Air Force Veteran Glad to Be Home & Lucky to be Alive Again

[mauiboy]

Aloha fellow valve replacement survivees! I am a 55 yr old Asian male from Maui in excellent health who had an AVR on May 6. My symptoms were syncope followed by an echocardiogram and angiogram which detected a congenital bicuspid aortic valve, aortic insufficiency, severe stenosis .69 area (normal 3.0-4.0) and mean gradient 60mmHg (normal: 0-24 mmHg). After closer review during the operation, the Stanford doctors determined the valve was almost completely closed and I didn't have much longer to live...maybe weeks. To make things worse, 5 yrs ago I was diagnosed with neck cancer, squamous cell carcinoma stage 4. I had 40 treatments of radiation in 2 months followed by radical neck resection and laser surgery to my vocal cords. So far I am in remission thank goodness. This is the reason why the doctors recommended a bovine pericardium valve vice a mechanical valve. The coumadin would not be good if I needed future biopsies or surgeries due to the cancer (hate all the coumadin side effect stories too). The doctors also said that when my bioprosthetic valve deteriorates in 18-20 years, the procedure to replace the valve would be a small mininimally invasive incision below the heart where they would replace a new valve in the old stent frame. I am finally home now after 2 weeks in the hospital because the doctors felt the pericardial effusion (fluid between the heart and pericardium) had not been absorbed by the heart tissues fast enough. Some doctors say that it is due to my young age and the body fighting against the fluids and inflammation. Another doctor said that the tissues may have been damaged by the neck cancer IMRT radiation so the absorption rate is not normal. Anyone have this fluid absorption problem? I go back for an echocardiogram on Jun 2. After surgery I also had a lower body temperature about 95 degrees. I'm still a little cold...don't know when this goes back to 98.6. My heart rate was a little over 100 for a week after until they gave me metoprolol 50mg which brought it down to the 70's. Finally, my blood sugar levels went from the low 100's to 140-200 range. Doctors said this is normal for open heart surgery due to the reaction of the body to the operation as well as increased stress levels. Don't know when those levels go back to normal either. They gave me no medication or testing equipment for home use so I guess it is not a permanent condition. I guess I should quit complaining and count my lucky stars that I am still alive and kicking after 2X near death experiences. I feel pretty good with little chest pain and look forward to the next 20 yrs of quality life. Thanks for listening to my story and for any responses you might have to my post surgery collateral damage.

Mahalo,
Eric

Carpentier-Edwards Perimount Magna Ease, 23mm - Bovine Pericardium

 

[Superbob]

Aloha! Wow, Eric -- you have really been through it! Welcome to the forum, and thank you for your service to us via the Air Force. Wishing you a smooth and full recovery.

As for blood sugar levels, I have read that heart surgery can affect those -- you might want to Google and you will find some articles on it. Most of what I've seen has been about the effect on type 2 diabetics like me. I know a nurse was staring me in the face precisely at 4 a.m. every day I was in the hospital and taking my blood sugar. For whatever reason, didn't seem to spike mine, but spiking does appear to be a common effect. Temporary, hopefully.

Anyway, again welcome. I am sure many will be along to share their experiences and best wishes.

 

[Ross]

Hello Eric and welcome to the funny farm.

Yes, you've had more then your fair share. A few of us have, and yes, we are very lucky to be sitting here talking about it. Kick back, relax, have a beer and join in the party.

 

[Daren]

Aloha and welcome Eric. Good to see another Islander here! I went to school on Oahu and then lived 20 years on the Big Island, (Kona, really miss the surf!!). Am glad that you found this place and that you are finally out of the Hospital. Just take it real easy, you owe this to yourself. i also had the fluid problem after my Mitral valve repair. It lasted about three weeks for me but finally resolved itself. My body temp was also low for about 4 months after surgery and fingers and toes would get like ice in the cold weather. I remember my Brother got his truck stuck in a field out in Loomis during a very cold rain storm and my hands felt just like two blocks of ice as we were trying trying to get his truck out! I guess a lot of this just goes with the program. The folks here are very informed about all this stuff so dont be shy to ask questions. I wish you much health and a smooth recovery. Take care.... Daren

 

[Mentu]

Hi, Eric, welcome to VR from another O4, albeit, a Lieutenant Commander. Oh, and we have similar valves...mine is the 23mm Magna. I had less of the fluid problem than you after surgery but it can be a problem for awhile. It doesn't seem to have anything to do with how healthy one was going in to surgery, however, it should resolve itself before long. As I am sure you have been warned, if the fluid problem gets worse this isn't something you should wait about. Get it checked at once.

If I were in Hawaii, I think I would try to walk along the beach everyday; Oklahoma, alas, has no ocean front. Be gentle with yourself and let us know how things are going with you, Eric.

Best Wishes
Larry

 

[nngbwh]

Welcome aboard the VR family.

 

[olefin]

Aloha, Major and welcome to the forum! I'm also an Air Force veteran, (only 4 years). We've been to Maui twice, it's a beautiful country. I'll never forget "The Road to Hana". Agree you've had more than your share. Here's wishing you the very best.

 

[Jeanie]

Welcome to the forum, but sorry you had to join our little club. Congrats on beating cancer too! I had some effusion post-op that took 2 months to resolve. By my two month past surgery echo, it had resolved completely. So, if the Docs say it is normal, trust them, but on the other hand, if they are not already recommending monthly echos for the first few months, ask them to do that. On the body temperature thing, that could be a drug related thing, or just an indication that your overall circulatory system is still under-performing due to the time it takes to heal. Good luck and keep us posted!

In case it is inspiring, I was able to get off of Amiodarone at the two and a half month post op marker (had had to go back to hospital at 3 week point for cardioversion), and was told it was OK to taper off the Metoprolol at the 4 month post-op anniversary week. Some people need the meds longer, but don't be shy about asking your Doctor if whatever side effects you are noticing are 'normal' or cause for concern. This is a situation in which it definitely is better to ask than to just assume everything is OK. There might be situations in which telling about the symptoms would result in a medication or dosage change.