Don's Profile

Diagnosis: Tricuspid Regurgitation, Tricuspid Stenosis

Member Since: March 17, 2019

Send Don a Note

About Me

Hello. This is the first time for me to write this all down and try to figure out.why i feel this way. So here it goes.... April 2011 had my first tricuspid heart valve transplant with pig bovine. I had gotten endocarditis infection in my heart my lungs my knee and ankle. I was a drug addict for 12 years and been clean now ever since april 2011 my surgery. I was a 38 year old contractor and master plumber. I really bounced back and went back to life like normal about 8 months later. Then in Dec of 2015 i felt down and exhusted and my monthly ehco showed my replacement valve was closing. After blood thinners after heart caths. After valvopastic stretching trying to.open it and 2 months in hospital i had my second tricuspid valve transplat with cow bovine this time. Also beimg sick i was retaining water like crazy before the surgery. I went from 260 to 300lbs. Ever simce my surgery i did not lose any of it. That was 2 years ago and now im gaining more.water weight.again.. Im 340 as of today. I talk 120 mlgs. Of lasiks daily and that just geta me.to night. So the extra weight and my copd and some breathing problems i talk to my.cardio. doctor and they want me to go through the er to start iv water lasiks. I am scared to go back into the hospital because i barely made it out the last surgery. After my second surgery i had total heart blockage and wouldnt get off a resperater for 3 days. Then my wife oked from them to put in a pacemaker and finally i woke up. But.i was not all there. I couldnr remember my kids names or ages or what year or day it was. All i remember was everything lookes like yellow for some reason and i hummed when sitting up. I really scared my wife 2 more days in icu acting like that. Finally i come out of a fog and it.all hit me and i remembered. 6 days later i went home. But i feel total exhausting and like i said i am full of water.. I dont feel the same way like my first surgery. I am forgetting things and lose consintraightion easyly. I just am so.lost now and dont want to go in hospjtal again. I dont think i would make it through a 3rd surgery if it came to that.. I am 48 years old and feel like 80 now. Does anyone else feel like this? I know.im depressed from feeling like half a man i use to be.. What should i do? It gets so hard living with CHF left side ontop of other health issues. I eat a good diet and no junk. Im just so tired of being sick and tired if u can understand that. Any opinions greatly appreciated. Thanks for reading. God bless u all.
  • story1
    I am from: Brooklawn, NJ, United States
  • story2
    My surgery date was: February 15, 2016
  • story3
    I was diagnosed with: Tricuspid Regurgitation, Tricuspid Stenosis
  • story4
    My surgery was: Tricuspid Valve Replacement, Pacemaker Implant
  • story5
    My doctor is: Dr. John Highbloom
  • story6
    My hospital is: 1st Temple 2nd was at Cooper both NJ

Upcoming Surgeries

Jane Schappell
Aortic Stenosis
May 13, 2026
Margaret Devenney
Aortic Stenosis
May 14, 2026
Chris Freyer
Mitral Regurgitation
May 15, 2026

Adam's Video Library

Adam's Video Library

Learn about heart valve surgery and patient success stories at Adam's video library.

Surgeon Finder

Surgeon Finder

Find and research over 1,500 patient-recommended heart valve surgeons.