Michael's Guestbook

Michael, Glad to hear all went well with your surgery🙇 Praise Jesus. My wife also chose the bovine for her bicuspid aortic valve right thoracic less evasive Cleveland Clinic over the right breast. No aneurysm. She disliked the meds and got off them right away. She went with Tylenol and was walking 🚶 very very slowly after the first day. She is only on baby aspirin and has been out of surgery since May 16 th. . One thing that puzzled us was concerning her new valve, was that there is a period where her heart and body had to get used to the new valve, the increased flow, blood pressure spikes; each day it got better and better, now she walks with much better ease but we didn't realize it takes the body some time to adjust. I can imagine you went through this also ? God Bless, Mike, Maggie and Fam. 🙏⛪👩👨👦👦👦👧

Hi Michael, glad you had successful surgery and recovering well at home. I have an ascending aortic aneurysm which involves the aortic arch. Did they use Dacron graft for your aneurysm and was your arch involved? I'm still in process of meeting with surgeons and am terrified. Thank you.

Hello, Michael! I see from your post that you ended up with a bovine valve. I thought you had decided on a mechanical. What changed your mind? Just curious as I will be facing this decision too. Thanks and continued prayers ...

Michael, I wish you the very best. Duke Hospital has an excellent reputation. My cardiologist will refer me to that hospital when my time comes. In the mean time, keep up good thoughts and as they say here in NC-"you will be in our thoughts and prayers".

Good morning, Michael! Best of luck to you this week on your surgery. You are in excellent hands at Duke. God will Bless you and guide your surgeon's hands.

Arnold’s lasted 20 years I’m not saying that’s an always case but I just don’t want to be on blood thinners. What is your email address? I’ll forward you that article and it might put your mind at peace.

Hey Michael I was really considering the bovine valve as well and I know they are going to try and convince otherwise. Did you Dr strongly recommend mechanical? I just read a very long article about both and it convinced me to go tissue for sure. I’m 41 so I know they won’t be loving that idea..

Yea I believe your in great hands. Prayers for you and the family for sure! I saw your story and not being able to workout is tough but I think in the end we can come back stronger. Where is your aneurysm located?

Hi Michael. I live not to far from you. Pittsboro. I'll be having aortic valve replacement in the near future at UNC. I go tomorrow to see surgeon and to find out more definite plan. Best of luck on your journey.

Im guessing because of my stenosis it will be sooner than later. It was weird I knew I needed to have my valve looked at so made an appointment with no symptoms over a month ago and then last Tuesday shortness of breath started. Went to the ER Friday to confirm my suspicions and sure enough Stenosis and 4.8MM. I’m not sure if they will want to fix both or not. I’m looking at every hospital possible for minimally invasive before I commit. Sending my results to Duke, Vanderbilt, CC, Northeast GA Heart and St Joseph’s in Texas.

Hey Michael! Was wondering if your doctor was doing a full open heart or a mini/less invasive procedure. I have a similar case but I recently developed stenosis of the Aorta at 41...crazy a month ago I was doing burpees and now all I do is walk. I also have a 4.8MM aorta root

Hi Michael I had about the same surgery as you in 2009 with a 5.3 cm anyerism and one bypass at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester. MN. At the time I was 58 years old with very active farming lifestyle along with running 5k and 10k and half marathon races and triathlons. My surgeon told me I would wear out a tissue valve in a very short time due to my active lifestyle so he suggested a sorin carbometic mechanical valve. I am on Coumadin and have my own blood testing machine to keep my inr at 2.5-3.5. I like eating my greens and have learned to set my dose so I consistently eat my greens. I have since completed two marathons and do about a dozen short races a year along with a few sprint triathlons a year. Surgeries are always a challenge having to bridge before and then getting back onto coumiden after, but it is doable. I have had a robotic prostectomy for prostate cancer and a robotic repair of five ventral hernias since. The only drawback I have found is I can’t play hide and seek with my eight grandchildren as they can hear my valve clicking. I am now on a c-pap machine so I can’t hear it at night any more. I am now 66 years old and retired. I am still raceing and have never regretted going with the mechanical valve. As of April 27 I am starting my 10th bonus year since open heart surgery. Good luck and lots of prayers. Search my name on this site for my story. John O’Neill

Hi Michael! I am in Davidson... practically your neighbor. I had my aortic graft/valve repair in Feb ‘16. My cardiologist is at Sanger in Charlotte, but I decided to have my surgery at Cleveland Clinic, due to some other preexisting conditions. I won’t lie... it was hard. I was 42 at the time and have two young children. In the end, I am so thankful I decided to travel. I did experience some complications, but was in Cleveland at the time and was able to seek care right back at CC. I still see my local cardiologist here travel once a year ( so far) to see my cardiologist at CC ( mainly because he is an incredible Dr). Please do not hesitate to reach out, ask for support, ask questions. It is a life altering experience that not many other understand unless you’ve gone through it. Please feel free to email me. I am here to help in any way. Just let me know and I’ll send my email address. Take good care.

Hi Michael, I am from Charlotte, but live in San Francisco now. I know you're in the process of making some big decisions. Hospital location is certainly important, but choosing the best surgeon whom you feel comfortable with is very, very important too. It's good you are considering everything so carefully. I am 3 weeks and 3 days Post-Op with no complications so far, aside from doing a little too much at times cause I forget cause I feel pretty darn good, (and then pay for it the next day). Good luck as you make your choices- I have also heard that Duke has very good heart surgeons...

Michael, I read your journal about having a bicuspid aortic valve and an aortic aneurysm. Mine was diagnosed about 5 years ago. I was living in upstate NY at the time, but a good friend lived near Durham and suggested I go to Duke for a second opinion. I'm so glad I did. They have a great cardiac department and my surgeon is Dr. Chad Hughes. The guy is amazing. The reason I know this is not from me having surgery (still hanging in there), but the friend I told you about was diagnosed with the same problem in 2016 and has already had his surgery done. His aneurysm was 5.3. He was in and done within 5 months. He's feeling great. He had a few complications (pneumonia and Afib), but all is well now. I moved to Florida for the winters in 2016. I have a cardiologist here, but when the time comes I'm having my surgery at Duke. I'll find out more when I see Hughes in June. Good luck. It truly is amazing what can be done now medically. By the way, your children should be checked, it is the most common genetic heart defect. Penny Bodek