Recent content by SCCWS

I had AVR surgery at age 63. My 2yr anniversary is coming up in 3 weeks. My Dr told me the pros and cons of both types but said he would not recommend either---it was my decision. But he did tell me that they were already doing some replacements with less evasive surgery for older patients. I...

I am not sure if you saw my post on another thread in this forum. I had the surgery at 63 and it was much easier than I thought. I did my own rehab by walking when I returned home. But a friend of our family who is 84 just completed her PT and booked a 3 week trip to England. She had the surgery...

I ( male) am coming up on my 2 year anniversary of AVR surgery. I was 63 at the time, in good shape in that I walked 30+ brisk minutes daily. I also was 150 lbs which supposedly was a positive. I had never spent a night in a hospital since I was born. I was lucky enough to choose having the...

I had valve replacement surgery in Sept 2012--age 63. When I first went to my cardio, he said I would probably need surgey in 3-5 years. My echo each year showed a steady decrease so I was prepared when I had my echo in 2012( Year 4) that I might be getting close. He told me that I should be...

Heather: You didn't mention it , but if possible have someone keep an eye on you when walking. I remember having one really bad coughing attack while sitting on the couch with my wife and I blacked out for 2-3 seconds. I was glad it didn't happen while I was out walking.

Heather Anne: Glad to hear your procedure went so well. I thought mine was easy but you seem to really did well. I had the A-Fib about 5 weeks after so I went on Coumidin for 2 months before it cleared up. You mentioned the soreness in your neck and back. I had the same and thought it was caused...

Heather: Make sure you write into Post-Op about how your surgery goes once you have recovered. I am sure you can provide some valuable tips to others who are waiting.

I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers and will check back to see your post-op posting.

I had AVR replacement surgery the beginning of last September. I bumped into a good friend I had not seen for a few months last week and he asked how I was doing. At first I wasn't sure what he meant but then realized he was asking about my recovery. Funny, but unless someone brings it up, I...

I agree. I found the operation ( AVR-9/5/12) to be much less involved than I thought. I had the procedure done in the afternoon. My wife was shocked how bad I looked with all the tubes in me that night. I was off all the tubes by early the next morning and was sitting up in a chair the day...

Heather: Before going in, I never used the term open-heart surgery and neither did the doctors. Obviously it is that but my doctor called it Valve Replacement Surgery and that is the term I used. I found that to sound less dramatic when talking to family and friends. I think we all have our...

I had my AVR surgery last September. I was the first surgery of the day but got bumped back to the afternoon that morning because a patient from ER was a higher priority than I was. So up until the day, your time slot is not locked in. One of the cautions I always post on here is this. I had...

I developed A-Fib about a 6 weeks after my AVR surgery( 9/12). I had A-Fib twice in the hospital but the surgeon said everyone gets A-Fib. Neither time in the hospital did I feel any different. I was frustrated by a severe cough after the surgery and went to my regular MD for the cough. They...

Tom: Great advice. It took a while to clear up the PSA issue ( late October to this week). My DR in a normal physical did the normal round of tess and found my PSA jumped from 1.9 to 2.5 over 2 years. Somehow they couldn't find my 2011 test or forgot to include it in the script for the lab. Any...

As a recent patient, I agree with going home as well. My wife stayed till I was settled in ICU. As I had been warned on this site and as I had warned my wife, first look at the patient in ICU is not a pretty one. Tubes everywhere. Just be prepared. My wife left after I was settled in and I...