Aneurysm and Bicuspid Valve

[Carlo]

First of all I would like to thank all the mebers that have been patient enough to reply to my private messages. All suggested that I write to the open forum and maybe this will do.

I am a 58 years old male (59 in few days). I have been in perfect health all my life and I have no symptoms whatsoever.
This is my condition:

I have a bicuspid valve which is functional "almost" optimally.
I have a root that mesures 4.1 cm (by MRA)
I have an ascending aorta which dilates up to 5.2.cm.

I have scheduled appointments with Dr.Bolman,Chief of Cardiac surgey at Brigham and Women in Boston.
I also sceduled aan appointment with Dr.J.Elefteriades at Yale.

I like to know if any of you has any opinion or any reccomendation.
Lastly, an most importantly, I am still in a state of shock and I am getting depressed beyond control. I am terrified of the surgery and I am fearful of the aftermath.

 

[Ross]

Carlo relax buddy. It's all going to be just fine. Heart surgery is no longer death sentence. Odds of something bad happening are very small, just enough to mention. All of us felt the same way you are now, so we know exactly whats going on in your mind. Waiting for surgery is the hardest part of the whole thing.

It seems your have a great hospital, good surgeon and all, so I don't see any problems. I'm sure you have tons of questions, so read around and whatever you can't find, just ask.

Welcome to the forums!

 

[Magic8Ball]

Glad you followed advice, you will get a much more balanced response from an open forum question.

59 eh, you got a better run with your valve than i did with mine (37).

The one thing with your age is that you have a few more options with valve choice than i did (is that good or bad) being older the tissue valves look much more attractive as they last much longer in an older body due to the reduced calcification that happens.

As for your mental state, we can tell you what you want to hear but i think you need to read and understand what is going to happen to you and you will feel much better on your own.

The surgery really truely wasn't that bad, like i said in pm i would say i had two crappy days at the start and the rest was improvement after improvement.

You say you have no symptoms but i'd hazzard a guess that you just assume that your symptoms are your baseline and you just don't notice them. I considered myself to have no symptoms but post surgery i have much more energy and zest as well as more patience for others......i guess i was just tired and grumpy before.

I encourage you to talk and post on this site to gain a full understanding of what is about to happen to you in order to reduce your fears and perhaps help with any depression.

Not sure how long since you got the news but we were all slightly depressed in the first few weeks of getting the news....thank god i found this place...it was a godsend and probably the reason i keep comming back is to give others the same help that i found so invaluable when i was going through this.

My wife is just reading over my shoulder and said that she really felt that i was the only person in the world to have this condition and couldn't beleive how routine it all was with the surgeon and hospital....take some comfort in the fact that you are just another tick on the successfully completed surgery numbers for some doctor to use for the next guy to feel better.

Regards.

 

[BackDoc]

"Lastly, an most importantly, I am still in a state of shock and I am getting depressed beyond control. I am terrified of the surgery and I am fearful of the aftermath".

Sometimes tough love is needed. I will apologize in advance if I offend you or anyone else. Everyone is here because we faced or will be facing a similar surgery.

I am 50 years old, exercised everyday of my life and never had a problem--or never thought I did until I was diagnosed with the exact same situation as you. I just passed off the "symptoms" as "getting older". I was tested every six months for 2 years before it was time for surgery.

My surgery was Dec 12, so I am 6 weeks post-op. I was back in my office working part- time at 3.5 weeks. Recovery is going great guns.

No surgery, especially surgery of this type is a "walk" in the park. But I can tell you that you will be up and walking the very next day, and walking everyday thereafter. You will most likely be out of the hospital within 5 days.

Fear and apprehension is natural. However, please do not allow yourself to be paralyzed by your fear, because that is when irrational decisions are made.

It's time to face reality. You have a problem that has been diagnosed in time- be thankful.

Everyone who received this diagnosis was in a "state of shock" at first. It's time to get over it, and do what is necessary to deal with it.

We live in era where this problem is handled in a routine manner- be thankful.

I would suggest that you obtain a copy of Herbert Benson MD, book the "The Relaxation Response" and learn his techniques. He is Harvard trained cardiologist.

Start visualizing where you want to be--successfully over this procedure, as opposed to obsessing over your fear. Life goes on, and you want to be a part of that.

Today, we stand a 99% chance of coming through this procedure in great shape and continuing to live and enjoy life. We stand a 0% chance of living a long life if we ignore our diagnosis. I'll take those odds and go with the 99% chance any day of the week.

I ride horses as a recreational hobby. You get thrown, and sooner or later it's going to happen--you "cowboy" up and get back in the saddle. It's time to cowboy up.

My best wishes to you--and I am certain all will be fine. You have selected one of the best hospitals and surgeons there is.

I predict that in no-time you will be telling other newbies here how well your procedure went, and offering good advice.

 

[Phyllis]

Brigham is one of the best hospitals and you will be in good hands there. It is overwhelming when you first get the news that surgery is needed, but you can do this and you will one day be back here helping others face the same challenge.

 

[Mary]

I agree with all that has been written.
With a little more time, your brain will begin to wrap around this unwelcome diagnosis and accept that that the only thing you can do is to "get it done!"
You've got appointments with fine doctors, so let them advise you.

 

[bbb]

Hello Carlo,

I am 49 and never had any symptoms whatsoever from my bicuspid aortic valve and aortic aneurysm which measured 5.5 cm by the time they operated. My surgeon said it was a good thing I made it in, because both the aneurysm and the aortic aneurysm were worse than the tests showed. I was in shock, too, this October when my surgeon suggested the surgery. By Nov. 29th, I was operated on and on the road to recovery. I am now 8 weeks post-op and feeling great, driving, back to work and doing most things I was doing before.

Open Heart Surgery is a huge deal, but nothing you can not make it through. It is actually amazing, the lessons to be learned from it and the courage and strength you find within yourself.
Also, you have great professional surgeons and doctors. Once you meet with them you should feel more assured and confident to go forward.

Glad you found this site, keep asking questions here.

All the best, Betsy

 

[briansmom]

Carlo,
I know this is a tough time, but you have a wonderful window of opportunity to fix this before it does permanent damage. My son's aorta dissected before they figured out what was wrong with him. He almost died and has permanent heart damage as a result. You are still young and healthy and will come through this just fine. In fact, you will feel much better physically and will have a newfound appreciation for life. Look at this as an opportunity (I know, easy for me to say) to live your life the way you want to.

 

[Tom F.]

You are afraid now and that is very very normal. But the folks here are proof that you can get past the surgery and be fine. One of our members, Harlygirl, just had an aneurysm fixed and her bicuspid aortic valve repaired, not replaced. She may be a good source of info about that option for you. Good luck to you.

 

[starrman]

From my reading and what I was told, I thought 5.0 was the AMA surgical guideline for the operation on the aorta. My was initially diagnosed at 4.3 and six years later was operated on at 5.0 ten weeks ago. I had a bicuspid aortic valve and aortic root aneurysm and was healthy going into the surgery except for this. Going to the doctors is a wise choice in my non-medical opinion.

 

[Curtsmum]

My son didn't have any symptons before his first surgery, he looks a picture of health but is on the surgical waiting list, op possibly within the next 3 months. It can be very hard when you are feeling so well. Just wanted to wish you the very best of luck, hope all goes well.

 

[Philip B]

Shocked, depressed...

Shocked, depressed...

Hi Carlo,

As noted in other members previous posts, you're on the same path and having the same kinds of feelings as a large number of folks who contrubute to this forum. It does sound like you've managed a pretty good run with your original parts. I thought I did pretty well to get fifty-one years out of mine.

Like you, I never noticed anything that I thought were symptoms. My health was always pretty good too.

Any kind of OHS is usually difficult for people to get their heads around. I don't know that this is unique to people who need OHS. One of my employees who is a breast cancer survivor and I have visited about the disbelief and denial thing. She had the same kind of reaction to news of her need for surgery that I did, "Why do I need surgery? I feel just fine."

Many of us got through this by taking it one step at a time. Support is helpful as well; both from those we care about and those who've made the trip down this path before.

I'm confident that you'll do just fine. I'd like to advise you to relax and not feel stressed, but that would seem kinda silly. Of course, you're going to be uptight and feel stressed. Just look for effective ways to deal with it. The folks here are a great support group.

-Philip

 

[harleygirl528]

Hi Carlo,

Welcome to VR.com! I am 12 days post op for surgeryfor an ascending aortic aneurysm and repair of my bicuspid aortic valve. Like you, I was frightened beyond belief when I received my diagnosis just 3 months ago. I had no symptoms and had otherwise been very healthy. I did know that I had aortic regurgitation, but it was measured as mild and I had been told that I wouldn't need to even consider surgery until probably my 60's (I'm 41 years old). Thanks to the wonderful people on this site I was able to find an extremely qualified "aortic specialist" and my surgery was very successful. The advice and encouragment I received here was invaluable and I couldn't have faced this surgery with as much confidence and courage as I was able to. I still have questions almost daily about my post-operative course and the folks here have remained my constant ally during this time. Your friends and relatives will do their best to be supportive of you but no one knows like someone who has been there. Again, welcome to this site and I wish you every continued success in your journey toward healing!

 

[Susan BAV]

Carlo, welcome to the site; I'm glad you found it. Hoping all goes well for you. Take care.