John's Guestbook

John Brewer  THANK YOU, THANK YOU, for your concerns!   I'm just about to report on my TAVR procedure (it went well!).

John Brewer  Hi, Juli! All the best to you!!  I'm pretty terrified, too, but you and I have to do it -- this bloody SAS has a fatality rate of 50 percent 6 months after diagnosis! I've been growing weaker, more fatigued and have shooting pains in my legs.  (And I've found cutting back on the medical reading has helped me -- I was learning too many details, and it was all becoming overwhelming!). Sorry to hear you can't do a TAVR.  A friend of mine also has a bicuspid value, and that ruled him out, too.  Apparently you can't get a good fit via the TAVR catheter.  He had open heart surgery instead for a new mechanical value -- and is feeling absolutely like a new man.  Also, a lot of people think open heart surgery is better than a TAVR.  Please stay in touch!  Cut back on the reading -- get all the specifics off your brain!  You and I will make it through all this!  Best regards, John Brewer in Port Angeles, WA.

Roselyn Kubek   Hi John- Ot is a lot to absorb and scary- but the alternative is much scarier.  I had a bi-cuspid valve with severe stenosis and had it replaced with a porcine valve through open heart surgery - full sternotomy - right before I was 63.  I’m 65 now- I feel terrific, do all the things I could do before, walk 8,000-10,000 steps today.  I was not a super athlete before and I’m not now-
i won’t lie and say it was a walk in the park, but it was honestly not nearly as bad or hard as I feared-and recovery was slower than I am patient with, being an impatient person,but steady and complete.
I’m happy to answer any questions and give you any tips that might help.  And this site is awesome.  If you have a surgeon you trust (I interviewed a number of people regarding pros and cons of different valves and procedures) that’s the key

Michael Kluse  John.  I am 72 and had my aortic valve replaced with a biological valve in May and am totally recovered. I too was not a candidate for TAVR. Have confidence in your surgeon and work up and maintain a positive outlook. No negative thoughts. I believe having a positive mental outlook makes recovery much easier. I know it’s daunting as you consider the surgery, but you’ll get through it fine like many others have with a positive outlook. Good Luck!

John Brewer  Roselyn , Michael, Grace and others!  THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH for your  support!!!  I'm going into this following your tips about positive thinking! I take all of your advice seriously.  Thank goodness there are people who do this well, for a living, eh??   There are probably thousands of folks out there today who are very thankful that I am not their doctor!!!