FC in Texas
Active member
Hi. I just wanted to introduce myself, relay some of my story and hope that I can contribute or help others who face the same challenges. I am exactly one week out from my AVR. I recently turned 50, am married and have two kids (11 and 7). This forum has been a wonderful source of information and inspiration and I thank all of you that have contributed along the way. It really does help folks.
I was initially diagnosed with Aortic Stenosis probably 10 years ago, with a slight, but recognizable murmur, but little or no restrictions or symptoms. In fact, at the time, I was a competitive cyclist, competing at a national level in the over 40 age group. I continued like that for a number of years, but had to quit competing and limit exertion starting in 2008 (fainted on a bike ride). I didn't really have any symptoms but I was now on the 6 month echo/check up routine and the doctors didn't want me overdoing it.
Summer of 2011, I began to have more symptoms and could no longer ride. I knew I was in the waiting room, but was hoping things would deteriorate slowly. This "waiting room" period really was tough to me. Everyday I felt like symptoms worsened, physical ability declined, and I started to have a lot of anxiety about my kids, etc. I wondered if I was just going to fall over and die walking into the office every day.
After meeting with a couple of surgeons, I was faced with the "which valve" decision. One of the surgeons was a proponent of the Ross Procedure, but given that I had undergone Hodgkin's disease radiation treatments in my early twenties there was a concern about the quality of the other valves and scarring related issues. We also did not know at that time whether my AS was due to a BAV, radiation damage or some of both.
I ultimately went with a bovine tissue valve (Carpentier-Edwards 3000TFX) over the mechanical. As most of the discussion on this topic confirms, there is no perfect answer and each has its compromises. For me, I wanted freedom from taking the anti-coagulants. I am a very active person (or was and plan to be) and want to be able to do stuff with my kids without that concern. After a lot of investigation, I also became optimistic that when I need a second replacement, OHS will no longer be necessary. I guess we'll see.
Anyway, the surgery went well and my recovery has been so far as good as I could have hoped. Surgery on Thursday, out of ICU on Friday and home on Monday. Turns out the diseased valve was tricuspid, so it looks like the radiation treatments did the damage. Now, just focusing on my walks and trying to set a new record on the breathing spirometer. Just hoping that foggy head feeling goes away soon.
I was initially diagnosed with Aortic Stenosis probably 10 years ago, with a slight, but recognizable murmur, but little or no restrictions or symptoms. In fact, at the time, I was a competitive cyclist, competing at a national level in the over 40 age group. I continued like that for a number of years, but had to quit competing and limit exertion starting in 2008 (fainted on a bike ride). I didn't really have any symptoms but I was now on the 6 month echo/check up routine and the doctors didn't want me overdoing it.
Summer of 2011, I began to have more symptoms and could no longer ride. I knew I was in the waiting room, but was hoping things would deteriorate slowly. This "waiting room" period really was tough to me. Everyday I felt like symptoms worsened, physical ability declined, and I started to have a lot of anxiety about my kids, etc. I wondered if I was just going to fall over and die walking into the office every day.
After meeting with a couple of surgeons, I was faced with the "which valve" decision. One of the surgeons was a proponent of the Ross Procedure, but given that I had undergone Hodgkin's disease radiation treatments in my early twenties there was a concern about the quality of the other valves and scarring related issues. We also did not know at that time whether my AS was due to a BAV, radiation damage or some of both.
I ultimately went with a bovine tissue valve (Carpentier-Edwards 3000TFX) over the mechanical. As most of the discussion on this topic confirms, there is no perfect answer and each has its compromises. For me, I wanted freedom from taking the anti-coagulants. I am a very active person (or was and plan to be) and want to be able to do stuff with my kids without that concern. After a lot of investigation, I also became optimistic that when I need a second replacement, OHS will no longer be necessary. I guess we'll see.
Anyway, the surgery went well and my recovery has been so far as good as I could have hoped. Surgery on Thursday, out of ICU on Friday and home on Monday. Turns out the diseased valve was tricuspid, so it looks like the radiation treatments did the damage. Now, just focusing on my walks and trying to set a new record on the breathing spirometer. Just hoping that foggy head feeling goes away soon.
