Walter's Journal

Laura Jacobs  Hi Walter, I hope your meeting went well and you are feeling better about everything you are facing. I am so sorry that you are facing surgery again. Best wishes to you.

Juergen Li  Walter - I had my AVR (mechanical valve) one year ago at OHSU and can recommend Dr. Jai Raman. He came to OHSU last year from Chicago. This was my first surgery and I was amazed how much difference a partial sternotomy combined with a special sternum closing technique made. You might want to consider him for a second opinion.

Phyllis Petersen  If you can, it can be worth it to go to a larger facility. I made the trip to Cleveland Clinic, as did many other people on this site. You're the only one who knows the ins and outs of your circumstances, so others can only help so much. The surgeons nearby who do valve replacement, have they done enough of your surgery and do you have enough options to make you feel confident in their work?

Sandy Laine  I agree with Phyllis - and if the doctors are concerned about it - I think it would definitely be worth it to at least look into the options for a facility with (as you stated) more surgeons with (probably) more experience with a 'redo'. Doesn't necessarily have to be CC - Cathleen had 're-do's' in California - but I would recommend checking out other options. Cleveland Clinic got back to me less than three weeks after I sent in (not after they received) my information - so they're pretty prompt. And my situation has no urgency.

Kelton Glewwe  When choosing a clinic or hospital, look at whole sergical and recovery team. You will see the surgical team for about an hour before surgery. The recovery team that brings you back if really important. I sure did not feel like traveling 5 days after surgery. I was lucky to have an excellent heart hospital near by.

Steve Farthing  I found a statistic some time ago that most needing valve surgery do not undergo surgery. Instead they live with increasing symptoms and reduced longevity. Of those who undergo surgery, many get it done with few or no symptoms present. Many years (decades) ago it was common advice to wait until symptoms appear. Now that is outdated because they can diagnose severe valve disease before symptoms appear and with improved methods and materials, earlier surgery has better outcomes and less risk compared to decades ago.

Laura Jacobs  I had mild symptoms mostly with exertion. Then all of a sudden, I had several significant symptoms all at once. I also realized that I missed previous symptoms or chalked them off as unrelated. I understand the anxiety!!!!! I am days until surgery and just now starting to feel ready.

Laura Jacobs  Hi Steve, my family doctor told me not to worry for almost 4 years. I now have an aortic aneurysm that wasn't reported in previous echos. I don't know if the cardiologists would have recommended surgery a few years back because I did not see one until very recently. I do wish I had seen a specialist before my symptoms worsened. Not saying it would have changed anything since I am not the expert...but still it could not have hurt. Getting ready to get fixed now though. Moving forward!!!!

Marie Myers  I did not have symptoms either. But my ascending aneurysm was large enough to pose a risk of rupture. So I had my bicuspid valve, dilated root, and ascending aneurysm replaced 10 weeks ago.

Jill Krajnovich  I am scheduled to have my bicuspid aortic valve repaired/replaced and an ascending aortic aneurysm repaired in late July. I have only mild symptoms, nothing that I would feel would warrant surgery, yet I have had 3 opinions all stating I should proceed with the surgery. I am hoping I do not regret this!

Lynda Ruiz  I've been told for several years "wow, that's some heart murmur". Then echo went from 1yr to 6 mos apart when they said a valve replacement was needed. But no mention of timing. That's when I joined this site and became proactive in research. I came to TX to highly recommended surgeon/hospital and the surgeon identified further problems my AZ didn't identify. He said without surgery is be dead in 3 to 5 years. And what quality would that life be?

Steve Farthing  Hi Laura, I had a somewhat similar experience with my previous PCP. Now I am scheduled 5 days after you to have mitral valve repair.

Walter Lewandowski  Yes I can see. I went through this before and all of the symptoms occurred just prior to surgery. I was unsure if they were symptoms or just the high anxiety I faced approaching surgery. I barely had it together the days before surgery. I know I was not brace heading into OR.

Civita Fahey  I had minor symptoms, like having to take a breath when walking fast or going up stairs, though. I did a boxing workout which I could get through as long as I breathed ( correct english? lol) properly.. if not, I would need to take a breath also.. but, I had my AVR 8 weeks ago Monday and already see a difference when going up stairs..I took a 2 mile walk yesterday at my regular pace and i was too.. so, boxing in a few months! I was told that as soon as I had symptoms I should consider surgery in 3-6 months which is what I did.. I had no symptoms for the 4 years prior to surgery when I found out that I had a bicuspid valve with moderate stenosis..

Laura Jacobs  Good luck Steve! Sounds like I might be leaving hospital around the time you are admitted.
I understand Walter. I have been feeling much calmer, almost brave the last two days, but I have no idea what I will be like come Wednesday morning. Probably going to embarrass myself. My legs were shivering for my angiogram for goodness sake.

Cathleen Weed  Have you spoken to the surgeon yet? They may suggest another tissue valve since your first one lasted so long, and now in the future you can have TAVR to replace it next time if needed. That's personally what I would do.

  The book you can buy from this site is good! I actually worked in cardiology in 1970 in the UK, so I have seen it first hand, then I was amazed to see the patient sitting up in bed smiling on day 3 after full open heart surgery, I have been told as I am fit I wont need a TAVI and going for a biological heart which should keep me going for 10 to 15 years, best thing is speak to your surgeon, he will advise you and discuss all your options.

Phyllis Petersen  Even though I had mitral valve repair, you have to decide on a valve in case they can't repair. I was 62 last October when I had my surgery and when I said I wanted the porcine valve, my surgeon was pleased with that decision. As Cathleen said above, you did well with the first one and TAVR will be the standard in a few years, so it shouldn't mean another OHS. But everyone needs to make this decision with their surgeon.

Steven Dean  19 years, wow. I love reading this. I just had a bioprosthetic put it at age 30 and am hoping I can get something close to this!

Steven Dean  Also, the choice is of course yours. You have the added benefit of knowing how you did with a bioprosthetic. I tend to agree with Cathleen. Also - sorry, I don't mean to say that I love reading you have to have another surgery (just glad to hear a bioprosthetic can last so long on a young patient).

Walter Lewandowski  Yes. I know 19 years is a great run. I feel pretty good about a biological valve lasting quite awhile as well. I am doing a CT scan this week. That will show whether the ascending aorta or coronary arteries have any additional problems. The length of any potential surgery becomes an issue at some point as well.