danielmckinnon.com

Zipper Club

St. Jude Aortic Valve
I was born with Aortic Stenosis which is a serious heart defect and have had many procedures done over the years to keep me alive and healthy. Without the care and support of doctors, nurses, family, and friends there is no question I would not be here today.

Dan’s Heart Notables:

  • 10/30/1975 (8 months, 30 days) – Aortic valvotomy (open heart #1)
  • 06/23/1977 (2 years, 4 months) – Cardiac catheterization
  • 12/27/1977 (2 years, 10 months) – 2nd Aortic valvotomy (open heart #2)
  • 09/17/1989 (14 years, 7 months) – Strep viridens infection (Endocarditis)
  • 06/26/1992 (17 years, 4 months) – Aortic valve replacement (open heart #3)
  • 08/04/1995 (20 years, 6 months) – Thoracic wire removed
  • 11/09/2011 (36 years, 9 months) – Cardioversion performed (heart shocked)
  • 01/17/2012 (36 years, 11 months) – Atrial Flutter Ablation

Open heart scars are referred to as “zippers” and I was told that I was part of the “Zipper Club” back when I was a child. To offer support I started a group on Facebook back in November 2008 to help others and I am proud that we have over 4,000 members world-wide:

Facebook Zipper Club group

Facebook Zipper Club portal

If you know someone that would benefit from our community please pay us a visit 🙂

Dan

Comments

  1. Had Emergency ascending aorta surgery sept 2013 had aortic dissection they added a4″Graf first OPC six hrs later opened me upagain had a bleeder in CC intencive care 10daywas under for 8 of those day
    2014 they added a 4.5 sten for two aneurysm covered my subclaven so they added a 2″ tube from my subclaven to my corated artrie in CC 7days ,will have to have my aortic valve relplaced go in for testing in Jan.
    Thank for the sight to tell my story we all have one don’t be afraid to tell yours

    Reply

    • Had valve,ascending aorta and aortic arch repair due to 6.5 aneurysm caused by giant cell aortitis. I am still here over a year later. As you, this condition can reappear and need further attention . Try not to become disheartened. God obviously wants you here for a reason. Have faith and Carpe Diem ! 💕 Marilynn

      Reply

  2. Hi like Kathryn Garland I am also taking care of my husband who had a quadruple bypass on Oct 3,2016. It was almost like a shock for us too as he had absolutely no symptoms. His partial diagnosis was done in z routine cardio check up with a cardio CT scan.

    Finally the Angio was done on September 29,2016 and we were told stents would not be possible. Finally the surgery.

    We are deeply grateful to the team of if doctors and nurses who seemed like miracle workers… They work clockwork with ultimate selfless dedication. Hats off to them. My husband was a difficult case being a myasthenic patient and extreme care was taken with anesthesia and weaning off.

    I am looking forward to be part of this group to gain support and share information.

    Regarfs
    Noreen Mirza

    Reply

  3. I had a quintuple bypass on November 4, 2014. It was due to bad habits and nothing as serious as the procedures I read above. I feel great now. My blood pressure is normal, my angina is gone and my injection fraction went up from 30% to 47%. I do not smoke anymore, I try to eat well and I exercise alot. I am proud of my scar and of being in the Zipper Club.

    Reply

  4. Due to Marfan Syndrome I almost had an aortic with dicection. My surgery was in 2009. I am now a camp counselor for Camp Del Corazon…a free camp,for any child 7-17 with a heart condition. Wearing my zipper proud!

    Reply

  5. Thank you for giving me access to this group. I am caring for my hubby after his quad bypass and this group has been a wonderful source of information and inspiration. It’s so nice to be able to read about the experiences of others and to know you are not alone in this. I am very thankful for their honesty and openness. It has helped me enormously – thank you all.

    Reply

  6. Than you Dan for this wonderful site,
    A year ago I had a widow maker and had a triple bypass, it really came as a shock for me because I had know symptoms I just went in for a andoscopy to check why my heartburn was out of control and everything looked great so my doctor sent me to have a stress test because of family history and they found the problem. I’m very blessed to still be here to hopefully help other people to get checked.

    Reply

  7. Thanks for adding me to the group
    Like you, I was born with aortic stenosis. My open heart surgeries list is as follows:

    (1) Valve stretched aged 13 – 1985
    (2) Valve replaced aged 16 – 1989
    (3) Valve replaced aged 27 – 2001
    (4) Valve replaced aged 39 – 2011
    (5) Aorta rebuild and pulmonary valve repair 2014 – aged 41

    I’ve had endocarditis twice and pneumonia last year. Still kicking along. Mostly smiling and happy. I’m keen to learn from others in the group and offer support and share my experience to try and help others too.

    I’m in Melbourne, Australia.

    Thanks again!

    Reply

  8. Dan, you sound more like Steve Austin the six million dollar man. I had open heart surgery here in Cyprus on 13/8/2015 for an Aortic Valve replacement and repair of an Aneurysm. I cant thank my cardiologist and his staff enough for their treatment whilst in hospital. I was probably one of many who thought this sort of thing would not happen to me. I was a police officer for 30years and currently drive coaches, it was back in May of this year whilst watching television I thought I had been hit in the chest with a sledge hammer, and subsequently had surgery. Three months on alcohol free and six months off cigarettes I could not feel better. All the best to anyone who has been through OHS and has a zipper.

    Reply

  9. My doctor called me at work on my cell to share results an echocardiogram 3 days earlier. He told me to leave work immediately & meet him at the ER where they admittted me to CCU. Two days they rolled me in for an angiogram. Determined i needed a bypass and aortic valve replacement. While my chest was open, a 5mm aortic aneurysm ruptured, requiring a kevlar replacement. A little over 12 hours later, i woke up with 14 scars and incredible pain. This was 4 months ago. Great insurance, but no short term disability, so no income for four months. The sternum and chest area where i was hooked up to life support along with the 14 scars ache and hurt every day. I can’t sleep for fear of waking to that pain again. My short term memory is flaky at best. Cardiac rehab is helping, though some days i get extremely dizzy from the effort. The feeling of uselessness is probably the worst since I can do little around the house. But lucky to be alive I guess.
    Thanks for letting me tell my story and vent a bit. Reading the trials others have endured helps.
    Thanks for hosting this site. I hope to get back to work in December.

    Reply

  10. Hello Dan, I woke up with a heart attack the morning of August 6, 2014. I took 12 aspirins and drove my self to the minor care clinic where they confirmed the heart attack and sent me to a major hospital where I had stents installed the morning of August 7, 2014 to open the artery feeding my heart that was 100% blocked.

    The morning of September 25, 2014, I had triple bypass open heart surgery.

    I am doing better but wasn’t able to do all of my cardio rehab because my insurance cut me off. I am still having issues with my short term memory due to being on the heart / lung machine.

    Thanks for listening and I appreciate you and your site.

    As always, all the best, Billy Matney

    Reply

  11. Hi everyone
    Only about 2 weeks post op quintuple. Had a fall which is why they discovered this little difficulty. At 5 x 95-98% occluded I was lucky I guess. Thanks for the add. L

    Reply

  12. Your the man, Dan. Your medical history, while difficult and painful for you, is very inspirationa for those of us a esser probem God bess you Dan for assisting so many.

    Reply

  14. I’m 74 years old, I smoked 1-3 pack of cigarettes for about 50 years, usually Pall Malls or Camels. At sea we could buy them for 10 cents a pack. Then the only health issue was they “stunted your growth” and I probably have eaten a ton of bacon. I have 2 stents (14 & 15 years old) that are 100% blocked and 3 more that are 60-80%. The 2 stents can be fixed with one patch. The quadruple bi-pass is scheduled for September 9 at Maine Medical Center in Portland, Maine. My daughter is a member of the Tetrology of Fallot group.

    Reply

  15. I was born 51 years ago with situs inversus totalis, atrioventricular discordance, ventriculoarterial discordance, dextrocardia and ASD in 1981 at the age of 17 I had open heart to repair the ASD and to this day I am told there is not really anything they can do to repair the rest in 2014 I was hospitalized with DBL pneumonia and the treatment for that has caused pulmonary embolisms and hypoxemia and have been going down hill since. I have never hooked up with people who are CHD survivors before and am so happy there are groups like these so we can share our stories and I am looking forward to reading all of yours.

    Reply

  18. Thanks Dan I appeciate the link love the zipper club so much. By the way great name my son is a Dan too lol well have a great day

    Reply

  19. Hi Dan…just a note to thank you for starting the Zipper Club. As a new member i am amazed by the support here and all the answers to questions! I wish i would have known about this sooner:) you are an insiration..thank you!

    Reply

  21. Dan, I just had my valve replaced (more cuz of aneurysm) last Feb (2013). Why did they remove your wire? Was it causing problems? Beginning with my OHS last yr, I’ve sorta been the ‘find the most rare thing that can go wrong, and let’s test your doctors’ child.

    Reply

    • Cyndi,

      Thank you for your comment 🙂

      The wire was protruding from my chest and when I tried to sleep it was painful. Removing the wire meant I could sleep without issue from that time forward. No issues with my other wires, even nearly 22 years later 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Reply

      • Dan.
        You have been through lots more than me, too! I love to hear these types of stories, because then I realize that, although my surger(ies) were very nearly catastrophic, especially for my family and friends, there are others who have had to go through things like this multiple times. So I feel fortunate that as of now, my heart is doing what it’s supposed to, so now I just need to get the rest of my body to play along too! 😀
        Thanks again!
        Cyndi

        Reply

  22. Just when I was feeling sorry for myself, with my Aortic Stenosis, I read about someone else’s health history and realize how very fortunate I am. I have had many surgeries, but only one on my heart. My aortic valve was replaced August 13th of 2013. It was the worst I have ever experienced, And I am so thankful to be alive. I have two more valves that are backing up now, but thanks to the wonderful people I have met and those that I read about and heard about, I am no longer afraid to face my health issues. There is always someone who has experienced much much more and I am grateful for the health that I have today.

    Reply

    • Lorraine, I feel exactly the same way you do! My aortic valve and root were replaced Feb. 22, 2013. Mine was also extremely scary (for me after the fact, of course). I coded 3x on the table, then was on the pump for 3 days, then I was so full with fluids that they couldn’t close my chest… And that was just the beginning. But I’m grateful for every second I’m here.. And like you, I’m always humbled when I see what others go through. Our bodies are amazing creatures!!!

      Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *