countdown to cleveland

[Unicusp]

As far as sticking around Cleveland after discharge. You stated a 5 hr drive. That's really not that far. I had about a 3.5 hr drive and left at noon after discharge. Stopped halfway at a Costco, for a break and walked around. It was February and very cold.
So, I'd say you could easily go halfway and take a break or stop over night somewhere. And continue next day.
The people who hang around a few days usually have long flights somewhere. That's more difficult to control especially if you have turbulence.
Pick the smoothest road route and a comfortable car. You will fine. Bumps, like coughs, can be painful.
What City are you in?

 

[bizinsider]

Peej,

Great choice. Your attitude will serve you well. We stayed at the ICC and upgraded to the Club Level. That was a great choice, especially for the proximity and ease of access for my wife. She really appreciated the women at the Club, especially Anntonette, who seems to take special care of the spouses/families of those having surgery. I do believe she is still there. You're driving five hours; I flew/drove about the same amount – from San Diego via LAX.

+1 everything everybody else here said.

Cheers,
Herb

 

[Chuck C]

Funny when I was a teenager I had believed that if I stay in good shape I'd be able to keep my heart condition from getting worse

My reaction was similar. I found out about my BAV and aortic stenosis in 2019. I was very athletic and ate decent prior to that, but I really upped my healthy living at that point. I literally did not eat a gram a sugar from that point forward and only put things in my mouth that would make any nutritionist proud. I lost weight and brought my % body fat very low, even though it was not that high to begin with. Although I knew that really there has been nothing shown to reverse or slow down the progression, it gave me a sense of control over something for which I really had no control. In any case, eating super healthy did me no harm and likely did me some good.

As with the vast majority of valve surgeries, the survival rate is extremely high. For someone like you, young and healthy, having surgery at a competent clinic, the survival is practically 100%. But, there is also an interesting statistic for the Bentall procedure, which is what you are getting. The long term life expectancy for those who get the Bentall procedure is actually better than those who get valve only and is statistically the same as the normal population. This make sense because you will not need a second operation down the road to repair your aortic aneurism, something many with BAV face in the future. Even though my aneurism was not near the point of needing repair, my surgeon went ahead and repaired mine anyway so he would not need to do so 10 or 15 years down the road. Kind of like car repair, while you got the engine opened up, replace all the things that are likely to need repair eventually.

You'll be in our thoughts. Please keep us posted on your journey.

 

[caro]

Hi Peej!

I’m 31. Had my aortic valve replaced with on-x in February of 2020 at Cleveland Clinic. Haven’t had any issues with my valve or warfarin. You’re in great hands. Someone may have already mentioned it and your cardio may have too but get a prescription for amoxicillin to take the day of your dental cleaning. My dentist calls it in for me. They should be taken before and after heart valve surgery. For anyone with heart issue (honestly everyone should probably take them on day of dental cleanings). Only procedure/surgery I had before heart surgery was getting my wisdom teeth out too! A year and a half later, it feels SO long ago and so great it’s now in the rear view!

wishing you a healthy recovery!

 

[bizinsider]

But, there is also an interesting statistic for the Bentall procedure, which is what you are getting. The long term life expectancy for those who get the Bentall procedure is actually better than those who get valve only and is statistically the same as the normal population

And to think I knew everything! Proof Chuck knows more. I did not know that. Since I had a Bentall procedure, I hope you are right!!! ;-)

Also, Peej - you do NOT need a recliner. Trust me on this. My surgeon's nurse at CC was the one who convinced me it would be a waste. I had wondered whether I should rent one for the hotel, and she said absolutely not. If you are in halfway good shape you should be just fine. If not, well then maybe!

Cheers,
Herb

 

[Croooser]

I am 16 days post op - same procedure - same place - different lead surgeon. The nurse that arranged my surgery date gave me a potential (subject to change) calendar. I wound up being released a day earlier than that. My stay wound up being:

Sunday - travel
Monday - tests and interviews
Tuesday - Cardiac cath (maybe they will not require this if you had it done elsewhere?)
Wednesday - a few more tests and consult with surgeon - this is where he will discuss incision, valve choice, etc. It helps to have questions prepared in advance
Thursday - Surgery/ICU
Friday - ICU/Step Down Unit
Saturday - Step Down Unit
Sunday - Step Down Unit
Monday - Step Down Unit/hotel
Tuesday - hotel
Wednesday - hotel/follow up tests/exit interview and release
Thursday - travel

I would recommend contacting CC and asking them if they can give you an anticipated calendar.

Note that I had a tissue valve. Not sure if the warfarin might be a time factor.

We travelled from Florida in an effort to get the best possible outcome and we have no reservations whatsoever. Everyone there at all levels has a very narrow specialty (even the techs) and they are all highly accomplished.

Best wishes for a successful surgery and a rapid and complete recovery.

 

[bizinsider]

I am 16 days post op - same procedure - same place - different lead surgeon. The nurse that arranged my surgery date gave me a potential (subject to change) calendar. I wound up being released a day earlier than that. My stay wound up being:

Sunday - travel
Monday - tests and interviews
Tuesday - Cardiac cath (maybe they will not require this if you had it done elsewhere?)
Wednesday - a few more tests and consult with surgeon - this is where he will discuss incision, valve choice, etc. It helps to have questions prepared in advance
Thursday - Surgery/ICU
Friday - ICU/Step Down Unit
Saturday - Step Down Unit
Sunday - Step Down Unit
Monday - Step Down Unit/hotel
Tuesday - hotel
Wednesday - hotel/follow up tests/exit interview and release
Thursday - travel

I would recommend contacting CC and asking them if they can give you an anticipated calendar.

Note that I had a tissue valve. Not sure if the warfarin might be a time factor.

We travelled from Florida in an effort to get the best possible outcome and we have no reservations whatsoever. Everyone there at all levels has a very narrow specialty (even the techs) and they are all highly accomplished.

Best wishes for a successful surgery and a rapid and complete recovery.

Crooser, they specifically told us to book 10 days and expect the unexpected. The goal was 5-6 days in the hospital (this was just pre-Covid). I had a mild complication which caused me to say 8 days. And THEN the final stitches out / all-clear on Day 10. We left Cleveland Day 11.

 

[pellicle]

Funny when I was a teenager I had believed that if I stay in good shape I'd be able to keep my heart condition from getting worse (HA) so I've been staying active all these years. At least it created a healthy habit.

well I had a similar belief, although I'd already had my first heart surgery before I was a teenager. When I got my second surgery (at 28) I believed that my work on maintaining my health had allowed the repair don in my childhood allowed me to get nearly 20 years out of it.

As (you say) it was already a lifestyle and so I kept acting in similar ways (being healthy, regular exersize, active lifestyle) and that valve (a homograft) lasted me about 20 years too.

I'm sure it helps but the inevitable does indeed happen, and being healthier makes it easier.

 

[Chuck C]

And to think I knew everything! Proof Chuck knows more. I did not know that. Since I had a Bentall procedure, I hope you are right!!! ;-)

Also, Peej - you do NOT need a recliner. Trust me on this. My surgeon's nurse at CC was the one who convinced me it would be a waste. I had wondered whether I should rent one for the hotel, and she said absolutely not. If you are in halfway good shape you should be just fine. If not, well then maybe!

Cheers,
Herb

Here you go Herb! Make sure I get an invite when you hit the big 100!

" Long-term survival was 93% after 5 years and 89% after 10 years. Discharged patients enjoyed survival equivalent to a normal age- and sex-matched population and superior to survival reported for a series of patients with aortic valve replacement alone. "

https://www.annalsthoracicsurgery.o...al was 93,with aortic valve replacement alone.

 

[Amy]

Not sure if the warfarin might be a time factor.

In my experience, & from what I’ve read of others’ experience here, it seems CC likes to keep people who’ll be on warfarin, even if they feel ready to leave, for an extra day or two or three, till they’re in their INR range, often with a heparin drip.

****

I was glad I had the recliner, though a wedge pillow may work too - but sleeping flat, or even on a pile of (non-wedge) pillows overnight, or even for an hour or two, still gives me pain in my sternum (four months post-op).

good luck.

 

[Hyp2r]

You don’t ‘have to’ have a recliner but I certainly used mine for the first few weeks. I slept in a bed but often felt real uncomfortable, so got up and slept on the recliner. Helped me a lot. The hospital had me on a recliner around 8 hours after surgery so there must be something in it.

 

[Peej]

Peej,

Great choice. Your attitude will serve you well. We stayed at the ICC and upgraded to the Club Level. That was a great choice, especially for the proximity and ease of access for my wife. She really appreciated the women at the Club, especially Anntonette, who seems to take special care of the spouses/families of those having surgery. I do believe she is still there. You're driving five hours; I flew/drove about the same amount – from San Diego via LAX.

+1 everything everybody else here said.

Cheers,
Herb

Thanks for the suggestion Herb!
A bit off topic but I've always enjoyed your work over the years

 

[Peej]

I am 16 days post op - same procedure - same place - different lead surgeon. The nurse that arranged my surgery date gave me a potential (subject to change) calendar. I wound up being released a day earlier than that. My stay wound up being:

Sunday - travel
Monday - tests and interviews
Tuesday - Cardiac cath (maybe they will not require this if you had it done elsewhere?)
Wednesday - a few more tests and consult with surgeon - this is where he will discuss incision, valve choice, etc. It helps to have questions prepared in advance
Thursday - Surgery/ICU
Friday - ICU/Step Down Unit
Saturday - Step Down Unit
Sunday - Step Down Unit
Monday - Step Down Unit/hotel
Tuesday - hotel
Wednesday - hotel/follow up tests/exit interview and release
Thursday - travel

I would recommend contacting CC and asking them if they can give you an anticipated calendar.

Note that I had a tissue valve. Not sure if the warfarin might be a time factor.

We travelled from Florida in an effort to get the best possible outcome and we have no reservations whatsoever. Everyone there at all levels has a very narrow specialty (even the techs) and they are all highly accomplished.

Best wishes for a successful surgery and a rapid and complete recovery.

Thanks Croooser

This is about as far as I know but after all the replies I'll call them next week to see what they suggest after release
And yes, I do agree that I'm sure getting the Warfarin dosage right can influence release date

I did have a cardiac cath late spring and that has already been sent to CC
Tuesday - travel
Wednesday - tests, interviews and consult w/surgeon
Thursday - surgery

 

[Peej]

Hi Peej!

I’m 31. Had my aortic valve replaced with on-x in February of 2020 at Cleveland Clinic. Haven’t had any issues with my valve or warfarin. You’re in great hands. Someone may have already mentioned it and your cardio may have too but get a prescription for amoxicillin to take the day of your dental cleaning. My dentist calls it in for me. They should be taken before and after heart valve surgery. For anyone with heart issue (honestly everyone should probably take them on day of dental cleanings). Only procedure/surgery I had before heart surgery was getting my wisdom teeth out too! A year and a half later, it feels SO long ago and so great it’s now in the rear view!

wishing you a healthy recovery!

Hi Caro and thanks! Boy, I remember taking amoxicillin way back in my teenage days before the dentist and later being told I didn't need to take it because the guidelines changed. That makes me go hmm.

 

[Peej]

You don’t ‘have to’ have a recliner but I certainly used mine for the first few weeks. I slept in a bed but often felt real uncomfortable, so got up and slept on the recliner. Helped me a lot. The hospital had me on a recliner around 8 hours after surgery so there must be something in it.

I'm sticking with my story to my wife despite the debate...
We needed to get the recliner

 

[pellicle]

We needed to get the recliner

Choose wisely

 

[bizinsider]

Thanks for the suggestion Herb!
A bit off topic but I've always enjoyed your work over the years

Peej! You're very welcome and thank you very much.

 

[bizinsider]

Here you go Herb! Make sure I get an invite when you hit the big 100!

" Long-term survival was 93% after 5 years and 89% after 10 years. Discharged patients enjoyed survival equivalent to a normal age- and sex-matched population and superior to survival reported for a series of patients with aortic valve replacement alone. "

https://www.annalsthoracicsurgery.o...al was 93,with aortic valve replacement alone.

Dea! And thanks for dredging up that study!

 

[caro]

Hi Caro and thanks! Boy, I remember taking amoxicillin way back in my teenage days before the dentist and later being told I didn't need to take it because the guidelines changed. That makes me go hmm.

Yep I took it too for years then was told I didn’t need to. In last couple years, cardio said I should take it again. Surgeon at Cleveland Clinic felt pretty strongly about taking it with BAV and taking it after surgery as well.

 

[cldlhd]

Hi Caro and thanks! Boy, I remember taking amoxicillin way back in my teenage days before the dentist and later being told I didn't need to take it because the guidelines changed. That makes me go hmm.

I'm pretty sure they recommended people stop taking it before dental work because of general over prescribing of antibiotics and antibiotic resistant bugs out there but my surgeon recommended I take amoxicillin before dental cleanings. He didn't really go into if I was at any higher risk or much higher risk or no higher risk etc but perhaps it's just a better safe than sorry thought process. It does make me think that if my BAV and surgery put me at a higher risk perhaps I should be a little bit more careful about cuts and scratches and whatnot but you know an old dog and all that....