Stephen's Guestbook

I have been wondering how your Operation went and how your recovery has started? I know you don't feel up to writing - that's completely understandable after such a major Operation so take your time and know we are sending our prayers to you and your family as we continue to keep you in our thoughts. Heart Sister Em 💞

Just letting you know on RPA Show on Channel Gem tonight there is a patient needing Heart Surgery, 8:30 pm (Monday 13th June); after Kings Cross ER at 7:30 pm. I thought you may be interested in.

Hey - I'm pushing 38 and found out on New Year's Day that I had BAV and the accompanying aneurysm. Going in next week for surgery to get the Darcon graft to replace the aorta and either a repair or replacement. Docs have told me I have up to a 95% chance of repair in my case because there doesn't appear to be calcification and only regurgitation. If not, I chose to go ahead with a tissue valve, as I can't see me managing Coumadin and its effects, despite my inane fear of having to do OHS once, nevermind again in the future. But, sometimes you gotta leave those battles for another day. I found the plan B stuff to be most difficult as there's a lot of conflicting information about where the technology is and is going. Some say you can use TAVR on BAV repairs, some say you really can't. This is coming from all the top rated docs out there, so I just don't think the story has been settled on yet. The good story is that the operation itself is quite mature, the results are great at top institutions with high volume and there are a bunch of developments to look forward to even if they're not completely clear yet. Anyhow, I'm shaking in my pants for next week - but wanted to reach out to say welcome and share where i was at since we're in a bit of the same boat.

You should be in good shape, your ejection fraction is great. My EF was about 48%, and we are hoping with a new valve it gets back over 50% where it belongs.

It sounds close to familiar. I was diagnosed with a bicuspid aortic valve, with >50% regurgitation. The difference being my valve was insufficient instead of stenotic. I was 46 years old and they told me I had about 2 years to live if surgery was not done. I had open heart surgery in February of this year in Seattle. I have been back to work for 6 weeks and doing pretty well. I have not made any 100km bicycle rides post surgery, but am building my way back up and have ridden more than 40km several times.