Barbara Walters to Undergo Heart Valve Surgery

By PopEater Staff Posted May 10th 2010 12:36PM

During Monday's episode of 'The View,' Barbara Walters announced that she will soon undergo heart surgery. "Later this week, I'm going to have surgery to replace one faulty heart valve," Walters, 80, said.

She admitted she had only revealed the news to her 'View' co-hosts that morning. "You kept it secret very well, Barbara," Joy Behar said, and Walters explained, "I thought it best not to talk about it too far in advance."

Recovery can be anywhere from a month to three months, she said.

"You know how healthy I have been -- never missed a day's work," Walters said before noting that she has "known of this condition for a while now."

"Lot of people have done this and I have known about this condition for a while now. My doctors and I have decided that this is the best time to do the surgery," said Walters. "And since the summer is coming up, I can take a nice vacation. Earlier this morning, I told my wonderful and supportive pals here. And you kept it a secret until this very minute."

Whoopi Goldberg then asked if Walters was scared. "Nobody wants to have this kind of surgery," Walters replied.

"It's not elective, like getting your face lifted. But it's an operation that's done so often and I have very good doctors and the support and love of my daughter. I'm glad it's going to be over with. It's going to be taken care of," she added.

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Barbara Walters

Barbara Walters attends the Roundabout Theatre Company's 2010 Spring Gala at Studio 54 on March 22, 2010 in New York. More photos >>

John Lamparski/WireImage.com

WireImage.com

Barbara Walters Snapshots

In this Friday, Nov. 13, 2009 photo released by ABC, ABC's Barbara Walters is seen at a New York City hotel. Walters announced Monday, May 10, 2010 that she will have surgery later this week to replace a faulty heart valve. The television legend made the announcement Monday on ABC's "The View." (AP Photo/ABC, Steve Fenn, File) ** MAGS OUT; NO SALES **

Barbara Walters Snapshots

Barbara Walters attends the Roundabout Theatre Company?s 2010 Spring Gala at Studio 54 on March 22, 2010 in New York City. Roundabout Theatre Company�s 2010 Spring Gala Studio 54 New York, NY United States March 22, 2010 Photo by John Lamparski/WireImage.com To license this image (59982712), contact WireImage.com

Barbara Walters Snapshots

NEW YORK - MARCH 18: Media personalities Judge Judy Sheindlin and Barbara Walters attend the opening night of "All About Me" on Broadway at Henry Miller's Theatre on March 18, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Judy Sheindlin;Barbara Walters

Barbara Walters Snapshots

NEW YORK - MARCH 18: Media personality Barbara Walters attends the opening night of "All About Me" on Broadway at Henry Miller's Theatre on March 18, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Barbara Walters

Barbara Walters Snapshots

Daily Beast Editor Tina Brown and Barbara Walters attend day 2 of the "Women In The World: Stories and Solutions" Summit at Hudson Theatre on March 13, 2010 in New York City. "Women In The World: Stories And Solutions" Summit - Day 2 Hudson Theatre New York, NY United States March 13, 2010 Photo by Marc Bryan-Brown/WireImage.com To license this image (59903429), contact WireImage.com

Barbara Walters Snapshots

NEW YORK - MARCH 12: Journalist Barbara Walters attends the "Women In The World: Stories and Solutions" global summit at Hudson Theatre on March 12, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Barbara Walters

Barbara Walters Snapshots

© BAUER-GRIFFIN.COM Journalist Barbara Walters is escorted out of "The Late Show with David Letterman" by a security guard holding an oversized umbrella. NON-EXCLUSIVE March 3, 2010 Job: 100303M5 New York, New York www.bauergriffin.com www.bauergriffinonline.com

Barbara Walters Snapshots

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Comments

(57)

Monday 10 May

By Joe

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Like she would have to worry about the health-care bill.....I am sure her insurance will take care of everything and most likely a private post-op ICU room away from prying eyes, and able to have all the visitors she would want there whenever and keep out the news-hounds.

By ooliticgranny3

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I am also 80 yrs old and had the aortic valve in my heart replaced in April 2009 when I was 79 yrs old.
I had one of the best doctors and he explained everything to me to me in advance of just what he would do and he put me at ease knowing all that. The surgery itself was not all that painful because I was kept sedated for the first 4 days until they took the drainage tube out, and then I had no pain afterward.
The recuperation is what is long - I had to have physical therapy for several weeks after the surgery to gain my strength back. My doctor said in such surgery the body takes the needed strength from the muscles and you have to have therapy to get your strength back. He told me it could take up to a year to get to be my old self back again. Today I feel wonderful and have had no repercussions from the surgery. Barbara shouldn't either.

By chartman

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Good, maybe she will use it if she continues to interviw. Let me say there is not one single person on this earth that would make me watch her show The View. It is garbage just like the Jerry Springer show. Barbara is the worst, who wants to watch an old wrinkled woman, a black woman that constantly looks like she smells, a red head that really makes all red heads look bad and then the girl from survivor. She has no business on that show she is not qualified to go up against such idiots but then she is not the smartest egg in the basket.

By mydownthere

Baba Wawa,
Get better soon, and keep on delivering lines with your "special" voice and "accent".

By KATHRYN

MY PRAYERS TO YOU ARE A SPEEDY RECOVERY AND A SUCCESSFUL SURGERY. I KNOW YOU WILL BOUNCE BACK FAST AND YOU HAVE A LOT OF SUPPORT AND LOVE. GOD BLESS YOU AND WE LOOOK FORWARD TO YOUR RETURN TO WHAT YOU DO AND LOVE.

By maria

Good Luck Barbara. I'll be sure to watch your first day back!

By tram

BARBRA GOD BE WITH YOU, AND HAVE A SPEEDY RECOVERY. TRAM

By wstarhopper

I am with the person who said that I didnt know that she even had a heart. They are going to need a powerful electronic scanning microscope to even find it. For those of you who say this is mean it is no meaner that the scores of people she has benn mean and spiteful to over the many years. It is my hope that she will retire and they will take the gossipfest known as The View off the air permantly!

By richard nicoletti

I had this exact surgery done two years ago. I was back to work in a month. If I had to do it over again, I would have no problem with it. This is a type of surgery that is performed nearly every done by heart surggeons. No sweat.

By marj

Recovery time for valve surgery is more like 4 to 6 months. Because you can't use your arms, my doctor prohibited me from driving for 6 weeks. And after the surgery you feel for a long time like you have gone 100 rounds with Mohammed Ali. About 6-months post surgery, I was finally approaching normal. The scar on my chest is 11 1/2 injches long.

By heystellakatz

Marj,
I wrote about the recovery process earlier, and someone called me rude, as if I meant to wish B.W. a harsh recovery. My husband had his first valve replacement at 33, and the second at 44, and it is a very painful, long recovery, and he was young and very strong and in shape. He was born with heart issues. A man said earlier that it wasn't painful at all after 4 days, and he is in his 60's I believe. I honestly don't know what he had done, but a valve job sure hurts.

Maybe the 80 year-old Baba Wawa is jelous of Betty White, and all the attention she's getting, so Baba has to get her surgery now. Not two weeks ago, not two weeks from now. Just kidding.lol

By ddanodn2

A good jewish heart specialist is the man you look for..

By Shirley

good luck to barbara walters. i had an aortic valve replacement eig

ht years ago. recovery takes time she will pull thru.

By don bolin

maybe the view will move to the b.e.t. where it belongs.

By hdstyle1957

You mean this skank has a heart? I will be damn!

Friday 14 May

By annette morgenroth

Good luck to a GREAT lady.May you have a speedy recovery.

Maybe she can get that speech impediment fixed too.