Reply #9: my mom had a quadruple bypass at the same age

[amazona]

Not quite the same surgery as the aortic valve replacement but in the general category of open heart surgery.

I think you will be impressed with what the surgeons can do and how quickly she recovers. If she has been tired for unexplained reasons, she is going to be amazed when she gets a surge of energy. My mom kept complaining she was tired, but they blew her off until she had severe pains -- they did not realize that small women who exercise can also have heart issues. Once she recovered from the surgery, she was amazed at how much more energy she had. She figures that the narrowing arteries were cutting into her energy for years and she just thought she was getting old.

I'll keep your mom in my thoughts and send good wishes your way. I know it is scary, we were scared, but my mom's open-heart surgery was a blessing for her in the end. She has traveled all over and been very active in the 3-plus years since. The surgeon was shocked at how bad her arteries were when he first went in, said if they hadn't done the bypass surgery, she wouldn't have lasted another week. And now she's flying all over.

I was very angry at the time, it seemed so unfair, because she always exercised and followed the right diet, but heart disease isn't really much of a respector of our religious beliefs in diet/exercise.

Hope for the best, they've really come a long way with open heart surgery and it can work out great!