Type of Incision

[lemdonuts]

Well thank you all I have finially been able to make a decision!
I sm going to have my cardiologist at HMC do the catherterization and IF I have not Coronary Heart disease the the doc from U of P will do the valve replacement -- have already been in touch with him via email -- I(f the cath shows heart disease then it is to HMC for the valve job.---It has been a hard 17 days for me but at least I have a plan and will leave it in God's hands as he has gotten me here since Oct 2000 when My better half had his MI and we both started a new way of living! I might add it has not so much the size of the incision but more the recovery time! I hope things work out and thanks for all your imput!

 

[Ross]

Beside they are the marks of a HERO! Right?

Darn straight!

 

[Nancy]

Hi Lem-

You're on your way! Congrats on having a plan in place. Please let us know the surgery date so we can put you on the calendar and keep tabs on you.

Take care,

 

[lemdonuts]

I may have a plan BUT.... it can change!!! Still not sure where!!!!
Really would like to hear from those of you who have had A small incision!!!

But for sure go for Cath on Monday May 5th. Sooooo making some progress and Surgery will be close after that But again where and Who?!?!??!?!?!?

oN TOP OF ALL PA DOCOTRS ARE ON STRICK

 

[Marty]

Recuperation time?

Recuperation time?

Lem, I am probably damn lucky and not a typical case. I also had superb surgeons and anesthesiologists.However after my mitral valve replacement 4 years ago I was home in my own bed AM of the 4th post op day. My midline sternum splitting incision hurt a little but not much. I was told to get out of bed every day,walk, and take no or only a short nap. I took my first car drive at 2 weeks.
My golf pro has had CABG surgery and he said I could practise chipping and putting at 3 weeks but not take the big swing until the sternum completely heals at about 8 weeks. At 10 weeks I started rehab at our hospital under the supervision of trained nurses and exercise physiologists. I did this every other day for 3 months and then switched to my clubs fitness center where I still workout 3 times a week on my own and play golf once or twice a week. I went back to work halftime and feel better than I did when much younger. My mitral valve regurgitation was dragging me down and I attributed the symptoms to normal aging. I have advised several patients to have surgery sooner rather than later and so far its worked out for all.
I saw a picture of Sen. Bob Graham in the Post this AM and he looked great and he's already raising hell with the President about the war or taxes or something. I think he's only about 3 months postop aortic valve replacement and quadruple CABG.

 

[lemdonuts]

Marty Thanks!! I am finally at PEACE!!! This has been a nightmare for 2 long years!!! When I was first diagnosed in Jan 2001 I was very upset 1) with the doctor because he flagged me with my DOT physical and 2) because I was approaching the age in May of 2001 that my father had died.

I had believed that I too had some sort of birth defect and when they told me about my valve well the rest is history.

I have driven everyone crazy -- even this support group all weekend but I HAVE REACHED A DESCION that I am comfortable with and you have no idea of the PEACE that I am feeling.

As far as I am concerned I have done everything in my power for the last two years i.e. AM heart diet, swam, walked, gardening, quit a job because of the stress and became as informed as much as I could soooo it is now in God's hands!!! I have a plan and a backup plan and whatever happens I am at peace!!! Though this whole thing I do beleive that God has been directing me!! For whatever reason I don't know but in time it will be made known.Marty

 

[Don]

Minimally Invasive

Minimally Invasive

Hi Lem,
I had the minimally invasive incision for my aortic replacement surgery at Cleveland Clinic.
My scar is almost exactly 3 inches long, and I and my wife feel it is hardly noticeable. I'm a satisfied customer and if I had to do it over again, based on what I know one year post surgery, I would do it the same way again. I was 69 and in good health at the time of my surgery; I am doing well today with a bovine aortic valve. My recovery was fairly easy -- 4 days and I was out of the hospital -- 8 days post op I flew home.
I have a friend, age 82, former coworker, who had the same surgery approximately 2 months ago in El Paso. I encouraged him to visit VR.com (he didn't) and told him about Minimally Invasive surgery and suggested he check into it. His surgeon told him that Minimally Invasive surgery was a sham "cause they cut you just as much on the inside". Perhaps that translates to he couldn't do it. (Friend got a mechanical valve.)
I went through the same anxiety and questioning and learning that you are going through. This site helped me a great deal.
Best wishes,
Don
AVR; 4/02; MI; CCF; Cosgrove; Bovine Tissue Valve

 

[lemdonuts]

Don thanks for the imput. I've had the same experience when i quested about mininal invasive surgery. Two of the surgeons where in their late 40's and they do the tired and proven method whereas the other is in his 30's and he does the mininal -- he is the director of mininal invasive surgery at U of P and does robtic surgery also but not for the aortic valve. The surgerons who do the tried and proven gave me all sorts of reasonas to why it was better and the last was Mininal was only cosmetic and nothing else -- i then called u of p doc and told him and he had a fit and procded to tell me the advantages BESIDEs cosmetic so that is how I am going IF I have no cornory problems .Thank you thank you beccause it is hard to do when you sometimes buck the system

I mention that I thought of having it done at Cleveland but thought there was some good hospitals here -- Ijust thought i would have time to research the surgeon but didn't cause I went down too fast!

 

[Gail in Ca]

I had about an 8" scar in 89 after my 1st avr.
In 00, my 2nd avr, left me with a 10 1/2" scar. I don't get too worked up about it. It's a pretty good scar as scars go.
I am amazed that avr can be done with only a 3" scar!
How do they get in there and see what to do?
Also , you end up with chest tube scars so you will have reminders no matter what.
I wear whatever swim suit and neckline. No one has ever commented on my scar, or asked me how I got it.
Gail

 

[hsilvers]

I wound up with about a 4 inch scar with my skin glued together after my surgery on March 26. It has now healed so well that it just looks like a little line. I did wind up with a single stitch that showed through at the bottom of the incision, and that wound up taking some time to close completely.

However, I have to tell you that the incision is probably one of the least things to worry about. We put liquid vitamin E on it a few times afterwards, and that helps heal it extraordinarily well.

My major concern going in was which valve to choose and how competent was my surgeon. One thing I did was to check out the background of my surgeon on the Internet. Once I got a better idea of his education, credentials, experience, publications, and specialized expertise - I had a great sense of both relief and confidence. That made it far easier to go into AVR without having to worry so much.

I followed his advice and went with a mechanical valve, and I believe that it was exactly the right choice for my condition and lifestyle and preferred future.

I guess what I am trying to say is check out everything as you have, make your best choice, put your confidence in your surgeon after your due diligence, relax, and let it happen.

Harvey

 

[lemdonuts]

As I've said before I've been researching this for 2 years i.e. what type of valve the pros the cons what type of surgery etc, etc (I just did look at the surgeon because in the beginning I was told I might have 5 years sooo the technology could have changed but I kept readsing and researching --- In my past life before becoming a truck driver I WAS an engineer -- and worked in one of the best research facilities in the world-- that cann't spell worth a damn. I am not concerned witht the cosmetic so much BUT the heALINg and recuperation. This past weekend I've email both surgerons that I have been considering --i.e 2 are out of state one is 222 miles form my home other is 200 miles -- all three are at teaching hopistals and the 2 in Pa are3 100 miles apart.

now as to how do they do it well it is a direct cut over the aorta into the sternum I was told that the whole sterum is NOT cut and usually the bottom of the sterum is the longest to heal!

I would really like to know the pain etc and difficulity that people have had with mininal invasive surgery experience as with all things everything sounds wonderbar until you are there!!!

Quite a few people/hospitals do do this procedure. My cardilogist who is the greatest has told me if I am comfortable with is procedure then go for it -- there are pros and cons with everything and again I have been trying to get a good idea rather than going into this blindly-- but for me if I have cornorney aretry disea then this posting is for naught i am comfortable with my descion and go Monday for my cath in meantime have a million things to do i.e. clean the house, garden, pay bill, and finsih up with my business.

 

[Bunny_Rabbit]

Hey Lem

Hey Lem

I would totally rather have a small incision than a large "normal" one. But you seem to be very adamant about it. Why does the "normal" incision bother you so much? is it the pain afterwards, or is it for cosmetic reasons?

Just wonderin' is all.

 

[Georgia]

The incision is NOT the point

The incision is NOT the point

Hey, Lem: You know, you're going to get your heart fixed; during the surgery it will be stopped and you'll be on the heart/lung machine. Really - focus on the heart.

I have a regular incision and needed NO painkillers more than 2 weeks after surgery. Regardless of how LONG the incision is, you still have to wait for the bone to heal. And the sternum takes 100 days to heal, regardless of whether the incision is 3 inches or 10 inches - the bone is broken! You have to protect it for a certain length of time, and then fall in line with your doc's orders for adding activity.

The MAJORITY of healing and recuperation involves YOUR HEART and your body which will need additional rehabilitation due to the surgery (and the heart disease preceding surgery).

Hope your heart cath goes well Monday - please let us know what they find out. The cath is a cakewalk (this comes from someone who had to be on ativan for the cath!). I'm sure you'll do well.

 

[lemdonuts]

the pain, recuperation and movement all reasons that I am considering small incison-- according to my surgeon -- actually I don't have one yet -- I have a game plan but no surgeon yet -- but then again most people have cath one day and surgery next which I am not doing soooo what can I tell you IF I am as bad as they say somebody is going to do it!!!!

there are risk but all of life there is risk -- one of my friends died with regular knee surgery soooo what can I tell you. i have made my peace with God and it is in his hands with imput from me to my surgeon!

 

[richie rich]

lem

i am sorry that i have not posted earlier.

i too live in the big apple but out on the island. i had the minimal invasive surgery done at NYU back after x-mas. my surgeon was dr. stephen colvin. he is the head guy at nyu and does a ton of these surgeries. he started doing the minimal invasive back in 1997 (testing). i got a tissue valve. i am 4 months post op and the only pain i have is some shoulder soreness which i was told will probably take a year to disappear. my scar is about three inches long on my right breast. i chose the minimal invasive because i knew that i could not sit around and take it easy for 6 weeks for my chest to heal. i am a big guy with two little kids who like to jump on their daddy. i was in the hospital for 5 days, starting drive a few days after i left the hospital, went back to work part time after two weeks and was walking 3 miles a day by the end of the month. i started playing soccer on my town's soccer team last month. i had also lost some weight but it is slowly creeping back.

i am very very very glad that i did the minimal invasive. i feel that the recovery is easier and was a good choice for ME. everyone is different and you have to think WHy u want the minimal invasive. don't do it just for the smaller scare. my scar is a war wound. i have NEVER put any type of lotion on my scar. i don't care how it looks. i did it for the fast recovery time.

its four months for me and all os great. i saw the doc last week and he told me that my heart sounds great. i also feel great and the best news yet was that I took my kids to see the ped. cardio today to see if they had a bicuspid aortic valve. the results............
they hearts look great. no leaks no closing and they were able to see three leaflets.

email me again if you have any questions. i deleted your email by mistake. you can call me if you want or leave me a number and i'll call you. make it fast cause i am off to aruba next week.

take care
rich

 

[McCln]

Lem

Lem

Please have the cath. It may be a help with the arteries. They will shoot a dye to see if the arteries are clogged. If they are clear, surgery will be no problem. How young are you, by the way? I was 36 when I had my aortic valve replacement 09-12-01. You must consider the health issues, the shortness of breathe, the pain from exerting yourself. Will surgery make me feel better? Yes it will make you feel a lot better after recovery. It may take up to a year or so to fully recover because the chest is the last to heal from the trauma of surgery and being apart during the crucial. Do not worry about the scare, just a cosmetic thing if you worry. I like showing mine as proof of what I went through to be here. I have two scares, one over the other. So beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. You will be fine once you have the surgery and get back to being active again. Take care and keep us updated. You must take care of your heart.

Caroline
09-23-01
Aortic valve replacement
St. Jude's valve

 

[lcwhitney]

scar and valve types

scar and valve types

In August of 2001 I had an aortic valve replacement( St. Jude mechanical) with a pulmonary valve replacement and a pulmonary outflow tract replacement to repair a pulmonary artery anuerysm. The pulmonary valve is a grafted tissue valve because it was connected to the pulmonary outflow tract that had to be replaced at the same time. I am now waiting for my surgeon to give me a date to again replace the pulmonary valve , just 22 months after my first surgery. These tissue valves do not last very long and can be like mine and be defective from the start. You are not as likely to have a problem with the mechanical valves and they are not as likely to have to be replaced. The grafted ones will have to be replaced the best you can hope for with one of these is to have it last ten years. If my pulmonary valve can be replaced with a mechanical valve that is what I am going to do. I was told that if my aortic valve was replaced with a tissue valve it would probably last only 3 years because of the normally high pressure and work load on the aortic valve.

Your scar is a minor thing, I promise, this minimally invasive surgery can be a total disaster. I had a college professor who ended up losing a lung and having a clot is the other one after having heart surgery using the minimally invasive tech. There are several ways to decrease the visibility of a large scar. Mine is 18 inches long and barely noticeable. I used a thing called Curad scar therapy. This is an over the counter product that is in most drug stores in the bandage section. I plan to use it again after my next surgery.

If I can answer any of your questions please feel free to ask. There are a lot of people here who can give you a world of information sometimes more than the doctors or nurses , simply because they have been through this surgery, some several times, and know first hand. By the way, the worrying about the surgery does not get any better the second time.

Lettitia

 

[lemdonuts]

Dear Caroline and Lettitia thank you for your imput. I've made my descision and will see what the cath discovers -- have to be at HMC at 7:30am -- long drive from here I might go to my mom's in Philad and leave from there then only 2 hours away. If I have cad then off to HMC -- I really like that hospital -- great setting and great care.

This week I have been keeping busy doing a million things i.e. cleaning the house, paying bills, getting my hair done, going to the dentist, sending out invoices, shopping, and sending out invoices. Keeping busy so don't have time to dwell on the future. Have also been walking and going to church.

Whatever the outcome I am in God's hands! It seems God has been right next to me the whole time.

I have somewhat and emphasis is on somewhat come to terms with having a bad heart valve. I've always been told I had a strong heart yet here it is letting me down -- Heart desease! ugh how awful yet when I think about it the "enjine" is still strong it is only the valve that is bad and as with all engines were are going in for a valve job! Some of my trucks have had engine overhauls at 2.5 million miles and are still "ticking" so same with my heart!!!
I have been in mouring so to speak but onece I fiqured this out I can accept it a little better!

What is this Curad scare therapy?

You will do fine Lettita with your surgery a preist once told me thatmanxiety is nothing more than worry about and irration thought!! the reality is never what we think!!!

The one good thing about my bad valve is that it is helping me to control my stress! How ?!?!?!? Well when I get stressed out I cannot breath so in order to breath I MUST CALM DOWN!!! I think this is the best part!!!! I am a highly stressed out person sooo there is good in every dark cloud you just must find it.

 

[TIM W.]

Lem, my scar is only 6" long. I am using vitamin E oil on it. Just think, compared to just a very few years ago, my 6" scar would now be minimally invasive!

By the way, you mentioned having heart disease. My AVR was the result of a birth defect. I don't, and didn't, consider myself as having heart disease. My heart is more "normal" now than it was for my first 43 years! Good luck on your tests and surgery. Tim

 

[lemdonuts]

Thanks Tim !! I am exhausted right now have been doing sooooooo much these last few days it is starting to catah up wih me! Frankly i have put the surgery on back burner if i were to think about it it would drive me crazy!!!

My body on Monday will decide which way to go!!!

I just bought 48 plants that i must get into the ground before dark -- I'm dragging -- It finally has dawned on me that I do have a problem I have been ignoring it for sooooooo long i.e. when i get tired which I thought I was lazy I would got on the computer because I was bored!!!

it is hard for people around me to understand what is going on!!!! I have always been the care taker for everyone
!!! oh well in a few more days I will be able to rest!!! I might add that I went for an hour walk today and I think that might have tired me too! well on to do my gardening and wash!!! Later tonight I've got invoices to write!!! and tomorrow pack!!! Got my work cut out!!