This is my first posting and I must admit that I feel like I'm walking onto an entirely new playing field. I was diagnosed with aortic stenosis on August 25, 2008 as the result of an echocardiogram that my internist ordered after he detected an abnormal heart rhythm during a regularly scheduled exam. I haven't yet had any symptoms beyond what I thought was mild heartburn on occasion, and I'm still having a great deal of difficulty getting my head around the severity of the situation.
My cardiologist told me that there was good news and bad news. The bad news was that I would need surgery to replace the valve. The good news was that it wasn't an emergency and my heart remained quite strong. He suggested that waiting a year would be dangerous, and agreed that I would be able to wait until January 2009 in order to accommodate my work and family schedule. I wasn't aware of the magnitude of this "waiting and worrying time" until things really started to sink in. In the meantime I am attempting to learn as much about the procedure, and what to expect in the months following it, as possible. I'm really looking for some answers, advice, and any ideas that might help to take the stress off the days and months ahead.
While I feel very lucky to have discovered this before it became an issue, I am now wrestling with two major issues, the first being whether to have a tissue or mechanical valve replacement--I can't imagine having this surgery twice, but I'm also concerned about the affects of long-term Coumadin use since I already have poor circulation in one of my legs and have been known to fall for seemingly no reason whatsoever. I have been told that all things being equal, my surgeon will insist that I make the decision on what to use.
I've been reading a multitude of posts on the AVR site and still am confused. Sometimes I even have difficulty following what is being said because of the abbreviations that are often used. Perhaps someone could point me in the direction of a glossary for the terms used in describing the disease and the tests that identify various problems. My second issue is directly related to my existing physical limitations and I haven't yet found anyone reference pre-existing physical disability conditions that impacted on their rehab. I am aware from previous experience that I will need to have a plan worked out with my doctors and hospital BEFORE the surgery takes place. My last two surgeries were C-sections (29 and 26 years ago) and I spent 10 days in the hospital just to get back on my feet after each delivery.
My doctors have concluded that I have remained asymptomatic because of a combination of circumstances. During the past year I lost a considerable amount of weight in anticipation of my daughter's wedding day, and because I am post polio (I've lived with this condition since I was 5 years old), I'm not normally attempting any kind of strenuous exercise. As I've gotten older (I'm 61 now), I've become dependent on using my crutches even when walking short distances, and a motor scooter for longer distances. My physical disability resuled in a spinal fusion when I was 12 years old, and I have limited use of one leg and only muscle to power movement from the hip in the other. I have always used my upper body to propel most of my motion and thus must use my arms to push off in order to stand from a sitting position, or sit up when I've been lying down. How will this impact on my healing process. What might I expect for a time-line in getting back to being independent and able to get back to work? I'm sure I'll have many more questions as the months tic on, and right now I'm just so happy that I found this forum.
Jane
My cardiologist told me that there was good news and bad news. The bad news was that I would need surgery to replace the valve. The good news was that it wasn't an emergency and my heart remained quite strong. He suggested that waiting a year would be dangerous, and agreed that I would be able to wait until January 2009 in order to accommodate my work and family schedule. I wasn't aware of the magnitude of this "waiting and worrying time" until things really started to sink in. In the meantime I am attempting to learn as much about the procedure, and what to expect in the months following it, as possible. I'm really looking for some answers, advice, and any ideas that might help to take the stress off the days and months ahead.
While I feel very lucky to have discovered this before it became an issue, I am now wrestling with two major issues, the first being whether to have a tissue or mechanical valve replacement--I can't imagine having this surgery twice, but I'm also concerned about the affects of long-term Coumadin use since I already have poor circulation in one of my legs and have been known to fall for seemingly no reason whatsoever. I have been told that all things being equal, my surgeon will insist that I make the decision on what to use.
I've been reading a multitude of posts on the AVR site and still am confused. Sometimes I even have difficulty following what is being said because of the abbreviations that are often used. Perhaps someone could point me in the direction of a glossary for the terms used in describing the disease and the tests that identify various problems. My second issue is directly related to my existing physical limitations and I haven't yet found anyone reference pre-existing physical disability conditions that impacted on their rehab. I am aware from previous experience that I will need to have a plan worked out with my doctors and hospital BEFORE the surgery takes place. My last two surgeries were C-sections (29 and 26 years ago) and I spent 10 days in the hospital just to get back on my feet after each delivery.
My doctors have concluded that I have remained asymptomatic because of a combination of circumstances. During the past year I lost a considerable amount of weight in anticipation of my daughter's wedding day, and because I am post polio (I've lived with this condition since I was 5 years old), I'm not normally attempting any kind of strenuous exercise. As I've gotten older (I'm 61 now), I've become dependent on using my crutches even when walking short distances, and a motor scooter for longer distances. My physical disability resuled in a spinal fusion when I was 12 years old, and I have limited use of one leg and only muscle to power movement from the hip in the other. I have always used my upper body to propel most of my motion and thus must use my arms to push off in order to stand from a sitting position, or sit up when I've been lying down. How will this impact on my healing process. What might I expect for a time-line in getting back to being independent and able to get back to work? I'm sure I'll have many more questions as the months tic on, and right now I'm just so happy that I found this forum.
Jane
