A
Ann
Hello, I have been gaining wonderful information from this board for the last few weeks. Thank you all for sharing your thoughts, stories and humor. My husband had his aortic valve replaced in June of 1998 with a human homograft. The surgery went very well, they replaced the valve, aortic root and head if I remember correctly. They also did two grafts and repaired two aneurysms. Five days post surgical he developed a P.E. and ended up back in ICU on life support. He had pneumonia and the P.E. God was wonderful and he survived and we have been leading a pretty great life together.
Now fast forward to the day before Thanksgiving this year. My husband had a cardiology check-up and came home pretty shaken. They told him his valve was failing, he has aortic stenosis and the valve was down to 1 mm.
We contacted his original surgeon right away and had a complete evaluation. The surgeon agreed about the valve and need for surgery and wondered why the original cardiologist didn?t diagnosis this back in April on the last echo. Perhaps he did not read the echo? More importantly during the past several weeks we have hired a new cardiologist who has ordered a TEE be done, Cardiac Cath and other tests. All the tests came back excellent except for the dia. of his aortic valve; it is now down to 0.7mm. We have decided to go with a mechanical valve, the St. Jude. My husband was 47 on his first surgery and is now 55 so we feel the mechanical is the way to go. I know we both do not want to go through this a third time.
My husband (Tim) is doing pretty good. He does have some shortness of breath and seems to have a bit of a short fuse. I think it is the stress of the upcoming surgery and being off work for a month. The first surgery he worked up to the afternoon we were going to register at the hospital. Perhaps too much time to think.
I would appreciate any prayers and words of wisdom you can offer. It is getting close and we are both feeling nervous. What are everyone?s thoughts on the St. Jude?
Thank you,
Ann
Now fast forward to the day before Thanksgiving this year. My husband had a cardiology check-up and came home pretty shaken. They told him his valve was failing, he has aortic stenosis and the valve was down to 1 mm.
We contacted his original surgeon right away and had a complete evaluation. The surgeon agreed about the valve and need for surgery and wondered why the original cardiologist didn?t diagnosis this back in April on the last echo. Perhaps he did not read the echo? More importantly during the past several weeks we have hired a new cardiologist who has ordered a TEE be done, Cardiac Cath and other tests. All the tests came back excellent except for the dia. of his aortic valve; it is now down to 0.7mm. We have decided to go with a mechanical valve, the St. Jude. My husband was 47 on his first surgery and is now 55 so we feel the mechanical is the way to go. I know we both do not want to go through this a third time.My husband (Tim) is doing pretty good. He does have some shortness of breath and seems to have a bit of a short fuse. I think it is the stress of the upcoming surgery and being off work for a month. The first surgery he worked up to the afternoon we were going to register at the hospital. Perhaps too much time to think.
I would appreciate any prayers and words of wisdom you can offer. It is getting close and we are both feeling nervous. What are everyone?s thoughts on the St. Jude?
Thank you,
Ann
