Another February surgery date!

[dwfreck]

It's official! I'm scheduled. I've just managed to squeeze into February. Here's the information:

When: Friday, February 27, 2004, 7:00 AM.
Where: Bethesda North Hospital (in Cincinnati, not Maryland!).
Who: Dr. Loren F. Hiratzka
What: the Ross procedure, with a C-E bovine as plan B.

For those of you facing the "which surgeon" and "which hospital" questions, here's how I decided:

1) My wife works full-time, my kids are 4 and 7 and in pre-school and first grade, my parents are retired and live in town, and my in-laws are semi-retired and live in Louisville. I intend to lean very heavily on the support of all of the adults in my extended family, so I'd like to have them close by for the surgery. Despite it's sterling reputation, the Cleveland Clinic is just too far away. So that lead me to choose a local surgeon and hospital.

2) My cardiologist recommended Dr. Donald Buckley as a surgeon. After I talked to Dr. Buckley and expressed interest in the Ross procedure, he recommended I talk to his partner, Dr. Loren Hiratzka, who is one of a handfull of surgeons in the area who perform the Ross procedure. I spoke to Dr. Hiratzka and was impressed with his knowlege, confidence, and open-mindedmess regarding valve choices - he's done them all, and doesn't play favorites, but works with the patient to detemine the best fit.

3) There are many hospitals in the Greater Cincinnati area, and I've visited or stayed in quite a few of them. For this surgery, I really only considered two: Christ Hospital and Bethesda North Hospital. Bethesda North Hospital has some of the warmest, most caring staff I've ever met, and I've never had a bad experience there; Christ Hospital, on the other hand, provided a very unpleasant experience for the birth of my son (my daughter was subsequently born at Bethesda). Bethesda is well-ranked as a heart hospital, both regionally and nationally. Dr. Hiratzka is (or at least was until 2002) director of Cardiac surgery at Bethesda. Bethesda happens to be 20 minutes from my house, and 10 minutes from my office, my wife's office, and my parents' house.

If you're facing the "which valve" decision, you can read my reasons for choosing the Ross procedure in "dwfreck's choice" in the Valve Selection forum: http://www.valvereplacement.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=6172

 

[Les]

Ok, Dale....Will be watching and waiting! Best of everything to you. You are so ready...and your great spirit will get you through anything.

 

[SJJ]

Great news Dale! I'm just 2 days ahead of you and it seems we have a real February cluster going here. You've really earned your decisions on the valve, doctor and hospital choices. No doubt, this will give you great confidence going into the surgery and in the recovery process. I don't know about you, but I'm feeling a real sense of anticipation and excitement about getting this behind me. I'm engaged by paying attention to all the feelings I'm going through and find it rather interesting-helps to quell the nerves. I only hope that I won't crash into a panic mode as the date gets closer. The countdown has begun!

Sue

 

[Marge]

Welcome to the February Club, Dale!!!

Your thoughts have been so well organized & expressed, you've done your research so well, you have benefitted all of us, even, and probably especially, those (like me) who have made their decisions in a MUCH less organized fashion. I'm going for a tissue valve too if my repair doesn't work out (C-E bovine) -- but the decision was on a much more "gut" level than yours, I'm afraid. Nevertheless, as the time grows near, I'm quite happy with the decision I did make. (Even though I know that I could always wake up with a mechanical, as others have, if the surgeon so decides when the time comes. Well, I can deal with that too.)

No, Sue, I don't think you will "crash into a panic as the date gets closer!" Look at me -- Number One Panicker, two and a half days away, and I am SOOOO calm! The consult with my surgeon & talking to his staff last Friday really helped -- they are so calm about it all, it is not that it is routine exactly, but in a way it is -- and that is good, really. Coming home, I found myself thinking: This is something these folks do every day, they are good at it, and know they are good, they are confident of success, and I can trust them.

 

[dwfreck]

Sue and Marge,

Thanks for the compliments on my verbal and reasoning skills, but don't assume that just because I can express rational reasons for my decisions that I didn't use my guts too. If anything, my guts made the decisions in September, and it has taken my brains all this time to "confirm" (some might say "rationalize") them.

It seems that I approach a lot of decisions the same way: react with a gut feeling, then analyze it to death until I have a "logical" explanation for it. I frequently wonder if my life wouldn't be easier if I weren't so analytical. Of course, I know that's just how I am, and I've got a profession that makes use of my analytical nature and a whole lot of people who appreciate that nature. It serves me well and I wouldn't change a thing about it.

 

[Georgia]

Congrats on surgery date, Dale. Did you get that old stomach-dropping thing when you realized how soon it is?

I think the docs cut all they can in Feb and Mar so they can pay their taxes.

I'm sure you'll do well. Keep busy.

 

[Birky]

congratulations

congratulations

Good luck on the 27th. I will be 1 year postop on that day for my replacement. Sounds like you have done your research.

 

[dwfreck]

Georgia,

Sorry, no stomach-dropping here. My personal target all along has been "February, some time after President's day," mostly so I could use the two company holidays in January and February for other preparations (I had a colonoscopy on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, and I'm having a complete physical on President's day). I was actually more concerned about slipping too much into March (my son's birthday is March 12).

 

[Bryan B]

Dale,

Glad to hear you got a date. How does it feel to know now? I'm still patiently waiting...i.e. a basket case.

I'll be thinking about you buddy and will be eagerly waiting to hear your posts from the other side. My gut told me to go with the Ross before I even knew I needed surgery (my gut told me I was going to need surgery while I was recovering from the endocarditis).

I know you'll do great, and it sounds like you have a great support group around you!

 

[Christina L]

Dale and everyone having surgery in February:

I had my surgery last November 6, 2003. I have been posting less and less, but I frequently visit the VR.com board. I want you all to know that I am thinking of you and praying for you all. I had such great support from this board when I went through my surgery - I will forever be indebted to Ross, Melissa, Betty and so many others.

I feel like I need to help pass the torch to all of you up and coming mountain climbers. You can do it!! Take one step at a time and be strong and brave - look to God. You will soon be on the other side.

May God guide the surgeons hands. May God give you the strength and courage to go the distance!

Christina L.

 

[Ross]

Ok, Dale....Will be watching and waiting! Best of everything to you. You are so ready...and your great spirit will get you through anything.

Looks like I'll have to change his Mind boggling to Boggled Mind when this is all over with!

 

[Kenny F]

Dale,
Great to hear you are scheduled! I'm sure you will do great.

I'm with you on the "gut feeling" aspect of the decision process. Everyone assumes I am logical and well-ordered, when in fact I go with my instinct and than build my case. I need to know "why" my guts tell me what to do

Look forward to reading of your great success and hope your Ross procedure works out well for you!

 

[Nancy]

Hi Dale-

So now it's official, you're finally going to get the durned thing fixed up. No more heart stuff hanging over your head. Good for you! It's nice to recover just as spring is coming around the corner. You'll be enjoying the summer this year.