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My surgery date is a little more than two weeks away now -- feeling good and ready.

Interesting article about migraine, by Katherine Foxhall in History Today. https://www.historytoday.com/archive/feature/misery-head My migraines are the classical type, with the aura. I'm also often depressed or anxious (very different from my chipper emotional set point) in the 24-48 hours...

Awesome! I hope I'm doing as well four days out! I've set myself up to take medical leave from work -- but hey, if I can WFH four days out like you, maybe I shouldn't bother.

That's fascinating! I've seen the second flowchart, because a couple years ago my cardiologist gave me a packet of material to study, because I'm a nerd. For the past year and a half or so, my LVEDD has been hovering in the 60-67mm range. My cardiologist and surgeon told me I should get surgery...

Fun fact: my parents were worried about my teenage migraines 32 years ago, because they were pretty debilitating, so I got a CT scan to find out if there was anything wrong with my noggin. They didn't find anything, but the CT contrast dye made me break out in hives, so I have to take prednisone...

My hunch is that migraines are just really, really common, but maybe there is a connection.

I've had migraines with aura, sometimes with a painful headache and nausea, from time to time, since I was a teenager. I used to get them every few weeks -- now it's maybe three a year. I treat them with aspirin and coffee while I have the aura, and I usually don't get much of a headache. I...

Well, he's an orthopedic surgeon, and at one point he set a broken hand for me at his house. That might have been when he listened to my heart, but she and I used to spend a lot of time at both of our houses when we were dating, so I saw her family a lot. It could have been any one of countless...

Thanks! The surgeon says he won't try to do the repair unless he's confident he can get it to a very good state. He thinks the odds are about 50/50 that I'll end up with a repair. Otherwise, I'm getting a mechanical valve. He also told me that repairs to bicuspid aortic valves are pretty new...

And then some of the time I'm cool with it. I think the trick is to channel the anxiety into productive planning, or to just occupy myself with the other parts of my life.

I lied about not being anxious. Of course I am anxious about my impending heart surgery . . . some of the time.

I love kimchi, and I quoted this to my spouse, who said, "Good thing you won't have any roommates!"

Good point, and food for thought. Thank you for that, because it started me talking about "what if" scenarios with my spouse. We talked about what we would do if I were experiencing post-surgical depression. Also, we discussed how we would ensure continued health insurance long term, even if I...

Our system is a mess -- that's for sure, but in my own situation, I'm lucky to have had decent health insurance my whole life. I don't foresee that going away, knock on wood. But, yeah. Lots of people aren't as fortunate as me -- we need universal healthcare in the USA.

Thanks! Before and after pictures are a great idea, but I don't think I'll send them in the family holiday card. :D We never get around to sending them anyway, anymore. I'm feeling less nervous about this surgery than I expected to a few years ago -- I knew this was coming eventually, since the...

I have a surgery date! January 7, 2020.

In 30 years, I'll be 79, and maybe nanobots can fix my heart in 2050.

Some of my concerns: I want to keep running, biking, etc. after surgery. The surgeon I talked to says that shouldn't be a problem on a mechanical valve. In fact, he asked me if I'd biked to my appointment. I hadn't, but just because of traffic in downtown San Francisco. Also, I'm mostly vegan...

Good point -- my left ventricle is also enlarging, which is why surgery is imminent. I just turned 49, and I'd like to make it to 100. My paternal grandmother did.

I'll ask the surgeon about the possible repair and its expected lifetime.