Rob Elwood - Heart Valve Journal

My Journal

Rob Elwoodposted an update

327 days ago

Hair color and Tanning? Anyone else?
Post surgery, I have way less Gray Hair, and my brown is replacing it. Has anyone else experienced this? I still have ...Read more

Hair color and Tanning? Anyone else?
Post surgery, I have way less Gray Hair, and my brown is replacing it. Has anyone else experienced this? I still have a lot of Gray, but much less. Also, I am in the sun quite a bit, and have noticed that I actually tan and keep it a good while. Previously I sunburned and then faded from red back to pale.

Sue Maize What?! That’s amazing! I want new pigment for my pale Irish skin and thicker hair…so far the gray ... Read more

Sue Maize What?! That’s amazing! I want new pigment for my pale Irish skin and thicker hair…so far the gray has held off! Who knew?? 😄

Wow! Sounds great!

Rob Elwoodposted a journal

405 days ago

Isabella Heart, Yumiko Ishida, Ed Miskovic and 1 other reacted to this

I am now 11 days post-surgery and I almost can't believe how good I feel. I never knew breathing for everyone else was this easy. I was born with a Bicuspid ...Read more

I am now 11 days post-surgery and I almost can't believe how good I feel. I never knew breathing for everyone else was this easy. I was born with a Bicuspid valve which turned into asymptomatic Severe Aortic Stenosis and a distended Aortic Root.

I still have pain and muscle cramps from the surgery, but those are usually short lived, like a few minutes. I walk, cook, play with my dogs, and have grown closer to my wife and children through this process.

MY biggest suggestion to anyone going through open heart surgery is: HAVE SOMEONE WITH YOU 24hrs A Day!

My wife slept on the couch in my room and took care of everything that I could not for the first few days post op, which meant literally having to feed me, dress me, walk to the bathroom, etc.

Beckie Jess Good to know! I have quadricuspid, and my surgery is on 2/15! Looking forward to feeling as good as y ... Read more

Beckie Jess Good to know! I have quadricuspid, and my surgery is on 2/15! Looking forward to feeling as good as you do!

Rob Elwood Thank you. Best of luck to you and I wish a speedy recovery. You got this!

Isabella Heart I have exactly the same diagnosis, so it's wonderful to hear that you are feeling good so soon after ... Read more

Isabella Heart I have exactly the same diagnosis, so it's wonderful to hear that you are feeling good so soon after the surgery❤️

Andrea Babcock Happy for you that you are feeling so well already. Best Wishes. My husbands surgery is on 2/7.

Valerie Allen This is so fantastic that you are feeling this great!

Rose Madura Wonderful news! And great advice. I may not be here if my husband was not with me after my surgery. ... Read more

Rose Madura Wonderful news! And great advice. I may not be here if my husband was not with me after my surgery.

Thomas Sperounis Thank you for the update. Nice to see all the positive stories

Kathy Ozio Wonderful!!

Barbara deLoache Excellent progress!!

Valerie Allen I have to ask, Rob. To what do you owe such a successful recovery?

Rob Elwood Valerie, I am now in my 4th week and almost normal. I attribute it doing exactly as instructed. Lots ... Read more

Rob Elwood Valerie, I am now in my 4th week and almost normal. I attribute it doing exactly as instructed. Lots fof rest, not lifting anything, and I have strong support from my wife.

Rob Elwoodposted a journal

412 days ago

Susan Lynn, Andrew Dial, c w reacted to this

I am 5 days post open heart surgery. For me, it has been a difficult recovery due to extreme pain. Thankfully my wife has stayed with me 24 hours a day, I have ...Read more

I am 5 days post open heart surgery. For me, it has been a difficult recovery due to extreme pain. Thankfully my wife has stayed with me 24 hours a day, I have and will need the assistance. My insight to anyone with pending open heart surgery is to make sure to have a solid support person or network. I don’t believe I could have made it through without her help.
I’m happy to answer any questions about the procedure and initial recovery

Susan Lynn Rob - I am so sorry to read that you're in extreme pain. While most procedures involve some level ... Read more

Susan Lynn Rob - I am so sorry to read that you're in extreme pain. While most procedures involve some level of discomfort, pain management is generally very good and makes the process tolerable. Please speak to your nurses and make sure they understand what you're feeling. You shouldn't be suffering.

I do agree that having a support person or network is a tremendous advantage in getting through surgery and recovery. I don't know what I would've done without my husband and sister.

Wishing you all the best. Better days are ahead.

Rose Madura One of the best pieces of advice I received was to stay ahead of the pain. I totally agree with Susa ... Read more

Rose Madura One of the best pieces of advice I received was to stay ahead of the pain. I totally agree with Susan. God bless you. Hope you feel better soon and please keep us updated.

Rob Elwood Thank You so much for your comments. I am lucky that my wife is a strong advocate. The nurses and ane ... Read more

Rob Elwood Thank You so much for your comments. I am lucky that my wife is a strong advocate. The nurses and anesthesiologist jumped on the pain and have stayed ahead of it mostly. Turns out a chest tube is causing the pain due to possibly suctioning against something internal. Everything else has been a great experience

Allen Carkner Chest tubes were the most painful part of my open heart experience. Sorry the pain has been extreme. ... Read more

Allen Carkner Chest tubes were the most painful part of my open heart experience. Sorry the pain has been extreme. Wish you the best and hope for a quick recovery.

Rob Elwoodposted an update

418 days ago

Has anyone had a last minute insurance approval for surgery?

I am scheduled for Open Heart BAV and Aortic Root replacement this coming Thursday, Jan ...Read more

Has anyone had a last minute insurance approval for surgery?

I am scheduled for Open Heart BAV and Aortic Root replacement this coming Thursday, Jan 25. Insurance has yet to approve the procedure. I'm optimisitic they will approve it by end of the day tomorrow......but what if? Just reschedule?

Maggie Ma Do we need insurance approval before surgery?

Richard Munson I always thought the hospital did that.

Marie Myers Unless you want to pay for it yourself, it is always good to know that your insurance will cover it. ... Read more

Marie Myers Unless you want to pay for it yourself, it is always good to know that your insurance will cover it. Surgery would have to be rescheduled if the payment is denied. Surgery can be rescheduled when payment for the procedure is approved. Not a perfect system, but it is our system…

Richard Munson Not sure a perfect system exists. Not sure a perfect anything exists. Me being the possible exception ... Read more

Richard Munson Not sure a perfect system exists. Not sure a perfect anything exists. Me being the possible exception. No doubt nancy would disagree but she will never see this.

Rob Elwoodposted an update

425 days ago

New here. Pending Aortic Valve Bio replacement and replacing aortic root. My goal is to be up and running within 6 weeks! Any input, advice or relatable experiences? ...Read more

New here. Pending Aortic Valve Bio replacement and replacing aortic root. My goal is to be up and running within 6 weeks! Any input, advice or relatable experiences? Thank you!

Paul Lebel I've learned that everyone's recovery is unique. Mine is taking longer (at 7 weeks) than I expected. ... Read more

Paul Lebel I've learned that everyone's recovery is unique. Mine is taking longer (at 7 weeks) than I expected. Minimally invasive was supposed to be a cake walk. I had to go back for fluid buildup (4more days). Then the vertigo started which is still dragging me down.
Hopefully you'll be one with the cake walk lol. Good luck.

Rose Madura Rob, welcome. I'm not sure what you mean by up and running. I doubt you'll be at 100% that soon but e ... Read more

Rose Madura Rob, welcome. I'm not sure what you mean by up and running. I doubt you'll be at 100% that soon but everyone is different. My advice is to not compare yourself to others and follow doctors orders. In recovery, you want to be the tortoise 🐢 and not the hare.

Marie Myers I would say to hold off hard-and-fast goals. I was lucky to have an uncomplicated surgery and recover ... Read more

Marie Myers I would say to hold off hard-and-fast goals. I was lucky to have an uncomplicated surgery and recovery, and felt well enough to go back to work part time in 8 weeks. But everyone is different, and each surgery is different. I wouldn’t push myself too hard, because heart surgery is a tremendous insult to the body, and there is a lot of healing, both mental and physical) that needs to happen. That being said, I hope you sail right through it!!

Rob Elwood Thank you guys for your input. I am doing open heart surgery in 2 weeks in Florida. It's nice hearing ... Read more

Rob Elwood Thank you guys for your input. I am doing open heart surgery in 2 weeks in Florida. It's nice hearing from others that have gone through this. Thank you so much.

Rita Savelis Rob, Give your post surgery body time to heal. It may take longer or shorter than you expect. Every b ... Read more

Rita Savelis Rob, Give your post surgery body time to heal. It may take longer or shorter than you expect. Every body is different, every surgery is different. No one can tell how much time your body will need. It's not a competition or a race. You can set small goals after your surgery. And if you don't meet them, don't beat yourself up. You may be up and running at 6 weeks, and then feel tired again at 7 weeks. Or not. I was exhausted after surgery. And slowly got my energy back. But not in 6 weeks. Take care.