Re: Aortic Valve Replacement - Surgery Recovery

Posted By Hank Eyring on April 24, 1999 at 18:11:38
Greetings,
It has been 22 days since my aortic valve was replaced with a St. Jude mechanical valve. My question relates to the recovery process and the timeline of it all.
Two things are bugging me (besides the pain).  My sternum keeps "popping" when I twist my upper body in any way. When will this stop and is it harmful?  I assume that the "popping" is the two halves of my sternum rubbing together.  If it keeps popping, does that mean that it is not healing?
Lastly, I am six feet two inches tall and used to walk upright like most humans.  Now it seems that I am stuck in this hunched position with shoulders forward and chest sucked in.  When I try to put shoulders back and chest out like I should, it hurts very bad at the incision and feels like it is ripping open from the inside out.  I have never seen any sutures so I assume they are all under the surface.  How strong is the whole thing and is it ok to stretc

[CCF CARDIO MD DLB]

Posted By CCF CARDIO MD - DLB on April 24, 1999 at 19:19:56

Dear Ted
The coumadin blood thinner might be a problem if you have a predisposition to urinary bleeding. Hopefully, you had a thorough evaluation by a urologist at the time of the bleeding in the urine. If not, you should get one. If there are no problems discovered by the urologist, and you have no other bleeding problems, you should have no more problems with coumadin than anyone else. Medicines like aspirin, motrin and advil all make it more likely that you bleed, especially when combined with coumadin. If you are very concerned about bleeding, a tissue valve may be a better option for you.
I hope this has been useful. Feel free to write back with further questions. Good luck.
Information provided here is of a general nature.  Specific diagnoses and treatments can only be made by your doctor.  If you would like to be seen at the Cleveland Clinic, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE for an appointment with a cardiologist at Desk F15.











Follow Ups:


Re: Aortic Valve Replacement - Surgery Recovery shannon m. 4/27/1999
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Aortic Valve Replacement - Surgery Recovery CCF CARDIO MD - DLB 4/30/1999
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Re: Aortic Valve Replacement - Surgery Recovery ken brookins 4/26/1999
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Aortic Valve Replacement - Surgery Recovery CCF CARDIO MD - DLB 4/26/1999
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Re: Aortic Valve Replacement - Surgery Recovery ken brookins 4/26/1999
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