NealR
Well-known member
Had both the Aortic and Mitral valves replaced on 10/19/09. Quite an ordeal too. This site has been so helpful and I learned so much, perhaps I can help someone else as well. My experience was sort of a mixed bag, good and interesting, but not horrible. For the first 4 weeks the pain was intense. I could not get more than 2 hours of sleep a night, and often found myself hunting for the right place to sleep. The pain, interestingly enough, was in my arms and back! I also found my body crashing at times. Visual Disturbances, panic and anxiety attacks (from not knowing) and a numbness that developed in my right wrist while walking about a week or so after surgery. I would also get dizzy when I first would stand up, and could feel my heart pounding while I was laying down.
Now the good: After 3 months, most of the above has subsided, or went away completely. When I came home, I was easily able to make it up a flight of stairs. I was able to return to work after 5 weeks, and at 6 weeks, I had recovered about 90% of my energy. Today my energy easily exceeds what I was before surgery. I am able to walk 2 miles in 30 minutes, at speeds over 4.o mph, and reach 120 bpm without exhausting myself. In fact, I feel very good at this heart rate, and can even lift weights as well. My appetite returned about 2 days after surgery, and am hungry all the time. I went with the Edwards pericardial bovine valves. I know most opt for mechanicals, but I happy with my decision. I am advised by my surgeon these valves should last between 10 and 20 years. He further advised that there is evidence that statins my prolong this. The first time I heard these valves, while still in the hospital, both the nurse and myself were blown away. It sounded almost monstrous. I was pretty lucky all and all. I was able to get in shape for this surgery since I had about 3 months to do so. I quite smoking, even donated my own blood. The meds I am on are:
Asprin 325 mg/day
Atenolol, 12.5 mg/day
Lisinopril, 5 mg/day
simvastatin 10 mg/day
Niaspan, 500 500 mg/day. (this medicine may be temporary)
The only lingering issues are the numbness still in my right wrist, but this has indeed improved, and some tenderness in the sternum, which seems to come and go. The incision was glued from the inside, and looks very good. The surgery was performed at Bethesda North Hospital in Cincinnati, and the surgeon was Loren Hiratzka. They all did an excellent job. Hope this helps, please feel free to write.
Now the good: After 3 months, most of the above has subsided, or went away completely. When I came home, I was easily able to make it up a flight of stairs. I was able to return to work after 5 weeks, and at 6 weeks, I had recovered about 90% of my energy. Today my energy easily exceeds what I was before surgery. I am able to walk 2 miles in 30 minutes, at speeds over 4.o mph, and reach 120 bpm without exhausting myself. In fact, I feel very good at this heart rate, and can even lift weights as well. My appetite returned about 2 days after surgery, and am hungry all the time. I went with the Edwards pericardial bovine valves. I know most opt for mechanicals, but I happy with my decision. I am advised by my surgeon these valves should last between 10 and 20 years. He further advised that there is evidence that statins my prolong this. The first time I heard these valves, while still in the hospital, both the nurse and myself were blown away. It sounded almost monstrous. I was pretty lucky all and all. I was able to get in shape for this surgery since I had about 3 months to do so. I quite smoking, even donated my own blood. The meds I am on are:
Asprin 325 mg/day
Atenolol, 12.5 mg/day
Lisinopril, 5 mg/day
simvastatin 10 mg/day
Niaspan, 500 500 mg/day. (this medicine may be temporary)
The only lingering issues are the numbness still in my right wrist, but this has indeed improved, and some tenderness in the sternum, which seems to come and go. The incision was glued from the inside, and looks very good. The surgery was performed at Bethesda North Hospital in Cincinnati, and the surgeon was Loren Hiratzka. They all did an excellent job. Hope this helps, please feel free to write.
