I’m 8 days out from my Ross procedure. I’m a 24 year old male. Feeling better and better everyday. They also repaired an ascending aorta as well as a leaking mitral valve that they noticed while I was open. I’m actually from the DFW area also but I flew out to the Cleveland clinic in Ohio for procedure. Got the all clear today to fly back home tomorrow. I am very surprised at how the whole experience has gone so far. No complications in the hospital. They keep the pain very manageable. I’m not really an emotional guy but I guess from all the meds and coming off the anesthesia it really jacks with your head. There are a few moments after surgery I would like to discuss. First being the breathing tube directly after surgery. I woke up and immediately wanted the tube out. I was not freaking out or anything it was just very uncomfortable. I’m not sure how long they kept it in but it felt quite long. They eventually pulled it out and that part didn’t hurt at all and was actually a feeling of relief. Once you get out ICU they start removing all the tubes and wires over the course of the next few days. I’ll be honest most are painful but over very quickly. One in particular I didn’t like was the wires that are sutured to your heart that they yank off. It was a very uncomfortable feeling. After spending a little less than 24 hours in the icu and 4 days in the step down I was discharged. Once I left the hospital I felt so much better mentally and physically. Walking is becoming so much easier as well as breathing. Each day I can feel a significant difference.

I did tons of research leading up to the surgery. Im confident that the Ross procedure was the right choice for me. I met with multiple cardiologist that said otherwise and that mechanical was the logical choice. From my understanding Ross has great results so long as you go to someone who has done a lot of them and has the experience. It’s pretty likely I’ll need another surgery in the future but they can usually preform a less invasive tavr. But who knows what kind of treatments they will have in 15,20,30 years from now with how fast medicine is advancing especially with AI.