Jan Findlay - Heart Valve Journal

My Journal

162 days ago

Hi all, Long time for not posting from me. Hope everyone is going well & staying fit & positive..
I'm 7mths out from a gruelling surgery but okay.
I've just... Read more

Hi all, Long time for not posting from me. Hope everyone is going well & staying fit & positive..
I'm 7mths out from a gruelling surgery but okay.
I've just been fitted with a 'Heart Bug' monitor to find out if/when my heart is in Atrial fibrilation/flutter. Another new experience & it doesn't seem to be working properly.
Has anyone else worn a HeartBug & how did it go?
Look after yourselves.
Jan

Suelynn Hanegraaf Hi Jan! I am sorry to hear that you are not feeling well. I am currently wearing a Phillips Holter mo ... Read more

Suelynn Hanegraaf Hi Jan! I am sorry to hear that you are not feeling well. I am currently wearing a Phillips Holter monitor for 30 days to check on whether I am having a-fib episodes. (Acquired a-fib 4 days after my April 2024 aortic valve redo surgery.) Not sure if your “Heart Bug” is the same as the Holter monitor. Are you on any medications? Amiodarone was causing me to experience a lot of side effects.

Jan Findlay Hi Suelynn
This a-fib thing is really concerning ..... I wasn't really ready for it. It sounds like y... Read more

Jan Findlay Hi Suelynn
This a-fib thing is really concerning ..... I wasn't really ready for it. It sounds like you're in the same situation.
I'm on apixoban as a precaution & want to go off prescribed medication completely, hence the HeartBug monitor - which is working better now, but getting very itchy.
I think a HeartBug is similar to what you're wearing .... same purpose anyway.
I'll be back later to see how you're going.

Suelynn Hanegraaf So get the itchiness from the lead adhesives. My cardiologist decided to end my original 30-day monit ... Read more

Suelynn Hanegraaf So get the itchiness from the lead adhesives. My cardiologist decided to end my original 30-day monitoring at Day 21. He didn’t want my skin to get infected from the many blisters/hives that were forming underneath. Funny thing is that the skin irritation and rash was from using the hypoallergenic leads! I am on Eliquis (blood thinner) and hope that my monitor report will give my cardiologist the confidence to stop it. Appt is early August. I am very sensitive to meds, etc., and like you, my goal is no meds (if my dr agrees).

Jan Findlay Yes, same Suelynn. I'm on Eliquis too - that's one of the brand names for the apixaban drug. I was... Read more

Jan Findlay Yes, same Suelynn. I'm on Eliquis too - that's one of the brand names for the apixaban drug. I was on 'Bicor' (bisoprolol fumarate) too, a beta blocker to reduce heart rate. But I stopped that because in getting back to new 'normal' my heart rate was too low!
And yes, I hope the data from your monitoring means your prescribed medication is no longer necessary. Good luck for your next appt. Take care.

Suelynn Hanegraaf Keep in touch!

Jan Findlayposted a journal

441 days ago

William Cockrell, Kimberly Eisenhut, Valerie Allen reacted to this

I have a date for the re-operation to replace my aged allograft aortic valve and aortic root. I'm booked in for 29-November-2023. This will be my second... Read more

I have a date for the re-operation to replace my aged allograft aortic valve and aortic root. I'm booked in for 29-November-2023. This will be my second SAVR. The plan is for the diseased tissue to be replaced by an INSPIRIS RESILIA bio aortic valve and woven Dacron polyester tube graft. It does sound complicated and I'm a bit scared but I want to be around a bit longer for my 20 year old son. He's turning into a really lovely young adult and I'm going to be strong for him!!
I hope everyone else is doing well, asking lots of questions and thriving.
Jazzy Jan from Brisbane

Marie Myers I am sorry to hear you will need a reoperation, but it is always a possibility when we have tissue va ... Read more

Marie Myers I am sorry to hear you will need a reoperation, but it is always a possibility when we have tissue valves or allografts. I am 6 years into my bovine tissue valve (and Dacron ascending aorta / aortic root,) and we just never know how long they will last. You have some good motivation to stick around to enjoy your son, and i pray that everything goes well for you in November.

Jill Porter Yes! You need to me here for your son. I have a mitral valve repair in late August. Recovery has been ... Read more

Jill Porter Yes! You need to me here for your son. I have a mitral valve repair in late August. Recovery has been a bumpy road for me but I have 2 daughters and 2 grand babies and I want to be around as long as possible. Whatever it takes. Prayers for a smooth journey for you.

DeWayne Adamson They will probably use an Edwards Konnect conduit with Resilia valve already sewn in. This can accept ... Read more

DeWayne Adamson They will probably use an Edwards Konnect conduit with Resilia valve already sewn in. This can accept a TVAR down the road if the surgeon plans for it. (moving coronary buttons higher) The hope would be that by the time you need a TVAR the technology will be such that they last a lot longer than they do now. Best of luck to you! My surgery is on Nov. 15th.

Valerie Allen DeWayne Adamson, is that valve the one they expect to use on you in Nov? My consult is coming up, wil ... Read more

Valerie Allen DeWayne Adamson, is that valve the one they expect to use on you in Nov? My consult is coming up, will be in Cleveland this week.

DeWayne Adamson Its the fallback if they cant reuse my own. Doc will take a look and if it appears he can fix my own ... Read more

DeWayne Adamson Its the fallback if they cant reuse my own. Doc will take a look and if it appears he can fix my own valve and make it last at least as long as a bio he will rehang mine in the dacron. If not, then the Edwards Konnect. I have a lot of confidence in Dr. Roselli.

Grace Mason Jan, Heart surgery has advanced so much in recent years even since you had your initial surgery. I wa ... Read more

Grace Mason Jan, Heart surgery has advanced so much in recent years even since you had your initial surgery. I was definitely scared when I learned I needed my surgery. The surgeries we have do sound/are complicated but what I kept in my mind before mine was, this is what my surgeon does regularly. This is his "another day in the office". My trust in him and knowing so many people were sending prayers and wishing me well helped me to approach it, in the moments before, with a calmness I never imagined I would feel.I will be sending my prayers to lift you up during your surgery.🙏 I also have 2 sons about your son's age ❤️

Jan Findlay Thankyou all so much, I really appreciate your kind comments & feedback.

I'm having an unexpected... Read more

Jan Findlay Thankyou all so much, I really appreciate your kind comments & feedback.

I'm having an unexpected down day - just found out my first CT-CA scan wasn't comprehensive enough for the surgeon (CT-TAVI required). I'm not into unnecessary diagnostic procedures. At this stage I encourage everyone to keep asking WHY, & all the niggly questions??? I didn't ask 'why' enough on this occasion & I have a not so rational aversion to X-rays & the like! And yes, I will battle on for my lovely son. Good to be reminded.

I also want to share my opinion on how precious the heart-valve-surgery story & info sharing platform is - it really is sanity saving at certain stages of our journeys. Stay thriving everyone.

Jennifer Fuller Hey, Jan! On the other side of the world I’m having a bicuspid valve replaced tomorrow! I also have ... Read more

Jennifer Fuller Hey, Jan! On the other side of the world I’m having a bicuspid valve replaced tomorrow! I also have a 20 year old son.
Has your son been screened for heart defects? Mine has an appointment next month. Hoping he’s all good, but knowledge is power!
You’ve done this surgery before and seem to be thriving. Your going to do it again!

Joseph Horowitz Good luck…wishing you a smooth surgery and easy recovery

Jan Findlayposted a journal

458 days ago

Hi all
I'm curious if anyone else has had initial allograft/homograft aortic valve surgery with the same re-surgery, and how that has gone? And more... Read more

Hi all
I'm curious if anyone else has had initial allograft/homograft aortic valve surgery with the same re-surgery, and how that has gone? And more specifically if the aortic valve root was again replaced - as it seems that this gives the very best functional results.
Kind regards
Jazzy Jan from Brisbane

Cathleen Weed Hi Jan,
That procedure is seldom performed in the USA anymore due to the complexity of the operati ... Read more

Cathleen Weed Hi Jan,
That procedure is seldom performed in the USA anymore due to the complexity of the operation and the rapid failure of the aortic homograft itself. It's incredible yours has lasted so long. My homograft only lasted from 1991-1994. I had a Ross Procedure at the follow-up surgery (1994). Bioprosthetic tissue valves and the Ross Procedure are a more common re-operation for replacing homograft valves. Are they still suggesting the homograft again in Australia?

Jan Findlay Thanks for your feedback Cathleen. No they are not suggesting the homograft - I'm having some inves... Read more

Jan Findlay Thanks for your feedback Cathleen. No they are not suggesting the homograft - I'm having some investigations completed before a surgeon referral. I'll need surgery soon and am just doing as much research as possible to go in with relevant questions, options and knowing what I don't want. It's challenging to stay positive but I really want quality of life. I hope you're doing well now.

Cathleen Weed

I chose the bovine bioprosthetic for quality of life reasons and I've never once regretted it

. I'... Read more

Cathleen Weed

I chose the bovine bioprosthetic for quality of life reasons and I've never once regretted it

. I'll be looking forward to hearing what you decide

Jan Findlay I'm going to self respond to my general query above, for anyone else who has the same query. Althou... Read more

Jan Findlay I'm going to self respond to my general query above, for anyone else who has the same query. Although the aortic valve and route allograft was right for me 25 years ago, it is not the right procedure now, i.e. complicated to remove diseased calcified allograft, re-attachment of coronary arteries problematic, makes any future re-operation more challenging and TAVR would not be an option etc. I'm still going for a bio valve replacement but this time it will be cow valve plus woven Dacron aortic graft. It is designed for future TAVR - that's the plan.
Stay thriving all.

Cathleen Weed Good choice!

Jan Findlayposted a journal

460 days ago

Hi

I have a 24 year old aortic valve allograft that is finally wearing out. I'm having a few additional investigative tests completed and then I will be... Read more

Hi

I have a 24 year old aortic valve allograft that is finally wearing out. I'm having a few additional investigative tests completed and then I will be referred to a surgeon for my second replacement surgery. I guess I'm in early stages of heart failure, e.g. heart slightly enlarged as it is working a bit harder to make up for failing valve, and some fluid retention (a diuretic is helping with this symptom for now.

I'm still trying to make the most of every day, having just returned home last night from a week long (fly/drive) trip with some girl friends to Coober Pedy. It was really awesome. I was thinking of not going but I'm glad I did and had a great time. It just meant I didn't have too much alcohol to drink and wasn't as active as I would normally have been.

I'm concerned about going through another surgery but just want it over so my heart is healthy again.

Stay positive and having fun everyone.

Jazzy Jan from Brisbane

Jan Findlay Hi again all

I'm curious if anyone else has had initial allograft/homograft aortic valve surgery with... Read more

Jan Findlay Hi again all

I'm curious if anyone else has had initial allograft/homograft aortic valve surgery with the same re-surgery, and how that has gone? And more specifically if the aortic valve root was again replaced - as it seems that this gives the very best functional results.

Regards
Jazzy Jan from Brisbane