Recent content by Dale 1

Beta blockers can do that to you, too. I think, once you're no longer taking the post-op drugs, you'll feel better.

Hi Leoneida, I had the same diagnosis, and had surgery in November of 2012. I just want you to know that, although the recovery seemed very long at the time, I now feel really great, and better than I've been in at least 10 years. I hope that you're doing well!

Hi Roxx, I was first diagnosed with a heart murmur at age 6. Was diagnosed with BAV at age 59. In the intervening years, the murmur was often hard to hear, depending on my exercise schedule. Good luck!

I felt old before my surgery, too (I was 59, so depending on your age and attitude, you may or may not consider that old, but I didn't). And I started thinking about death. My grandmothers both lived into their 90's, so I've always assumed I would, too. I was trying to swim to stay in shape, and...

It took me a long time to feel really well again, too, although I didn't have any of the abdominal issues you mention. I think it depends on how extensive your surgery was, and how quickly you heal. I felt pretty good for a long time, but not really good. I'm 16 months out now, and I feel really...

I had a Bentall procedure with a bovine tissue valve 14 months ago. It's a fairly humbling recovery, but I can say now that I feel better than I have in many years. I certainly wouldn't hesitate to have more surgery (the surgeon thinks there will be a less invasive procedure by the time I get to...

Good luck, Dave. As for recovery, I found that the first month was slow, but after that my healing really picked up!

I lifted a big fat book about the Beatles about 5 weeks after my surgery, and it hurt like hell. It took a few days for the pain to subside. I needed help getting out of bed for a few weeks. And I finally began to feel - and look -like myself once I could lift the hair dryer over my head. Once I...

Thanks to everyone for these great comments! I appreciate it. And I do eat steak now, although it felt a little weird at first -- the idea of eating a relative didn't appeal to me. I don't eat much meat, though -- I'll bet you all know why! Wanna keep that heart healthy! My mom sent me a...

Vitamin E gives many of us a rash -- which I can do without. I'm a year out from surgery, and my scar looks good up top, but still pretty scary down lower. It's red, raised, "ropey," and tender. My dermatologist injected a steroid into it last week. That was uncomfortable, but by no means...

I happily spent yesterday celebrating my one year anniversary of surgery -- a Bentall procedure in which my aortic valve was replaced, as well as my aortic root and ascending aorta. The first few months post-surgery were rough, but I'm now feeling really great, and working out and losing weight...

It sounds like you're symptomatic and need further follow-up. Have you considered a second opinion?

Hi m, I'm ten months post-op today (whoopee!). I was diagnosed with BAV and an aneurysm mid-Oct. of last year and had surgery about six weeks later, so I didn't spend too much time in the waiting period. My valve was at .7, and I had a lot of shortness of breath, some pain, and was exhausted...

Hi Valerie, I'm a fellow bovine valve owner, also female and 60. I have to take 325 mg. of aspirin for the rest of my life. It doesn't bother me to do so; I figure it's a small price to pay for more living. I'd talk to your cardiologist about herbal supplements if I were you -- I've just gotten...

When I asked my surgeon how long the graft would last he said, "Longer than you."