Being too Casual???

[kodi]

I?m trying to piece a lot of all this information together and wondering if I?m being too casual on my approaching surgery. When I was diagnosed with aortic stenosis (two years ago) I searched WEBMD and read what was there about it. I read it again a couple weeks ago when my doc said time is approaching to take care of the problem. Then I found this site, almost by accident. What I?ve found here is a lot of help to a lot of things that were on my mind, but a lot of things I had absolutely no ideas about. Before I go there, my oldest brother, now 87, has had two porcine replacements, slam dunk, and doing fine. I?m sure they didn?t have access to all the information I now have. When I went into this I thought there were three choices, mechanical, porcine and bovine and I see that basically that?s still true. What I didn?t realize how many variations on each of those there is and I really don?t know and understand the differences. I also never heard of the Ross procedure, which after reading about think that I might be a good candidate for it, but not real sure if it?s what I want to do. We, my card & I, decided bovine would be best and I?m not even sure which one he?s thinking about. (I am waiting for him to return my call so I can question all of this). I?m just at the waiting point right now. I?ve had the chest x-ray, the carotid ultrasound and the angiogram. Everything indicates there shouldn?t be any problems or complications. I?m waiting for the surgeon and hospital to call to set a date (last week would have been great!), in the meantime, I?m now questioning my decisions. Can you guys/gals shed any light on any of this and perhaps make some suggestions. I?ve posted a couple times under ?Active Lifestyles? but for those that don?t go there, I?m 68 and an avid runner (27 years), a swimmer and sometimes cyclist, and for an old guy, in very good physical shape.
Another thought, a little off this subject, do you guys/gals really read and understand all the links that show up here? For me it?s like trying to wade through some of my old college classes trying to decipher what?s being said. I decided the stenosis, with the lack of blood and oxygen going into my system, my brain is in oxygen debt.
I have some other questions too but mostly related to heart rate training, but I might be getting ahead of myself there and should save it for another post.

Thanks for your help. This site has really been wonderful.
Mel

 

[Ross]

Mel I don't think your being to casual at all and frankly, I see nothing wrong with the choice of Bovine tissue either. I'm sure your learning as much as you possibly can as quickly as you can, so keeping it simple is best for you. It's so easy to get into large debates over which valve is better and for what reasons, but the reality is, as long as you choose one, are comfortable with that choice, then go for it and don't look back. Some of the people in here are of the statistics and research types, for them, their answers are somewhere in the links that confuse you and most other folks as well. I'll let those people with pig and cow valves tell you the differences since they aren't my area of knowledge. I think your Bovine choice is fine.

 

[Marguerite53]

Hi Mel. Here's my 2 cents and a very contented....mooooo!

If you trust your surgeon and your hospital then it is probably prudent to choose the valve type (brand) which your surgeon has the most experience with. I really respected my cardio. I did not want to leave Portland for the surgery (mine was a simple stenotic aortic valve replacement in a healthy but out of shape 52 year old female). The cardio suggested 2 surgeons. I interviewed one (liked his credentials better) of hers, and one of my own. I chose hers. He balked completely at my suggestion of a Ross procedure only because he didn't do them, and he could not suggest anyone locally to do one except a pediatric surgeon who would obviously not be willing. My surgeon went over the various nuances of valves (once I chose tissue) and together we decided that the one he liked best (and would use on his own 50-something self!) was the one to go with. You don't want them stumbling over the package directions when they've got you on the heart lung machine!! Find a surgeon who does about 100 heart surgeries a year and you ought to be good to go!

What you should not be casual about is the time frame. You will be in a recovery mode for longer than you want. (hey, 5 days is longer than anyone would want!!). You will become frustrated at your level of conditioning and the time it takes to bounce back. You need to be open to complications although so many of us have none. It is a serious operation, that's all. But if you don't have it...well, you'll die....plain and simple. I'm not trying to be melodramatic here, just emphasizing that it is a serious undertaking and it is gong to take a little chunk out of the nice established routine of your life. So be sure to get all your ducks in a row, and get some help lined up for the first 2 weeks or so. That's the part to not be casual about.

Since your brother has been through 2 (interesting that it runs in your family) you are aware that it is really not that awful of an experience. The drugs these days are fantastic, procedures very buttoned down and prognosis is amazingly wonderful! It's a lucky option we all have. Very lucky.

Good luck to you! We'll be anxious to know your surgery date, so keep us posted!

Marguerite

 

[RandyL]

If I was 68 I would be all over a tissue valve, would prolly pick the best surgeon I could find and let him pick the tissue valve he felt the most comfortable working with.

 

[Karlynn]

If I was 68 I would be all over a tissue valve, would prolly pick the best surgeon I could find and let him pick the tissue valve he felt the most comfortable working with.

I would second that.

 

[kodi]

Thanks for the replies. It really makes me feel a lot better about what is going on and the decisions that I made so far. Still waiting to talk to the card about which valve we are going to use.

 

[Mary]

Mel,
Just wanted to chime in and say one of my oldest, dearest friends in the world lives in Lake Havasu. She and her husband moved there about ten years ago. He is a retired K-Mart store manager and she has always been a stay at home mom.

Regarding your link question, hang around the place, and you'll quickly become accustomed to the acronyms and jargon contained in the links. Of course blaming your stenotic aortic valve will work for now, but what are you going to rely upon later?

I have a bovine valve (age 54) and if I were 68, I wouldn't be too concerned about another replacement anytime soon.

 

[StretchL]

Me Three

Me Three

If I was 68 I would be all over a tissue valve, would prolly pick the best surgeon I could find and let him pick the tissue valve he felt the most comfortable working with.

I third that motion. All in favor respond by an uplift of hand...

OK, so it's unaminous.

FWIW, your age would make you not a candidate for the Ross.

Also, from all I've read the tissue valves calcify much more slowly the older the patient is.

Everyone here will confirm that I'd probably spend every waking moment between now and the surgery researching the tissue valve options, but then again I'm a nut case.

Beef or pork... pork or beef... I wonder if that kind of decision is a done deal for a practicing Hindu or orthodox Jew?

Let me check the medical journals...

 

[Mary]

Beef or pork... pork or beef... I wonder if that kind of decision is a done deal for a practicing Hindu or orthodox Jew?

Let me check the medical journals...

Actually we've had that question answered here, but unfortunately, I don't remember what the answer was.
Oh well, check your journals!