Introduction

[Bushman]

Hello all,
I would like to start by thanking you all for your posts, stories, opinions and courage as I have been "creeping" on this site for a couple of months already.

Back in May of this year my wife urged me to go get a physical after me mentioning that I have been quite lethargic for some time now and some pain in my back(heart area). So after the routine physical and some tests, my doctors office called me in for the results. My doctor told me that the EKG showed an enlarged LV and subsequently referred me to a Cardiologist. After an echo, EKG and TEE the Cardiologist informed me that I have moderate to severe regurgitation of the Aortic Valve. This is because one of the cusps is smaller than the other two and he believes I was born this way. I was seen shortly after by the Chief of Cardiac Surgery at Foothills Hospital here in Calgary who has referred me to one of his colleagues who is a specialist in repairs as he believes I would be a great candidate for a repair. My appointment with the specialist is in a week(September 30th). I was also told that my heart is otherwise in excellent shape with no stenosis, build up in the arteries or any other issues.

All of this came as quite the surprise to me as I am only 41 years old and have been very healthy my whole life, used to play sports at a competitive level and am still quite active. I am not worried about surgery, I am actually embracing it as an opportunity to make a long overdue career change.

So my first question(one of many I'm sure) is, what is the real story with repairs? I have heard so many conflicting opinions, some say It should last a lifetime and others seem to believe it is only a bandaid fix(short term). I know that the circumstances are different for every case but wouldn't most people jump at the chance to have a repair done if it was an option?

I am planning on a mechanical valve as a back up plan but hope that the Cardiac Surgeon thinks a repair will be right for my particular case.

Any thoughts, opinions or first hand knowledge of repairs would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!

 

[Freddie]

Welcome Bushman and a fellow Canuck, hope you recovered from all that snow you had.... I'm from S'toon.
Talk to your surgeon and ask him the percentage of how long repairs last.
My surgeon told me that he would repair my valve if he could, otherwise he would put in a mechanical valve, cause "I don't think you'd want to have this type of surgery again" was his words.

Sorry I couldn't answer your question. I basically just wanted to welcome a fellow Canadian.

 

[Bushman]

Welcome Bushman and a fellow Canuck, hope you recovered from all that snow you had.... I'm from S'toon.
Talk to your surgeon and ask him the percentage of how long repairs last.
My surgeon told me that he would repair my valve if he could, otherwise he would put in a mechanical valve, cause "I don't think you'd want to have this type of surgery again" was his words.

Sorry I couldn't answer your question. I basically just wanted to welcome a fellow Canadian.

LOL! The snow from a couple weeks back is long gone and it should be a nice fall here. Toontown is a nice city as well(I spent a bit of time in PA).

I can see why so many people get anxious about these situations, we have so many questions and have to wait for the answers(especially difficult in such an immediate satisfaction generation). I guess the Dr.'s opinion is really the only one that counts anyhow, I am just one of those people who likes to plan, prepare, educate myself... I guess the old saying really is true, patience is a virtue!

 

[tom in MO]

Repairs kind of "depends" on your special problem like you and Freddie indicated. Freddie is not the only one who has been told they can't tell if a repair is feasilble until they get in there. I would go prepared with questions at your next visit. Ask the surgeon or his Nurse Practioner for some survey journal articles on repairs and any specific articles on your specific problem. I have gotten similar information and it's been helpful.