I'm goin' in

[Raverlaw]

Ken-
Thank you so much for the article. It explained very precisely what happened to me, and I will share the article with my PCP, who was astute enough to recommend an echo for me even though I was barely symptomatic to the untrained eye.

I don't know my flow rate, but know that the valve measured at .9cm2 - in the severe category and time to be replaced.

My friend George was just diagnosed yesterday with the very same thing, except he is at a .6cm2 and will have AVR next week up in Palo Alto. I gave George the URL for this board and hope that he checks in soon - but he's going to be very busy getting ready for his surgery - I think that his cath is scheduled for tomorrow.

CC -
Hit me with your best attorney joke anytime. Does anyone know the difference between a lawyer and a rooster?

 

[Les]

A rooster clucks defiance...

 

[Raverlaw]

Les-

Right! obviously you're either a lawyer or have been a client...

 

[ccrawford]

Bill - What is it that a swan, duck, or goose can do and a California Lawyer should do ?

 

[Marge]

About timing:

I think you have to trust your surgeon! My mitral valve problem initially surfaced after I went to see my PCP in September (for something else entirely). He heard a murmur, suspected regurgitation, & referred me for an EKG and an echocardiogram. They were done in October and the echo showed mitral regurgitation and an ejection fraction of 30-35. So in November I saw a cardiologist and he ordered a cardiac catheritization (which was done Nov. 25).

In December it was off to see the surgeon. He said: surgery, definitely. I said, "When?" He said, as near as I can remember, "Any time you want." I said, "How about February?" At that time we thought that my husband would have his much-needed knee replacement done in January. (Now that doesn't seem to be happening.) The surgeon said, "OK. I'll order some tests to be done next month & we'll get together towards the end of January again." If there had been the slightest indication on his part that February was too long to wait, you bet I wouldn't be waiting.

Of course, in my case, a good deal of damage to the heart muscle has already been done. Apparently they don't think waiting until February will do any more, or, I guess, not that much more. In the meantime I am taking the beta blocker, coreg, which is supposed to do something for the heart muscle (I'm not absolutely sure what).

I could wish that they had discovered the mitral valve problem earlier, before the damage was done, but hey -- that is water under the bridge.

The problem is that if you are pretty much asymptomatic, as I was, it's apparently not that uncommon for these things to go undiagnosed for quite some time.

People say: Wow, with a leaky valve & an EF of 30, you must have felt rotten! But I didn't. I am not a marathon runner or a heptathlete but I am reasonably active. In May I was in Paris during a transport strike, walking every day for hours; in July I was hiking in Northern New Mexico, with no problems; in September I suddenly was told I had a leaky valve and CHF. Bizarre.

 

[Enudely]

Hi "Claw"
I think you'll find the people on this sight FAR exceed your expectations on the amount of support we will give. These people have completely saved my sanity!!
I'm going in for aortic valve replacement on th 15th, only five days before you. When my sister posts about how succesful it was and how I bounced back and was up and joggin three hours post op, perhaps it will give you some confidence!!!!
I hear what you're saying about family being more worried than I am. My fiance is losing sleep over it and the rest of my family is kind of a wreck. I have to admit, I feel really calm about it!! The only thing that scares me is the thought of the gas mask on my face and them saying, "count backwards from ten" I think that will be the scary moment for me, but know it will only last a few seconds!!
Anyway, there is much love for you here, so don't hesitate to spill your guts to us!!
-elena

 

[ccrawford]

Elena - Let me make your day. They most certainly won't use a mask to put you to sleep, just a simple injection into your IV and you're in sleepyville for awhile. Now - Don't you feel better ? Chris

 

[Marge]

<<GAS MASK >> -- Gosh ... I remember that from a couple of surgeries I had as a KID.

I don't think they give you that any more! Even the major surgery I had as an adult, years ago, they pumped me full of stuff through an IV, while I was still in my room, and I conked out at some point on my way from my room to the operating room.

The last thing I remember from that surgery was Dr. Levine walking alongside of me with his face right next to mine as he bent over me on the gurney, smiling, & saying something reassuring, and the next thing I remember was waking up in ICU.

I saw a clock on the wall opposite my bed. It said something like 10 a.m. and I said: "When are they going to START this operation, anyway?" I thought it was the same morning. It was 10 a.m. the NEXT day. Somewhere along the line I lost a day and a half out of my life. Worse than flying to Australia.

 

[Granbonny]

Elena

Elena

I was in the prep room..with entire family..laughing..and the next thing I remember was waking up in a private room. No pain..and my daughter saying. Hi, Mom..want to get up and take a walk...and I said, sure. I said..where am I? And off I went walking down the hall. My prep nurse must gave me a real good FEEL GOOD shot....Nothing I remembered about ICU..ect. Bonnie

 

[Enudely]

made my day!!

made my day!!

phew!!
I don't know why I assumed there was a gas mask!!! Sounds like it's going to be better than I thought.
I CAN"T WAIT for the moment I wake up and it is OVER!!!!!