Hi Robert! I am new to the group. I am facing the decision of whether to have the valve surgery or not. I am petrified to say the least. I am going ...Read more
Hi Robert! I am new to the group. I am facing the decision of whether to have the valve surgery or not. I am petrified to say the least. I am going for a second opinion. Fingers crossed.
Thanks for sharing your story.
Liz
Dana Knight Never hurts to have a 2nd opinion. Always glad I do.
OK I had a lower left valve replaced. Only opening to .07 cm2 (put me in the critical area). I was working out until a week and a half before the surgery. I ...Read more
OK I had a lower left valve replaced. Only opening to .07 cm2 (put me in the critical area). I was working out until a week and a half before the surgery. I passed the heart stress test at the hospital a few weeks earlier. I was without symptoms other feeling a little old as well. Seven months later (date was 6-25-18) I am doing great 3.5 miles a day and about 25+ floors (hit 40 last Tuesday). My young body is returning.
All my best and for a normal or longer life expectancy for all,
Nick Siersema
Yes, I am from Saskatoon although my cardiologist sent me to Toronto for my open heart mitral valve
surgery. We welcome you to Paris of the Prairies - it ...Read more
Yes, I am from Saskatoon although my cardiologist sent me to Toronto for my open heart mitral valve
surgery. We welcome you to Paris of the Prairies - it is a lovely city. I highly recommend you visit in the summer as you have probably seen that our winters can be quite brutal!
Wow. I just read your story. We've got a lot in common. I'm set for mitral repair (maybe replace) on Tue. in Springfield, IL. I'm a little younger than ...Read more
Wow. I just read your story. We've got a lot in common. I'm set for mitral repair (maybe replace) on Tue. in Springfield, IL. I'm a little younger than you (I'm 54) but surgery is also delaying my retirement plans. I'm one of those State workers you read about. I'm planning a trip to Europe in June and am ready to feel great by then. I also don't really notice any symptoms but my ventricle is starting to enlarge so they say it's time. My thought is it's not going to get any better--why wait.
Robert Bach Thanks Phyllis! This is a great website. I had my procedure on July 30. I had my first post-op meetin ... Read more
Robert Bach Thanks Phyllis! This is a great website. I had my procedure on July 30. I had my first post-op meeting with my surgeons last week, and they say I'm doing great. I know full recovery will take several months, and that's just the way it is. Onward and upward.
Phyllis Petersen From your story, I take it you had a sternotomy. Were they able to do a partial? I had side-entry, ro ... Read more
Phyllis Petersen From your story, I take it you had a sternotomy. Were they able to do a partial? I had side-entry, robotically-assisted mitral valve repair in October 2016. Will you be doing cardiac rehab? I found it to be extremely helpful, since I was able to push harder knowing there was a crash cart nearby.
Robert Bach They did a full sternotomy. The bandage hasn't fallen off yet, but it looks like the incision is abou ... Read more
Robert Bach They did a full sternotomy. The bandage hasn't fallen off yet, but it looks like the incision is about six or seven inches long. I start cardiac rehab a week from Friday, and I'm looking forward to it. Northwestern's cardiac rehab program is located in the health club I belong to, so I should feel somewhat at home. I've been walking a mile or two every day. i'm regaining my strength. It's a slow process, I'm finding out. I've asked a lot of patients, nurses, etc. how soon they feel back to "normal," and the most common answer I've heard is six months. I realize it's a long haul, but knowing that makes it easier. So long as I know I'm about where I'm supposed to be in the recovery process, I feel okay mentally.
Phyllis Petersen It's good to hear you can walk that much. I had a hard time in the first few weeks getting my walking ... Read more
Phyllis Petersen It's good to hear you can walk that much. I had a hard time in the first few weeks getting my walking time up past a mile. Then, I needed to put my legs up and rest. It was hard finding the balance between pushing myself enough and doing too much. It definitely will get better.
Upcoming Surgeries
Jon Oletzke
Tricuspid Regurgitation
March 31, 2025
Dr. Luis Castro is the #1 patient-recommended heart valve surgeon at HeartValveSurgery.com. Dr. Castro specializes in minimally-invasive heart valve surgery.
I am new to the group. I am facing the decision of whether to have the valve surgery or not. I am petrified to say the least. I am going ...Read more
I am new to the group. I am facing the decision of whether to have the valve surgery or not. I am petrified to say the least. I am going for a second opinion. Fingers crossed.
Thanks for sharing your story.
Liz