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Michael's Posts

Diagnosis: Aortic Regurgitation

Member Since: August 23, 2024

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Michael O'connell posted an update

1 year ago (October 4, 2024)

Iâ€™m going to have SAVR soon. I am very healthy except for my valve disease. Realistically, how much time will pass before I can do light household chores, such as cooking or the laundry. I will have a six week restriction on the use of my arms, but those activities... Read more.

Marie Myers

I was able to do light things around the house after the first 2 weeks. There was a lot of napping going on until thenâ€¦

Brady Busch

For me,the limitations for using the arms were,not raising them above my head and for support,such as using the toilet or getting in or out of bed. There are videos online about what to expect at home recovering.Also,physical therapists will likely visit,at the hospital,after surgery. Michael,I just read about your... Read more.

Michael O'connell

Mine will be done by the UW medical staff but at the VA facility in Seattle. They want me to go to Evergreen for phase 2 cardiac rehab rehabilitation after surgery. My surgery is going to be on November 4

Michael O'connell

Thanks for telling me about your experiences. Iâ€™ll have the same arm restrictions. As you, Brady. Glad to hear that you were able to do light duty after two weeks, Marie. Thatâ€™s encouraging

J Alexander Lassally

Do you have a choice in having it at UW versus the VA? It seems like it is "your heart surgery" - can you influence them for that? Best of luck.

Brady Busch

The surgeon that did mine was Dr Lara Oyetunji,who is the chief of cardiac surgery for the Puget Sound VA.She was accompanied by Dr Gabriel Aldea.

Yumiko Ishida

I suggest you anticipate having to stick to T. rex arms during the timeframe your surgeon imposes a restriction. You might be able to do some things but donâ€™t plan on it. Take baby steps. At one point I decided I didnâ€™t need help turning on the shower, only to... Read more.

Susan Dunne

I started mild household chores...cooking, dishwashing at 3 weeks as soon as I got home from cardiac acute rehab. No hands over head till 6 weeks.

Susan Dunne

By the way I am 83. Surgery was in Feb. This year

Michael O'connell posted an update

1 year ago (September 29, 2024)

I have looked for information on the difference in short-term and long-term outcomes for SVAR vs. minimally invasive aortic valve replacement (not TVAR). I canâ€™t find anything that can tell me this. Can someone provide a link to a website or a research paper that provides this information? Did any... Read more.

Max Jam

I believe it has to do with recovery. Bone takes 6-8 weeks to heal (like a fracture).

Rose Madura

I may or may not be correct but other than what Max said, the healing of the heart should be the same no matter which method. Either way, you heart has been operated on.

Michael O'connell

Thanks. Do you know which method has the most reliable and longest valve lifespan? Which has the fewest complications?

Michael O'connell posted an update

1 year ago (September 22, 2024)

A cautionary tale about general practitioners. I have had wide pulse pressure for months. My systolic has been around 130 and my diastolic around 53. I pointed out the low diastolic to my GP a number of times. He said I was just getting old. I read about how low... Read more.

❤️ Rose Madura, Grace Mason and reacted to this

Richard Munson

👍👍👍 On being own health advocate

Richard Munson

Whenever they say its old age, start running.

Marie Myers

I am curious if the GP ever heard a murmur?

Michael O'connell

He never mentioned he heard a murmurðŸ˜¶

Ana Brusso

Michael, Congratulations on being your own health advocate. Marie, are murmurs always from regurgitation? I have heard that if you are anemic. Is that true?

Marie Myers

Anna- Murmurs can result from any change to blood flow, whether from regurgitation, stenosis , or a hole between the chambers. I donâ€™t think anemia can cause a murmur, but it can cause feeling faint or dizzy due to lack of oxygen carrying capacity. I had a very faint diastolic... Read more.

Ana Brusso

Thank you Marie.ðŸ‘ðŸ˜

Susan Dunne

Heart murders are not always from regurgitation. I had a heart murmur all my life and it was considered "functional" from birth. I have had savr for aortic stenosis and now have no stenosis in that area. The heart murmur I believe was from a stiff mitral valve. Still no... Read more.

Susan Dunne

Meant murmur