Okay you cardiologists!! (wink)

[kevin21]

Looking over my echo results from the past 7-8 years I saw a few things that I needed defining. Of course I left the pages at home so I'll try to remember the words/ numbers.

Ejection Fraction (or faction). Is it good to have a higher or lower percentage on this?? Mine now is 64% and it used to be around 50%. I'm guessing lower is better...

Also, hypokenisis (sp?). I remember this word but I can't remember what it refered to (like the aeorta or something).

finally, for now until I get home and get the records out, does anyone know what the criteria for a valve repair would be?

My echo lady (who is the greatest medical person I have ever dealt with!!) asked why they couldn't repair it? She says sometimes they put some stiches in the valve and it helps??? I remember my cardio saying something about it but he never expounded on it (but he doesn't expound on much unless I bust his (you know whats)). She said my valve is healthy but it just doesn't close fully.

I had a VSD closed when I was 6, which I guess is a hole in the heart (pretty common as I know). And at age 12 I had to have my aeorta enlarged due to it being to small (don't remember the technical terms). I believe they shaved my septum or something to enlarge it and I guess this made the aeorta bigger and theus the valve became to small. I never wanted to acknowledge this info when I was younger, just because it scared me a lot. Now it's time to face the music and it is hard catching up.

I read a post on here earlier this week saying that the more surgeries you have the more riskier it becomes. I agree on this but I would tend to think that the more surgeries you have on the same item the more riskier it is vs, surgeries on different parts. Hopefully my theory holds true.

I do remeber the last time I was in the hospital and it wasn't that fun.

Did anyone get their own room after ICU? Who do you have to punch to get your own room??

 

[Ross]

Higher % the better 64% is outstanding. I'm not sure about the other term, have to look that one up. I'm not for a aortic valve repair. Too much pressure going through it, so repairs don't last very long at all. I don't know that you have to punch anyone to get your own room. Just get a staph infection from the I.V. line, you'll get your own private room complete with isolation doors!

 

[Johnny Stephens]

Your EF% is great - I think this can increase when a problem is recognized and meds are started (i.e. beta blockers)

Hypokinesis loosely translates to "reduced motion." I've seen it used in relation to the level of vigor in pumping action.

Yes, I had my own room. Your insurance may come into play here.

 

[Nancy]

Some hospitals will give you a private room for additional money, and some just have them for everyone.

Ask your hospital.

 

[DickV]

I requested and got my own private room and paid the difference as my insurance only pays for semiprivate. Well worth the extra bucks. That was in 2000 and I can't remember the extra cost. Go for it if you can.

 

[Gnusgal]

I believe I've mentioned this to you before, since I've noticed you are living in Houston. First off, what hospital are you planning on going to, if/when the decision is made to do the surgery? I have to say the absolute best hospital in Houston (and possibly all of Texas, or maybe even further than that) is Texas Children's Hospital. I know, it sounds strange to be suggesting a children's hospital to a gown-up, but hear me out. TCH handles children AND adults who have problems that are congenital. It sounds to me like your probs ARE congenital, since you have had two OHS already. Personally, I had my first heart sugeries at age five, seven, thirteen, twenty, twenty one, and twenty five (only two were actual Open heart, the rest were pacemakers and a shunt). Because of my conginital heart defects, TCH was more than wlling to take my case. And let me tell you, the improvements they have made on that hospital since I was a kid are WONDERFUL. Every room is a private room, with a day bed for someone to stay with you. You get a TV and VCR in every room too. The cardiac floor is just one floor down from where the internet access computers are located. The staff is wonderful, my surgeon is one of the best around (Dr. Charles Frasier, son-in-law to the famous Dr. Cooley). I had excellent care, and felt 100% confident when I got out of the hospital that they had given me the best care around. Believe me, I've been to a lot of hospitals, and TCH is the best I've found. They gave me physical and resperatory thearapy the entire time I was there, a diatician came in to explain about a coumadin diet, and while several would have a look of surprise upon first seeing me (an adult) in the bed, all were wonderfully nice. The other OHS I had was completely the oposite. I had to share a room with an infant (again a children's hospital, due to the congenital heart defects), I got no thearapy whatsoever, and they released me in only three days with no real instructions for after care. I will never go there again.

Anyway, sorry to go on and on, but as you can tell I love the place. If I need another major surgery (which I'm sure I will), I will want it to be at TCH even though they are out of network for me. I would love to work there, but I live in Dallas, so that would be a bit of a commute .

 

[Jane]

private room

private room

Hi,

I was lucky enough to be given a single room (free on the good old NHS) before surgery and for 5 days after surgery. I got moved out into a 4 bedder when someone arrested and they needed to be "specialed" in a single room.

 

[Les]

Whatever your insurance plan is, get a Private Room. Nothing worse than the whole 'famn damily" of your roomate taking up residence as an opportunity for a family reunion. Hospitals are not enforcing "Visiting Hours" any longer and there is no peace.....
_________________
Les AVR '93 / '95

 

[kevin21]

What do you think the cost is? I know I have to check with insurance but I bet it's not more than $1500.00 ????

I agree it is worth it.

I had one the last two times I was there as a kid...

 

[Birky]

private room

private room

My husband insisted that I have a private room when I had my surgery. I think the difference was about $50 a day. Our insurance Blue Cross picked up the whole thing. All we paid was the coinsurance. I am so glad we did this because I got more rest and didn't have to share everything with another such as TV and bathroom. Put a cot in for my husband to sleep when he wanted to stay. If i couldn't sleep, I would put on the TV and close the door. People were walking around the halls all times of the night. I guess no one could sleep very well so they decided to get some excercise. I had the snack kitchen across from me so I could go and get some jello or whatever whenever I felt like it. I would pay $100 a day extra to get a private room. It is really worth it.

 

[Kathy]

I requested a private room at the Cleveland Clinic, but none were avaliable for 5 or 6 days. I was told that the cost would be $80 a day, although I have not been billed yet After two long days with a very unhappy and rather inconsiderate family, I was overjoyed to have privacy.

You don't have to punch anyone, but I did ask my favorite nurse to check where I was on the availability list each day. I wanted to make sure no one forgot me!