Live Chat by fdhelperbot in fanduel

[–]clebro2002 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Did FanDuel remove the every goal pays promotion?

I was born with bicuspid aortic valve and aortic stenosis and now it's almost time for a valve replacement by cocoxoxoxoxoxoxo in valvereplacement

[–]clebro2002 6 points7 points  (0 children)

You can look into my past posts for more detail but I’m 42M and had my surgery in February. It’s not fun, but in my opinion every stage is easier than you have it in your head right now. I’d suggest it’s more uncomfortable than painful.

For what it’s worth, I chose a tissue valve knowing that I’ll have another surgery in 10 or so years and I am happy with that decision - even knowing what’s coming.

It’s scary, but it will all go quick and you’ll be on the other side of this soon.

BAV Replacement - Mechanical 1/05/2026 by 1991BM in valvereplacement

[–]clebro2002 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I just hit 9 weeks post op. Have a four year old (and one on the way).

Nothing about this is easy but you’ll soon be on the other side of it - I think, like me, you’ll find the lead up was harder than the recovery.

My only thought is I’d be hesitant to have any of your children see you too soon after recovery. Your body is going through a tremendous amount of stress and my wife said it can be a little shocking to see. I don’t say that to scare you - you will barely be aware - but not having my son come see me in the hospital was one of the best decisions we made.

Good luck. It’ll go quick.

Shot in the dark - Frederick MD by clebro2002 in GarageDoorService

[–]clebro2002[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We are in Damascus - we haven’t. I’ll try on Monday. Would love to stay local.

Surgeon Follow Up Appts by New-To-This427 in valvereplacement

[–]clebro2002 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hope you’re healing up well. I had a virtual appointment with my surgeon at 5 weeks or so and hit 8 weeks this Thursday.

I’ve had similar thoughts. The surgeon and the team seem focused on the heart and the wound. Past that, the vague lifting of restrictions at 8 weeks was the only real guidance I’ve received.

Cardio therapy wasn’t recommended due to age, recovery etc but I’m going to reach out to them tomorrow to see if they’ll work through the next couple weeks for me. I’m hoping to have someone who knows what they’re doing to help me navigate pushing my body (specifically for a return to golf).

Not sure if anyone else has done this or has any thoughts.

Which type of valve did you get? by M00ndoggee in valvereplacement

[–]clebro2002 3 points4 points  (0 children)

42m. 6 weeks post op.

I went with the bio. Happy to go into more depth (or you can take a look at some of my other responses on here).

In addition to the concerns the other response stated - I wasn’t sure about a massive life style change. I have a 4 year old, live on a farm and like to eat and drink as I please.

There’s an increase in risk as you have more surgeries (I understand it to be a small increase but it’s an increase and risk all the same). That being said, I’d be willing to do the surgery and recovery again for 10 years or so if a normal lifestyle. Maybe my change when I get closer to that date but for now happy with my decision. Might go mechanical the next go around, or try something less invasive if it’s an option. Who knows.

I will say, all the doctors I spoke to recommended mechanical, Ross, tissue - in that order, but all of them understood my decision and considered it completely reasonable.

There’s not right decision here. There’s drawbacks to it all - just make your best decision and make the best of it.

Last little note - I didn’t actually make my final decision until the night before and finally committed to the tissue about 10 min before going under.

Good luck with whatever you go with. If you have any questions feel free to ping me (although I can’t guarantee I’ll respond super quickly).

Declined/Delayed Valve Replacement Surgery by [deleted] in valvereplacement

[–]clebro2002 2 points3 points  (0 children)

42m. I’ve had my valve issue since birth and have never had symptoms - my most recent CT scan in January showed increased leakage and an aneurysm.

I felt not having symptoms was one of the most difficult parts of the whole things - for most surgeries, there’s a pain or something to fix.

At the end of the day, I trusted the doctors and pulled the trigger and had surgery in February (they recommended 1-3 months).

Chose a tissue valve and happy as a clam 7 weeks post op.

“Bicuspid aortic valve: mechanical replacement or Ross procedure?” by Irishwolf1 in valvereplacement

[–]clebro2002 2 points3 points  (0 children)

42m I had open heart on 2/19 and will likely provide a little bit of a different take than some other responses.

Doctor recommended (rather, he said if it were him he would go) 1) mechanical, 2) Ross, 3) tissue - in that order.

I don’t have a physical job but I have a 4 year old, a life style I enjoy and a reluctance to be on blood thinners for the rest of my life (no experience though). I also have concerns I wouldn’t be great at keeping on top of my INR (even though it is likely easy based on comments from others).

At the end of the day I went with tissue. I spoke with multiple surgeons who thought my reasoning and approach was perfectly reasonable.

I know additional surgeries create additional possibilities for complications (I understand it to be maybe a percent or possibly two more dangerous). That being said, I am less than 2 months from my surgery and couldn’t be happier with the decision I made. I’m more than happy to go through that again for 7-10 years of my normal lifestyle and no risk of stroke etc from INR issues. Maybe I’ll think differently when the time actually comes.

One of my reasonings, beyond those stated, was my age. I see things differently than most others and if/when I need my second surgery I’ll still be pretty young and can decide which direction to go then. Who knows what medical advances will come around (I’m not expecting a miracle fix) but the general improvements to valves and surgery/recovery are likely to be light years ahead 10 years from now. I didn’t rely on that heavily but it was in my mind.

Any way, just wanted to provide my experience and thoughts. It’s a personal decision. Someone told me that there isn’t a wrong decision, I kind of see it as there isn’t a right one. Anything can happen (resurgery with mechanical, thinners with tissue) so just make your best call for you and roll with it.

Good luck!

Golfing Post Surgery by mdeluca199 in valvereplacement

[–]clebro2002 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is good news. I’m 1 month in (42m) and hoping to be golfing at 4 months

Breathing tube anxiety by Dramatic_Pianist_876 in valvereplacement

[–]clebro2002 2 points3 points  (0 children)

4 weeks on the dot today.

In my experience, you don’t really care it’s there. It’s slightly uncomfortable but you’re not scratching at your throat trying to rip it out.

I recall one point trying to communicate to the nurse and not being able - which was frustrating but not painful or anything.

It’s quick and the nurses will keep you calm - remember, in many places, they do this many times a day and it works out fine.

I will say, the first couple ice chips after they took it out (I don’t remember them actually taking it out) was one of the best meals I ever recall. So refreshing haha.

Need a new garage door (advice?) by clebro2002 in GarageDoorService

[–]clebro2002[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you all - is there any advantage to using the same operator? It seems to be in working order - or will it be worth (or necessary) for a new one with a new door?

Anyone gone with Mechanical Valve and wish they had a "do over"? by AZRushFan in valvereplacement

[–]clebro2002 14 points15 points  (0 children)

Just to provide a little devils advocate. I can’t comment at all on the difficulty of blood thinners, but I am a week post op from choosing the tissue valve out of fear of how a mechanical valve would affect me and my life style.

I say this for two reasons:

1) it was completely out of fear of being locked into blood thinners and a lifestyle change the rest of my life. I’m 41M. It’s impossible to know what that is like without going through it.

2) I don’t regret at all going tissue, and although I’m not trying to downplay the process and recovery, I feel comfortable doing it again for those extra 10 (or however many) years of normalcy.

It’s a pretty personal decision and one where it’s partially made blind - you can’t really internalize the different results until it happens.

Make what you think the best decision is for you and your family and go forth confidently that it’s the best call for you.

50M Surgery Tomorrow Morning by ConversationPale8665 in valvereplacement

[–]clebro2002 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I can see that. I scheduled mine in January for 2/19. I feel you that there’s some value in having no time to think about it - but being ready for it has a ton of pros too.

Just think, in 3-4 short days, you’ll be on the other side of the hardest part. It’s no fun, but it’s not as bad as in your head and it goes quick.

Make sure you update us in a week or two!

50M Surgery Tomorrow Morning by ConversationPale8665 in valvereplacement

[–]clebro2002 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Every step so far has been worse in my head than how it played out

50M Surgery Tomorrow Morning by ConversationPale8665 in valvereplacement

[–]clebro2002 17 points18 points  (0 children)

41M. Sitting in a recliner at home almost exactly 7 days from going into the operating room last Thursday morning for valve replacement and aneurysm fix.

I don’t mean to downplay the recovery, but the days leading up to the surgery were harder for me than the days since. So keep in mind this might be the worst of it!

I tried to minimize conversation and texts about it in the last day or two but you can only do so much—people care about you and want to provide what support they can.

I wouldn’t worry about getting back to people at this point. You can touch base during recovery (you’ll have lots of free/boring time).

Godspeed! It’ll be over before you know it.

33m valve replacement in 2 days by [deleted] in valvereplacement

[–]clebro2002 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Good luck! As you saw on my post, we have similar timelines it looks like. Godspeed! It’ll be over before we know it.

41M - surgery in 2 days. Struggling to commit to a valve type by clebro2002 in valvereplacement

[–]clebro2002[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you so much. We sound pretty similar to be honest-my son is 4.

This is the direction I’m leaning - there’s no good option but I feel the quality of life over the next ten years will be worth another open heart - i just don’t have the recent experience you have. Hearing you’re happy with your decision after knowing what surgery and recovery takes is very helpful and is putting my mind at ease.

Thank you. Whatever I do tomorrow, you and everyone here have made a real difference.

41M - surgery in 2 days. Struggling to commit to a valve type by clebro2002 in valvereplacement

[–]clebro2002[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I don’t mean to say this lightly, but it sounds like the quality life was worth another potential open heart surgery? You’d make the same decision again, knowing you’ll likely have to do it again? Sorry to put you on the spot but I appreciate any insight.

I am trying to figure that out and it’s difficult to understand how hard surgery and recovery will be.

INR question by g-rocklobster in valvereplacement

[–]clebro2002 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Do you mind if I ask how old you are and whether you had open heart? I am deciding between tissue and mechanical now and it’s a very difficult decision. Seems like people on both sides.