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Addy, glad to hear you are doing well! I had my aortic valve replaced and aortic aneurysm repair three weeks ago tomorrow also. I am walking at home and plan to start cardiac rehab next week. I hope your a fib issue works out, I had one in the hospital but have not had any trouble with that...

Irishknitter, I just had my surgery 3 weeks ago, but I had a St.Jude's tissue valve because of my desire to avoid lifetime Coumadin at age 38. Just to encourage you, I am feeling pretty well and am walking almost 2 miles a day. Like you, I live in Tennessee. I did my surgery at Vanderbilt...

I have a history of migraine with aura, but they had gotten rare before my surgery. I attributed it to starting CO-Q 10 and magnesium a few years ago at the advice of a neurologist. I had OHS surgery on 5/9/11 and then two "migraines" the next week. I thought it was because I had stopped my...

David, I know how you feel! I'm 38 and I had my BAVR/aneurysm repair on May 9th. I felt much more informed and prepared from the information I had gleaned from this website. I am now in the recovery process (spent one week in hospital), and I still get lots of good advice and insight on...

Thanks so much for the well-wishes! I'm back, and on "this side of the mountain", as we say around here! My surgery went well, with a couple of minor complications. I needed a transfusion of two units of blood and one unit of platelets. I also had a post-op episode of SVT when my HR got up...

Eclectus45, Thanks for sharing your thoughts and your experience. I can't imagine how distressing that would be to hear the incessant clicking, and I'm hoping that is only an issue for mechanical valves. I can only say that I have learned that what we see (or in this case, hear) is what we are...

Wow, thanks so much for the videos! Like Jake, I have surgery scheduled Monday (BAVR, repair of aortic aneurysm). I liked your "walking chart", I think my kids would enjoy making one for me. Thanks for sharing your experience, it was encouraging to see you improve each day. I also appreciate...

beespin, I understand your concerns, especially if you are considering pregnancy. A helpful site that I have posted on here several times is http://www.echopedia.org/wiki/Normal_Values. Actually, your echo results look better than mine did before I had five healthy pregnancy/deliveries...

Jason, Thanks so much for all of the information. I was very interested, it seems that our situations are similar. My aortic root is also dilated to 4.2 (per MRI) and my ascending aorta is 4.3. For me, the BAV was the primary concern, due to LV dilation and regurgitant fraction. My surgeon...

Lance, Thanks for the good advice. Most of my info. about the valve is from the St. Jude's website, perhaps not the most objective source. :) My surgeon did say that he helped develop the valve and it has been used in other countries for several years. However, I will do a little more...

A website that I really like and have posted on here several times is http://www.echopedia.org/wiki/Normal_Values. If you have specific measurements and values, it helps to get an idea of where you stand. Good luck and, as lyn said, keep advocating for yourself!

Once again, I have greatly enjoyed reading everyone's input! I am new to the site and it's so much more helpful than the impersonal internet info. I am 38, scheduled 5/9/11 for BAV replacement (tissue) and repair of aortic aneurysm. I am active in playing and coaching sports with my five...

Jen, the LVH stand for left ventricular hypertrophy, as ken described. My cardiologist actually used my left venticular dilation as a criteria that it's time for surgery. (Mine is 7cm and > 6.2 is considered 'severe'). A website that I suggested to someone else on here recently is...

Thanks for the replies! I had to laugh when I read them, thinking "Well, when you put it THAT way...". :) It was a little bit of wishful thinking. I guess I just wanted to kill two birds with one stone and have one less thing to "keep an eye on" the rest of my life. Thanks again for the insight!

Hi Joe, I just replied to your other post and saw this one. Can you get specific information and measurements? I signed a release and got all of my reports (echo, TEE, MRI and even cath). That way I could compare for myself. For example, I just looked up your aortic jet velocity at...

Hi pekster11, Thanks for your response. I have looked at the website www.sjm.com and read several times the information on the St. Jude's valve. It just says that it is "built for durability" and has a titanium-reinforced stent. It is covered with pericardial tissue so ACT is not needed. For...

First of all, let me say how helpful this group has been for me! I have read more practical advice and insight on here than the last 2 months of "surfing the 'net". I am very new to all of this, I learned recently that I need an aortic valve replacement and repair of an aortic aneurysm. My...