Grizzard was born with a malfunctioning heart valve. He later had one made from a pig installed. And he never failed to find humor in it.
Posted on 05/11/2024 12:28:02 AM PDT by eastforker
Just wanted to touch base with anyone that has had open heart surgery and what I can expect post surgery. I understand they want to replace my aortic valve, have had a heart murmur for many years and I guess it has gotten worse. Bless the VA because there is no way I could afford this any other way.
I think I am more scared of the post op then I am of the actual operation.
I read your post and thought I was reading my own post, I’m due to have heart surgery in the next 2 weeks, I’m having my aortic valve replaced as well.
I’m 64 years old, when I was about 50 I developed an ear infection, I went to a walk-in clinic and the doctor asked me if I knew I had a heart murmur, which was a shock to me, after a couple of visits to a cardiologist, I was told I had a bicuspid aortic valve that I was born with.
In the last 2 months the valve is now ready to be replaced, the only thing left to decide is when the surgery will take place.
The one major exception is instead of open heart surgery, the procedure they are using on me is called Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) for short, this procedure goes thru the main Artery in your groin and take about 1 hour to replace the valve and baring complications only requires a 1 day stay in the hospital.
I don’t envy you having open heart surgery, it’s been around for a long time, the procedure is safe, it just takes a longer recovery period, but the results should be you live a long healthy life afterwards.
Triple by pass from the VA. You will be out of commission for about two months so your ribs can heal a little.
Yep when I met the surgeon this morning, after all the other test I had been through, he put his stethoscope to my chest for about 5 seconds and he said , yup, that needs replaced. I was shocked he could tell that quick. Then he said we need to do this now, not wait till christmas, My blood pressure has been high, he said we need to do this now.
I understand it is painful, not to be rude or anything but, how did you wipe after the BR visit.
I had my operation in 2017. It was successful. I’m better than new.
Good luck!
When you came home, how did you “operate yourself” did you have someone to help you?
Grizzard was born with a malfunctioning heart valve. He later had one made from a pig installed. And he never failed to find humor in it.
Open chest mitral valve repair 2017 , aged 55.
Went without a hitch. Very efficient, had the process down pat.
Checked in hospital 0530 Monday, they kicked me out @ 1300 Wed.
First three / four weeks weeks suck. You have to be very careful to let your ribcage knit back together and begin to heal. You cough alot and it’s very uncomfortable. But you get through it.
Not a pleasant experience, but for me, it wasn’t near as bad as I imagined it would be.
Good luck! Let me know if you have any specific questions.
Diet comes to mind, don’t need any stressful times on the stool straining and you know what I mean. I am sure the va will give me guidance on that.
This will be at the Nashville Vanderbilt campus, I think I will be in good hands, Several years ago they also did my prostatectomy and they did an outstanding job eradicating that cancer.
Don’t recall any special diet restrictions.
You’ll be flat on your back for a few days. You can’t really move around in bed because you can’t lift yourself with your elbows. You’re not gonna wanna eat much for a while, so there won’t be much to worry about in the poopage department.
My wife babied me for a while. After about two weeks, that stopped. Daily walks were important for recuperation. After six weeks I was able to gig.
It took maybe three months to be back to 100%.
I assume you have had an Echocardiogram, from that test they can tell you that surgery is needed, from my understanding it’s based on the stenosis of your aortic valve.
From my understanding, the stenosis is measured as mild, medium and severe, I had two echocardiograms, both showed I had severe aortic stenosis, which means you need surgery fairly quickly.
The two tests I have had since were to determine what procedure I would undergo, Open heart versus TAVR.
A week ago, I had something called a TEE procedure, which is a transesophageal echo cardiogram, basically they put you under, run a tube down your throat and do and echocardiogram from inside your chest.
This past Wednesday I had a heart cauterization procedure, they give you mild sedation and put a catheter thru an artery in your wrist that injects die into you heart and they track it so see if you have any other blockages that would prevent the TAVR procedure from being done, fortunately I did not have any blockages that would require open heart surgery to replace.
This coming week we meet with the surgeon to get the date set, at this point, I just want it over and hope the surgery is immediately after the visit with the surgeon.
When you came home, were you able to get out of bed and sit up in a chair? I am not much for laying around in bed.
I get the heart cathater on thursday this coming week , I guess that is to see if I have any other blockage or whatever. This morning they told me they would hospitalize me right after the heart cathetar and then schedule the operation about 3-4 days later.
For my heart cauterization, my wife dropped me off at 6:30am I went home at 1:30 in the afternoon.
The procedure takes maybe 30 minutes, the rest is getting you ready, basically shave groin in case the wrist isn’t an option, your balls will get basically shaved.
Then a 2-hour minimum post procedure laying bed to make sure no internal bleeding is happening.
You are not totally out, just mild anesthesia, you are fully aware of what’s going on around you.
Yes, you can sit up. Getting from prone to sitting is a challenge by yourself.
Biggest problem for me was, you really want to let your ribcage stitch back together and the least strain you put on it by trying to lift with your elbows will pop it apart again. You can feel it.
I settled in to a reclined sitting position, maybe about 45 degrees, and mostly remained like that. Also makes it a lot easier to get up and walk around when you need to.
Have lots of pillows handy. Have one firm, medium size pillow to hug tightly when you cough. Keeps things from popping apart.
Evidently this surgeon thinks I need immediate attention, so be it if that’s what he thinks.
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