Hi Cheryl, I hope you are doing well since your surgery and are on the road to recovery. Today is the first time that I am back out here since my surgery. ...Read more
Hi Cheryl, I hope you are doing well since your surgery and are on the road to recovery. Today is the first time that I am back out here since my surgery. I have been extremely tired- other than that, things are going ok.
I was diagnosed with severe stenosis of the aorta Valve in February 2023. My doctor who has been listening to my heart for 25 years now heard a... Read more
Hi Cheryl,
I was diagnosed with severe stenosis of the aorta Valve in February 2023. My doctor who has been listening to my heart for 25 years now heard a heart murmur and sends me to have an echocardiogram. My aorta Valve was not pumping the blood properly and had calcium all around it and the valve was bicuspid. My symptoms were mild but I was extremely fatigued and when I did do anything I would get dizzy. I had no clue what I was going to do being so terrified. I found this heart valve community and started asking other people who had the same diagnosis questions. I had to educate myself on what to expect regarding surgery. I had my surgery January 22, 2024 and I am almost 5 months post op. I am feeling good working on getting more energy back everyday. I went with the biological valve so, I would not have to be on blood thinners the rest of my life but will need my valve replaced 7-15 years but I will then qualify for the TAVR procedure. I want to wish you good luck and well wishes with your surgery and tell yourself "I got this". The first two weeks will be the hardest and then it gets easier.
Cheryl Capps Juli, thanks for sharing your experience. I’m also going with a biological valve and I’m hopeful ... Read more
Cheryl Capps Juli, thanks for sharing your experience. I’m also going with a biological valve and I’m hopeful down the road the next valve will be done via TAVR. Thank you for the well wishes. It really does help hearing from you and others who’ve gone before me and how well they’re doing. Glad to hear it gets easier.
Dan Kozina Hi, My story is exactly the same. My surgery is scheduled for June 10. Going biological so TAVR is th ... Read more
Dan Kozina Hi, My story is exactly the same. My surgery is scheduled for June 10. Going biological so TAVR is the next procedure. My Dr. recommended this due to my age of 68. Hopefully recovery is quick. Dr states 3 months for full recovery. Is that your experience?
Cheryl Capps Dan, I’m 67. Since we will be having surgery just 5 days apart, we should be on the same recovery ... Read more
Cheryl Capps Dan, I’m 67. Since we will be having surgery just 5 days apart, we should be on the same recovery timeline. We can compare notes and cheer each other on. Speedy recovery to you.
Dan Kozina that sounds great. You may be back home when I go in. Yes, lets share stories. I'm in California. Bor ... Read more
Dan Kozina that sounds great. You may be back home when I go in. Yes, lets share stories. I'm in California. Born with this valve, but just learned all this. I hope to feel like a new person after all this. Hope you will also.
Suelynn Hanegraaf Hi Dan and Cheryl! I am 67 and had my aortic valve replaced now twice - both bio-prosthetic - first o ... Read more
Suelynn Hanegraaf Hi Dan and Cheryl! I am 67 and had my aortic valve replaced now twice - both bio-prosthetic - first one in Feb 2011 (mini-sternectomy at Cleveland Clinic) to replace my severe stenotic bicuspid aortic valve and my 2nd (full sternectomy) - just 7 weeks ago at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago. 3rd one will hopefully be TAVR and in 10 years. Very thankful that we have these life-saving procedures! I am amazed how progressive recovery is and how relatively quickly you are walking and getting on with living. Best wishes and much encouragement to you both!
Dan Fouratt I am a little younger at 63 but did the OHS with the plan to do TVAR in 15 plus years (optimist). I a ... Read more
Dan Fouratt I am a little younger at 63 but did the OHS with the plan to do TVAR in 15 plus years (optimist). I am 9 weeks and doing great. Today it was 2 hours on the treadmill at 3.4 mph with an incline of 10 degrees. Dan and Cheryl you will do great also and three months is achievable. Good Luck to both of you.
Dan Kozina Thanks Dan. I think I will need a TAVR when I an About 80 to 85. If I make it that long. lol. 9 weeks ... Read more
Dan Kozina Thanks Dan. I think I will need a TAVR when I an About 80 to 85. If I make it that long. lol. 9 weeks and 3 miles is great.
Hi , I live in Harrisonburg Va and had Aortic valve replacement at UVA April 25 this year just last month. Every one there is wonderful and I had a very positive ...Read more
Hi , I live in Harrisonburg Va and had Aortic valve replacement at UVA April 25 this year just last month. Every one there is wonderful and I had a very positive experience. I just wanted to share my experience there and wish you well.
Cheryl Capps Thanks Charles for reaching out. Wonderful to hear you had a positive experience at UVA. I hope you ... Read more
Cheryl Capps Thanks Charles for reaching out. Wonderful to hear you had a positive experience at UVA. I hope your recovery is on track and all is going well. Which surgeon did you have? Dr Yount is doing mine.
Cheryl Capps A month later, how is your recovery going?
Charles Mehegan I had a follow up checkup 4 weeks after surgery and everything is good so far . They cleared me to dr ... Read more
Charles Mehegan I had a follow up checkup 4 weeks after surgery and everything is good so far . They cleared me to drive the car and mow my grass with my walk behind self propelled mower. But cautioned me to take it easy . I still get tired easy .
Cheryl Capps Fabulous recovery time frame. I’ll use that as a goal.
If you have any questions pre surgery , this lovely community will be glad to help .
Many women post op use a cushion or a rolled up... Read more
Hi Cheryl , Welcome
If you have any questions pre surgery , this lovely community will be glad to help .
Many women post op use a cushion or a rolled up towel ( secured with micropore ). Also many women prefer to not wear a bra or any chest type protection because they feel too uncomfortable . Wear what feels best for you . You will know after surgery . Take care x