Going in for #3

[Bradley White]

Hi All,

The site tells me I haven't actually logged on in nearly a decade! Been fun reading and catching up with familiar names. Quick update on me: finished my PhD at Notre Dame and took a job as a professor and moved to Southern California in 2011. Was happy there, but was unexpectedly recruited to head up a team at the life sciences division of Google (Verily) a little over 4 years ago. Moved to San Fran and been having a great time.

Unfortunately, my aortic homograft (from the Ross re-operation) that they put in at Mayo 13 years ago has deteriorated and I went into heart failure about a month ago. Having my third (and hope against hope last) OHS at Stanford on next Monday the 23rd. They are going to replace the aortic valve with an On-X valve and use Dacron to replace the ascending aorta which has developed a sizeable aneurysm. Pulomonary homograft from the original Ross is still doing great 20 years later (at least that first surgeon did one thing right .

It's a tricky surgery but I have full confidence in the team at Stanford and looking forward to not feeling like crap in a couple weeks time.

Hope all is well with others.

 

[Seaton]

Hello Bradley
Thank you for the update.
You were on this site quite a while before I joined but I’m grateful to get to know your story.

Sending you good thoughts and warmest for your upcoming surgery. And a big best for your recovery.

 

[pellicle]

It's a tricky surgery but I have full confidence in the team at Stanford and looking forward to not feeling like crap in a couple weeks time.

you'll be fine ... looking fwd to hearing your post operative stuff

fingers crossed and my the solar flares work in your favor

Plenty of good stuff here when you begin your path of AC Therapy (and hopefully self management)

Best Wishes

 

[johnnycake23]

Best of luck to you, Professor White. I know I'll be going in for my hat trick OHS someday in the hopefully distant future, so I'll reach out to you when that time comes for some words of wisdom. In the meantime, be strong. We are pulling for you.

 

[-andrew-]

Hi Bradley White. I wish you all the best with your upcoming surgery.

Sounds like on the face of it you and I have a similar history heart-wise. I had a Ross in op #1, dacron graft and valve repair in op #2, bovine aortic valve replacement in op #3. All in the UK. Although I know the risks increase with increased operations, I can honestly say that each operation I have had has been easier than the last - in all aspects including recovery. I'm sure my surgeon doesn't say the same from his perspective though!

In particular I think the pain management in the first few hours / days after surgery have improved with improvements in anesthetics & other medication and my own knowledge of how my body reacts and repairs itself after surgery also helped me to deal with the various stages of recovery. I've been lucky enough to be able to keep myself fit and healthy between surgeries which I also believe has stood me in good stead.

Again, best of luck with the surgery. I hope they have you fighting fit again soon.

 

[Duffey]

Hi All,

The site tells me I haven't actually logged on in nearly a decade! Been fun reading and catching up with familiar names. Quick update on me: finished my PhD at Notre Dame and took a job as a professor and moved to Southern California in 2011. Was happy there, but was unexpectedly recruited to head up a team at the life sciences division of Google (Verily) a little over 4 years ago. Moved to San Fran and been having a great time.

Unfortunately, my aortic homograft (from the Ross re-operation) that they put in at Mayo 13 years ago has deteriorated and I went into heart failure about a month ago. Having my third (and hope against hope last) OHS at Stanford on next Monday the 23rd. They are going to replace the aortic valve with an On-X valve and use Dacron to replace the ascending aorta which has developed a sizeable aneurysm. Pulomonary homograft from the original Ross is still doing great 20 years later (at least that first surgeon did one thing right .

It's a tricky surgery but I have full confidence in the team at Stanford and looking forward to not feeling like crap in a couple weeks time.

Hope all is well with others.

Hello, Bradley! I remember you! I was keen to undergo the Ross, but eventually settled for straightforward avr in 2005. I took particular interest in how members who had a history of the Ross fared, and you were one. Good luck going forward, and best wishes for a easy, uncomplicated surgery. Mary

 

[Bradley White]

Hi Bradley White. I wish you all the best with your upcoming surgery.

Sounds like on the face of it you and I have a similar history heart-wise. I had a Ross in op #1, dacron graft and valve repair in op #2, bovine aortic valve replacement in op #3. All in the UK. Although I know the risks increase with increased operations, I can honestly say that each operation I have had has been easier than the last - in all aspects including recovery. I'm sure my surgeon doesn't say the same from his perspective though!

In particular I think the pain management in the first few hours / days after surgery have improved with improvements in anesthetics & other medication and my own knowledge of how my body reacts and repairs itself after surgery also helped me to deal with the various stages of recovery. I've been lucky enough to be able to keep myself fit and healthy between surgeries which I also believe has stood me in good stead.

Again, best of luck with the surgery. I hope they have you fighting fit again soon.

Andrew - encouraging to hear that #3 was no harder than #2. I experienced the same thing in that my second was an easier recovery than my first - fingers crossed that trend continues. I've also managed to stay in shape so hope that helps me through recovery.

 

[pellicle]

... encouraging to hear that #3 was no harder than #2.

its hard to be sure but I don't think my #3 was any worse than #2 either (lets set aside my infection which manifested later)

 

[carolinemc]

Bradley, at least you know where home is and you still welcome here anytime and share your experiences and share new ones. Hugs for today.

 

[Freebird]

How are you doing, Brad? Hoping you're on the mend by now.

 

[Bradley White]

I survived it and am doing well given the circumstances.

Surgery ended up being pretty difficult due to scar tissue from previous surgeries and because my homograft was so calcified. And the calcified aortic valve was stuck to my pulmonary homograft from my ross procedure. Surgeon says it was one of the most technically challenging root replacements he's every done. He ended up using a st Jude with Dacron root and ascending aorta instead cause he could get the 22 mm (?) on-x to fit my anatomy and wanted use as big a valve as he could

When I came out I was on the aortic balloon pump for a few days because my heart was pumping to fast for it's output. Then had some issues getting blood pressure in line and with atrial flutter which was quite unnerving. So a week later I'm still in ICU, but am cleared to go to the stepdown unit once a bed opens. Did two laps today and got off all my IV meds so I'm feeling good.

INR immediately went in range after two doses and had stayed stable since. Appears my body responds well to Coumadin.

Signing off from what should be my last night in the ICU

 

[pellicle]

Surgery ended up being pretty difficult due to scar tissue from previous surgeries and because my homograft was so calcified....
Signing off from what should be my last night in the ICU

sounds routine, no bad complications ... so thats good third operations are always technically challenging (so my surgeon told me before my third) and it seems that everything is well in hand... sleep well

 

[Freebird]

I survived it and am doing well given the circumstances.

Surgery ended up being pretty difficult due to scar tissue from previous surgeries and because my homograft was so calcified. And the calcified aortic valve was stuck to my pulmonary homograft from my ross procedure. Surgeon says it was one of the most technically challenging root replacements he's every done. He ended up using a st Jude with Dacron root and ascending aorta instead cause he could get the 22 mm (?) on-x to fit my anatomy and wanted use as big a valve as he could

When I came out I was on the aortic balloon pump for a few days because my heart was pumping to fast for it's output. Then had some issues getting blood pressure in line and with atrial flutter which was quite unnerving. So a week later I'm still in ICU, but am cleared to go to the stepdown unit once a bed opens. Did two laps today and got off all my IV meds so I'm feeling good.

INR immediately went in range after two doses and had stayed stable since. Appears my body responds well to Coumadin.

Signing off from what should be my last night in the ICU

Glad to hear you made it through and are headed to a new bed. I'll continue to think good thoughts for you and your recovery. Be well.

 

[carolinemc]

@Bradley White So glad you came out of it alright. You have been through the toughest part. Keep us in the know on your road to recovery. Keep in touch. Gently hugs for you today.

 

[spartangator]

@Bradley White Thank you for the update. Sending good thoughts your way and hoping the stepdown unit is comfortable, the laps are coming easily, and the INR reading is behaving itself.

 

[Bradley White]

Thanks for the support. I'm about 3.5 weeks post op now and already feeling much better than I did in the months preceding the operation. I'm slowly regaining the strength and fitness I previously had and generally just trying to best utilize the time I have off from work to focus on my physical (and mental) recovery. The months post surgery certainly give one a new perspective on life and for this third and (hopefully final) surgery, I'm trying make sure the positive aspects of this new perspective endure into my future.

Thua far the warfarin has not been an issue at all and my INR has been in range every test. The mechanical valve is certainly audible when it beats but it doesn't bother me in the slightest.

Will keep you all updated and will continue to read the forum and chime in if/when I have something of value to add.

 

[pellicle]

Thanks for the support. I'm about 3.5 weeks post op now and already feeling much better than I did in the months preceding the operation

Excellent, welcome to the other side

 

[epstns]

Brad - Good to hear from you again.

Do you remember what Ross used to say about his mechanical valve? He always said something like "I don't worry when I hear the valve ticking. I'll worry when I hear it stop."

You're on the mend now, so I wish you continued success with your new clicker.

 

[Superbob]

Just catching up with this thread. So good to read of progress following challenging surgery no 3, Brad -- on to to stepdown unit, doing those laps, and getting INR in range nicely. All positives. (Among steps for which I was grateful following my surgery no. 2 six weeks ago.) Wishing you continued smooth recovery. It is inspiring for many, I'm sure, to read your posts here.

 

[pekster11]

i'll be having v similar surgery in a few months : On-X valve (quite likely) and Dacron to replace the ascending aorta

Good luck fella withe the recovery

glad the surgery went well