Name: Sue Sommer
Current Age: 63
Occupation: Retired
Your Family: 1 daughter, 2 grandchildren,
several step-children
When you found out about your condition:
Diagnosed at 41 with aortic stenosis
What symptoms you had: progressive fatigue and
lack of stamina
How you prepared for surgery: went to a lawyer
and got my papers in order! I did not feel fretful about it, just
wanted it over and on my way to recovery.
What type of surgery you had: Aoritic valve
replaced with St. Jude mechanical
Medications before surgery: you mean, to put me out?
I don’t remember!
Medications after surgery: Coumadin, some pain
meds for awhile
Type of valve you have: St. Jude
Type of valve you had: the valve removed was
bicuspid, a birth defect
Hospital where your surgery was done: Overlake
Hosp. Medical Center, Bellevue, Washington
Your experience there: excellent, just the best!
Your first few days home: tough, I lived alone,
walked every day
Your recovery since then: excellent at first,
got into waking, then power-walking, did the machines at a health
club and got very fit! I was 53 then. But the trauma of the
operation evidently triggered Fibromyalgia, and I’ve been dealing
with that now for 8 years. It’s harder than the heart issue. I
exercise regularly in a warm-water therapy pool with a group. Am an
active member in a local chapter of Mended Hearts.H
How you found out about this site: from
someone in another aortic valve Yahoo group
Any other comments you can share: I feel very
positive about the benefits of having this valve - of course, I’d
not be here without it. So I’m just very grateful. I try to keep my
stress level very low and this seems to help keep the protime
results pretty regular.