Aortic Stenosis & Valve Replacement

Johan,
I had an aortic valve replacement last year via TAVR.
Recovery was easy.
You should get a second opinion from a cardiologist at a major university medical center regarding method used to replace the valve. There are reasons to do open heart surgery , but it sounds like you could be a candidate for TAVR.
If you don’t have symptoms now you have time to get more information.
The echocardiogram will tell you what stage you are at now.
My cardiologist reminded me that stenosis will not get better- it will progress.
Before the surgery I got short of breath easily, tired easily and had to rest often.

Thank you for helping me understand.

I am scheduled for a femoral TAVR later this month at Mayo Clinic in Rochester. How soon after this can I drive?

@mone2
I think I was driving after a couple of days.

On August 14th I had a stent put in, then September 27th I had a TAVR put in, then on October 7th I had a pacemaker put in. I went home on October 8th and have had no problem. I'm 82 years old and all was done at the University of Michigan Hospital. They told me the pacemaker was good for 13 years and if the battery lost power, they could replace it. Think they were kidding??

69 year old male. Little to no symptoms. I do pretty much all I want including strenuous work such as volunteering splitting wood for displaced folks in our mountains of NC, and at home because I like too. Have a moderate to severe aortic stenosis. Also have a 70% LAD. Was heading for the TAVR method to replace the heart valve until the run up which included a cath on my arteries revealed to LAD blockage had increased from 40% to 70% over 5 months or so with a few smaller arteries showing some blockage. Bottoms line recommendation is now to do open heart and repair it all at one time. After much thought and prayer I’ve agreed to the open heart as my surgery team says a better overall outcome with longer benefits. Anybody have experience in this. Awaiting a date for the procedure. Can’t stand the thought of open heart but seems the best route.

Yes. Thank you. I am with wake Forrest baptist hospital. Highly credible physicians. Been thru extensive work up to get to here. Was a great candidate for the TAVR was excited about that until layering on the blockage in the LAD. It is because of this that the structural team recommended for better long term outcome to do the open heart. My choice but it’s hard to ignore their collective advice.

Short advice is pursue the TAVR. I was going for that procedure until a blockage in my LAD showed up. Now doing open heart bars in teams opinion for better overall outcome. We’ll see. I dread it.

I understand now why they recommend open.
It looks like they can’t leave the LAD with 70% blockage- bypass needed.
My husband had open heart for coronary bypass- successful. The recovery takes more time, of course.
I remember being told that cath results decide if open heart is needed.

Well, I had the femoral TAVR January 17th. I only got conscious sedation and Tylenol after and was told not to drive for a week to keep from opening up that femoral entry spot if I slammed on the brakes. I only needed Tylenol for a few days due to that entry spot hurting. Now a week later I have LBBB so will move on to that new adventure. Now they say I need to wear a heart monitor and not drive for TWO WEEKS! Sheesh. But at least I feel a lot better and do not get out of breath just walking.