D
DinahS
Hi everyone.
I am having AVR on 12/28 and then a couple of days after having an AICD implanted.
I was born (1974) with CoArc of the Aorta and Biscuspid AV. The CoA was fixed via CHS when I was 4. I went on about my life normally, got married, have 2 beautiful children, and forgot about the BV until my "new" PCP wouldn't let up about it in 2000. She sent me to a cardiologist just to get it checked and I had severe aortic stenosis and insufficiency and the valve was fusing shut. They were able to repair it in 2001 with OHS instead of replacing it. The repair left me with a leak and the leak has caused arrhythmia which then required the AICD after I had an EP Study in April 04 and was paced into VT/VFib. The AICD came out in Feb 05 thanks to Endocarditis in my Mitral Valve??? Not Aortic Valve??? Weird!!?anyway?here I am now with the doctors telling me I must have the AICD back in (even though it never shocked me and paced only .1% of the time), but that my valve will eventually need to be replaced and it would be better to have that done first and then the AICD put back in. The reasoning being b/c when they replace the valve, the heart is moved around so much that the pacing wires would come loose. I have chosen a Mechanical Valve, but am unsure about taking coumadin. I am having surgery at Ark. Children?s Hospital which is where I was before and they are wonderful and supposedly among the best in the country. I am just so uncertain and uneasy about the whole thing. I feel fine! I know I need this surgery eventually b/c of what test say, but I just don?t know about having it now. And will the AICD give me Endocarditis again? I really hated that thing. It?s really uncomfortable.
I can?t meet with my surgeon until the day before my surgery. I have kids that need their mommy and my husband has heart problems also. (His are from blockage caused by stress on the job and unhealthy eating habits & high blood pressure, not congenital). He is all fixed now though with diet, meds, exercise, & massages. Hehe! I was only in the hospital for 4 days on my last OHS, and I was back at work after 3 weeks. I am hoping it goes that quick this time also. I am just so concerned with the coumadin though and having to keep up with that. I have way too much to keep up with already. I read Al?s website about coumadin and all that. I just hope and pray that I don?t have any of those bleeding problems. I am wondering if I should go with a tissue valve instead now, but I know for a fact I never ever want to have OHS again?so that?s the reason for going with the mechanical one.
Thank you for any responses and God Bless you all.
I am having AVR on 12/28 and then a couple of days after having an AICD implanted.
I was born (1974) with CoArc of the Aorta and Biscuspid AV. The CoA was fixed via CHS when I was 4. I went on about my life normally, got married, have 2 beautiful children, and forgot about the BV until my "new" PCP wouldn't let up about it in 2000. She sent me to a cardiologist just to get it checked and I had severe aortic stenosis and insufficiency and the valve was fusing shut. They were able to repair it in 2001 with OHS instead of replacing it. The repair left me with a leak and the leak has caused arrhythmia which then required the AICD after I had an EP Study in April 04 and was paced into VT/VFib. The AICD came out in Feb 05 thanks to Endocarditis in my Mitral Valve??? Not Aortic Valve??? Weird!!?anyway?here I am now with the doctors telling me I must have the AICD back in (even though it never shocked me and paced only .1% of the time), but that my valve will eventually need to be replaced and it would be better to have that done first and then the AICD put back in. The reasoning being b/c when they replace the valve, the heart is moved around so much that the pacing wires would come loose. I have chosen a Mechanical Valve, but am unsure about taking coumadin. I am having surgery at Ark. Children?s Hospital which is where I was before and they are wonderful and supposedly among the best in the country. I am just so uncertain and uneasy about the whole thing. I feel fine! I know I need this surgery eventually b/c of what test say, but I just don?t know about having it now. And will the AICD give me Endocarditis again? I really hated that thing. It?s really uncomfortable.
I can?t meet with my surgeon until the day before my surgery. I have kids that need their mommy and my husband has heart problems also. (His are from blockage caused by stress on the job and unhealthy eating habits & high blood pressure, not congenital). He is all fixed now though with diet, meds, exercise, & massages. Hehe! I was only in the hospital for 4 days on my last OHS, and I was back at work after 3 weeks. I am hoping it goes that quick this time also. I am just so concerned with the coumadin though and having to keep up with that. I have way too much to keep up with already. I read Al?s website about coumadin and all that. I just hope and pray that I don?t have any of those bleeding problems. I am wondering if I should go with a tissue valve instead now, but I know for a fact I never ever want to have OHS again?so that?s the reason for going with the mechanical one.
Thank you for any responses and God Bless you all.
