Jonathan's Guestbook

I remember what it was like before my surgery, having to rest quite a bit when doing chores. Now I can clean the backyard (or in the house) with one fell swoop. I have stamina to move furniture, walk great distances, (& my personal favorite) shop. I did all the precautions my surgeon & physical therapists advised. Life is better!! It was frustrating when I wasn’t allowed to put my arms above my shoulders while healing. No driving. I even had to have someone help me wash my hair! Ugh. Oh, and on a tricky side note, my advice is to remember to stick to your cardiac diet, even after healing up! Too much of the salt (or any sodium) intake will send your body into hanging on to the fluid, which you definitely do not want. You have a brand new efficient valve & even tho it makes no sense whatsoever, you might experience it. Last thing you need is to go into CHF (congestive heart failure) from fluid hanging on. Remember to weigh yourself daily. As for the “pump head” issue, it wasn’t until I went back to work when I realized I was slower cognitively. Walk, walk, & more walking!

Hi Jonathan. I too had the classic Bicuspid Aortic Valve with regurgitation & stenosis going on. I was, as the term is said, “waiting for it to fail”. I had been monitoring it since 2004, when it was first diagnosed, with echo & labs every year since. Then late last September, it decided it was done. I had my AVR October 20, 2017. Even though I’m in my early 50s & no other medical issues, I went with the bovine valve (most docs advise younger patients the mechanical since it lasts far longer). It went fantastic! Instant revitalization. First night bad AFib, which is common, but they don’t warn you of this possibility. It’s from the heart being irritated. Now I’m 7 months post op, close to 8! In the literature given before surgery, it says you “might” experience depression. I scoffed at this totally. I mean you’re basically given a new lease on life, right? Then I noticed I had slight cognitive issues. I had trouble remembering things, words, but not enough to seek medical advice, just enough to notice. I found out it’s called, “pump head”. A very interesting read. Basically it’s when the Aorta is clamped during surgery while you’re on the heart/lung machine, micro hemoglobin escapes & travels to the brain causing micro embolisms. So if you get depressed, chin up! You just have pump head! Lol..take care, sorry for the novel, & have the very best in recovery.