Bummer.
What kind of treatment can you get through a county/public hospital? Where do you live in Arkansas?
What kind of treatment can you get through a county/public hospital? Where do you live in Arkansas?
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T
Thriell
catwoman said:
I'm not sure about the county/public hospital question . . . I live about 2 hours northeast of Little Rock. The only "hospital" in my county was closed down about 3 years ago because of poor management and major problems in their lab.
Next month I'll be on Medicare, so, given that that's at least SOME form of insurrance, things will probably change.
T
Thriell
RCB said:I have never heard of the body's autoimmune system rejecting a mech. valve.
It is extremely rarely even in a tissue valve. I would be very interested in your doctor's citations for this claim.
It took a few days, but I've had a chance to talk with the cardio's people and the surgeon's people.
In spite of the fact that the cardio told me that I had one valve leaking and one valve partially blocked, his notes say that my (artificial) mitral valve has trace to mild regurg, my (artificial) aortic valve has severe insufficency, and my (natural) tricuspid valve has severe regurg. He's got me scheduled for a TEE on the 19th. Seems that his main problem is that he doesn't know how to communicate very well...
When I asked the surgeon's nurse about the fact that I'm on coumadin with tissue valves, she said that two years ago when I had these valves put in, they were the newest thing (bovine instead of porcine) and my surgeon is extremely cautious about new technology, so he wanted to see me problem-free for 2 years before coming off the coumadin. (but nobody bothered to tell ME that...
) The two other surgeons in his office let their patients off coumadin after six weeks. I just got Mr. Paranoid for a surgeon. I suppose, where my health is concerned, overly cautious is better than not cautious enough...
There are a number of possibilities as to what could be wrong. A few...
- You could have vegetation (term for foerign substance resultant from infection) blocking the valve. It could also interfere with the valve closing all the way.
- You could have scar tissue blocking the valve. It could also interfere with the valve closing all the way.
- You may have myxomatous (weakened) tissue where the valve is sewn in, allowing it to separate from the wall on one side. This allows blood to pass outside the valve, causing regurgitation (also termed as insufficiency), and can also interfere with the valve's operation, causing blockage (stenosis).
Any of these items could raise the possibility of blood clots substantially, which would be a good reason for you to be on blood thinners.
Based on the information we have (which is insufficient, through no fault of your own), my current vote is for number three, because it's the only one that your cardiologist or surgeon could have known about that early in the recovery. Also, it would go along with the reluctance to schedule another surgery soon, due to an unwillingness to disturb the area, if they're not certain they can get a better result with another try.
They may be reluctant to discuss it because, although it is usually not a surgical error, it certainly sounds like one when you try to explain it to the patient.
A cardiologist or surgeon familiar with myxomatous tissue problems, such as from infection or radiation damage, or from congenital tissue problems, would be the best choice, if that is the case. That person's surgical record would likely include a number of replacements of sections of aorta, as other valve tissue problems (as described, not likely yours) tend to include aneurysms.
Best wishes,
- You could have vegetation (term for foerign substance resultant from infection) blocking the valve. It could also interfere with the valve closing all the way.
- You could have scar tissue blocking the valve. It could also interfere with the valve closing all the way.
- You may have myxomatous (weakened) tissue where the valve is sewn in, allowing it to separate from the wall on one side. This allows blood to pass outside the valve, causing regurgitation (also termed as insufficiency), and can also interfere with the valve's operation, causing blockage (stenosis).
Any of these items could raise the possibility of blood clots substantially, which would be a good reason for you to be on blood thinners.
Based on the information we have (which is insufficient, through no fault of your own), my current vote is for number three, because it's the only one that your cardiologist or surgeon could have known about that early in the recovery. Also, it would go along with the reluctance to schedule another surgery soon, due to an unwillingness to disturb the area, if they're not certain they can get a better result with another try.
They may be reluctant to discuss it because, although it is usually not a surgical error, it certainly sounds like one when you try to explain it to the patient.
A cardiologist or surgeon familiar with myxomatous tissue problems, such as from infection or radiation damage, or from congenital tissue problems, would be the best choice, if that is the case. That person's surgical record would likely include a number of replacements of sections of aorta, as other valve tissue problems (as described, not likely yours) tend to include aneurysms.
Best wishes,
.......Or he just doesn't know, so why speculate. The TEE will give you much greater knowledge than you have now. Wait for the results; discuss it with your drs. Keep a copy of all your test reports, including a CD of your TEE to get a second opinion if you desire. Many HVR pts. have to travel much more thanThriell said:
200 miles to resolve a complex problem. Maybe a road trip is in your future, prepare for it now. Good luck!
