3-weeks Post Op Things going well, but...

[bruizer]

Hi Denis,

I am so sorry to hear that you will probably have to have another AVR in the near future. I remember talking to you a few weeks ago on the telephone and everything was still up in the air. I can empathize with you since I will probably be having a "re-do" sometime this year after having my Ross Procedure in December, 2000 by the same surgeon you had.

Since I am very active like you (still running 3.5 miles a day), I have struggled with deciding what type of valve to go with this time. Our surgeon recommended a homograft. The surgeon that I got a second opinion, Dr. Bruce Reitz from Stanford, also recommended a homograft. He performed the first succesful heart-lung transplant. My cardiologist on the other hand, recommended a mechanical.

I would strongly suggest that you get a second opinion from Dr. Reitz before you do anything. I was actually scheduled for a "re-do" 6 months after the Ross and he advised me not to do anything for a while because he felt the leak was not severe enough to justify another surgery. He also said that if I choose a homograft the second time around, make sure I get a full root replacement instead of the freehand method.

Please feel free to call me at home or at work if you have any questions or if there is anything I can do. You'll definitely be in my prayers.

God Bless.

 

[Johnny Stephens]

Sorry to hear

Sorry to hear

Hello Denis, I'm glad to see you around here again, but sorry to hear about your current situation. This must be a really tough message to receive from the doctors, I can only imagine what stress you must be under.

It seems you will have another valve choice to make here, and as you already know, no one answer fits all, it's a personal choice for you and your surgeon to make. I really hope that you get to a solution to this that will let you put it away for many years and get on with your life.

Let us know how we can help.

 

[mike anthony]

Hi Denis,
This is a hard time, but you will get through this with the support of this group. I just had my Aortiv Valve replaced with a Bovine tissue 3/07/03,this was my second surgery within a 9 month period. I was in on Friday on home on Monday. I will say this was a much easier procedure than the first, but I chaulk that up to having a great team of doctors and care after surgery. One of things I did when choosing a valve, I asked both of my doctors what they would do? They both indicated a tissue valve. Help me make my mind up easily. After this surgery I asked myself, what made this easier; my top 3: great doctors, lots of prayers and this support group on VR.com. Anyway, I'm still recovery here and wanted to wish you the best. You will make all the right decisions, it just takes time to get over the anxiety of another operation. God bless.

 

[conk]

Thanks for all the encouragement!

Thanks for all the encouragement!

I very much appreciate all the positive comments. I am feeling Great, so this make the situation much harder to understand.

I am seeing a Surgeon recommended by my cardiologist tomorrow. I will let you all know what he says. I also have another appointment scheduled with my cardiologist next Monday. Not sure why he wanted one so soon, but he did indicate he was going to follow me very closely. This does provide some reassurance.

Thanks again...Conk (Denis)