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Any way to treat aortic stenosis besides valve replacement surgery?

Anyone who has been through heart surgery? What is it like?

  • I'm eighteen, and I was born with aortic stenosis. It has since caused the development of a thoracic aortic aneurysm, and I'm currently be followed every six months with a three hour MRI to see where it is at. They are currently waiting for it to grow another half centimeter or so before operating. Basically, I know by now that open heart surgery is inevitable- it's now just a matter of when. I've been doing much better since I originally found out, but I'm still scared, and I know I'll be scared out of my mind when it actually does happen. My surgeons are pretty much stuck on a Bentall procedure, but my cardiologist is actually hoping to possibly push for them to consider a valve sparing operation, since my native valve was working decently fine for a stenotic valve. Either way, can someone tell me what to expect? Your thoughts and feelings beforehand, family's thoughts and feelings beforehand, what it was like to go under anesthesia, recovery, how painful it was, etc.? Thank you.

  • Answer:

    It's perfectly OK to have sedation IV before surgery. You will have to ask for this. You may even want some before this at home. It is possible to repair the valve depending upon its state. So that would be helpful if it can be done. You will have so much more energy after this is done. The surgery itself does not require that much time in the hospital. Use a Patient Controlled Analgesia pump if possible. Called a PCA pump. You hit a button to give yourself a shot of pain medicine. Works very well. There won't be as much pain as you expect, although day 1 is tough.

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It's perfectly OK to have sedation IV before surgery. You will have to ask for this. You may even want some before this at home. It is possible to repair the valve depending upon its state. So that would be helpful if it can be done. You will have so much more energy after this is done. The surgery itself does not require that much time in the hospital. Use a Patient Controlled Analgesia pump if possible. Called a PCA pump. You hit a button to give yourself a shot of pain medicine. Works very well. There won't be as much pain as you expect, although day 1 is tough.

mildred f

You;ll be laid up a while. You are only 18 so recovery will be quicker for you. - triple bypass open heart surgery last December, 56 years old. I'm back to about 95%.

emgee

hey you should email me! im 18 years old and i was also born with aortic stenosis. I also have a bicuspid aortic valve, aortic regurgitation and enlargement of my ascending aorta and aortic root(beginning of an aneurysm). I am going in for a cardiac cath on April 23rd and then they are thinking about doing the ross procedure this summer. Im pretty scared also. But more for the cath(since i will be awake) then for the actual surgery. From friends i have heard that the back/shoulders hurt more then the chest but its not that painful. I have heard people feeling a bit sick/groggy/irritated after waking up. Also i was told that it can be kind of scary to wake up and still have the ventilator attatched. I have also been told that they wanted lots of ice chips :p Someone told me that they can give you some meds so that you dont remember right before the surgery when they are putting you under. They also give you relaxing meds so your not so nervous. I was told to get up and walk as quickly as you can because it speeds up your recovery.

Carly

hey you should email me! im 18 years old and i was also born with aortic stenosis. I also have a bicuspid aortic valve, aortic regurgitation and enlargement of my ascending aorta and aortic root(beginning of an aneurysm). I am going in for a cardiac cath on April 23rd and then they are thinking about doing the ross procedure this summer. Im pretty scared also. But more for the cath(since i will be awake) then for the actual surgery. From friends i have heard that the back/shoulders hurt more then the chest but its not that painful. I have heard people feeling a bit sick/groggy/irritated after waking up. Also i was told that it can be kind of scary to wake up and still have the ventilator attatched. I have also been told that they wanted lots of ice chips :p Someone told me that they can give you some meds so that you dont remember right before the surgery when they are putting you under. They also give you relaxing meds so your not so nervous. I was told to get up and walk as quickly as you can because it speeds up your recovery.

Carly

You;ll be laid up a while. You are only 18 so recovery will be quicker for you. - triple bypass open heart surgery last December, 56 years old. I'm back to about 95%.

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