Bradley's Guestbook

Bradley Dunn  Hi Kim,

I just saw this. I rarely check this part of the site. I am glad I could help and stay strong.

You also have quite a spread with children!!!

Bradley Dunn  Sure - I will do what I can to help you. I was originally supposed to get a repair. However, you need a backup plan in case your valve is not repairable.

I was interested in the Inspiris valve as a backup due to it being a natural material and not needing life long anticoagulants. However, after talking to Dr Svensson about it, he immediately refused to consider using it with me. He said, it wouldn't last 5 years in me even though there is no real data on the valve in someone my age and activity level ( I am pretty active).

Dr Svensson wanted to use the St Jude valve as a backup since it is already comes in a graft (I believe it is easier for the surgeon and faster).

At the last minute, when I was talking to I believe the anesthesiologist, he was asking me general questions about what I ate and when. Then, he went over my valve backup plan and I changed it to the On-X at the last minute. This was due to the lower INR level of 1.5 after 6 months that has FDA. This was pretty important to me.. Lower INR and less drugs is always a good thing I believe. I trusted a surgeon with Dr Svensson's ability to be able to handle the graft and valve as separate entities. I am 11 months - 4 days since my surgery and everything is going pretty well!

Let me know if you have more questions.

Joe Tarango  Thank you for the helpful info. It's good to hear you are doing well 11 months later. I'm 32 and pretty active but I may receive a similar opinion.

Rob Sparling  Mike, please read my journal. Scroll back to at least Sept 25th (if not the whole thing). Also, please see my recommendation in this site for Dr. Gosta Pettersson at CC.

You are in the right place. ❤️💪

Bradley Dunn  My surgery was on a Tuesday and I rode back to Georgia 9 days later. My wife drove the entire way. Wr stopped every couple of hours so I could move and walk some. You aren't supposed to sit in a car for long immediately after surgery.

I have the On-X valve. I went to Cleveland to get a repair. I was told there was about a 90% chance to have a successful repair but it turns out it wasn't repairable. I ended up having a bicuspid valve when they thought for 20 years it was tricuspid.

I wanted my backup plan to be the Inspiris Resilia but my surgeon said any bio valve in me would only last 5 years and I would be back under the knife. He wouldn't even consider it.

He wanted to use the St Jude as a backup since it is already stitched in.. I'm guessing the On-X isn't.


Right before going on to surgery they asked me about a back up plan and I told them I wanted the On-X due to the lower inr... I'm glad they asked me this or I would have gotten the St Jude... My consult with my surgeon was very strange it was as if he was telling me what I was going to do. Luckily I changed things up the morning of surgery.

Rob Sparling  Brad, you know I have watched you and followed your story. I see you laying out details that were not clear to us before and applaud your courage and your transparency. You are such a good dude and it is so inspiring to see the true depth of the trade-offs you have made. I am still learning from you. Keep peeling back the onion. We are all better for it. ❤️💪

Mike Roskowinski  Hey Mike T. I am going in May 6th to get mine done. I am going with the On-X valve due to its durability and no need for going back in for surgery. Here is a good video that talks about the valve. Watch it as it has some good information. And Brad thanks for your story. I went through and read all your posts and I have received great information from it. Also some things I may encounter along the road.

https://youtu.be/Qs3ntOc439w

Bradley Dunn  I use to work at bestdoctors.com so I understand the importance of going to the best place possible. When one of the founders of BD found out about my surgery, the first thing he asked was " did he go to Cleveland?"

The cost was no more than going to my local hospital except for travel, lodging expenses.

I drove there in one day then had my wife dive me back. I hate the Atlanta airport and wouldn't want people looking at me while I was in chair. There is no way you can walk that place only a few days after surgery.

I set things up in Cleveland by filling out an online form with some personal information. I picked my surgeon and his nurse called me back within a week or so. From there I just had me medical records sent for review and baby steps until surgery a few months later.

Good luck and let me know if you have more questions. The surgery isn't easy.. It's freaking brutal but having strong people around you will help.
For me I had severe anxiety for a week or so after surgery likely from extra blood flow, drugs and AFib.

Molly Ivers  Did you notice a change in your laugh? When I had my first big laugh after surgery (about 10 days out) I suddenly had this goofy Penny Marshall character laugh.

Bradley Dunn  Thanks..I don't have any symptoms either which likely makes it harder. However, I'm told my regurgitation is close to severe. So...I likely push myself really hard and just think this is normal.

I spent two hours last Monday in 95 degree heat cutting grass.. Then I spent 90 minutes on a baseball field. I was exhausted but I would think most people would be. How easy would things be with a healthy heart?

Boys don't do well in this world without strong fathers. There is no way I'm leaving him anytime soon nor my daughter.

Thanks for the support. I'm sure you'll do fine too!

Dan Vechiola  Thanks. Think positive and visualize a successful surgery and hospital stay. You are in great hands and at a great hospital so put your fate with them. I give you credit for making the trip to Cleveland. Your heart is a precious thing and its the right thing to put it in the hands of the best. It will be well worth it!