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.
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.
Not personally, but my dad had open heart back in the 70’s! Triple bypass. They took arteries out of his leg, and grafted them onto his heart.
They gave him 5 years. He outlived his doctors. Made it to 83. So he did pretty good back when they were still figuring this stuff out, you ought to do well.
Had TVAR procedure about 5 yrs ago,, youngest in the state at time,, did friday was out sunday,, amazing. Also had open heart about 10 yrs,,,, different story all together, recovery is tough, highly recommend getting a power lift recliner, because it will be a few days before you can lay down. Worst part is the healing of the cut and bone itself.