Today, July 22, 2021, is 9 weeks post-op from my aortic valve replacement surgery. My surgery was at UF Shands Heart and Vascular Hospital in Gainesville, Florida. ...Read more
Today, July 22, 2021, is 9 weeks post-op from my aortic valve replacement surgery. My surgery was at UF Shands Heart and Vascular Hospital in Gainesville, Florida. Dr. Thomas Beaver was my surgeon.
Rather than having to endure a full open-heart surgery, my aortic valve was in the right place for a mini-thoracotomy. This means my surgery was performed through a 5 or 6-inch incision in my upper right chest. The negative in this is that the surgery is a longer procedure because of the intricacies involved; my surgery was about 7 hours long. My roll to the OR began at about 7:00 a.m., and my wife was able to see me at about 8:00 p.m. that evening. It was a very long day for her, but the medical personnel was good about keeping her up to date with my progress through the day. I ended up on the heart-lung machine for about 4 1/2 hours. The ICU was full at the end of the day so I had to wait for an ICU room to open up for me. I spent a couple of hours in the OR while waiting for an ICU room.
I spent 4 nights in the ICU, with one additional day in a regular room before I was released.
As I look back at my procedure and hospital stay I will say I am very pleased with how things went. While I was in pain after the surgery, everyone was good at making sure my pain was manageable. I did have to beg for ice, then water, on Friday afternoon as I hadn't had anything to drink since Wednesday night. Once I proved I could swallow the water and keep it down, someone approved me for food. Imagine my surprise when I was delivered a dinner of Bar-B-Q chicken, with spinach (yes I like spinach), part of a sweet potato, some fruit, and a small can of ginger ale. It didn't last long as I was starved!
I did encounter a bout of AFIB on Sunday evening. It lasted into early Monday morning then vanished for good. I was moved to a regular room Monday evening.
Some other things of note:
My family stayed in a suite at a hotel in Gainesville the entire time. We went to Gainesville on Monday as I had to have some tests and procedures prior to the surgery. My surgery was on Thursday, and I left the hospital on Tuesday afternoon. We checked out of the hotel on Thursday morning. On Sunday morning I was up early to get dressed for church. Well, the shower and time spent getting dressed put me right back in my recliner. I was worn out for the DAY!
On Tuesday I walked over 4000 steps in my first walk outside. It didn't put me in the recliner as hard as Sunday morning, but I was tired after the walk.
I was driving at the two-week mark. This was with the surgeon's approval. I was told I could drive after of weeks, but not to enter into any racing events where I really had to "get up on the wheel." I took driving slowly, but it felt good being able to get back to life.
I teach college online, and I was actively teaching a class that started the Monday a week before my surgery. My wife said I was crazy, but I had everything covered with her so she knew what to do if anything happened to me. After surgery, I had a hard time making myself get back to grading again. I just couldn't concentrate on anything for more than a minute or two. I was not expecting this, so I had to push myself to get back to grading the assignments so I didn't get behind.
I am a vocalist, a trained singer. I volunteered to sing the National Anthem on July 4th. Wow...getting my voice back into shape after my surgery was an ordeal, and I only had a week to get my lungs and all the muscles working again to support my voice. I'm a baritone, and I generally have no problem with the upper notes at the end of the Anthem, but I did have to lower the beginning so I could hit the high notes at the end. I had no upper voice for several weeks.
Now, 9-weeks after surgery I am still getting stronger. I am careful about laying on my right side, but I am sleeping in my own bed...that was an awesome thing to get back to MY bed.
I feel great! My strength has returned. I didn't know my color was grey, but everyone tells me my color is good. I went to an Atlanta Braves ballgame this week as was able to walk a long way to my seat and back to the car 5 minutes after arriving at my seat as they canceled the game due to rainy weather. I was exhausted for sure and ended up with over 8000 steps for the day.
If you find yourself reading this post, and have valve surgery in the future, know that after the surgery you will feel so much better. Be sure you communicate concerns to your surgeon. I told my team about being a vocalist...I also perform voiceovers, so I was very concerned about losing my voice...and my anesthesiologist worked to make sure I came through with no problems, even using the smaller tube in my throat so as not to damage my vocal folds.
As I left the hospital my surgeon told me..."remember, you just got into a knife fight and your heart took most of the damage, so take it easy for a few months and you'll be just fine." He was right. My incisions are still tender but mostly healed now, and I can still feel soreness in my chest muscles.
One more thing...make sure you have an advocate for yourself. You need someone who is there with you to just watch out for you while you recover. I asked about every pill I was given, and my wife asked about the pills before I was really aware of my surroundings again after surgery.
Oh, and it's ok to be nervous about everything.
Have a great day!
Fred Earls
Susan Lynn Fred - Wow! Nine weeks has flown by! Glad to hear you're coming along and getting back to things yo ... Read more
Susan Lynn Fred - Wow! Nine weeks has flown by! Glad to hear you're coming along and getting back to things you enjoy. Wishing you continued success!
Jay Heagerty Happy to hear all went well. Thanks for the details as it is helpful for those of us who are getting ... Read more
Jay Heagerty Happy to hear all went well. Thanks for the details as it is helpful for those of us who are getting ready for the surgery.
Great post Fred. I am very happy to hear your recovery story. Keep up the good work and God bless you ... Read more
Great post Fred. I am very happy to hear your recovery story. Keep up the good work and God bless you and your beautiful family.
Cindy McMichael Just found out yesterday this in shape girl (so I thought ) is having heart surgery. I’m shocked ri ... Read more
Cindy McMichael Just found out yesterday this in shape girl (so I thought ) is having heart surgery. I’m shocked right now. I hope to find help and answers in this group. I’m scared!
Richard Munson Cindy, normal to be scared. Its heart surgery. Pick the right team, second and third opinions are goo ... Read more
Richard Munson Cindy, normal to be scared. Its heart surgery. Pick the right team, second and third opinions are good and in the end, you did the right thing.
Recuperation question: how long did it take for all of the anesthesia to work out of your system? I was in surgery for seven hours. Week later I am still having ...Read more
Recuperation question: how long did it take for all of the anesthesia to work out of your system? I was in surgery for seven hours. Week later I am still having spots of numbness here there and yonder.
Deena Z Hi Fred, where exactly is your numbness? Are you sure it is the anesthesia causing the numbness and ... Read more
Deena Z Hi Fred, where exactly is your numbness? Are you sure it is the anesthesia causing the numbness and not the incision itself?-- it's normal to have numbness along the sternum and breast/upper chest area, because muscles were cut and moved over, ribs were nudged and the nerves were interrupted. My numbness in this area took about six to eight to disappear. As for the anesthesia, I had almost dented taste for about two weeks post surgery; it's really bad when you drink prune juice in the hospital and think it tasted good, kind-a like coca cola!!
Marie Myers It probably is not the anesthesia. Anywhere there is an incision, nerves get cut. Until those nerves ... Read more
Marie Myers It probably is not the anesthesia. Anywhere there is an incision, nerves get cut. Until those nerves grow back together, some spots will be numb. Like Deena said, some numbness is normal, and it can take weeks to normalize.
Dylan Kempers Fred, I had surgery almost 6 weeks ago and still have numbness on my right chest, where all the incis ... Read more
Dylan Kempers Fred, I had surgery almost 6 weeks ago and still have numbness on my right chest, where all the incisions happened.
Cameron Peek It takes several weeks for all the anesthesia after effects to be out of your system. I have had seve ... Read more
Cameron Peek It takes several weeks for all the anesthesia after effects to be out of your system. I have had several surgeries and am amazed how long after I still feel symptoms from it. It may depend on your sensitivity also. I do not handle it well and throw up for 2-4 days afterwards even with all the ore treatment, patches and anti nausea meds.
Deena Z Cameron, bless you. I too get nauseous after surgery. I did at Sinai for two days. I can't imagine ... Read more
Deena Z Cameron, bless you. I too get nauseous after surgery. I did at Sinai for two days. I can't imagine throwing-up for four days. You are strong. I asked the two anestheiologists at Mt. Sinai about preventing me from getting sick. Once they heard that I have motion sickness, even on a swing, it was all over. (pretty much said I would get sick at some level, which I did, dry heaving.)
Cameron Peek That is funny because I also told them my back ground. Gabriel told me to expect to be sick.
Fred Earls As for my incisions, I have two… The mini incision stretches horizontally across the top right ches ... Read more
Fred Earls As for my incisions, I have two… The mini incision stretches horizontally across the top right chest, and then about a 3 inch incision on my upper thigh. My biggest numb spot reaches from my upper thigh down to my knee… This is my right leg.
Another thing I have noticed is when I brush my teeth, it feels like I have a pillow between my teeth and my toothbrush.
I have other, miscellaneous places, where I either do not feel anything or the feeling is a muted feeling.
I have noticed the more I am up and about the better I feel. But after seeing that I will acknowledge that I pushed too hard on Saturday morning as we were out and about for about two hours. Hi recuperated the rest of the day in my lounge chair with the pain meds and the muscle relaxers so I was pretty much worthless for the rest of the day.
Susan Lynn Fred - You may want to reach out to your surgeon. The numbness in your leg may warrant some feedbac ... Read more
Susan Lynn Fred - You may want to reach out to your surgeon. The numbness in your leg may warrant some feedback. I had very small incision for the femoral cannula and some bruising, but I didn't have the pain you're describing. It's worth a quick call. Please keep us posted. ❤
Fred Earls Great feedback everyone. Thanks. Surgeon follow up set for June 16. Already spoken with NP about some ... Read more
Fred Earls Great feedback everyone. Thanks. Surgeon follow up set for June 16. Already spoken with NP about some concerns. She said everything sounds normal so far.
I continue to nap daily and can feel myself getting stronger every day.
Tuesday: Enjoyed (lol) blood work, chest x-ray, covid test, and interview with PA and anesthesiologist...all in prep for Surgery day on Thursday. On Wednesday ...Read more
Tuesday: Enjoyed (lol) blood work, chest x-ray, covid test, and interview with PA and anesthesiologist...all in prep for Surgery day on Thursday. On Wednesday I will have a heart cath as the final piece of the "pre-op prep" for Heart Valve Replacement.
Today I was told to expect 7 days in the hospital. I know this what they say, but I'm hoping my stay won't be as long. I have a lot of pros on my side to shorten the hospital stay, but I do realize anything could happen.
It's getting real now. The wait was long and I'm ready to be on the way to full strength while recuperating in my reclining love seat at the house.
Fred
Dylan Kempers Fred, you are going to be fine! Don't stress too much about the number of days in the hospital. A cou ... Read more
Dylan Kempers Fred, you are going to be fine! Don't stress too much about the number of days in the hospital. A couple of days more or less won't matter. What matters is that your valve will be replaced and that you'll go home when your doctors consider it's safe. :)
Susan Lynn Fred - I also wanted the shortest hospital stay possible. If you're feeling good, they'll happily l ... Read more
Susan Lynn Fred - I also wanted the shortest hospital stay possible. If you're feeling good, they'll happily let you go. The beds in cardiac units are in great demand. Your team doesn't want you there any longer than you need to be! If not, you'll be thrilled to have a few extra days with 24/7 expert care.
As soon as you're feeling up to it, walk the hallways. Rest. Repeat. You're going to feel tired - that's normal, but moving is the key to getting out and getting back to life's great adventures! All the best! ❤
Deena Z Long day, Fred, but the ball is rolling and time goes by quickly from hereon. Nice that you got to s ... Read more
Deena Z Long day, Fred, but the ball is rolling and time goes by quickly from hereon. Nice that you got to speak wit the anesthesiologist so early. You're keeping your eye on the prize, being in the reclining chair after a successful surgery! :) Prayers and warm thoughts your way!
Fred, you are in my prayers and all of us will be waiting for you in recovery. God bless you
Richard Munson Don’t come home until you know you are ready. You and you alone will know. I stayed an extra day af ... Read more
Richard Munson Don’t come home until you know you are ready. You and you alone will know. I stayed an extra day after they wanted me out because i knew it was not the time. Just because your vitals look good does not mean you feel great. I just said no.
Adam Pick You got this Fred! Our thoughts and prayers are with you!
Jill Boroniec Thinking of you Fred and sending you all the good vibes for tomorrow ♥️
Theresa Miller Best wishes to you Fred, it is almost over!
John Mohr Good luck Fred! The waiting is hard but you’ll be on your way home before you know it!
Claire Cobb It will soon be behind you and you will be well on your way to recovery. Wishing you well Fred!
Elyse Sherman Good luck, Fred! I had mine in January, am now feeling great and you will too! Soon this will be behi ... Read more
Elyse Sherman Good luck, Fred! I had mine in January, am now feeling great and you will too! Soon this will be behind you, as you join the rest of us on the recovery side!
One week from today I’ll have a mini-thoracotomy to replace my aortic valve. It’s been since October 2020 when it was confirmed it was time and I pot it ...Read more
One week from today I’ll have a mini-thoracotomy to replace my aortic valve. It’s been since October 2020 when it was confirmed it was time and I pot it off until now. I’m terribly exhausted. I can’t wait to be on the recovery side of surgery.
Cheryl Mann You’re almost there Fred! Hang in there. The waiting is the worst part.
Susan Lynn Fred - You're going to do just fine! As Cheryl said, waiting is definitely the worst part. We'll ... Read more
Susan Lynn Fred - You're going to do just fine! As Cheryl said, waiting is definitely the worst part. We'll be here awaiting your post-op good news! ❤
Patsy Stewart I’ve been wondering about you and noticed you were on the upcoming surgery list. Yay!! It will be o ... Read more
Patsy Stewart I’ve been wondering about you and noticed you were on the upcoming surgery list. Yay!! It will be over soon and you will be out of there and in recovery in no time.
Saw my general physician this week due to some sinus drainage, just wanting to make sure there was nothing more serious happening. He inquired about my valve ...Read more
Saw my general physician this week due to some sinus drainage, just wanting to make sure there was nothing more serious happening. He inquired about my valve surgery, then asked why I didn't consider another hospital. I replied that I had but hadn't been able to connect all the dots over a four-month period. I have him permission to make a call on my behalf, and poof...I have an appointment the very next day...Wednesday, April 28.
What we found was a huge sign of relief, and a big answer to prayer! I don't use that term lightly, I mean serious prayer has gone up on my behalf. In addition to an aortic valve that needs replacing, I also have lymphoma that is in my bones. This was bothering me as I didn't want to have a full open-heart surgery procedure for fear of aggravating the lymphoma.
What I found was strong reasoning and proof that I was an excellent candidate for the mini-thoracotomy (sp?) procedure, where they only make a 3-inch incision on the right side of my sternum...and it is directly over my aortic valve. It's still a tedius procedure, and time consuming, but it means I won't have to have the full open-heart procedure.
I asked hard questions, and got good answers to every one of them. I left knowing I was making a better decision for me and my family.
Has anyone had this procedure for AVR?
So...new schedule date is May 20.
Let's do this!
Fred
Gib Gerlach I had this same procedure for bicuspid aortic valve ion May 23 2017. A total of 5 days in the hospit ... Read more
Gib Gerlach I had this same procedure for bicuspid aortic valve ion May 23 2017. A total of 5 days in the hospital, no issues after the surgery and today if I take off my shirt and don’t tell you I had my aortic valve replaced, you could not tell you will do great. I encourage you to use the little breathing apparatus they give you right after surgery. I used it every hour and my lungs returned to normal function in a very short time.
Susan Lynn Fred - I had the mini-thoracotomy for my mitral valve repair. I had surgery on Friday and was releas ... Read more
Susan Lynn Fred - I had the mini-thoracotomy for my mitral valve repair. I had surgery on Friday and was released from the hospital by lunchtime on Monday. You'll do great! All the best! ❤
That is an answer to prayers. Good news, so glad you feel much more comfortable with this new hospita ... Read more
That is an answer to prayers. Good news, so glad you feel much more comfortable with this new hospital and procedure. You’ll do great Earl. God bless you
Please tell me about your voice.
I'm a classically trained vocalist, teacher, and voiceover artist. As you might imagine, I'm worried about voice damage due ...Read more
Please tell me about your voice.
I'm a classically trained vocalist, teacher, and voiceover artist. As you might imagine, I'm worried about voice damage due to the breathing tube down my throat.
What type of voice recovery should I expect?
Fred
Marie Myers It is as individual as your surgery. Most people are a little hoarse, or may experience a sore or s ... Read more
Marie Myers It is as individual as your surgery. Most people are a little hoarse, or may experience a sore or scratchy throat like I did for a couple days. Occasionally people have posted on here who have experienced more severe, lingering vocal issues. Be sure and speak to the anesthesiologist about your concerns.
Lynn Loudermilk Like Marie said all individual. I had no sore throat but I had no voulume in my speaking for about a ... Read more
Lynn Loudermilk Like Marie said all individual. I had no sore throat but I had no voulume in my speaking for about a week or so. Got better quickly.
Susan Lynn Fred - I would absolutely mention your profession to the anesthesiologist. I'm not a vocalist, but ... Read more
Susan Lynn Fred - I would absolutely mention your profession to the anesthesiologist. I'm not a vocalist, but I didn't have the slightest discomfort after surgery or my TEE. I'm sure they'll be especially careful for you.
You'll also want to ask if they support early extubation - that means the breathing tube is removed as soon as possible after surgery. Some surgeons actually do it in the OR. Obviously, they won't compromise your safety in the process. I made sure I reminded my anesthesiologist about my desire for minimal time with the breathing tube immediately before my surgery.
Be your own advocate. Communicate with your medical team. You'll be just fine! ❤
Cheryl Mann I agree w Susan - mention your concerns to the anesthesiologist. They do tell you to expect mild thr ... Read more
Cheryl Mann I agree w Susan - mention your concerns to the anesthesiologist. They do tell you to expect mild throat irritation/soreness, but I had absolutely zero throat pain. I had an intubation tube and a trans esophageal echo probe for my surgery (total surgery time approx 4 hours). I did, however, talk incessantly day of surgery (stress release w surgery being over, and the meds they gave me to wake up Included caffeine). So let you care team know that you want to protect your voice so they can remind/support you about voice rest after surgery too. Otherwise - if you respond euphorically like I did, you may be performing impromptu concerts in the ICU... I bet the nurses would love it.
I know this is scary now, but it will be ok soon.
Richard Munson The tube made me a little hoarse. Does that make me a pony?
Fred Earls I haven’t been able to sing for months so I’ll be ready to belt a tune or two...hopefully.
Richard I think a little horse might be a Shetland...
Joseph Heinzmann I was fortunate. Zero sensation of the tube post surgery. My surgeon has it removed in the OR if poss ... Read more
Joseph Heinzmann I was fortunate. Zero sensation of the tube post surgery. My surgeon has it removed in the OR if possible (and it was) but I don't know if that's the regular expectation of if he's an outlier.
Marie Myers Having put those tubes in , and removed them myself, I can say that it all depends on the surgery, ho ... Read more
Marie Myers Having put those tubes in , and removed them myself, I can say that it all depends on the surgery, how the surgery went, how long the case was, and how the patient is doing at the end of the case. Sometimes it is possible to extubate at the end of surgery, and sometimes it is not. If you are not extubated in surgery, you will go sedated to the Cardiovascular ICU. I was extubated about 3 hours after my surgery, but it seemed like minutes due to those delightful sedative drugs.
Patsy Stewart Fred, the breathing tube was what I dreaded the most. They had told me that I would still have it in ... Read more
Patsy Stewart Fred, the breathing tube was what I dreaded the most. They had told me that I would still have it in when I woke up and what to expect. I remember waking up with it, but my husband said that they gave me medicine to put me back out because I was too agitated. My next memory was when they took it out. It was nothing like they had told me, and I instantly went back to sleep. I did not have much throat irritation. My voice has actually been stronger since my surgery. Definitely mention your concerns to your surgeon and anesthesiologist. They might calm your fears, but they’ll also have to tell you the possibilities of what could happen. Try not to drown yourself in fear over this.
Richard Munson You will be singing up a storm before you know it. I’m thinking a little meatloaf, “2 out of 3 ai ... Read more
Richard Munson You will be singing up a storm before you know it. I’m thinking a little meatloaf, “2 out of 3 ain’t bad” .
I check in Monday, May 10 for surgery May 11. Optimistically...hospital stay of 3 - 5 days. I feel somewhat relieved now that plans are in place. Ready to feel ...Read more
I check in Monday, May 10 for surgery May 11. Optimistically...hospital stay of 3 - 5 days. I feel somewhat relieved now that plans are in place. Ready to feel better!
Lynn Loudermilk Fred, hi. I was in the hospital 4.5 days. It is true, waiting
is the hardest part.
Fred Earls 4.5 days...encouraging. I got in my mind 6 - 10...so imagine my relief when they told me 3 - 5 days! ... Read more
Fred Earls 4.5 days...encouraging. I got in my mind 6 - 10...so imagine my relief when they told me 3 - 5 days!
Errol J. Simonitsch Hi Fred, it may look like it’s a long time away,but think of it as an opportunity to get your honey ... Read more
Errol J. Simonitsch Hi Fred, it may look like it’s a long time away,but think of it as an opportunity to get your honey- do stuff done. Cause you will have to take it easy for a while.
Susan Lynn Fred - Sounds like you're ready to put this procedure in the rear view mirror! You're exactly in the ... Read more
Susan Lynn Fred - Sounds like you're ready to put this procedure in the rear view mirror! You're exactly in the right state of mind. Do what you can to relax until game day! It will all be over before you know it! You've got this!! ❤
Richard Munson My only comment. Don’t come home too soon. They were trying to get me home after 4 days to make roo ... Read more
Richard Munson My only comment. Don’t come home too soon. They were trying to get me home after 4 days to make room for a new patient and i knew i was not ready. Finally after 6 days i said ok. Only you know how you feel.
Fred Earls Hey folks. Many thanks for the comments. We are renting an Airbnb in Atlanta for 10 days so my family ... Read more
Fred Earls Hey folks. Many thanks for the comments. We are renting an Airbnb in Atlanta for 10 days so my family can be close while I’m in the hospital. Richard...thanks for that bit of info however I’ll be the one pushing to get out of the hospital. I tend to overdo thinks but my wife will be there to keep me from being over zealous.
Richard Munson Your Positive thinking is good. I had my surgery in january at the height of the covid scare. My wife ... Read more
Richard Munson Your Positive thinking is good. I had my surgery in january at the height of the covid scare. My wife pulled up in front of mass general in boston and kicked me out. On pickup day, same thing in reverse.
With my scheduled May 11 surgery for aortic valve replacement, I find myself getting anxious. I think it's the fear of the unknown that is really bothering ...Read more
With my scheduled May 11 surgery for aortic valve replacement, I find myself getting anxious. I think it's the fear of the unknown that is really bothering me. Fortunately for me, I don't have to worry about missing work as I teach college but don't have summer teaching duties and still get a paycheck. I have three months to recuperate before I have to go back to the classroom, both in-person and online.
I appreciate reading how many others here handled their pre-surgery anxiousness.
Lynn Loudermilk Hi Fred. Anxious is normal. I dealt with it by learning all I could, watching youtube videos and fi ... Read more
Lynn Loudermilk Hi Fred. Anxious is normal. I dealt with it by learning all I could, watching youtube videos and finding things on youtube that intrest me other than my normal intests. About a week before surgery I stopped watching the aortic valve youtube stuff and just tried to do stuff with hubby. He was a great help with that and always positive that I would do great. I don't work, fibromyalgia, oa, etc going on so I didn't have to worry about going back to work, just getting back into working around the house and taking care of our Golden Retriever Addy. I started rehab Friday so yes driving now, still have a weight limit for lifting, pushing and pulling for a few more weeks. You will do great, think positive, relax and "go with the flow".
Marie Myers I listened to calming U Tube videos, did yoga and meditation to help calm my nerves. I also took the ... Read more
Marie Myers I listened to calming U Tube videos, did yoga and meditation to help calm my nerves. I also took the 2 weeks before surgery off work to totally focus on myself. Getting a massage for me was a wonderful way to relax. Distraction with routine household tasks and pet care helped pass the time. My sleeping was so bad that I did ask for alprazolam .25 mg, which helped me sleep much better. I have to say that the whole experience was not as bad/ painful/ scary as my worrying mind had made it out to be. Wishing you a smooth journey through surgery and recovery!
David Smith Due to the size of my ascending aorta aneurysm (6.2 cm), and the rate of growth, I only had 9 days to ... Read more
David Smith Due to the size of my ascending aorta aneurysm (6.2 cm), and the rate of growth, I only had 9 days to prepare. My symptoms of shortness of breath outweighed the anxiety and I couldn’t get it done fast enough. I worked as long as I could but 3 days of testing pre op at the hospital kept me busy. I met my surgeon the day before op. Did chores. Helped my wife get prepared. (She was more worried than I). Stay busy and stay positive!
Jim Archer Hello Fred, a week before the surgery I learned that the ascending aorta was at 6.9 cm, then after re ... Read more
Jim Archer Hello Fred, a week before the surgery I learned that the ascending aorta was at 6.9 cm, then after reading some medical literature, it became apparent that the surgery is life saving. On a Tuesday was the angiogram, then the following Thursday was the procedure, and they did not let me leave the hospital. A bit of Faith and knowledge that the surgery was critical to living, led to acceptance of the fate. Many of the answers to your anxiety are found on this site. Even though the procedure was long and difficult, my health is much better than a year ago.
Fred Earls One thing I've thought about, and several of you mentioned the quickness of your surgery. I purposely ... Read more
Fred Earls One thing I've thought about, and several of you mentioned the quickness of your surgery. I purposely chose to wait after the surgeon gave me the "ok". I could have chosen to have the survey in the middle of a college semester, but new that would create another set of problems. By choosing to wait, I've given myself plenty of time to consider the "what ifs". I'm an over-planner, so I've fallen back into my research mode. Ultimately, I think this is part of what is creating my anxiousness.
Thanks for the replies here. I am truly a man of faith! I am Mr. Optimistic, as my wife says. Now, I'm ready to be in the recovery phase of this procedure.
Fred
David Smith Bourbon helped as well with the anxiety. 😊
Fred Earls David Smith...I'm not opposed to a sip here and there if it will help.
Joseph Heinzmann Fred, I'm reposting this from another person who asked so if you've already read it, sorry for the du ... Read more
Joseph Heinzmann Fred, I'm reposting this from another person who asked so if you've already read it, sorry for the duplicate:
Do you have favorite movies? I'm a movie lover and I watched a number of movies leading up to my surgery. Stuff that I had seen before and that I really liked so if I drifted away, it was easy to get back into it without losing the plot. It's easy to get distracted leading up to surgery so stuff that doesn't diminish with distraction is what may work best. (I watched all my favorite Wes Anderson movies and my favorite old films.) Also, carbs. Eat. Leading up to surgery you don't want to be reducing your available energy and I think it's common for anxiety to affect appetite, which will lower your energy and concentration. Whatever your favorite foods are, enjoy it.
If you pray, pray. St. Pio said it best: Pray, hope, and don't worry. I went to Mass, spoke to my priest, and prayed with him. It helped. And don't be shy if you've been away and want to come back. Clergy doesn't care if you're lapsed and coming back with an issue. They are there to help unconditionally. We are praying for you, too.
Finally, trust. You're having a surgery that has a near 100% success rate. What is a miracle and a mystery to us is just another day at work for the surgeons and OR staff. They know what they're doing probably better or as well as we know what we do best.
Favorite movies...WWII movies, probably not the best way to calm my nerves. Maybe so since I know how that story ends.
I keep reminding myself of the success rates of this surgery. I knew I'd face anxiousness, but thought my "Mr. positive" would shake them off...not quite as easy as I thought.
Thanks for the kind words.
John Mohr As Tom Petty said, the waiting is the hardest part. I had a few month wait and it was really hard. Mu ... Read more
John Mohr As Tom Petty said, the waiting is the hardest part. I had a few month wait and it was really hard. Music helped me relax and I was busy at work which in a way helped too. Hang in there!
steve godbey Fred, I was out of the hospital in three and one half days, I had my aorta replaced At Cedars Sinai, ... Read more
steve godbey Fred, I was out of the hospital in three and one half days, I had my aorta replaced At Cedars Sinai, everything went smooth and Adams book made all of the difference, I read it twice. Good luck you will be fine.
Hello...I'm Fred Earls. I have a genetic defect where I have a bicuspid aortic valve. I also have lymphoma in my bones.
Does anyone know of a physician who ...Read more
Hello...I'm Fred Earls. I have a genetic defect where I have a bicuspid aortic valve. I also have lymphoma in my bones.
Does anyone know of a physician who will or has performed TAVR on a patient like me?
Thanks
Fred
Marie Myers A friend of mine had TAVR at age 97 for aortic stenosis, and lived to 101. TAVR relieved her shortnes ... Read more
Marie Myers A friend of mine had TAVR at age 97 for aortic stenosis, and lived to 101. TAVR relieved her shortness of breath and chest pain immediately. She had several other medical problems , including a renal tumor, longstanding anemia, and chronic back pain requiring narcotic pain management. So all in all, she thought it was a good decision for her.
Fred Earls Thanks Marie, I have found I am not a candidate for TAVR...for a couple of reasons. I will have stand ... Read more
Fred Earls Thanks Marie, I have found I am not a candidate for TAVR...for a couple of reasons. I will have standard OH surgery in May for aortic valve replacement.