Back to the forum almost 2 years later!

[lynn]

Hi everyone,

Well, I've been catching up on some of the posts that I've missed over the last 2 years. My ticker is starting to give it up, I'll give a brief synopsis of what's been going on since I joined (I actually had to read all of my 10 posts because I have a good memory...it's just short).

I came here in February of 2003 after being told I would need a AVR in 1-7 years for a BAV. Two weeks later I was dx with breast cancer and had 6 surgeries in 2 years (a hysterectomy thrown in for good measure) and chemo. All was going pretty good until last spring when I started to get dizzy. I saw my new cardio (second time I've seen him, first time he didn't even listen to my heart) and he told me to back off on the atenenol and drink more water "see you in a year for an echo" that means it would be 2 years between echo's. I said Adios to him!!!

Got a new cardio and he did an echo, holter and aortic ultrasound. I stupidly went to his office by myself, I should know that I should always take an extra set of ears. He dropped a bomb, said that from the echo done by the idiot the year before and the one he had in his hand that my readings had gone from 24 to 52 (don't ask me what readings, is it the pressure?). And, that I was a .08...what is that for again? Dang, I hate chemo brain!! AND, I had *an episode* of afib, now I'm on coumadin, he wants to check me in 3 months with another echo to determine if the valve has gotten worse. He was all about perhaps the difference between the other idiot's echo and the way his is done, maybe I was just as bad last year.

So, here I am asking advice again.....do I bite the bullet and go see a surgeon (cardio has no problem referring me), the pounding in my throat and face are extremely annoying. I ran into a friend at the store today and while talking to her the pounding took over my chest and I got a little dizzy

I know I want to go to Shands in Gainesville, FL here, I always thought I would go with Dr. Tomas Martin, but while searching their website I came across this fellow who works with him:

http://www.surgery.ufl.edu/FacultyProfile.asp?FacultyID=29#Links

I like his bio and he was at the University of Wisconsin where I know good things happen.

Question....how do you *pick* a surgeon and from the little bit I've told all you experts, is this the time to do this thing????

Thanx for reading this far, this website and all of you are such a wealth of knowledge, you have no idea!

Lynn

 

[Ross]

Lynn get copies of your echo and anything else heart related and keep them. I don't know what is what without seeing a copy of the report. It does sound to me like it's time to find a surgeon. Best way to screen them is to call the hospital where he practices and get the nurses point of view of him. If they don't like him, they will say so. Dr. Beaver sounds reasonable at least according to his creditials.

 

[Jkm7]

Ross....

If you don't mind???

I am confused when you say call the hospital where a particular surgeon operates and ask the nurses?

You mean, ask for Cardiac Care Nurses Station and then ask whichever nurse or whoever answers the phone what they think of Dr. "X"?

I'm at a loss imagining calling Mass General and having anyone answer such a question for me.

I know that it is excellent advice to ask the nurses. They absolutely know best but unless one knows some nurses, how does one go about asking?

Thanks for all the wonderful information here. It is priceless.

 

[lynn]

Just got back from the Cardio with my echo report, for you experts....does it look like surgeon shopping is in order?


M-mode examination: The ascending aortic root measures 3.8 cm. The aortic valve opening measurures 4.2 cm. Interventricular septal thickness is 0.8 cm. The left ventricular posterior wall thickness is 0.8 cm. The fractional shortening is 35%. There is no pericardial effusion evident.

2-dimensional examination: The right-sided chambers appear normal in size with preserved right ventricular systolic function. The inferior vena cava is normal diameter, with normal respiratory variation. The ascending aortic root appears mildly dilated. The left atrium is normal in size. The left ventricle is normal in size and thickness. The endocardium is adequately visualized. Left ventricular ejection fraction measures 60%. There are no wall motion abnormalities apparent. The aortic valve is heavily thickened and calcified. There is a bicuspid appearance to the aortic valve. The aortic valve leaflets are severely restricted in motion. The mitral valve demonstrates mild anterior and mitral valve leaflet prolapse. The tricuspid valve is normal structure and motion. The pulmonic valve appears think and pliable.

Doppler examination: The peak gradient across the aortic valve is 53 mmHg, with a mean peak gradient of 27 mmHg, and aortic velocity of 3.6 m/sec. The aortic valve area is calculated at 0.8 cm2. By planimetry it is 0.9 cm2. This is consistent with moderate to severe aortic valve stenosis. There is mild mitral valve regurgitation evident. There is mild tricuspid valve regurgitation, with a systolic pulmonary pressure of 23 mmHg. Doppler examination of the left ventricular in-flow demonstrates an E:A ratio of 1.0.


Sorry if there's any typos, I'm typing fast at work