Heart Talk

[Marie-62]

I had my cath test for the heart, no blockage. I have bicsupid aortic heart vavle that is now in serve.narrowing..Also I had a scat scan, echogram, x-ray, blood work..

My surgeon R. Grosner at Gates Vascular Institute in Buffalo NY wants to do more testing on me. I met with him once, and after all the test I will see him again.

My surgery is Oct 9,2018. I knew this say would come, nervous and scared

 

[tigerlily]

Hi Marie, I'm in your situation, just a little behind you. I had my first valve replacement in 06 with an Edwards Tissue Valve. That valve now has moderate to severe calcification. I'm struggling right now with who to have the surgery with and what valve. Tell us more about your situation and history.

 

[epstns]

Marie (and tigerlily), that anxiety is totally normal for being in your spot. You are doing the right things, though, in researching your choices in advance of need. Once you have chosen your doc, date, valve and hospital, it will all calm down. Once you develop your plan, the tough part is behind you and all you have to do is mark your calendar and be there for each appointment. Just do what is called for, as all the decisions have been made.

You'll be surprised at how calm you can become as you get closer to the Big Day.

Do come on back and keep us posted of your plans and progress.

 

[tigerlily]

Thank you Epstns,

Marie, I don't know if you have chosen your valve replacement but I wanted to get input from Epstns on my situation and hopefully, it will help you too. I'm having a hard time finding out who is using the valve I'm interested in, especially in my area. I'd like to talk to several surgeons about the Edwards Inspiris Resilia Valve to see if they think it's a good valve for me along with discussing other options. I do know of one surgeon in my area who is using that valve and he happens to be the surgeon who installed my current Edwards Bovine tissue valve. I sound like a car LOL but you know what I mean. His name is Dr. Landvater and he is a very good surgeon who now is practicing at UNC Rex hospital. He use to practice at Wakemed in Raleigh where I still go to see my cardiologist. He is about my age so I hope he has no plans of retiring soon (that is a concern). I'm 65. I made some appointments to talk with the valve surgery team at WakeMed but since I couldn't find out in advance if they use the valve I'm interested in, I cancelled it. Also, I'm being encouraged to stay at WakeMed for my valve replacement when the time comes which I can't blame them for but it's making me feel like the pressure might cloud my decision. I'm feeling a little stuck. I could go to see Dr. Landvater again, it's been a year since I last saw him and have another discussion since the Resilia valve was not an option back then. I also could go to Duke and talk with their valve cardiologist specialist. I've been very surprised that both Duke and WakeMed wanted me to start first with a cardiologist who ascertains if a TAVR would be the right choice for you. From what I've read, I don't think that would be right for me at this point. I could use some feedback that might help nudge me in the right direction. It's hard because the time for surgery still might be months out. I would love to have a plan and be settled on it but that isn't proving as easy as I thought it would be.

 

[pellicle]

...I knew this day would come, nervous and scared

pardon me doing a little fix and not properly quoting you, Being apprehensive is pretty expectable (even for me when I had my 2nd I was more apprehensive than my 3rd).

You'll do fine and we'll see you on the other side

Just keep reciting this as a mantra :

 

[Marie-62]

I will keep you posted. I had the Cath test done on Monday
They couldn't go thru my wrist, to much scare tissue from 1975 Cath test. Plus having lymp nodes removed from my left side. They would not go there. Breast cancer survivor. So into my right groin they went in. Still hurts a little. So more resting.My surgeon will be moerat my blood sugar during surgery and after. I am going with the cow valve . I think that is Edwards. More tests to go. I thank you all for being here, and for the knowledge you all have given me
Will keep in touch

 

[honeybunny]

Marie, someone asked me just last weekend what I did prior to surgery to keep calm. I replied that I could be “fixed” and I knew other people facing terminal diseases could not and would trade places with me in a heartbeat. That helped me stay positive. That’s not to say I sugar-coated my situation but rather that I kept things in perspective. Best of luck going forward.

Hugs,
michele

 

[honeybunny]

Sorry. Duplicate post.

 

[dick0236]

.........I could be “fixed”........

Marie, honeybunny says it all. Valve issues can be fixed with little impact on our future lives. For what it is worth, open heart surgery scares hell out of normal people........even tho it is one of the most performed surgeries. I visit with 6 to 8 new pre or post op patients each week in one or our local hospitals (we have two local hospitals routinely doing this type of surgery) and patiiens usually go home after only a few days post surgery.......with only a few suggestions about staying out of the hospital in the future. You have a great deal of info available to you and I encourage to learn what you can in the next few weeks.........but be wary of some of the internet BS that suggests this surgery is a death sentence........'cause it ain't. I was not expected to live past 40 prior to surgery and now I am going on 83.......with all the issues of a "senior citizen".

 

[pellicle]

Marie, honeybunny says it all. Valve issues can be fixed with little impact on our future lives.

agreed ... I've had 3 close friends go through cancer treatment only one is still living. I would not wish to have ONE of their radiation or chemo treatments (let alone the series they have) and I've been through 3 open heart surgeries.

In terms of "how the cards are dealt" in this game of life, we've got a better hand in terms of pain, treatment problems and opportunity for a good outcome.

I believe strongly that one of the reasons we are so "anxiety filled" as a group today (in modern western society) is because we've been built to take the real world, but have coddled ourselves into having nothing stressful or dangerous.

Marie-62 You'll do fine

 

[Marie-62]

Wow you are all awesome. Thank you very much
I needed this. Emotional rollercoaster today.

 

[jcgtok17]

Tokyo Marathon 2019: I made the big decision to enter the Tokyo Marathon for 2019 (March 3, 2019). Tokyo is one of the majors, but smaller than the only other full marathon I have run which is New York. There are well over 300,000 applicants for 38,000 spots, drawn by lottery. We will find out of successful by mid September. I've started training already using Hal Higdon's "novice 1" guide. I ran NYC in just under 4 hours, but this time with my St. Jude Medical GT valve I'd be pleased as punch with 4 1/2 hours.
Global weather is a concern. In a decade I think weather extremes could see 1/3 of the planet not fit for humans. Tokyo organizers plan to move the marathon to summer in 2020 for the olympics which I think is a bad idea. This week has been 38 degrees c and anyone that has run in 90+ knowns it does not make for PB times. Wish me luck in getting in. 2019 is going to be huge, post marathon I'm planning on Mt. Everest base camp trip to plan for a full ascent in coming years. The bucket list comes fully into focus when you have had a major surgery like valve replacement. It would be easy to back pedal, I prefer to press. JCG