Next Tuesday by this time I will have a new aortic valve
At least that is the schedule - next Tuesday morning I go into the hospital for a trans arterial valve replacement (TAVR). They will put a wire up my femoral artery to my heart, then a balloon which will be inflated in the old valve to open it up, then insert the new valve. I'll spend probably one night in the hospital so they can monitor my heart to make sure everything is working, then I go home the next afternoon.
About a month later when they can get me off the blood thinners, I have to go back to have a kidney removed - they found a mass when doing the tests to get me ready for valve replacement. In addition I have a hernia that they will fix at the same time.
I stressed all weekend since I had not heard anything as of Friday what the plan was. They had to get the TAVR surgeon, the kidney surgeon and the internal medicine surgeon together to sort out a plan of action. No wonder there was a delay!
= new reply since forum marked as read
But I wish you well. Hope that fortified ticker beats for many, many years to come.
and obviously it isn't as invasive as opening up the chest so that is even better news. 
I hope you do well with all this and recover well from each stage. Wishing you the best! GOOD LUCK!
The hernia has been getting worse over the last couple of years. I planned to pursue getting it repaired this year but last year they heard the heart murmur. Even my hand doctor wouldn't talk to me about fixing my trigger thumb until the heart was fixed. It's taken since January to get the heart diagnosed partly because of insurance (old policy holder would not approve some of the tests) and partly because of family issues (mother in law died in January after a very bad year).
The kidney was a complete surprise - no symptoms and it would not have been found if I had no been trying to get into a clinical trial for a chance at the TAVR procedure - and even the trial would have been a 50% chance. Because of the kidney, I was downgraded to an intermediate risk for open heart surgery - and intermediate risk has been approved for TAVR as of last spring.
After all of this, I have to go back to the hand doctor - now I have more fingers that are locking up. I may go in between to get injections to put that off.
Getting old sucks.
Thanks for the best wishes!
Thanks for letting us know - DU healing vibes are powerful medicine! 
I'll need them for the next month or so.
Anymore than we'd forget about Olive Garden or cornflake chicken, LOL. (Not that you're in the same category ) Just know that - whenever you think of us - numerous DUers are also thinking of you - and wishing you well.
Best of luck. Think of your plans after recuperation. Here's a BIG hug! Enjoy the pain meds. Don't be a hero and remember you don't need the pain pills when you start getting stronger. Lean on your friends. Plant your spring bulbs and remember every day we have is gravy.
Oh yea. Buy a beautiful rob.
I'm a very cooperative and obedient patient. Frankly I don't need much in the way of pain meds - I have a very high resistance to pain. When my knees were bone on bone for years I found other medications to reduce the inflammation and didn't use the opiods the doctors gave me.
The weeds have gotten away from us so as soon as possible after the second operation I will be out in the garden pulling those!
Thanks!
Wishing you the best through the procedures and a rapid fire recovery. Post when you are able.
You keep us posted.
Be well.
You're right it's amazing what they are doing these days with minimal invasion. Years ago, you'd be looking at open heat bypass machine and a long recovery. Best of luck!!
Praying for your healthy recovery. 
Wishing you all the best for a speedy and full recovery.
