 weeks ago on Feb 27.

After surgery I asked my surgeon a variation of the question you have posed: was surgery really necessary? Without skipping a beat he said YES, that it was a progressive condition and at some point I would have had symptoms given how my valve looked.

Steven Weber  Dr Weiss at St Luke’s Hospital in Milwaukee with a bio valve. (Sounds like I’m playing Clue 😂)

DeLois Tweedy  I love Clue! 🙂 Seriously, wishing you well on your heart journey. I had aortic valve replacement in June 2020, TAVR procedure using bio (bovine) valve. I was 65 then, so hoping it lasts quite a few years.

Subhash Chandel  Hi Steven, both mechanical or bio has its own advantages and it depends on what kind of life you want to live afterwards. I personally prefer bio where next time TAVR is possible.

Klara Čičić   Steven that sounds like a good plan, I especially like the "back to golf" date as the ultimate goal haha. You will get there, one step at the time and we are here to listen and support. 

Susan Lynn  Steven - Through no fault of our own, we have found ourselves in this 'club.' We may not have chosen to be valve patients, but we can choose how we handle it. I like your time line especially your golf date! Keep looking ahead and focus on your goals. You can do this and we'll be there to help!

Timothy Andre  Steven, I had the same diagnosis from birth and can relate to your current situation. The anxiety is difficult and many of us agree that it was the most difficult part of our heart journey's. You've done your research, scheduled a personal goal plan and are about to schedule your surgery date. You are doing great. I personally advocate for multiple surgical opinions. Many of us had a second opinion and are happy we did. I chose the second surgeon I spoke with. Lean on this community of heart warriors when needed. We are here for each other and love to help.

I also was wondering when I could swing a golf club again; I am happy to say that I was swinging a club at the range 3 months after surgery. My sternum was healed and muscles did well. A little sore after, but that's to be expected. Of course each patient and recovery is unique but that should give you a little perspective of when it is possible. Keep busy, calm your mind and trust the process. You will do great!

Trygve Harris  I am trying to think mostly about the huge improvements this surgery will bring. It's going to improve quality of life. I feel thrilled. I also set a goal, even if a little looser date-wise.  I intend to be test for my second degree in Taekwondo in New York in October. It seems unfathomable at the moment. 

Rose Madura  Steven, it's great to have goals like this because it helps to have a positive attitude. I had similar surgery and even though I ran into some post operative complications, I feel better than I ever have in my life. God bless you!  (P.S. The gold goal is definitely doable although you may be sore afterwards.

Cheryl Mann  All progress is good!  And this group is the perfect place to share thoughts that are difficult to say out loud or tough to discuss with family.  Some things are difficult to truly understand unless you have lived it.  We have all been there. Believe us when we say you can do this.

Steven Weber  Thanks Cheryl! Love your Curtain Time poem. Why do you still stay active on this site? Two years for you now?

Pamela Gregory  I have Cherl’s poem saved. Actually brought it to the hospital when I had to go so Thanks again Cheryl. Steven, I think you will find this to be a great source of comfort and very private. That’s what I love about it. I like to pay it forward now and still need reassurance now and then

Rose Madura  Steven, your nervousness is normal and as Cheryl said, this is a place to freely share your thoughts. I've been in here since 2017. I enjoy offering assistance/advice  based on my experience and when I re-live surgery with each of you, I'm reminded of God's grace in giving me more years on this earth.  Godspeed.

Klara Čičić  Dear Steven, it is very good you shared your feelings here. I thing we can understand you like noone can. This page did so much mentally for me before the surgery. I am beyond grateful for all the people here, especially the ones who had their operations years ago and still come here just to give advice and support to others. We are here for you and will be every step of the way! You can do this.

Marie Myers  I have been here since 2017 like Rose. This was a very good place to vent and ask questions that most people would have no clue or understanding about. It also was a great source of comfort, knowing that so many people go through exactly what I went through. I had the same issues as you, Steve, with a bicuspid AV and ascending aneurysm. (Also had a bonus aortic root aneurysm)  Wishing you well on your journey!

Susan Lynn  Steven - Like Marie, I'm also from the Class of 2017. If I can give anyone an ounce of reassurance that they can get through OHS and beyond, then I'm happy to do it. There are events that punctuate our lives and heart surgery is certainly one of them. The emotional piece is difficult. Many heart warriors helped me get through it. I'm just hoping to pay it forward - you will, too, as more time passes. You've come to the right place. Sending you a virtual hug. Be well.

Terry Tannenbaum  Dito everyone's sentiments and just want to add one thing: there have been more break-throughs and advancenents in heart surgery technology over the past 20 years than in almost any other field of medicine. Success rates are extraordinarily high!

Grace Mason   Hi Steven,
I am right there with you...doing prep before surgery, emotional and other....this group is a godsend.
Cheryl I love your poem too, I had not seen that yet

Timothy Andre  What lovely responses from all of our heart warriors. I too don't know what I would have done without this community. Adam has done such a wonderful thing by building our supportive community, and also educating us and introducing us to some of the best heart surgeons in the world. This website has proven over and over again to be priceless. We are here for you Steven, before, during and after your surgery. Welcome to the club and God bless you

Leona Resch  Hi Steven! This is the perfect place to share what you are feeling . All of us heart warriors get it and are here for support! I was such an emotional mess before my surgery I don’t know how I could have gotten through this process without the understanding and encouragement I received from everyone here! Keep reaching out/ it truly helps’! I wish you well as you go through this process !

Cheryl Mann  Steven - I agree with all of the above comments.  I am not on the site on a daily basis like I was just before surgery and while recovering, but I do like to check back in every so often - mostly to say thank you and to pay it forward. No one else understands what we are going through quite like the other heart warriors on this site.  It helps to stay connected to others who truly understand.  We are stronger together.  I wish you peace, faith, trust and love in your journey!