Anyways, congratulations on your nine incher. As a former cardiac ICU nurse, do the Cardiac Rehab - unless you want to do this all over again in ten years!
Glenn, glad you're ok and you'll regain your faculties after "pump head" and we're all glad you had the procedure. Amazing what can be done these days, isn't it? Hang in there, Tiger!
I had to be on a vent for seven days after a near fatal seizure. Even now, a little over a year, I still have some disphasia, the inability to remember some common words yet I can still remember lines from Shakespeare's Macbeth and Henry V and the name of the hotel we stayed in when I was 15. Weird.
Know how you feel. After chemotherapy early in 2016 I had a rare reaction to it and was in a coma for a month and a total of 4 months in a VA hospital. The diagnosis was autoimmune encepehalitis for which I have to take medicine for the rest of my life and I had to relearn to walk, talk, and my balance is still kinda off. Even though better I'm unable to do simple arithmetic in my head and once was a high school math teacher. I'm now 72 so I'll soldier on. Hang in there, my friend.
Yes, that's the first choice, as you know, because the recovery is much easier since there's no surgery. However, my valve was regurgitating, not stenotic, so there was not enough stiff tissue to attach a TAVR to.
I’ve had both Aortal and mitral valve replacement. I also have atrial fibrillation - but mine is asymptomatic. Ablation didn’t work but meds have improved the situation. My surgery was more like 9 hours. Waking up I never remember feeling worse. Two drains were left in my chest for like a week. Their removal was extremely odd but not painful. I have had no other mid term side effects. I am so grateful for my extraordinary surgical and post surgical teams.
Wow Glenn, I’m so grateful you had a successful surgery and it sounds like you have your recovery underway.
Personally I think it is the anesthesia that is most responsible for wrecking people after surgery. I got totally scooped out like a jack-o-lantern for ‘lady surgery’ in ‘16 and while the surgery was (amazingly!) outpatient, and I thankfully had no major complications, I remember clearly that I still felt ‘polluted’, is the only way I can describe it, for about six months afterwards! But it cleared up eventually.
Anyway, I’m glad your surgery fixed your valve and apparently gave you a 2.0 upgraded version of You. Relish it. 😊
I join with the rest of your fans wishing you a total recovery and speedy "back to normal." At our hospital, we called it "pump brain" and the head CT surgeon said it was because the bypass pumps can create microemboli, and that is what causes those symptoms. Opting for a tissue valve was smart, because if you are younger, and get a mechanical valve, you will be on anti-coagulants the rest of your life. And, I know you aren't a Muslim, but nothing wrong with a porcine valve either. LOL Had you that tissue type, you could also be called "pig head!" Still, so sorry you had to go through the sternotomy. That healing is a bear if you must cough.
Just a couple of corrections from a cardiologist to keep you accurate. The 2nd echo you had was a transesophageal echo (TEE), and the probe is in your esophagus, not your trachea. Also, aortic valve replacement is done by opening the aorta just above the heart, so they don’t actually cut open your heart for that particular surgery. Too bad you couldn’t have held on a little longer, devices for TAVR for aortic regurgitation will be available soon. Happy you’re doing well.
Glad everything worked out well Glen. Im sure the aspenites are disappointed. A pox on them
Code for MY security? Besseshit!
Anyways, congratulations on your nine incher. As a former cardiac ICU nurse, do the Cardiac Rehab - unless you want to do this all over again in ten years!
So glad you got that second opinion. 😉
I'm a regular at cardio-rehab.
The good news in all this is that they determined I have no atherosclerosis to speak of -- I just had that defective valve.
Hooray!
Into the shop for a valve job?
Glad it's working out ok.
Glenn, glad you're ok and you'll regain your faculties after "pump head" and we're all glad you had the procedure. Amazing what can be done these days, isn't it? Hang in there, Tiger!
I had to be on a vent for seven days after a near fatal seizure. Even now, a little over a year, I still have some disphasia, the inability to remember some common words yet I can still remember lines from Shakespeare's Macbeth and Henry V and the name of the hotel we stayed in when I was 15. Weird.
Know how you feel. After chemotherapy early in 2016 I had a rare reaction to it and was in a coma for a month and a total of 4 months in a VA hospital. The diagnosis was autoimmune encepehalitis for which I have to take medicine for the rest of my life and I had to relearn to walk, talk, and my balance is still kinda off. Even though better I'm unable to do simple arithmetic in my head and once was a high school math teacher. I'm now 72 so I'll soldier on. Hang in there, my friend.
Will the "new you" keep writing? Hope so...and pray that you have a swift and complete recovery.
Wow... but keep hiking, one step at a time!
I'm glad to hear you're better. I'm curious whether the doctors considered TAVR or was that not available? I'm a retired ER doc.
Yes, that's the first choice, as you know, because the recovery is much easier since there's no surgery. However, my valve was regurgitating, not stenotic, so there was not enough stiff tissue to attach a TAVR to.
I’ve had both Aortal and mitral valve replacement. I also have atrial fibrillation - but mine is asymptomatic. Ablation didn’t work but meds have improved the situation. My surgery was more like 9 hours. Waking up I never remember feeling worse. Two drains were left in my chest for like a week. Their removal was extremely odd but not painful. I have had no other mid term side effects. I am so grateful for my extraordinary surgical and post surgical teams.
Wow Glenn, I’m so grateful you had a successful surgery and it sounds like you have your recovery underway.
Personally I think it is the anesthesia that is most responsible for wrecking people after surgery. I got totally scooped out like a jack-o-lantern for ‘lady surgery’ in ‘16 and while the surgery was (amazingly!) outpatient, and I thankfully had no major complications, I remember clearly that I still felt ‘polluted’, is the only way I can describe it, for about six months afterwards! But it cleared up eventually.
Anyway, I’m glad your surgery fixed your valve and apparently gave you a 2.0 upgraded version of You. Relish it. 😊
We always knew you are a stud.
Keep on keepin on.
And continue to take care of yourself.
I join with the rest of your fans wishing you a total recovery and speedy "back to normal." At our hospital, we called it "pump brain" and the head CT surgeon said it was because the bypass pumps can create microemboli, and that is what causes those symptoms. Opting for a tissue valve was smart, because if you are younger, and get a mechanical valve, you will be on anti-coagulants the rest of your life. And, I know you aren't a Muslim, but nothing wrong with a porcine valve either. LOL Had you that tissue type, you could also be called "pig head!" Still, so sorry you had to go through the sternotomy. That healing is a bear if you must cough.
Just a couple of corrections from a cardiologist to keep you accurate. The 2nd echo you had was a transesophageal echo (TEE), and the probe is in your esophagus, not your trachea. Also, aortic valve replacement is done by opening the aorta just above the heart, so they don’t actually cut open your heart for that particular surgery. Too bad you couldn’t have held on a little longer, devices for TAVR for aortic regurgitation will be available soon. Happy you’re doing well.
You're of course right on both points, doctor. Thanks for the correction. Glenn
Wishing you a speedy recovery Glenn.
Best of vibes your way!
Thank you for sharing your "adventure" with us, Glenn.
Steven Tyler's got you beat:
https://youtu.be/gweUVWUYYQ8?si=Jqlo3fV2hDipJ-7V