Hi all!
I'm a 29 year old male with a bicuspid aortic valve along with an ascending aortic aneurysm (5.2 cm). I am pretty active, I just finished my first half marathon today too! At 6' 240lbs I gotta say I'm pretty happy I finally pulled it off! I work a very cushy job in the oilfield up in the Bakken (just like everyone else in my home state). Jogging, fishing, and spending time with my family are by far my most favorite activities, along with spending time on my family farm and helping out where I can.
I'm currently scheduled for aortic valve replacement, along with my ascending aorta to be replaced up to the arch (hemi-arch procedure). I will be having my procedure done at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota at the end of this month.
The plan is to go with a mechanical valve, my surgeon also brought up the Ross procedure but did not recommend (nor did I really care for) as I have aortic insufficiency and apparently the Ross procedure tends to fail a bit quicker when that's the case.
I have read A LOT, especially on this forum. I want to thank EVERYONE for all their stories and words of wisdom that has been shared. Pellicle, I look forward to reading more into the INR management threads you have posted and I also hope I may get to "pick your brain" somewhat after I become a part of the warfarin family.
Dick0236, you're quite the inspiration and I hope to have a mechanical valve that lasts as long if not longer than yours. Superman, I appreciate all of your stories as well. Reading your stories have shown me that having a mechanical valve and managing warfarin don't have to be a hindrance and that you can still live a "normal" exciting life.
I will say, I am anxious about my upcoming surgery. I have full faith in my team, but it's new to me and I can't control it. My biggest concerns with the procedure are the hypothermic arrest portion, and I'm just hoping life doesn't change too terribly drastically afterwards. I do have some fear about experiencing "pump-head" and things like that.
My driving factor, however, is that this surgery will allow me to be there for my family and to experience life longer. I still have A LOT more fishing I want to do in life too.
I'm a 29 year old male with a bicuspid aortic valve along with an ascending aortic aneurysm (5.2 cm). I am pretty active, I just finished my first half marathon today too! At 6' 240lbs I gotta say I'm pretty happy I finally pulled it off! I work a very cushy job in the oilfield up in the Bakken (just like everyone else in my home state). Jogging, fishing, and spending time with my family are by far my most favorite activities, along with spending time on my family farm and helping out where I can.
I'm currently scheduled for aortic valve replacement, along with my ascending aorta to be replaced up to the arch (hemi-arch procedure). I will be having my procedure done at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota at the end of this month.
The plan is to go with a mechanical valve, my surgeon also brought up the Ross procedure but did not recommend (nor did I really care for) as I have aortic insufficiency and apparently the Ross procedure tends to fail a bit quicker when that's the case.
I have read A LOT, especially on this forum. I want to thank EVERYONE for all their stories and words of wisdom that has been shared. Pellicle, I look forward to reading more into the INR management threads you have posted and I also hope I may get to "pick your brain" somewhat after I become a part of the warfarin family.
Dick0236, you're quite the inspiration and I hope to have a mechanical valve that lasts as long if not longer than yours. Superman, I appreciate all of your stories as well. Reading your stories have shown me that having a mechanical valve and managing warfarin don't have to be a hindrance and that you can still live a "normal" exciting life.
I will say, I am anxious about my upcoming surgery. I have full faith in my team, but it's new to me and I can't control it. My biggest concerns with the procedure are the hypothermic arrest portion, and I'm just hoping life doesn't change too terribly drastically afterwards. I do have some fear about experiencing "pump-head" and things like that.
My driving factor, however, is that this surgery will allow me to be there for my family and to experience life longer. I still have A LOT more fishing I want to do in life too.
