Ten Months Out - Including Advice

[jds]

Hello -

In May 07, I had my mitral valve replaced at Mass General. Great surgeon (Gus Vlahakes) and hospital. I had a bovine pericardial valve used so I could continue t live a physically active life.

It is now 10 months post and I am doing great. Probably in better shape than before surgery except that my running endurance is not completely back. My PCP says it actually does take your heart a while to heal from the surgery.

What I did that I think helped:

1. I have a loving wife and daughter who spent a lot of energy helping me recover.

2. I was in pretty good shape pre-surgery. My weight was low and I did as much exercise as I could - though that was not very much. I really had no endurance at all. I ate a good diet and don't smoke. I drink alcohol but not to excess.

3. I started exercising in the hospital - just walks down the corridor - with kind but very, very insistent nurses. Also, I ate really well in the hospital - protein, salad, fruit, ... Also, in the hospital I started a diary of everything that happened to me and by me.

4. I have followed medication and diet advice since release essentially to the letter.

5. I keep a log every day of exercise, weight, BP, and pulse watching for problems. At one point, my weight started going above where I wanted it so I cut back slightly on snacks.

6. I exercise my a** off. I really like it now but at first it was a chore. At first it was just walking - 2-3 hours a day. Now, I either run or lift weights or do something athletic (rock-climbing is my sport) 6-7 days a week.

7. I thought about what I was doing in my life (working half-time and doing a bunch of unconnected volunteer activities) and decided to change focus. I'm now going back to school (at age 60) to try to become a PA. I'm not sure I'll make it but I will give it the best try I can. Learning anatomy is pretty cool.

I'm pretty happy. Too bad it took endocarditis and a shredded mitral valve to get here.

John

 

[Phyllis]

Congratulations, John- sounds like you have a whole new healthy lifestyle and optimistic outlook to go with your new valve. Best wishes to you in all your endeavors!

 

[Wi-HarleyGuy]

Hi John

Thank you for your 10 month update and for your list of 7 things that helped you. I am quite new to this forum, I left a posting introducing myself a few days ago and was overwhelmed with all the kind and encouraging responses.

Your first 5 items are very similar to what I am doing or have (except I have
two son's off & married and no daughter) but am fortunate like you to have an extremely loving and caring wife.
I am working on your item 6, but since it's only been 10 days since the Mitral valve repair operation (and an artery bypass), I can't yet exercise my a** off, but I am planning on doing that asap!
I gotta tell you John ...When I read that you do rock climbing as a sport I really got a positive feeling about my future! Thank you!!

I had the porcine valve as a replacement ..not quite sure what the difference between yours & mine except one comes from a pig and the other a cow.

Like you I had endocarditis, and had it twice in two years. I should have had the valve replaced after the first infection but I absolutely refused to believe my cardio suggestion to have the OHs. (I had no typical heart disease symptoms so why in the world would I want to have my chest cut open ?). So I ended up with a replacement rather than a repair even tho the surgeon tried his hardest to repair it first.

Good luck and congrats on your returning to school.
I am a retired teacher from the Technical college but will be returning to teach an evening course at the end of this month.

Congratulations and thank you so much for your very positive comments for sharing your 10 month update and advice.

Bless you,
Wi-HarleyGuy

 

[brd]

Great to read your post and hear how well you are doing. Your advice seems right on. (Gus V. will be my surgeon too - sometime in the next 6 mos.)

Good luck with your plan to become a PA. Maybe you'll end up working with OHS patients. There's nothing like having "been there yourself" when trying to help patients.

Hope your recovery continues to go well.

Best regards,

Barbara

 

[WayneGM]

Thanks for your update and congratulations on your 10 month milestone. Your post will be an inspiration to those in the waiting room.

 

[jds]

Porcine vs. Bovine Valve

Porcine vs. Bovine Valve

Hello -

There was a question about porcine vs. bovine pericardial valves.

I looked into this before surgery andgot the general impression that the bovine valves were a little tougher and longer lasting. They are made from pericardial rather than valve tissue. Pericardial tissue is a little thicker.

To a large extent, it was a non-issue for me. I talked with my surgeon about replacement valves. He said they (Mass General) recommended the bovine pericardial if you wanted a tissue valve or the St. Jude if you wanted an artificial valve. There are arguments in favor of either type - essentially involving longevity and use of coumadin. I did not ask him about human cadaver valves. He was willing to do other valve types but those were his recommendations.

My overall impression was that he knew his business and was a trustworthy and competent physician and knew more about valves than I did so I went with his (tissue) recommendation. I did not want to stay on coumadin for life-style reasons.

John

 

[Wi-HarleyGuy]

Hello -

There was a question about porcine vs. bovine pericardial valves.

I looked into this before surgery andgot the general impression that the bovine valves were a little tougher and longer lasting. They are made from pericardial rather than valve tissue. Pericardial tissue is a little thicker.

To a large extent, it was a non-issue for me. I talked with my surgeon about replacement valves. He said they (Mass General) recommended the bovine pericardial if you wanted a tissue valve or the St. Jude if you wanted an artificial valve. There are arguments in favor of either type - essentially involving longevity and use of coumadin. I did not ask him about human cadaver valves. He was willing to do other valve types but those were his recommendations. My overall impression was that he knew his business and was a trustworthy and competent physician and knew more about valves than I did so I went with his (tissue) recommendation. I did not want to stay on coumadin for life-style reasons.
John

Hi John,

I was the guy that mentioned that I had a Porcine and wasn't sure of the difference between it and your Bovine replacement. (other than the animals)

Thank you for your information and the clarification as to the difference between the two.
I had read elsewhere the the Bovine valve seemed to last longer, which got me a little worried.

This morning I visited my Surgeon for the first post-op meeting, and asked him why his preference was Porcine. He said that based on his experiences he felt that there was less leakage of the Porcine that of the Bovine. He did not think there was a significant difference in the usable life between the two.

Like you I did not want to stay on Coumadin for the rest of my life either, so in the pre-op meeting with my Doctor, we agreed that tissue replacement would be the only option (assuming repair was not possible), but never discussed Bovine or Porcine.

Since my surgeon does around 300 valve repair/replacements a year, I guess I just trusted his decision based on all his experience.

Wi-HarleyGuy

 

[TLB123]

John,
It sounds like you are doing wonderful!!
I think I have posted this before. We were actually in the hospital at the same time. I had my surgery on 5-21-07 at Mass General, and Dr. Vlahakes was my surgeon. I have had some bumps in the road. It has mostly been this pain I keep getting on my left side(I think muscle), but overall I feel better then I ever did before the surgery. I have decide to go back to school for nursing. I started last semester. I would love to work in cardiac surgery and recovery, especially recovery. I want to help folks just like us with their recovery.

I am working two jobs and going to shool. I would have never been able to keep up with this hectic schedule before I had the surgery. I was always so tired and not feeling well. I feel like this surgery has given me a new lease on life.
Tara

 

[Debbie]

john

john

Dear John, thanks for the encourgement! I also have a bovine pericardial and i'm 7 weeks post-op and feeling better each and every week. I am walking everyday, I'm up to 1.8 miles with a goal of doing a 5k in 4 more weeks. I'm back to most of my normal routine but still get tired and need to rest. My doc. says I'll feel better than I ever have in along time as soon as I'm done with recovery, I'm very much looking forward to the future. Take care Debbie