Franklin's Journal

Kate Watson  Yes, I continue to struggle with it at 9 weeks post op but it's getting better. I had everything checked out including an echocardiogram and an xray, all was normal. It seemed I was having bad anxiety, so I was given xanax, which really helped. It is a journey, but glad you are home and on the road to recovery!

Franklin Wyrick  Thank you Kate and John. It helps to know that I'm not the only one. I will talk to the doc if it doesn't let up. I slept better last night.

Eddie Patton  Look up hypnic jerk, I had it for a few weeks after surgery. Once off pain meds for a bit it went away.

James Proffitt  I had the lack of air sensation while trying to sleep the first few days after being home. Odd because I use a CPAP, which was definitely supplying air! I was able to lessen the feeling by not sleeping flat. I propped pillows to sleep elevated and it helped.

Franklin Wyrick  Thanks Eddie and James. I looked up Hypnic jerk and that may be what I have. It was better last night so I think I'm getting over it.

Robert Osmachenko  Hi Franklin.
Good to meet you. I'm almost two years out and still have trouble with sleep. Remember, you have experienced humongous trauma from surgery and your body remembers.
I'm trying different things and find that I'm sensitive to noise and temperature. Earplugs work fine and I must keep things cool when we go to sleep. I use lorazepam (ativan) in a pinch but find it is habit forming (addictive) and use it sparingly. Caffeine is also a problem even though I drink one cup per day. I also have poor sleep when having pasta type dishes for supper.
Prior to surgery, I used a CPAP for apnea but now I don't use it. Go figure. My circulation is good and oxygen good so maybe that is why.
I sleep better when I exercise regularly. I sleep better when I go to bed at a later time ie: 11pm. Not 9 pm.
There are many things doctors cannot do for you and I believe you should try working it out yourself.
Be well.

Mark Jones  I'm no Dr but it does sound very much like sleep apnea - perhaps induced by the use of narcotics for pain relief and hopefully just temporary. Alternatively it could be just anxiety. I am a long term sufferer of sleep apnea (controlled through CPAP now) but your symptomology sounds very similar to what I experienced prior to being diagnosed. of course, always good to get it checked out. Very interested to hear how this pans out. Good luck and given the similarities of our conditions (BAV and Aneurysm) I would be very keen to hear about your progress. Mark

Barbara Adams  We have all experienced your same feelings! Praying for you and looking forward to your posts about your successful surgery!

Lori Phillips  Dear Franklin, I hope it gives you some solice to know we're all thinking of you this night before your surgery. I have been trying to post a note to you for hours! Literally! But either something is wrong with this site or my phone. I wanted to reassure you. These surgeons have this 'heart thing' down pat. Will be thinking of you tomorrow. God Bless and we'll all be talking to you soon!

Wanda Mroz  Been there, done that! Know that we will all be thinking of you tomorrow. Blessings for a successful surgery and smooth recovery.💞

Franklin Wyrick  Thank you all for your advice and reassuring thoughts. I sure will be glad to be on the other side. Talk to you all soon.

Debbie Bentley   I'm a few days away from surgery and I still haven't figured out how I'm going to do this . I'm so scared . Good luck it will all be over soon 😬

Petey Bello  Franklin & Debbie, you are not alone. You will make it through. We have all felt your anguish & pain. Just remember each day will get better. Praying for a successful surgery & smooth recovery! God Bless!

  Frank , Debbie I still have a ways to go til JULY so I'll be thinking and praying for both of you. I'l be there as well soon and you can encourage me.

Kate Watson  We do all know where you are coming from. The fear was really intense for me beforehand. Try to put trust in your surgeon and your medical team. Picture yourself after this surgery when you are healed and feeling great. I visualized my surgeon talking to me after the surgery and telling me that "everything went great." And I cried with gratitude when it actually happened. You will get there and this will all be a distant memory someday soon. Wishing you much strength and a very successful surgery!

susan kotansky  What everyone said is true. We were all terrified and then it was over and fine. 8 months have gone by for me and honestly I'm starting to forget! There is such expertise and a routine aspect to this.....you will be fine.Kate had a great point...imagine the future when you are all well and before you know it, you will be. The period before is absolutely the worst part so you're almost home...I wish you the best tomorrow. Healing thoughts to you!!!!

Richard Puckett  I'm a little over two weeks from my date. I think that I have about convinced myself that surviving the surgery looks pretty secure, but I worry about the other side. I don't know how I will feel the day before, but at least it will be all down hill! You are at the top of the hill, with everything downhill! We're praying for you, and you will do great!

Gary Stripling  You WILL get through this and feel so much better on the other side of the surgery! I can't believe I'm 9 months post-OHS - the time really does fly by. You've got this!

Peggy Whitecotton  We've all been there, soon this will be behind you it's has been 9 months for me. Just keep focus on why you are having this surgery it is going to save your life. We are so blessed to be living in this day and age. My grandmother died at 55 years old with aortic valve disease (same as mine), there was no hope for her back then. Can you all imagine what that must have been like to know you will soon die of heart failure. Like my surgeon said to me "this is a death sentence without surgery."So stay focus and God will see you through....And peace and blessings to you

Bridget Sawmiller  Praying for you, I can imagine what you are thinking and I will be there on August 3rd, the night before mine. Looking forward to seeing your posts after your surgery. Prayers for a successful surgery and excellent recovery!

Marilyn M  My thoughts and prayers are with you for a successful surgery and uneventful recovery! Soon it will be over. You will do fine!!!! 🙏

Franklin Wyrick  Thank you all so much. It was a successful surgery and I'm home now and feeling very little pain. I know I have a long way to go yet, but I think the worst is over. This site has been a god send.

Joanne Casserly  I found out in January I needed the MV repair, then they looked and said, no rush, I go June 1 cause I wanted warmer weather and now I'm making me and everyone around me insane. I should have done it, in the winter. Good Luck! :hugs

Petey Bello  Good luck to both of you: Joanne & Franklin...waiting is never easy. Just know you will get through this journey & there is a lot of support here on this site to help you through!

Franklin, I had a horizontal hairline crack (I still have) under my crown on a root canal tooth. My dentist told me he could not work on it until 6 mos post op. since I was heading into surgery. So he told me to chew on the other side of my mouth (which I am doing). I had no infection & he wants to try to save the tooth. He felt he didn't have enough time before surgery & did not want to disrupt my mouth so close to surgery. Good luck, hopefully it won't interfere with your upcoming surgery!

Maureen Breault  You should have enough time to complete the dental work; I know that was a concern of mine; tying up all the loose ends. I'm three days away from surgery; finished up work today and have a weekend planned spending time with family. Testing done at hospital Monday; start my stay that night which I'm happy for, surgery first thing in the AM.

Mary Wagner  I had my aortic valve replaced 26 years ago and had a mechanical valve put in. On March 3 - had surgery to repair an aneurysm. Surgeon thought he may have to replace the valve but when he got in - said it looked as good as new! I have had no problems with the coumadin. Do take care of the dental issues because once you have the heart surgery you won't want to also mess with your teeth. UMich should be good - lived in both Okemos and Bloomfield Hills growing up.

Kelly Weisgarber  Thanks for the note on my journal. I hope you're feeling ready as you get closer to surgery. I hope you're getting all your dental work taken care of. Good luck to you and God bless! Keep us updated ❤️

Bridget Sawmiller  Good luck to you, U of M is a great hospital and you will do great! I look forward to following your recovery, as my OHS is scheduled for August 4th at the Cleveland Clinic. Prayers for success and a speedy recovery!

Michael Bronshteyn  I chose to do my surgery as soon as possible ( within a month ). I knew it was coming and decided that sooner I get it over with the better.
I chose to have tissue valve. I know I will need to replace it going forward. At the same time I wanted to keep my activities and life style, so did not want mechanical valve. Besides, both my Surgeon and Cardiologist advised me for the tissue valve. Hopefully in 15 years they will figure out how to do TAVR on those valves. They do them now, but not for everybody. If not, oh well. At least I know what to expect :).
After surgery the first 2-3 weeks the most difficult. Try to have somebody to help you out. After that the things will be better. I went back to work after 4 weeks. Went to gym after 5 weeks. Started to run after 10 weeks ( I tried after 5 but was painful ).
Anyway. Good luck. This forum is a good resource to find support and info.

Christine Oliva  Franklin I agree with Michael do it when you are still in pretty vital condition. I waited, but I was lucky that I did not have any complications. Yes, the first couple of weeks you will feel a fair amount of discomfort, but by week three or four it will really start to go away including the stiffness. I had someone home with me for only four days, but my husband and I got things really organized (power recliner, table, pillows for back arms and your chest or just plain hugging when necessary, soft blankets, water always close, comfy loose clothes to change, wipes when you get hot or sweaty, prepared healthy meals and don't forget the fiber and protein plus things to eat if my stomach felt bad and my laptop.) Don't forget to walk which will help you get rid of any fluid in the lungs, lessening the coughing and loosen up the back/shoulder muscles. You won't be exercise until week six, but you must walk daily & don't forget blowing the spirometer often throughout the day. Everyone is different so you can listen to all our experiences and suggestions and then decide what is best for your situation. I'm five and half months post Aortic Valve replacement and had it since I was child so I knew it was coming, but when it did for someone reason it shocked me. Now that I am past it, I can say its a tough operation, but with some grit and strong focus you can recover and even thrive.
God bless you and please take care of yourself and beat this thing! Its doable.

Franklin Wyrick  Thank you Michael and Christine. So far I am staying as calm as I can. I have my heart cath next wednesday and will see the surgeon soon. This forum has given me a lot of reassurance.

  Best wishes, Franklin. I had minimally invasive surgery to replace a bicuspid valve in December. Never realized the extent of my symptoms until I have a valve that actually works. I was diagnosed with my valve issue at UofM. UofM has a good reputation, just remember it is a training hospital so I would have a conversation with Dr. Deeb about who will actually be doing your surgery and how much residents will be doing it. I am sure all will go smoothly; remember this is a very common surgery and the statistics are well in your favor.

Petey Bello  I agree Franklin to do it sooner rather than later. I am having a mini thoracotomy on April 20th (scheduled it within 30 days of finding out I needed surgery)..hoping for a mitral valve repair, but if not possible then I will go with the pig valve. I agree with Michael on that choice. I did just find out I have a genetic 'blood clotting marker' (a little disappointing, but better to find out before surgery). Good luck to you on your heart journey. This is an awesome blog to help you through this process! God Bless!

Franklin Wyrick  Laura, did you have your surgery at U of M? I would like to have minimal invasive surgery also. That is part of the reason I wanted to go to U of M. Could you tell me who your surgeon was? Also, Dr. Deeb has done over 3500 aortic valve surgeries and they do 350 a year at U of M.

  Hey Franklin, my surgery was in Plano TX at the Heart Hospital (we moved from MI). I was planning on having my surgery at Beaumont if I had it in MI, but didn't need it at the time. Back in 2010, UofM wasn't offering minimally invasive surgery as an option and Beaumont was. Best wishes with your surgery; wish I was more help!

Tonia Earley  Hi Franklin...your feelings are all normal. I have a bicuspid valve too, although mine is not calcified I was fortunate to have it repaired rather than replaced. If I had it replaced I would have chosen the tissue valve as well and my thought process was the same as Franklins😊.

It is better to get it done sooner rather than later. I can honestly say that my experience has been very positive!

It's not as bad as I had originally thought. There is pain right after but it is all manageable...I promise.

Recovery has its ups and downs and you have good and bad days. The most frustrating thing for me is that I actually feel pretty good, but if you over do it, you definitely pay for it later.

I had my done at the Cleveland Clinic, because it's right in my back yard.

This is an amazing site and you will learn a lot from everyone on here. You will also get support and be able to converse with people in your shoes who have either gone through it or like you are waiting to go through it.

Best of luck to you! Praying for a successful surgery and a smooth recovery!

I am 9 days post op and am doing fantastic! And if I can do it anyone can....believe me😊...I've never had surgery or been in the hospital other than to have 2 babies...I worry and have anxiety really bad about the unknowns...but it's not all that bad!