I am having one tomorrow, just wondering what it is like.

I don't know anything about them, but I wish you all the best luck with it. Doctors can do amazing things these days!

I have my first one scheduled for the 29th of this month

Good luck with your procedures , Nittany & Kevin. We will keep you in our prayers!

Is this for the aortic valve repair or something else?

Yes, but not a repair it, will be a replacement.

So, I wanted to reply to your earlier post but I was banned at the time. Did you ever say if you were getting a valve from an animal, or a mechanical one? My dad has had both.

He first got one from, I believe it was a cow. That lasted him about 10 years, and then it too went bad. The second time he opted for the mechanical one. He said he liked it less as he could feel/hear it clicking which wasn't the case with the animal valve.

Both times they had to cut him open pretty good to replace the valve, and he was in the hospital for a few day afterwards. But he recovered well both times.

Now the last time was at least 5 years ago, so the process may be less invasive these days.

I was told the valve would be from a cow.

I don’t know much about the procedure at all but I’m wishing you the very best! Stay calm and sing!!
“I would stay young and chipper, and I’d lock it with a zipper;
If I only had a heart!”

Big Hugs buddy!!

Good Luck, my Friend!

We'll say a prayer!

But from what I hear, these are pretty routine anymore...Get well soon!

GOD be with you

Thanks C-trap

Praying for you Jim!

I had a cardiac catheterization a week before my open heart surgery back in February. They were hoping to put some stents in to open up the blockages in the arteries to my heart. Turns out the blockage were too bad so they didn't do the stents, scheduled me for surgery instead.

The catheterization was an outpatient procedure and I was awake throughout with only a mild sedative and local anesthesia. They told me they would either go in my groin or my wrist and they prepped both areas. The doctor chose my wrist.

It was easy-peasy and I went back to work two days later.

You'll be fine Nittany.

Good luck, Jim.

Good luck.Praying

they went up my leg , no problems,

Amen

Good luck Nit!

Good luck. Hope you the best

N L How did it go for you? Prayer sent. Do not blow the plug!!!! I have had several, blew the plug one time what a mess. I pray they find and repair the problem while they are in there.

My friend had a valve replacement done over 7 years ago. He had to take it easy for a couple of months, but is well and doing fine since. He will have to take blood thinners (Warfarin) for the rest of his life, which is no big deal according to him. I have lunch with him every week. It's amazing what cardiologists can do these days.

Prayers for you guys.

Thinking positive thoughts for you today Jim. Hang in there buddy!

I have had one. Asked the doctor if I could watch the monitor. He said I wouldn’t recognize anything. He was correct. No problems during or after the procedure.

Do you have flutter or AFIB? I have had both.

Heal up fast...

You'll know for sure tomorrow! Good luck with that!

They did mine as exploratory, outpatient procedure, went up thru the groin. Sedated, conscience but unaware. All went well, check all the previous bypasses (all clean) and valves, they put a few stents in secondary branch arteries. Only problem was a bit of extra bleeding from the blood thinners (6x Plavix) post procedure. Ended up in recovery for an extra hour before they would release me.

It was a long day. Started at 10:00 AM and was finally released at 5:30 PM, the good news is there was no blockade so they can proceed with the valve replacement. They had trouble getting the bleeding stopped and would not let me go until they were satisfied. I was not to use my arm for anything and I have restrictions for a few days, luckily for me it was my left arm, they tried the right arm first but it wasn't goi ng to work. I want to thank everyone for their well wishes and prayers.

Glad to hear you're home, take care buddy!!

Nittany Lion. Thank you for the update.

Good news.Do what the doctor tells you and get well.

Glad it's all working out Jim

Thanks for the update, Nittany. I'm glad this worked out for you.

Great news Jim! Hope you recovery goes smoothly.

Good news! Hope all continues to go well for you.

Glad to hear the first part of your procedure went okay. Rest up and God Bless

Good luck with it. Ex fater in law had it done through the groin. Laying still was the worst part he said.

Glad to hear things went well. Hope your on the road to full recovery!

Awesome News! Rest and be well soon!

Great news! Now take it easy and rest even though it's hard to keep a good man down. Prayers for a speedy recovery.

Whew. Glad your still here. Amazing what can be fixed nowadays.

Good luck with your surgery. I had a heart catherization done and they found I had a defective aortic heart valve when I was 62. We monitored for 3 years and in 2013 I had my 1.25 inch aortic valve replaced with some bovine pericardium. Still working today. They watch annually now after 10 years as their expected life is around 15 years. The good news they can put a liner in now through my groin! No opening up the chest. 8 weels of no more than a gallon of milk for lifting until the chest got healed up. Recovery went well and my activity levels are good. Valve is working well. Had another catherization last December, valve is good but I have 50% blockage in the main artery which was not there 13 years ago. Not enough for a stent but no have been put on a statan even though my bad cholesterol is not real high.

Bryce