Susan's Journal

Feb. 19 was the one year anniversary of my open heart aortic stenosis surgery. I had a recent cardiologist visit and everything is wonderful. I have been released for one year with no necessary visits unless I have a problem.



Heart valve surgery works.

Hello, Update for me...16 weeks past surgery.  I had an echocardiogram on June,17.  No more stenosis ...so glad
Aortic valve,and root clan.
My mitral valve has one calcified leaflet.  This is since my childhood and scarlet Fever, or I could have been born with it.  I was a preemie.
I have mild stenosis in that valve but the cardiologist doesn't need to see me until December
No mobility issues or regurgitation or any other problem now.

Really happy.  BP has been good.  Oxygen has been good. Never had pain after surgery.  Stamina is less than before but rehab helps loads.  I am truly blessed.

May you all  have successful surgery and recover quickly.

Just an update on my recovery. Now 18 weeks post surgery. The other day I realized that I felt better than I have in years. I have an echocardiogram on the 17th and will find out if I am doing as well as I feel I am. I thank God and my amazing surgeon for getting me through a bit of a rough surgery (on and off heart lung machine twice and problems with first valve placed.)

I read of all your ups and downs but I am sorry I don't post all the time. My heart and prayers are with you all ...pre and post surgery. Be safe and well friends. Thank you Adam for starting this site. It is truly a life saver.👍🙋😊

For those of you who are about to go into surgery. These are things I have experienced.

I have just turned 84 and my surgery was Feb.19 for aortic stenosis. I was totally asymptomatic before the surgery but when I found out about the severe stenosis my decision was made for me. I want to continue living. Mom made it to 103.

Recovery has been great, now at 16 weeks but I have experienced...

1. Fatigue...don't expect to feel like you did before surgery. I wanted go sleep alot. Let your body heal.
2. Couldn't sleep on my back. Have a power recliner and sleep in it sometimes even now.
3. You will most likely be foggy right after surgery. I took a mocha test about 10 days after surgery and the first question was ...Who was the first President. I said Lincoln...oops. My thinking
was very slow and it was very annoying. All has returned to normal. Do lots of word puzzles... It helps.. I passed mocha...Lincoln was my only bad answer and I corrected it later.
4. You may develop a cough. I still have a slight one after 4 months. I use flonaise for allergies. It helps.
5. Stamina is much less but I have been assured that it improves over time. I am going to cardiac rehab and I am getting stronger each session. Consider this for you.
6. When you get out of the hospital go to acute rehab. They only take recovering g patients for max two weeks but boy did that set me up for a smooth
recovery. You will have OT and PT and relearn the skills you will need to survive I've after surgery. It was wonderful. Of course your insurance would help you determine if you can take advantage of this option.

Well that is just a few tips. This site will answer many more of your questions. Thanks Adam and Heart valve Warriors.

Hello all!
I am now 12 weeks post surgery. My life has pretty much returned to normal. I am currently in my third week of cardiac rehab. I love it. By the way I turned 84 today and if you told me in the past that I'd be recovering from valve surgery at this age, I'd say you were nuts. But here I am!😊🙋

My wish after surgery was to go straight home. My Son convinced me to go to acute rehab for 12 days. Acute rehab only takes patients for a limited amount of time. At the point which I entered it was 5 days post surgery.

I cannot stress this enough. Go to acute rehab!. You may think you can do it on your own or with help of friends or family but... Believe me it won't be easy..

Acute rehab does lots for you.
1. You can take things one step at a time.
2. They provide many lessons in skills for living. OT and PT.
3. The PT is invaluable. I sure was able to build strength there.
4. You have peace of mind knowing you are being monitored for your health.
5. When you leave you are ready for the next phase of recovery.

Please, if your insurance will cover this do it. Medicare covers it completely and I am sure some other plans will help as well.

My recovery has been so wonderful I feel younger than I have in many years. Do me and yourself a favor. If you are near surgery and you have time to arrange this....do it!!!

Love to all you heart warriors. Thank you Adam for developing this site!😊

Susan

I just want to say that thanks to you all. . .many of you had your heart surgery years ago ,who still post and
Provide encouragement the newbe's here.

You are my heroes👍🙋😊

Update almost 9 weeks after my OHS.

Doing well.  Just completed at home PT/OT.  I am told that I am ahead of schedule and surely ready for cardiac rehab at the healthplex which starts Mon.4/15.

I am thrilled to start.  I want to build strength and stamina,so I can return to a place that I was at before my aortic stenosis became severe.

I want to thank all of you for giving me such encouragement.  I especially want to thank Adam for starting this site years ago.  It is really a lifesaver for all of us who have had to face the fear of heart surgery.

I will keep posting and following you all as you proceed on this journey.  As Adam says.  Keep on tickin...

I've been sleeping in a recliner since I got home from rehab on March 7th.

Can any of you share when they comfortably moved back to their bed and began sleeping on their side not on their back. I have just passed the six week point since my surgery.

I would prefer to go back to my bed and sleep on my right side.

Anything you could share would be helpful. Thanks.

Six weeks today after my one for aortic stenosis.  I had heavy calcium around aortic valve which was replaced by a bovine valve.  The surgeon cleaned up the,aortic root as well.  They found a tear in my right ventricle which was repaired as well.  After 3 transfusions and 17  hours intubated all was well.


Feeling great now.  So far so good.  My progress has been wonderful so far.  No pain from the beginning.  I was in the hospital 7 days then transferred to acute rehab.  The best thing that could have happened to me.

For anyone who is waiting for their surgery, I would recommend acute rehab after hospital.  Once I got there I realized that I needed the extra time to heal and OT and PT were great.  On to outpatient cardiac rehab on April 15.
By the way, I am 83.
Be well heart warriors🙋😊👍

Now 4 weeks + after aortic stenosis surgery. All very good. Cleared to drive after 6 weeks. Working my way back to normal. Had a great surgeon and a great team. I am so appreciative of your support here. Thanks.

My surgery for aortic stenosis was 2/19. I'm in rehab and should be released next Thurs.

Question to anyone who has experienced this please?


Before surgery I was diet controlled diabetic. A1c in 6s. I am on all sorts of meds,here and they are giving me insulin. Sugars between 169 and 239. Does this spike happen after surgery? Have,any of you had this happen? Will it just be,a matter of time to regulate? I don't mind if I need meds now but these numbers are scary

9 days post surgery. I am diet controlled diabetic and do not,need insulin at home. Blood sugar here,175-275. Can.I go back to being diet controlled or will blood sugar stay high?

Sorry about that last post but the timing was really bad for me considering how nervous I am. I've already begun to bounce back with a positive attitude. This whole process is really scary.

Oh, man, I didn't need to get on this site and see a string of obits the day before my surgery. I am sure many of these people had their surgeries a while ago but it sure doesn't make me feel better. I send love and prayers to their families and praise the deceased for their strength and purpose. Prayers to all involved but I feel really bad.

Five days and counting. Surgery on Feb. 19th. At times I am very confident that this will work out well, but at other times thinking about my age,83, I am really unsure. My Mom lived to be 102. I'd like to have a chance at that as well.
I have severe aortic stenosis. Cannot have tavr so this will be an OHS. Any encouragement or success stories would help. Thanks.😊

Hello all and thank you for your posts.  It's amazing how I never recognized my stenosis symptoms before being in this group.  In addition to needing aortic valve replacement I am a diet controlled diabetic for 18 years.  A1c now in the 6's.  Was in the 5's until 4 years ago.  I asked my cardiologist if I needed to get my numbers lower with meds but he said not necessary to make I changes now.  So many of you have had such success with this surgery it encourages me a lot.  Please keep posting.  The most surgery I have had was a cataract removed 20 years ago.  I had been counting on TAVR but I find it's not possible. The closer the surgery gets the more I stress out.  I am determined to do this now before my age and unforseen age related problems occur and make it more difficult.  Right now I am strong despite the diabetes.  I want to reach 100 like my Mom did ( she died at 102 and 8 months, with no obvious cause of death except extreme old age). Keep posting, keep encouraging me.  Thanks for being here.

I'm 10 days out from my surgery. I have stable lung nodules and have been having CT scans for them for years. Saw my pulmonologist the other day and he says I am good to go. My aortic stenosis went from moderate to very severe in a year. Few symptoms but shortness of breath. Because of my age,83, I want to have this surgery before it gets worse. TAVR is not an option for me . I also have a problem from birth with my mitral valve. Anyone out there near my age who has had this done? I have a power recliner to sleep in since I had a broken neck in 2019 from a car accident. I know recovery can be long and sleeping in bed can be difficult. Looking for encouragement and advice to ease my recovery. Thanks

I am not having surgery at Cleveland clinic or some other famous surgery hospital.  I am having my  surgery at Presbyterian hospital here in Albuquerque.  Listed as one of the top 100 hospitals in the US.  Have any of you here had surgery at your local hospitals.?  It seems everyone here went to a top national heart hospital.

Surgery is now two weeks away. Still nervous but reading your stories has helped. Mostly asymptomatic but some shortness of breath. 83 is my age and I've been a diet controlled diabetic for 15 years. A1c in the 6s. I asked my doctor about meds to get it lower. He said not necessary at this time. I have been in the 5s except for the past 3 years. I am hopeful for a successful replacement of my aortic valve and getting my life back on track. Just concerned.

Just read about Andrea's  father in law having his kidneys shut down after pacemaker surgery.  He is ok now.  How often are kidneys affected after open heart surgery?.  

My brother who was much older than me had gall bladder surgery and his kidneys shut down   and he died.  Although he was 90 at that time.   It never occurred to me that it could happen.  Just hearing about it is scary.

Still hopeful.  Want it done and behind me.  But nervous....

Thank you all for your sharing, I really appreciate it.  I've been seeing this cardiac team for several months but I only met my surgeon this last visit.  We first went for watchful waiting but this last test said the severe stenosis is getting much worse.  I really don't want to wait until this really handicaps me.  Besides the later I do this the worse it might be because of my age.  Surgery is less than 3 weeks away now. I'm getting more nervous.

Hanging in.  Appreciate more comments.

I am very nervous about my upcoming surgery. Although everything I have read says early
Intervention for severe aortic stenosis is better, I'd like to hear from people of similar age for their opinion. TAVR is not possible for me.

Having aortic valve surgery on Feb. 19. I am asymptomatic but stenosis is severe. I've been advised to do this now. Cannot have TAVR because of congenital mitral valve problem. Very nervous about this but want this valve replacement. Any advice or support would be helpful