Lisa's Journal

Elyse Sherman  Hi, Lisa! I’m so glad your procedure went well and that you’re on the mend! Lots of good luck to you ❤️
My surgery for AVR is next month and I agree, I am so thankful to the outpouring of education and support from this site and to Adam for pulling is all together!

Jeniver Piatt  Hi there Lisa - i just had my valve replacement done July 21st. i had the same thing with the swollen belly. i thought it was going to stay forever!!! my bellybutton and everything looked strange. but, good news... it does go away in time. your body will absorb the extra fluid. just took longer than i thought. hope this helps.

Rita Savelis  Retaining fluid is completely normal. Your heart went through a lot and was unable to work as well for awhile after surgery, so fluid backed up. Everyone has it. I am very skinny and had a fat tire around my waist. Usually one is given diuretic pills which make you pee and lose the water. It can take some time for your body to absorb it. And not getting winded takes time as well. I have to admit that stairs still make me breathless years later. Take care.

Susan Lynn  Congratulations, Lisa! So happy surgery is behind you. It's very common to gain some weight as others have mentioned - it may take awhile. Patience goes a long way in the recovery process. You will notice progress every week. Wishing you continued success! ❤

Phyllis Petersen  Glad to hear things went well. My face looked like a water balloon after surgery! Water weight after valve surgery is pretty much the norm. Be patient with yourself and before you know it you'll be better than before.

  Lisa, you made it! Easy does it, keep walking, slowly. You will loose the extra pounds, I did. Just be patient with yourself. So glad you are doing great. Peace and love and recovery to you this blessed season and always

Mike Dotson  The potential for loud and constant ticking is a concern of mine also (heck, at this stage everything is a concern). I’m glad to see that you are doing well and the ticking hasn’t been an issue for you.

Lisa Bolinger  Thank you everyone for the well wishes and sharing your experiences! Today marks week three and I am happy to share that Rita, Ana, Jennifer and Phyllis were right, my swelling and added weight is starting to melt off. 7 of the 10 pounds I gained in the Hospital are gone.. I feel almost recognizable:). I wonder if this happens primarily to women? Either way, it was something I was not prepared for and I am so thankful for you all sharing and letting me know that it is quite normal. I swear I looked six months pregnant... lol. It was a little shocking I am small framed. Everyday gets better and better and I am truly thankful for my health and this Community! I hope everyone has a wonderful Holiday!!

Rose Madura  I was 59 and on the fence but after discussing with surgeon and my brother (who is a doctor), I went with a tissue valve. Main reason was blood thinners. But....it is a VERY personal decision. I'd do your due diligence of research and maybe get a second opinion.

Carlos Banuelos  Tough call. At 44 when I had my AVR it was a difficult decision but I went with the on-x mechanical valve. All has been good since - I eat and drink whatever I want, surf, volleyball, gym, etc., with no issues. I do hear the ticking and I do home INR monitoring, which has been pretty easy. That said, if I had been your age, I would have strongly considered the Inspiris tissue valve which should get you at least 12-15 years then a subsequent TAVR for another 15-20, with no blood thinners hopefully. I say hopefully bc I know several folks who opted for tissue valves bc of their concerns about blood thinners but ended up being required by their doctors to be on them anyhow. Having just went through this 1.5 years ago, I empathize with the tough decision you have to make. My father and several friends are doctors so they were a great resource in helping me make my decision. I would try to talk to other experts/surgeons and get their opinions. Either way, I’m sure you will do great. Best of luck.

Marie Myers  I was 63 when I had to choose, and it was the hardest decision for me. I initially thought I would go with the Onyx valve, but ultimately , I chose the tissue valve. I hope I don’t wear it out prematurely. The younger you are, the quicker the tissue valve may need replacement. It is a tough decision.

Rita Savelis  Almost everyone struggles with this decision and it's hard to make because there is no right answer. Whatever you choose you'll never know how it might have been. I used to wish I had been 80 when I had surgery so that I could have tissue and not worry about all the years ahead of me. Every patient is different. I've had 2 mechanical valves (aortic and mitral) for the past 5 years since I was 53. The ticking noise is something I really only hear when it's very quiet. I used to put a pillow over my chest so that I wouldn't hear it when it was quiet and I was on the sofa reading. But it's the least of my problems.
I have to have a high level of INR because of my 2 valve replacements (especially mitral). Taking anticoagulants takes some getting used to and then it becomes what you do. Like anything new. The initial adjustment to taking anticoagulants can take weeks/months until your INR gets where it needs to be and more stable. It's a pain, and then you get used to it. I still eat everything I want to. I was freaked about anticoagulants for awhile and now they are just a pill I take. Because my heart valve stenosis was radiation induced (from radiation for cancer I had as a teenager) having more than one surgery was not a good option for me.
Whatever decision you make is a good decision for you. Everyone has their story. It's very personal. Other patients can tell you about their experiences but there are downsides to both kinds of valves, alas. Otherwise the decision would be easy for everyone! I wish you peace with whatever you choose. It's nice to have a doctor you can trust.

Pat Bluemel  I did bovine at 42 years old and it failed this year. I'm now ON-X since August. Looking back I would have done mechanical from the get go.

Bob Fessler  With the TAVR available as a replacement or two, the tissue valve looks better and better for someone in their 50's. Tough choice to make. I would hate the blood thinners and ticking so for me the choice would be easy.

Lisa Hostetter  Hi Lisa! I am 55 and had surgery the end of October. I got a tissue valve, the Edwards INSPIRIS Resilia aortic valve. I did not want the mechanical valve and have to take blood thinner the rest of my life. If and when it needs replaced if can be done with the TAVR. I did some research on it and it seemed like a good choice for me.

Lisa Bolinger  Thanks everyone, I appreciate your feedback! I asked my surgeon ( actually his nurse) about the INSPIRIS Resilia, apparently they do not have that. That certainly sound like an appealing option..... The mechanical valve they use is the St. Jude. does anyone have that valve or does anyone know of it?

Travis Ederer  Lisa, have you considered the Ross Procedure? It may require a change of surgeons to find someone who has the appropriate experience. Adam just recently had a patient webinar about it, and it has led me down that path. Otherwise, I have the Inspiris Resilia down as my valve of choice in order to avoid blood thinners and the incessant clicking. I am very active and work as a firefighter so blood thinners are an issue.

Lisa Bolinger  Hi Travis, I have considered it, and probably would have chosen it had my aneurysm not been as dilated as it is . I need surgery ASAP. Unfortunately, My surgeon does not use the Inspiris Resilia I inquired :(. I certainly have my concerns with the clicking and the blood thinners, as I am vegan and sometimes Coumadin and foods rich in vitamin K don't jive. I am about to find out.....Showtime is 7 am tomorrow!!

Joey Hardee  Prayers for you, Lisa. I have been away from the site but I am 56 and had a Bentall procedure with the Edwards Inspiris Resilia tissue valve in June of last year, My surgeon told me I could have whatever I wanted, it was my heart. He knew I had done my research and supported my choice. If I had gone mechanical, it would have been the OnX. I haven't heard anything negative about the St Jude valve. If your surgeon has used it and is comfortable with it and has good outcomes, then you are likely to do very well. Its a very difficult decision but its difficult because there are several very good options. In my case, I chose a bio-prosthetic to avoid blood thinners and not hear ticking. The price I will pay for that is a second operation when I'm +/- 70 or a procedure to get a TAVR, You will likely never have another surgery with a mechanical valve. You will be in my thoughts and prayers. Please update when you can.