Todd's Journal

Back Pain Questions . . . So I am 90 days post op, Aorta Valve replacement on October 2nd via a partial sternotomy. Cardio wise I am feeling great, resting heart rate back down to normal and normal BP, and now exercising again with very light weights and some swimming. But I still have some very sharp pains in my pecs on either side of the scar, and perhaps even more painful are the sharp musculoskeletal pains I have in and around my shoulder blades. My surgeon said some back pain is normal, but it doesn't seem to be getting better 90 days post-op. I don't know if my expectations are out of whack or if others have had this experience with this type of back pain? Any insight appreciated and hope everyone has a great 2025.

Final post . . . I had my 30 day Post Op appointment with Dr Judson Williams of WakeMed in Raleigh, NC, yesterday. Fortunately, I am way ahead of schedule rehab wise.  I can walk 3-4 miles and ride a stationary bike for 30 minutes at this point. The day I got home I could barely finish taking a shower and was so winded when I finished a simple 5 minute shower that I needed my wife to come and help me dry off, so I have come a long ways by the Grace of God. 

My chest is still very tight and pretty sore, and my neck still hurts from overcompensating for my chest, but otherwise I feel somewhat back to normal.  My BP is fine and my pulse is close to where it was pre-surgery. Today will be my first day back in the gym after 6 weeks so I look forward to lifting a few light dumbbells, doing a few bodyweight squats and getting in the Sauna.

I also just read an article on here about partial vs full sternotomies and I am very glad I was able to get my Inspiris Resilia valve via a partial Sternotomy. It greatly reduced my recovery time and even though it was still painful, I am sure it was significantly easier than a full sternotomy. I would recommend all patients do their homework on different surgeons and their different approaches to this surgery as it is often a function of their particular training and what they are comfortable with historically. I was talking to two surgeons and one recommended a porcine freestyle valve via a full sternotomy and the other recommended a bovine Inspiris Resilia valve via a partial sternotomy. Both are great surgeons with lots of experience, but the surgeries are very different in nature so there was a real decision to be made. My surgeon, Dr. Williams, said the fact that he was going to use a partial sternotomy was not something that should ultimately make the decision for me, but rather it was more about the valve itself and the complexity of the surgery. Ultimately I chose him because as I researched the Inspiris Valve it seemed like the best option for me and the fact that he could do it via a partial sternotomy was an added bonus.

Finally, I am grateful to Andy for building this site as I came to it right after I was told valve surgery was inevitable and I used it to find my surgeon, Dr. Judson Williams of WakeMed. He did a phenomenal job with my surgery and set me up for success going forward, as I am only 55. So do your homework and make the best decision you can as there are lots of options related to heart valve issues and I needed to travel about 4 hours from my hometown to get the best option for me.

And always feel free to reach out to me direct if I can ever be of assistance to anyone.

All the best,

T

Well, today is exactly 14 days post-op for me. My surgery went well, no complications. Spent four nights at WakeMed and was able to come home on day five. This website has been very helpful for me so I will jot down a few thoughts post-op that may be beneficial to others coming behind me in the surgeries.

I certainly underestimated the pain level for the first 24 to 48 hours postop. Not sure what I was expecting, but it was pretty significant, then subsided once the tubes came out of my stomach.

The most traumatic thing out of the entire experience is waking up with a breathing tube down your throat and feeling as though you can’t catch your breath. I was not sure if I was supposed to be trying to breathe on my own or if the machine was breathing for me, all I knew is that I could at best, take tiny little breaths and felt like I was going to suffocate if I could not get a deep breath. Not sure what the norm is here, but I was awake for 30 minutes with the breathing tube in with this feeling of not being able to get a sufficient breath.  And you are tied down during this process so you can’t talk nor can you move, so it is pretty disorienting and scary. Prepare yourself for this so it doesn’t take you by surprise. 

On my first day home I was able to take my first shower and just the five minute shower totally exhausted me and I needed my wife’s help simply to dry off. I was caught off guard by just how little cardio remained after the surgery. Good news is today, just 14 days after surgery, I’m already walking 1.5 miles at a time at a 17:30 minute pace with little difficulty so it comes back fast, but be prepared to start at zero. 

Finally, Dr Judson Williams was great throughout and he said he expected me to get 15-20 years out of this valve, which is important as I am only 55.  Also I had an abnormally small annulus but he was able to fit in a 23 mm valve, which as larger than expected. 

Thanks to all for the info and support and best wishes on your journey. Feel free to reach out if I can be of any assistance. 

Arrived to the heart center yesterday and surgery is tomorrow. Dr Judson Williams is very impressive and I am glad I chose him. I feel really confident in the Inspirus valve and am excited that he can do it minimally invasive. All of that is great news. And having my wife be able to stay at WakeMeds Heart Hospital Inn, which is literally on top of the actual heart hospital, is super convenient. Will give an update when I get through the surgery in a few days.