Questions before my Ross

[vhmoriarty]

I am loving getting feedback on these things so thought I would ask some more questions.


1. What type of Valve Replacement did you receive?

2. Where did you receive your valve?

3. What year?

4. Where you on medication prior to AVR? Are you on medications now?

5. Did you suffer depression or Pump Head after AVR?

6. How long did it take you to notice a difference?

7. How did your family feel about the procedure? (nervous, grateful, did they help you out alot)

8. What is one thing you would suggest for a family member to do for me either before, during, or after surgery?

9. Did your insurance cover the whole procedure? Were you stuck with part of the bill?

10. Do you attend a Cardiac Rehab Program and was it mandatory for you to do this program?



Thanks so much. These questions are some that I have and wondered if I could get some people to answer them as they did my other post. I really appreciate every one of you.

I will be having my surgery on Nov. 13th (Ross Procedure) done at St. Marys Medical Center in Knoxville, TN. I am 29 years old, female, widowed but currently engaged, mother of two. Severe Aortic stenosis with gradient of 102.

 

[Pweeder]

I have an ATS mechanical valve. From Christ Advocate hospital in IL. August 13th of this year. Doc. said he didn't want to do the Ross procedure. He doesn't prefer them. Especially in my situation. Everybody situation is different. I dont know what pump head is but no depression. Just relief after surgery that the waiting was over. My Aneurysm didnt effect me in any way. I was juts lucky to have found it. Family was nervous but not so much afterward. The waiting is the worst part about the entire thing. Insurance covered most but not all. CARDIAC REHAB is a must. Not so much for the exercise but the fact it makes you exercise three times a week. It forces you to do the work. Hope that helps. Sounds like you have done your homework. That is the main thing. You will be fine afterwards. Good luck!

 

[jax]

I am loving getting feedback on these things so thought I would ask some more questions.


1. What type of Valve Replacement did you receive?

2. Where did you receive your valve?

3. What year?

4. Where you on medication prior to AVR? Are you on medications now?

5. Did you suffer depression or Pump Head after AVR?

6. How long did it take you to notice a difference?

7. How did your family feel about the procedure? (nervous, grateful, did they help you out alot)

8. What is one thing you would suggest for a family member to do for me either before, during, or after surgery?

9. Did your insurance cover the whole procedure? Were you stuck with part of the bill?

10. Do you attend a Cardiac Rehab Program and was it mandatory for you to do this program?



Thanks so much. These questions are some that I have and wondered if I could get some people to answer them as they did my other post. I really appreciate every one of you.

I will be having my surgery on Nov. 13th (Ross Procedure) done at St. Marys Medical Center in Knoxville, TN. I am 29 years old, female, widowed but currently engaged, mother of two. Severe Aortic stenosis with gradient of 102.

i have a st. jude mechanical in the mitral position. had mine replace at cleveland clinic may 29th of this year. i was on metroplol and lisinopril prior. after procedure i am on lisinopril and coumadin. i have my up and down days still with my mood but i wouldn't say i am depressed. my family was supportive but nervous. My husband was a wreck. family member should do anything to help with the housework after surgery. you will have 10 weight restriction and won't be able to do it. i only got stuck paying $1000 for all of my medical bills. from cleveland clinic i only had to pay $300 the rest went to other hospitals or doctors. Since i am only 35 and in otherwise decent shape the cardiologist didn't feel that i needed to go to cardiac rehab. i still could have gone but was back to work 8 weeks after surgery which requires alot of walking and physical activity anyway so i didn't go.

 

[Lynlw]

I don't think cardiac rehab is mandatory any where, Many people do fine with out it, Justin never went, my Mom on the other loved it. It IS usually pretty expensive, so I know some people go once just to get an idea of what to do ect if they can't afford it, but think it would help them.

PS Do you have a plan B incase when they open you a Ross is not a good idea?

 

[David L]

I am loving getting feedback on these things so thought I would ask some more questions.


1. What type of Valve Replacement did you receive?

2. Where did you receive your valve?

3. What year?

4. Where you on medication prior to AVR? Are you on medications now?

5. Did you suffer depression or Pump Head after AVR?

6. How long did it take you to notice a difference?

7. How did your family feel about the procedure? (nervous, grateful, did they help you out alot)

8. What is one thing you would suggest for a family member to do for me either before, during, or after surgery?

9. Did your insurance cover the whole procedure? Were you stuck with part of the bill?

10. Do you attend a Cardiac Rehab Program and was it mandatory for you to do this program?



Thanks so much. These questions are some that I have and wondered if I could get some people to answer them as they did my other post. I really appreciate every one of you.

I will be having my surgery on Nov. 13th (Ross Procedure) done at St. Marys Medical Center in Knoxville, TN. I am 29 years old, female, widowed but currently engaged, mother of two. Severe Aortic stenosis with gradient of 102.

I received a Medtronic Freestyle Aortic valve at Stanford on August 5th 2008. Because of periodic A-fib problems prior to my surgery, I was on Lanoxin and Calan prior to surgery. I had A-fib post surgery for about a month. I was put on Amiodarone by my local cardio a week after surgery. In 5 days I was back in NSR. I recently changed cardios and he put me on the new drug Multaq (drone darone) for A-fib. This new drug is the real deal. No side effects so far.

No pumphead or depression. As I was asymptomatic before surgery, there wasn't much change. Maybe I have better stamina now. I was 68 at the time of surgery, so thought I was just getting old!

My adult girls thought they were going to lose their daddy, but my wife was confident I would be okay as I had one of the best hospitals and top surgeon in Cali.

My family was there for me on surgery day, and a few days after, giving me support. Once they knew I had no complications I sent them home as we were 250 miles from home! I went home 4 days later!

I was on Medicare with Blue cross Blue shield as a secondary. I paid a total of $84 out of pocket for the total surgery and surgeon. Best buy of my life.

I was always athletic, so I just continued going to the YMCA, and with the help of an excellent instructor I slowly worked back into my regular exercise program. I wasn't over weight before surgery, nor am I now, and that helped a lot. Didn't smoke or drink before or after, so my lungs were always clear, and gave me no problems!

The best advice I can give you is to trust your surgeon and hospital staff. I had excellent care in both the the CCU and step up floor! One more thing. It doesn't really hurt your chest as much as you might think it would. You will be fine. It will be over for you in just a few seconds as I told my family. They had to wait 7 1/2 hours. Good luck!

 

[Eva]

1. What type of Valve Replacement did you receive?St, Jude Mechanical for both aortic and mitral valves


2. Where did you receive your valve?UCLA, CA

3. What year?Sept. 2008 (13 months ago)

4. Where you on medication prior to AVR? Are you on medications now?I was on Synthroid and I started Prozac soon after I was told about the surgery, xanax on and off. Now only on Synthroid and 12.5 mg Toprol once a day to keep my pulse low

5. Did you suffer depression or Pump Head after AVR?The Prozac I started six months before the surgery helped me to go through that period and after the surgery...I stayed on it after the surgery for about 8 months

6. How long did it take you to notice a difference?I am not exagerating to say 'right away' since the blood circulation became better after so many years of poor blood circulation. Actually, I felt the difference after two week of surgery...NO Shortness of Breaths...slept better...felt relaxed after a nap while before surgery I never felt relaxed...I slept tired and woke up tired!


7. How did your family feel about the procedure? (nervous, grateful, did they help you out alot)All were nervous inside but encouraging. One of my sisters dedicated one month to take care of me after surgery. My husband's 12 days vacation were spent driving back and forth to hospital as I stayed 12 days.


8. What is one thing you would suggest for a family member to do for me either before, during, or after surgery?Keep the good high spirit around you and stay positive that all will go well. If anyone can stay at least the first night with you, it will be great. I did not want anyone to stay, but regretted it! Many others may not like anyone to stay. We're different. It is up to you, but I would have loved to see a familiar loving face around at night despite I consider myself a strong woman!


9. Did your insurance cover the whole procedure? Were you stuck with part of the bill?Only the out-of-pocket and the 10%

10. Do you attend a Cardiac Rehab Program and was it mandatory for you to do this program? I did and it helped me regain faith in how much to push my heat!


Good luck on the 13th. Will keep you in my prayers. Look forward to the heathier you and to the new you and enjoying a better quality of life with your children..

 

[spartangator]

If it helps, here are some comments to a few of your questions.

1. What type of Valve Replacement did you receive?
Ross
2. Where did you receive your valve?
Austin Heart Hospital
3. What year?
Oct. '07
4. Where you on medication prior to AVR? Are you on medications now?
Nope, but now a small dose of Coreg as a preventative.
5. Did you suffer depression or Pump Head after AVR?
Definitely pump head for some time
6. How long did it take you to notice a difference?
Was asymptomatic before but needed a little over a year to feel mostly normal again (very individual here--others seems to have come back much faster)
7. How did your family feel about the procedure? (nervous, grateful, did they help you out alot)
Nerves are a given, but staying well informed and setting things up for post-op can really help
8. What is one thing you would suggest for a family member to do for me either before, during, or after surgery?
Have someone else keep track of all meds and appts so you don't have to think about it
9. Did your insurance cover the whole procedure? Were you stuck with part of the bill?
Despite "great" insurance, the costs were still substantial because they would refuse to cover very basic things like a CT scan, calling it "experimental"
10. Do you attend a Cardiac Rehab Program and was it mandatory for you to do this program?
Rehab was quite helpful, but, no, not mandatory

 

[marie]

I am loving getting feedback on these things so thought I would ask some more questions.


1. What type of Valve Replacement did you receive?
Aortic tissue valve

2. Where did you receive your valve?
Heart hospital in Lafayette, La.

3. What year?
2008

4. Where you on medication prior to AVR? Are you on medications now?
no medication because of AVR but since have been on coumadin and aspirin

5. Did you suffer depression or Pump Head after AVR?
Yes to both

6. How long did it take you to notice a difference?
recovery time for me was at least a year but I was 66 and everyone is different

7. How did your family feel about the procedure? (nervous, grateful, did they help you out alot)
My husband was very scared. My family helped me every day while in the hospital and at home as well.

8. What is one thing you would suggest for a family member to do for me either before, during, or after surgery?
I would suggest you have a family member with you as an advocate

9. Did your insurance cover the whole procedure? Were you stuck with part of the bill?
I had Medicare and Bc/BS no out of pocket

10. Do you attend a Cardiac Rehab Program and was it mandatory for you to do this program?
I did not do rehab. my cardio and surgeon said as long as I walked they were OK with that



Thanks so much. These questions are some that I have and wondered if I could get some people to answer them as they did my other post. I really appreciate every one of you.

I will be having my surgery on Nov. 13th (Ross Procedure) done at St. Marys Medical Center in Knoxville, TN. I am 29 years old, female, widowed but currently engaged, mother of two. Severe Aortic stenosis with gradient of 102.

My answers are in blue. Good luck to you

 

[dcpickle]

1. What type of Valve Replacement did you receive?
Ross Procedure

2. Where did you receive your valve?
Beth Israel Medical Center NY, NY

3. What year? 2004

4. Where you on medication prior to AVR? Are you on medications now?
Blood pressure medicine before and after. Also, I was on daily ibuprofen to prevent pericarditis, but it didn't work and twice I had to go through a course of prednisone.

5. Did you suffer depression or Pump Head after AVR?
No, not really. I have suffered from depression since surgery, but it began months later, so I don't think it is really related to pump head.

6. How long did it take you to notice a difference?
The difference was immediate. As soon as I was out of the hospital and walking around it was better. I previously had chest pain on exertion, and it has not come back since surgery.

7. How did your family feel about the procedure? (nervous, grateful, did they help you out alot)
Yeah, they helped. My in-laws came and stayed at our house with our 4 kids while my wife and I went to NYC for almost 2 weeks.

8. What is one thing you would suggest for a family member to do for me either before, during, or after surgery?
Get (or rent) a recliner for you to sleep in for awhile after you get home. You won't feel like sleeping in the bed for awhile. Also get a pillow to hug when you cough or sneeze. (Try not to sneeze, at all, though)

9. Did your insurance cover the whole procedure? Were you stuck with part of the bill?
They paid pretty well. I still had small payments to make to everyone, but it was nothing terrible.

10. Do you attend a Cardiac Rehab Program and was it mandatory for you to do this program?
I was going to, but somehow or other I never ended up doing a rehab program. I don't feel like I missed much. I guess it might help you get back to normal a bit faster, but It's definitely not a necessity. I recovered fine without it.

 

[Duffey]

Valerie,
You write that you have aortic stenosis with a 102 gradient.
Is that the peak?
What is your mean?

 

[olefin]

1. What type of Valve Replacement did you receive?
2. Where did you receive your valve?
3. What year?

See my signature.

4. Where you on medication prior to AVR? Are you on medications now?

Yes, but it wasn't because of my heart. Today I take warfarin besides other medication not heart related.

5. Did you suffer depression or Pump Head after AVR?

Yes, after 21 days in the hospital, 7 days in ICU 3 different times and 21 pints of blood I was depressed. Mostly from seeing people 20 years older than me going home within 5 days after AVR. But after a couple weeks home I was over the depression.

6. How long did it take you to notice a difference?

It took a full year to get back where I was before surgery.
I wasn't having any symptoms before surgery and was in excellent health other than a noisy valve.


7. How did your family feel about the procedure? (nervous, grateful, did they help you out alot)

Wife was very worried before surgery. She became a very strong woman during my hospital stay. No, it didn't bother me for I wasn't worried before surgery for I had known it was coming for ten years.


8. What is one thing you would suggest for a family member to do for me either before, during, or after surgery?

Be there for you during surgery and after. My wife stayed in the hospital the full time and she is still taking care of me after 18 years. LOL


9. Did your insurance cover the whole procedure? Were you stuck with part of the bill?

Yes, it never cost me anything but the surgery and 21 days in the hospital used up my lifetime maximum on my retirement insurance. And after AVR I couldn't buy more insurance. Until I qualified for Medicare I didn't have any insurance.


10. Do you attend a Cardiac Rehab Program and was it mandatory for you to do this program?

Not sure it was available back then. Maybe there was at Houston but I lived 500 miles. I rehab myself and did great.