Kelsey's Posts

Diagnosis: Aortic Regurgitation, Aortic Stenosis, Bicuspid Aortic Valve

Member Since: April 7, 2015

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Kelsey Ballard posted an update
5 years ago (December 17, 2020)
Kind of hard to believe, but my valve has been replaced. The TAVR was successful with a 26mm Edwards Sapien placed. One of my worries was a PPM but no pacemaker needed. My heart is still adjusting but I am back home. I am sore and feel like I got... Read more.
Kelsey - You did it! It's all behind you, now. Take your time to relax and recover. You'll see progress before you know it. All the best! ❤
Congrats! You made it! I have have the same valve in the same size you do.
Kelsey, you are on the recovery side, congratulations. Take it one day at a time and continued recovery. God bless you
Kelsey Ballard posted an update
5 years ago (December 6, 2020)
Update to my last post. My surgery is scheduled for 12/16/20 and will be the TAVR. After thinking it over and speaking to my surgeon, we decided that this would be a good option for me (with full knowledge I will require open heart surgery in the future.) It’s coming... Read more.
Kelsey, you made the best decision for you and your situation. You will do fine. We will be here for you when you come out of the TAVR and into recovery. God bless you
Kelsey Ballard posted an update
5 years ago (November 25, 2020)
I haven’t been very good about checking back on my previous journal posts, although I frequent the website pretty often and read Adam’s newsletters. However, it’s now time to replace the valve. I have become a bit symptomatic and, while the insufficiency has actually decreased, my stenosis is severe. I... Read more.
I guess my question would be if I have a TAVR now will the next be an open? You are young and you wonder how many surgeries the body can take. If they think TAVR is safe and the valve lasts a good amount of time. I’d go with that.... Read more.
Kelsey - It's definitely a big decision especially at your young age. I can't blame you for not wanting a mechanical valve, but with the current bio choices, you'd be looking at multiple replacements over the next five, six, maybe seven decades. I would ask your surgeon how many valve-in-valve... Read more.
OHS sucks. No getting around it. Although at this point it sounds like you might just be delaying the inevitable. So maybe just ask yourself if you’d prefer a larger scale operation now, later, or perhaps multiple interventions over the next few years? You are very young so it’s great... Read more.
Kelsey, I had a TAVR in 2017 at the age of 59. I was in the hospital less than 24 hours. It truly is a remarkable procedure. So far, no problems. I know down the line I will need another procedure, perhaps a valve in valve. Prayers your way.
Hi Kelsey, you have a tough choice and it is a personal one so I don't want to speculate what I'd do in your place. I know there are many young people on this site who went with mechanical and have done well. But with the technology changing as we... Read more.
Your choice is hard. With either TAVR or OHS tissue at age 32 you'll be having more surgery in 5 years or more... At this point no one knows how long TAVRs last in young patients. You will need multiple TAVRs or go back to OHS tissue after a TAVR.... Read more.

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