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Diagnosis: Aortic Stenosis, Bicuspid Aortic Valve

Member Since: May 7, 2025

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Martin Smith posted an update

8 months ago (August 17, 2025)

3 months post aorta replacement (Inspiris Resilia) and ASD repair and recovery seems to be going according to plan and the doctors are happy with my progress. Until my next scheduled checkup I have a couple of questions that hopefully this hive mind can help with. 1. I have some... Read more.

❤️ Martin Smith reacted to this

Robert Miller

1) I did have discomfort in that area plus neck, plus lower back mostly because I had to only sleep on my back. After 3 months you should be able to sleep however you want, though. Maybe you got used to sleep in a certain way which still affects your... Read more.

Martin Smith

Robert, thanks so much for such a quick response, you've definitely helped. I have always been fit and healthy (until I wasn't!). From initial diagnosis to waking up after surgery was a total of 4 weeks so I really didn't have any time to dwell on things. Thankfully not having... Read more.

Richard Munson

My right shoulder has never been the same since my 7 hour surgery 4 years ago. I was told that my arm was raised in a somewhat unnatural position the entire time. On the bright side, my mitral valve is still working.

Robert Miller

As Monty Python says: "Always look on the bright side of life"

John Cook

1) I too am having a lot of back stiffness and rib pain as Iâ€™m trying to return to my pre-op level of activity. During the day it usually isnâ€™t bad but it wakes me up at night. At Rehab, they told me itâ€™s the connective tissue between the ribs... Read more.

J Alexander Lassally

Hey -- regarding 2.) there are no rules on the mental health recovery. We are have all been through a war of sorts and we need to let things happen as they happen. I found that the Drs I encountered post surgery were poorly trained to handle any aspect of... Read more.

Martin Smith

A BIG THANK YOU to everyone. Just to know that others have experienced the same or similar really helps. I have a suspicion that I tried to do too much too soon, gonna be taking it a bit easier for now ðŸ˜.All my cardiologists have been great and my GP... Read more.

Martin Smith posted an update

11 months ago (May 16, 2025)

Well, that went from 0 to 100 real quick. At 61 years old, from never knowing of any problem to being diagnosed with calcified bicuspid aorta and an ASD on the 25th April to being 4 days after surgery on the 16th May. I think that's impressively quick.Ouch! But it's... Read more.

Richard Munson

Glad you are better. Hospital food is never 5 star anyplace. Its done on purpose to get you to leave faster.

Richard Munson

Since reading you are from bulgaria, i checked it out on line. Sounds like an interesting place with a varied historical past. I assume you are not a native bulgarian but only base that on your name. Hope you are turning the corner heart wise.

Marie Myers

On the bright side, at least you didnâ€™t have too much time to dwell and worry on the upcoming surgery! Welcome to recovery!!

Pamela Gregory

I have been to Bulgaria twice. Glad you are already on the mend! For me the worse part was waiting and thinking about it. You will do great❤️

Rose Madura

Wonderful news. Glad all is better.

Martin Smith

Thank you everyone for your kind words. And yes Richard, I'm a Brit, I wonder if things would have happened so quickly in the UK

Susan Lynn

Martin - Glad surgery is behind you! Welcome to recovery!!

Fidel Martãnez Ruiz

Very good your news Martin, welcome!!

Martin Smith posted an update

1 year ago (May 9, 2025)

Warfarin!I'm sure I wrote this before but I can't seem to find it.3 weeks in from aortic stenosis diagnosis to surgery (next week) and I'm still trying to process all this I lead a fairly active and boisterous life (no contact sports), and I am really quite concerned about taking... Read more.

Brian Leonard

I have been on warfarin for nearly 6 years with no issues - and Iâ€™m not worried about my valve wearing out like a biological valve - that was the trade off or so Iâ€™ve been told betting on my mechanical valve now

Martin Smith

Hi Brian, Thanks for that. I'm not planning on slashing myself with knives anytime soon ðŸ˜‚ but occasional accidents do happen. And it sounds like more than a sticking plaster might be needed. Any experience of that? Also, currently, I I do like a few glasses of wine or whisky... Read more.

Rita Savelis

I've been on warfarin for 10 years with no issues. I remember being so stressed and worried the first year and then just getting on with my life. There are some special bandages you can buy (forget what they're called) that help one coagulate faster when you get cuts and... Read more.

Rita Savelis

As far as alcohol goes, it's okay to drink just not excessively. So if you drink a lot, perhaps warfarin is a bad choice, but then I guess drinking a lot is a bad choice for many reasons. I drink occasionally - a few glasses of wine or a few... Read more.

Rita Savelis

I'm sorry that you have to make a valve choice - it's not easy for anyone and there is no right or wrong choice. Just the choice you make and then you have to move forward. I imagine you are young (in the cardiac world) if you are thinking of... Read more.

Martin Smith

Rita, thank you thank you so much. Oh and am 61, so I don't know where that puts me on the scale. For me, all this has happened only in the past 3Â½ weeks, it's good that everything is happening so quickly, so I'm told. But it means that everything... Read more.

Susan Lynn

Martin - if you're 61, you may want to consider a bio valve, specifically one that's large enough to accommodate a TAVR, if needed in the future. The newer bio valves have a pretty significant life span and a future TAVR procedure is not as traumatizing as OHS. Just curious... Read more.

Martin Smith

Believe it or not, I haven't spoken to any surgeons yet. Prior to 3 weeks ago,I was a fit and healthy guy, who'd never had any health complaints. I'm going to the cardiology hospital on Monday and hopefully the surgeons there will help me decide the best course of action.

Susan Lynn

Martin- Don't panic, yet. You're just starting your research. It's easy to jump to the conclusion of a mechanical valve and the blood thinners, but that's only one choice. Make a list of your questions for the cardiologist and you can always come back to this site for more input.... Read more.

Susan Lynn

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Rita Savelis

A 2nd or 3rd beer is fine Martin. Cheers!

Martin Smith

Rita...perfect answer, thanks â™¥ï¸

Susan Harris

i was going to say pretty much what susan lynn said-must be in the name. iâ€™d suggest asking surgeon and cardiologist about TAVRs later. a cardiologist at johnâ€™s hopkins said heâ€™s seen a bio tissue valve and then two TAVRs. a surgeon at cleveland clinic told my 26 yr old... Read more.

Robert Miller

I only have been on Warfarin for a very short time as they repaired my valve. However, I am on a blood thinner probably forever. Warfarin is a bit harder to manage but as for bleeding side effects, I have more blue/black spots when I hit something (even if I... Read more.