horrible 6 month check up..

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sylviayasgur

sylviayasgur

VR.org Supporter
Supporting Member
Joined
Sep 1, 2001
Messages
2,307
Location
Westchester, NY
hi!
joey and i are totally numb.we both feel like crying, but it just won't come.
joey had an echo done last week and today we were told that his aortic valve has a moderate to severe leak! he will be going for a tee in the next few weeks and then we will go from there. we will also be consulting with dr. stelzer who did the surgery to see what he has to say.
all this time i've been reading about other rp's (right here on this forum!!) having the same problem, even others done by dr. stelzer!!! i was praying joey wouldn't be one of them and here we are....
his cardio says it could be one of two things. either a stitch or two has come loose or the valve is failing. does anyone know if they'd have to open him up again to fix a stitch? my guess is they would, right?
it's been such a long haul. he's been running and doing push-ups and had a feeling that he should be feeling better than he is (even though he is feeling so much better than pre-surgery).
amazing how atune to his body this man is!
well, there you go. never a dull moment.
hope you are all getting better news than this and that you are all feeling well and getting better with each new day.
pray for us, please!
God bless,
sylvia
 
Ouch.

Ouch.

Sylvia, I'll be pulling for you both during this difficult time. All the best and let us know how things go along the way.

-- Johnny
 
Sylvia-

I'm so sorry you guys have to go through such a difficult time. My Joe, as you might know sprung a leak in his mechanical mitral valve. It was repaired with 2 stitches. The heart port method was used which was through the lung area. Since he had already had two other surgeries through the sternum, this was a much better deal for him.

I'm not sure if this could work for aortic valves, but it's worth asking about.

The surgery time is about the same, but the healing time is improved.

God bless.
 
Sylvia,

Just to let you know, You and Joe will be in my thoughts and prayers. I hope the doctors have promising news for you after the tests.

There will be many of us here pulling for you and Joe. Just remember, we are here for you both. Stay positive !

Rob
 
thank you, thank you, thank you all!!!
you have all held my hand from the beginning and i am so grateful to have you all supporting us in such a big way.
i will let you know as soon as joey has his tee (and i'll chat along the way).
again, thank you for being there always.
God bless you all,
sylvia
 
I will think about you and Joey in the coming weeks! I hope things will show not to be as bad as initially thought... And if they are, that you will have the strenghth to see it through!

All my very best, many many hugs,

/Jessica
 
Dear Sylvia - You both went through this difficult surgery with thoughts of it 'being over' when it was over. We all did. Sometimes we don't get that lucky, as we see in here from time to time, and as you are now going through. Please don't draw your conclusions yet - it is very likely fixable with much less danger than the first time. Go ahead and cry - it's ok to cry, you know. Then lift your head high and just do what is next. You will do whatever you need to do and we can only stand by with you and offer our prayers and support. We are always here to listen and to cry with you. Please keep faith in your hearts. God bless.
 
I just wanted to add our best wishes to you both. I agree with the other posts here, that he most likely is in a situation that will be much improved in time....although it does sound like he needs a "fix".

I know how disappointed you both must feel. My husband Wayne had double valves done in October, and somehow we thought he would be much better than he is by now.......He is going for a stress-echo next week due to his heart rate going as high as 200.

Crying.......? Go ahead. I didn't cry through most of it, but every Sunday, at Mass. almost without fail, I fill up. Some days worse than others. Mostly in thanks for His looking out for us. And, He is looking out for both of you.

Our best wishes on the upcoming tests, etc.

Wayne and Marybeth
 
Our prayers are with you.

Our prayers are with you.

Hi Sylvia, just read all the posts, and you must be feeling the worst. I to have worried that something like this would happen to me, and I still pray it doesn't. No one can even feel the way you must right now. I can say you have all of us for support and more if you need it. I never was a prayer person before my surgery , but now I know it's the only way. I will be praying for the both of you. Keep in touch, and stay strong. It will be OK,I'll be looking for updates from you. Sylvia
 
PRAYERS & HUGS

PRAYERS & HUGS

Ah Sylvia...I am only wise enough to add my support and love to what all these wise people have said. Cry your tears and hang onto each other and then walk brave because all our love and prayers are there for you two. Keep us posted...we do wonder.
 
Sylvia and Joey-
I am stunned! I thought Joey was doing great. Ugh, what a drag. I can't even imagine how low Joey must feel. Please know that I am thinking of you both and sending good thoughts your way. i hope everything works out for the best. I can't even believe this news! What a blow. Please let us know what Stelzer has to say.

We RPers have to stick together!
-mara
 
Hi Sylvia and Joey,

I am so sorry to hear about Joey's valve. I had the Ross Procedure on Dec. 27, 2000 by Dr. Vaughn Starnes who was Arnold Schartzenegger's surgeon. I had no symptons prior to the surgery running 4 miles a day, 6 days a week. Four months after the surgery, I saw my cardiologist for a final check up and they discovered my valve was leaking in the moderate to severe range. I had no symptons and was running 3 miles a day. The surgeon said that one of the leaflets had prolapsed. He thought there was a chance he could repair it but would not know until he opened me up again. I was devastated. I got a second opinion from Dr. Bruce Reitz, the head of Stanford University's cardiothoracic surgery department and he said I should not have surgery yet since I have no symptons and the leakage only extends 2-3 cm. into the left ventricle. He felt that the valve would be relative stable for quite some time. It turns out he was right. I just saw my cardio last week and the leakage has remained unchanged. My cardio says that we will monitor it and have another echo done in 6 months. I am on offload medication and feel fine. The surgeon says that it is to my advantage to wait before having another surgery due to the scar tissue. It is his opinion that as long as the leakage remains moderate (which is his opinion of the regurgitation) I should not have surgery. I hope this helps. Please feel free to email me if you need some more information. You'll be in my prayers.
God Bless.
 
what would i do without the support you give to me???
you have all been so wonderful all along and i'm not surprised to find you there when i need you so much now.
thank you all. you have no idea what this means to me.
right now joey and i feel so disappointed. what was it he said? ..."now i know what it must feel like to be a cancer patient and not have the chemo work" (but not that bad though, because this is fixable)
joey is going on a golf outing next week and wouldn't hear of cancelling. the week after are the holidays and the week after is the week joey is having his tee (april 5th). we are then meeting with dr. stelzer on the 9th to see what he says.
i will be here checking on the rest of you, making sure that you're all okay while we wait for those dates to come.
hopefully it will only be a stitch that has come loose as opposed to the valve not working and leaking and needing replacement again. maybe they'll just monitor joey and he won't have to have this done immediately (giving him a bit of a break) .
again, thank you all from the bottom of my heart for all your kind words, caring and your support.
God bless,
sylvia
 
Sylvia and Joe,

I can't imagine the shock and dispair you felt when you were told the results of the echo. After all you went through over the last year preparing for the surgery, lining up your surgeon, deciding on the RP, actually having the surgery and then working so hard through the recovery period, you didn't deserve this kind of a setback. I'm so sorry this happened to Joey.

However, take some solace from the strength that you both showed in dealing with all the things I just mentioned above. Hopefully, the "fix" will be a little easier, but no matter what, I'm sure you'll find the will and the courage to do whatever is required.

Most importantly, put yur trust in the Lord. He will not let you down.

You will both be in my prayers regularly and I'll watch for your future posts, hopefully with some good news.

Ron K
 
Prayers

Prayers

I am so sorry that this has happened to you. It is a hard time and prayers do go a long way. Just hang in there and be tough. You both are strong to have made it this far. It is just an obsticle to overcome. You both will be fine. My prayers to the both of you through this time.

Caroline
09-13-01
Aortic valve replacement
St. Jude's valve
 
Dear Sylvia,

I haven't been on for a few days and just saw your post regarding Joey's valve leak.
My heart goes out to you and Joey. To hear this news after you thought he was doing so much better. But don't think the worst right away, maybe it won't be too bad and they won't have to open him up again. I pray and hope that that will be the case.
My thoughts and prayers will be with you for sure.

Hugs,

Christina
 
Chin up Sylvia

Chin up Sylvia

Oh Sylvia..I was so sorry to read your post. I know how upset you and Joey must be.The advise that you got from the othere members was GOOD advise..and maybe the news will be more encouraging when you see Dr. Seltzer. Perhaps even if they havwe to go in and do more surgery..that it might be able to be done "minimumly invasive" You are so wonderful in responding to all of us when we need advise..so I hope that we can all be here for you> My prayers are with the both of you for a non invasive outcome:) Fondly
Joan
 
Silvia,
You and Joey will be in my thoughts and prayers. Hopefully the tests will have positive results. We're all pulling for both of you.
Frank
 
a big thank you to all

a big thank you to all

i cannot thank you all enough for the support and outreach you have exhibited.
i am so thankful for you all_ each and every one of you. it's a good feeling to know that you all understand and have actually been through the difficulty (whether yourselves or with s.o.'s) of this surgery.
it makes me feel like you can understand why joey and i would be so devastated.
we are trying to keep our chins up and live our daily lives in a thankful way without worrying too much and becoming depressed about the outcome of joey's echo.
you have all really come to my aid. i can't put into words how grateful i am to have you all. i'm a lucky girl!
i will keep you posted and will be here while we wait. in the meantime, joey is going on a golf outing this week and making the most of life as it is now (which is so much better than he was the 6 months before surgery).
i think of it as three steps forward and two steps back (as opposed to forward all the way).
life goes on and i will be here in the meantime, hoping to help others as you have / do for us.
thank you all again.
God bless you,
sylvia
 
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