AVR surgery not indicated

[Rick W]

Hello to all, I have not been on the forum fo a while. The past few months have been dedicated to getting to the bottom of my actual need for AVR surgery. After much time, energy and money I was provided with the answer yesterday. My cardiologist said it would probably be at least 2 more years. Between the results of the angiogram in May and the stress echo in June it was concluded that surgery is not indicated at this time as I am currently asymptomatic. Some shortness of breath on exertion, not heart related, maybe from being an ex-smoker. Let me be an example to all of you who face surgery. Be proactive in your diagnosis and treatment, and do not believe everything you here from a doctor without at least one second opinion. I would have been in surgery August 4th if I had not persued a straight answer. It had been left to me to decide on surgery or not, by the surgeon I might add.

Rick

 

[Ross]

Well Rick that's good news. You can join the others in the waiting room. Watch out for whomever is peddling the playboy magazines now.

On a more serious note, just be sure that if you become symptomatic, that you get your tail in there. You don't want to wait until your heart is enlarging to get the job done.

 

[Les]

Ditto - Ross...
_____________
Les AVR '93 / '95

 

[fyrfytr]

Hey Rick,
DITTO - Ross and Barrlett
Dave

Keep your fires small!
___________________________________
Surgery: 4/21/03
Aortic Aneurysm Repair
AVR, with a St. Jude Mechanical
Heart Center of the Rockies

 

[Nancy]

No Playboys in the waiting room. Too hard on your heart. Only 4 year old AAA Travel Guides allowed, just like in the real waiting rooms. Well, maybe a 10 year old dog-eared Reader's Digest. Both of those will have lots of dirty fingerprints on them, plus some unknown stuff and some pages missing, with the crossword puzzle half done, and wrong.

 

[McCln]

Rick

Rick

The shortness of breathe maybe heart related, ask your cardio. But thanks for giving up smoking, I was a smoker till over thwo years ago. Great idea to quit. Keep up the good work. Just watch the shortness of breathe. It is a sign of heart problems as it affects also affect the lungs, not as an ex-smoker. If it get worse and it get hard to do the simplest things, get to the cardio. Two years may seem like a long time, but it does give you time to get ready as far as recovery and getting bills paid up. At least you have notice. Just take care and keep an eye on the breathing. You will be fine.

Caroline
09-13-01
Aortic valve replacement
St. Jude's valve

 

[bvdr]

Nancy! We have just updated the waiting room and it is in great shape! Come visit - you will truly be impressed. Rick might find it a nice place to visit and talk.

Hope you have a nice day

Betty(bvdr)

 

[epstns]

Come on, everybody. . .

Come on, everybody. . .

Hey, Nancy, you probably haven't looked into The Waiting Room for a while. Betty and I have cleaned out all the old magazines, taken a survey of which ones people would like to have there, got the new ones in the racks. Betty has the snack area all in line, and we are even looking into re-covering the grey chairs and new floor tile (LOL).

I don't think I would worry too much about any of us going into afib over the new magazines, as we haven't had much demand for the ones that would cause trouble. More on the news and technical, household and fashion stuff (right, Betty? <g>).

Rick - I'm of the opinion that when one or more of the docs believe it best to wait, as long as you are being monitored for any deterioration I would wait as long as possible. Besides, I enjoy having another long-term member of The Waiting Room to visit with since ccrawford (Chris) left the room.