Living with Aortic Stenosis

Hi, I just had found out a year ago that I had Aortic Stenosis and it was pretty bad and I needed surgery soon… I was in utter shock and couldn’t believe what I was hearing but it finally sank it when I went on a high altitude hike and started having chest pains. Before that I had never had any problems with my heart and I do not have any heart problems that run in my family. I’m a hiking, kayaker, and swing dancer and did notice that I could not keep up with everyone else but thought maybe I need to be in better shape not thinking it could be related to my heart. I had heart surgery last September 2009 at the 3rd best place for heart operations and it went great. I did have a big decision to make regarding either cow or mechanical heart valve.

I chose a cow valve because I rather not take coumadin.. After doing some research I’m finding that people are having problems with taking coumadin. I’m in my 40’s and I don’t know anyone (except my friends parents) who is on coumadin and they are not active and have no side effects. And I don’t want to change my active lifestyle.

I did go to cardiac rehab and that really helped me get moving after surgery and did take 2 months off work to fully recover. I felt better and got some energy back after 6 weeks. I didn’t have much pain only discomfort.

For anyone that is facing surgery, this one is a major surgery and is quite a
doosy..and I’m so glad it’s over. I really hated the tube down the throat and that was my worst memory from the surgery and also had a bad shoulder pain that was more painful than my incision (it was the way they laid me on the surgical table and my should and back was very painful) and the chest tubes being removed was also a weird experience but was painful but only for a few minutes.

Because of a lack of beds I was in the ICU 5 days and it wasn’t that bad. I was never in that much pain and I was just was uncomfortable and couldn’t wait to get home so I would not be woken up every morning for my morning check x-ray.

I discouraged visitors from coming to visit but I did have friends that worked at the hospital and couldn’t discourage them from visiting but they visited just a short time ..I didn’t want to get sick and when I got home was very strick about no visitors. I learned to stay away from people and I was really tough with all the people who had requested to come and visit..and the result is that I never got sick.

It’s been 7 months and I’ve been back to work and feeling great!!!
I feel very blessed that this was caught in time : )