aortic valve replacement

Hi
I'm new to this site. Looking for any advice or helpful comments anyone can give. I've got congenital bicuspid aortic stenosis and need the valve replaced. Led a completely normal life with the condition, enjoyed my childhood when it didnt affect me at all. my teens and 20's did all the normal things, went clubbing, out with friends, travelled. mid 30's had my daughter. now late 30's and been told that as its starting to effect me more and is now going from moderate to moderate/severe and deteriorating, a valve replacement within the next year is recommended. I have a brilliant cardio team in the wonderful heart hospital (part of uclh) in london. they have explained briefly what the operation will entail and the recovery time etc. but i have found in the past operations are never as simple and go so well (mainly with the recovery time after rather than the op itself) as the surgeon explains. if anyone has been through this op, i would really appreciate their comments on how it was afterwards, anything to expect that they dont tell you (!) how the recovery was, are there any complications, and was it worth it!!!!! thank you in advance, and do hope you are now all healthy and fully recovered and living great lives with new valve! best wishes kate

[David T.]

I had this surgery performed in March of last year along with two bypasses.

I didn't feel like I was fully recovered until late summer ~Aug - Sept.

However I feel great now.  I'd venture to say better than I've felt in years.

I elected to have a tissue valve replacement mainly because I did not want to be on blood thinner the rest of my life.

Hope this helps a little.