M
M&M
Hi Everyone, well I had my visit with my surgeon on Thursday and we both agreed its now 'time' to start preparing for surgery. He wants to do a catherization before my valve surgery. Which is good - because if I need bypass - its good to get it done while he's in there fixing my valve.
SO I go into the hospital a couple days before my planned surgery to have a cath - he and I will review my results and discuss any potential need of a bypass - then in a couple days I come back and have the valve surgery and bypass if needed. He hopes to be able to do a repair - but won't know till he gets in there. With my heart disease history I thought he was leaning towards a mechanical and making sure there won't be a need to go back in again in the future..
Hopefully they won't find too many 'clogged' arteries. I know I have a couple of them - but last time I had a cath I think I was only around 60% clogged. Hopefully, it hasn't gotten worse.
He warned me about the possiblity of going into ventricular fibrilation after surgery - which I have never gone into - and the possibility of getting shocks from my ICD. I tend to think the a-fib or ventricular tachycardia will probably do it to me - moreso than v-fib...
Hopefully I won't get any shocks.. but like he said: I'm well protected with the ICD if I do.. It just hurts like heck when I get shocked - but hopefully all those meds will keep me from remembering just how painful the shocks are.
So, now I wait - to get a date for my cath. It should be a couple weeks at the most. But I'll find out this week.
I told him my daughter is graduating from college and I don't want to be all drugged up when I go to her graduation. He indicated - this is not a 'rush' - and I have alittle time so we can arrange the surgery somewhat around my schedule.
All in all he said - it shouldn't take more than a month.
He said I could possibly be running at the end of two mos - but more likely 3 mos. But definently not TWO WEEKS like I did when I had my ICD surgery.. I never did tell my EP doc about that race..
So, I decided the best way to get through this and come out with half a smile - is probably to pick a 'race' in the fall - and make it my 'goal' to 'finish' it.
I told him I had plans to go back racing. I told him there's this guy out west who has a valve replacement and he's running marathons - so I expect I should be able to do the same. If he can do it - then so can't I.. He didn't argue with me - or tell me I couldn't - of course he'll let my EP doc do that.. Not that it does any good. But I may stick to the 5 or 10k's.. At the most maybe 'one' half marathon a year..
The first thing he said to me when he came in the room was - your having symptoms aren't you? Dr. Greenberg told me your not exercising and I knew there would only be one reason for you not to exercise - she's having symptoms - so tell her to come in.... I think he's got me pegged !!!
He also told me I was very 'different'.. from other cardiac patients. I didn't quite understand - he said - it was like - you know in math they have the equation n = ? Well, he said I'm the 'n'.. they don't have any data on people like me yet..
In the end - I felt very confident this surgeon would give me the best medical care possible. So, I feel comfortable proceeding with him.
Well, I thought I would just update you all.
This surgeon also was quite impressed with my knowledge of valves and the issues. This site and the CCF site has been so helpful - I can't thank you all enough for all your insight. I will be forever grateful to you all.
Best Wishes
Runner -
Marilyn and Dick
SO I go into the hospital a couple days before my planned surgery to have a cath - he and I will review my results and discuss any potential need of a bypass - then in a couple days I come back and have the valve surgery and bypass if needed. He hopes to be able to do a repair - but won't know till he gets in there. With my heart disease history I thought he was leaning towards a mechanical and making sure there won't be a need to go back in again in the future..
Hopefully they won't find too many 'clogged' arteries. I know I have a couple of them - but last time I had a cath I think I was only around 60% clogged. Hopefully, it hasn't gotten worse.
He warned me about the possiblity of going into ventricular fibrilation after surgery - which I have never gone into - and the possibility of getting shocks from my ICD. I tend to think the a-fib or ventricular tachycardia will probably do it to me - moreso than v-fib...
Hopefully I won't get any shocks.. but like he said: I'm well protected with the ICD if I do.. It just hurts like heck when I get shocked - but hopefully all those meds will keep me from remembering just how painful the shocks are.
So, now I wait - to get a date for my cath. It should be a couple weeks at the most. But I'll find out this week.
I told him my daughter is graduating from college and I don't want to be all drugged up when I go to her graduation. He indicated - this is not a 'rush' - and I have alittle time so we can arrange the surgery somewhat around my schedule.
All in all he said - it shouldn't take more than a month.
He said I could possibly be running at the end of two mos - but more likely 3 mos. But definently not TWO WEEKS like I did when I had my ICD surgery.. I never did tell my EP doc about that race..
So, I decided the best way to get through this and come out with half a smile - is probably to pick a 'race' in the fall - and make it my 'goal' to 'finish' it.
I told him I had plans to go back racing. I told him there's this guy out west who has a valve replacement and he's running marathons - so I expect I should be able to do the same. If he can do it - then so can't I.. He didn't argue with me - or tell me I couldn't - of course he'll let my EP doc do that.. Not that it does any good. But I may stick to the 5 or 10k's.. At the most maybe 'one' half marathon a year..
The first thing he said to me when he came in the room was - your having symptoms aren't you? Dr. Greenberg told me your not exercising and I knew there would only be one reason for you not to exercise - she's having symptoms - so tell her to come in.... I think he's got me pegged !!!
He also told me I was very 'different'.. from other cardiac patients. I didn't quite understand - he said - it was like - you know in math they have the equation n = ? Well, he said I'm the 'n'.. they don't have any data on people like me yet..
In the end - I felt very confident this surgeon would give me the best medical care possible. So, I feel comfortable proceeding with him.
Well, I thought I would just update you all.
This surgeon also was quite impressed with my knowledge of valves and the issues. This site and the CCF site has been so helpful - I can't thank you all enough for all your insight. I will be forever grateful to you all.
Best Wishes
Runner -
Marilyn and Dick
