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Diagnosis: Aortic Regurgitation, Aortic Stenosis, Bicuspid Aortic Valve, Aortic Aneurysm

Member Since: April 3, 2012

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Jeniver Piatt posted an update

5 years ago (December 17, 2020)

Hello heart-valve warriors!! I will be 5 mths post-op on Dec. 21. I had my aortic valve replaced and had my aneurysm grafted. I have been feeling just about like my old self for about 3mths now. I made my running goal and completed a 5mi run before I was... Read more.

👍 Someone, Steven Methot and reacted to this

John Roland

If it's the rocket ships, I am 9 months post op from the same surgery and I still get them. My problem is the ocular migraines with the flashing lights and broken glass that last 45 minutes. I get one every 4-5 days. Saw my neurologist and he told me... Read more.

Marie Myers

Yes, I also had many dozens of auras, or optical migraines in the days, weeks and months following heart surgery. Thankfully they decreased with time, and I only get them occasionally now. I knew what they were because I had a history of migraines as a teenager, but I can... Read more.

Rose Madura

I too have the auras but not as often as time goes on. I also has worsenimg Nearsightedness most likely from Amiodadrone.

Nancy W

I had an episode about 3 days home from surgery where I lost lower half of vision in one eye for a few moments and before that experienced a shimmery feeling - went to ER for fear it was a stroke. They did MRI of my brain and no stroke.... Read more.

Phyllis Petersen

I'm still getting the optical migraines a little more than 4 years later, but they have greatly lessened. I had full-on migraines for most of my adult life, so the optical ones, although a little annoying, are soooo much better. They usually last 20-30 minutes.

Jeniver Piatt posted an update

5 years ago (August 26, 2020)

hello there!!! Well, it's been awhile. About 8 years ago I found out I needed heart surgery eventually. I am a 46 year old female that just HAD my tricuspid valve replaced and aneurysm graphed (I had a birth defect, my tricuspid valve only had two leaflets). I am 5 weeks post-op. I had my surgery done at the Advent Hospital by Dr. Kevin Accola on July 21, 2020. I am so thankful that I got to have 1 person come into the hospital with me. Covid has made the entire process more difficult. I basically quarantined for like 4 months before surgery, since I found out that I was going to need it. Back in the beginning of May, (after going through my usually scheduled yearly echo) my cardiologist informed me that my stenosis from last year to this year went from 22 to 40 and that it was time to call my surgeon. After that, I had to wait like 3 weeks (all waiting was do to Covid and the dr. offices were taking a quarter of their patients) I had to get a heart cath done and then I sent my results to Dr. Accola. I got in about 3 weeks later and then at that appointment we scheduled my surgery. It was brutal. No lie. I am an avid exerciser (5 days a week), I teach Health and PE and coach volleyball for both indoor regular season and travel volleyball. And it was rough. I went into surgery, kinda relaxed, not crazy nervous. And didn't realize the challenges ahead of me. A lot of pain!! (the chest tubes were the worst!!) and I didn't like how loopy my brain was and still is from both the anesthesia and narcotics they gave me. My memory is still affected from the anesthesia. (so I apologize if my writing doesn't make total sense) I only took the narcotic pain meds through day 3 in the hospital and then relied on Tylenol until about 3 weeks post-op. Lots of little challenges and victories to go with them. The little challenges were things like plugging my iPhone to my charger was to much chest movement right when I got home, walking and balance a challenge without a walker, moving quickly...not even a thing. But...it does get better. EVERY WEEK IS A HUGE IMPROVEMENT!! At 4 weeks, I was independent. I can now shower by myself standing up, cook, I can do small loads of laundry, feed the dogs and let them out, drive small distances (I haven't tried going to far), and have been doing work from home. I'm doing great right now, but I still have moments of light headedness throughout the day (the dr. said that will get better and better). I have been walking since I got home and now ride my stationary bike. I signed up for cardiac rehab classes and they start Sept. 4th. I'm still on a baby aspirin and amiodarone until the 6th week. I went through a full day and night of AFIB (that really sucked) and one other time when I got home at week 2. Please let me know if there is anyone that needs questions answered about having surgery during these crazy times. I just did it. And just know, that..."this too shall pass"

👍 Pat Bluemel, Rose Madura and reacted to this

Pat Bluemel

Your foggy head may also be post perfusion pump syndrome. I have suffered from it for both surgeries. Like you, I was Tylenol on day three just can't take the narcs etc they pump into me. I've been doing puzzles and brain games trying to get through the fog. Happy... Read more.

Adam Pick

No doubt. This too shall pass. You just brought back so many memories of my early recovery. Know that you are on the right path. I really think that cardiac rehab was a GREAT call. Those classes transformed my recovery. Thoughts are with you!

Jeniver Piatt posted an update

12 years ago (September 8, 2013)

well, i went to see my cardiologist in aug., but i am just updating now :( sorry. *my dr. went over MRA results with me and let me know that nothing has changed since my previous test and they consider me stable for now and will now give me my... Read more.