Two weeks to go...

[Raverlaw]

Sorry, Bryan I know my countown makes you nervous!

Two weeks to go and still a lot to do. Or, as Marge puts it, three weeks until I'm one wek post op and home again.

When I had my stress echo in November, the cardiologist told me my AV area was .9 cm2. I didn't get any new information from the angiogram on 12/9 except that it was confirmed I needed a VR.

After reading many posts on this site where people seemed to know their specifics, I called my cardio's office and asked to see my angio report (Thanks, people, I didn't know I could get one!)

Well, here's the scoop:

My aortic root is enlarged to 44 mm. My AV area is actually .64 cm2, worse than they orginally thought. My EF is 76%, and I have a 100 mm/hg pressure differential between the right and left sides of the heart. Glad I'm not waiting any longer!

Totally unrelated news:
As some of you know, the main reason I delayed my surgery to 2/20 is that my wife and I coach our high school's Mock Trial team, and the competition runs from 2/03 through 2/19. We had our first round last night, and the kids did a fantastic job! I'm so glad I was there to see them and encourage them. It's a great group of teenagers and I wish I could bottle their energy and enthusiam and sell it to you all - I'd be rich! We'll find out later today what their scores were and whether or not we won this round - next round for us is Tuesday 2/10.

Good luck to Derek, who should be in ICU recovering today, and to Marvin, who is climbing the mountain right NOW. Best wishes to Marge, Debbie, Aunt Granny and the others who are going over sooner than I am. Stay well and have someone let us know how you're doing.

 

[Bryan B]

If you start counting down the days once you get under a week I will have to take an extra Xanax!



Good luck to everyone who is scheduled to go this month. I still have my fingers crossed that I will be in the March group.

 

[Raverlaw]

Bryan,

I can only take my life in one-week blocks. The days go by too quickly. I may be able to pause the day before the surgery and say to myself "OK, it's tomorrow" but probably not. I've got so much scheduled for that day. And then on the day of surgery, I have to report to the hospital at 5:00 a.m.

So I'm hoping that it will sneak up on me before I know it's here!

 

[Kathy]

Bill,

Congrats to your mock trial team. My husband's team is going for the first round on Feb. 20.

I'm glad you and Marge are keeping track of everyone's surgery dates. My best to everyone. You will be surrounded by prayers as you climb that mountain.

 

[bvdr]

Boy, as I look at all those who are scheduled for this month I get this feeling wash over me that I am so glad it is behind me. Waiting was the hardest part for me. My husband took me to Mexico for a week shortly before surgery and that helped .

 

[Marge]

<< If you start counting down the days once you get under a week I will have to take an extra Xanax!>>

OK. Bryan, I was going to start out: by this time next week I will be out of ICU, and on the ward, but I won't. Can't have you get hooked on that Xanax!!!

Saw my surgeon for "The Last Consult" today. Asked him if I'd see him again before the surgery. Nope, sez he. Not even on the day of surgery? I asked. Nope, not until afterwards. So I do hope I got in all the questions that were rattling through my mind.

Bryan: it is really true, though, that the closer you get to the date the less worried you are and the more you want to JUST DO IT. The only time I freaked out a bit today was when he suggested that if they needed to review the hematology again it could be put off a week or so. No, no, no. I almost screamed.

 

[Heather Fisher]

It is truly hard to be waiting. I just tried to stay extra busy beforehand and the day did sneak up on me. That morning I felt like I was being driven in to.... whatever. I had imagined the worst in my own mind but all my affairs were in order. There is a feeling of peace when you reach that point. It turned out to be a "piece of cake" relatively speaking. (besides, if you don't have the surgery done, what is the option?)

I went with my husband to his colonoscopy the other day. I was glad it wasn't me this time. I got to watch them prep him and even if it is number 8 for him for the last 12 years, I got the feeling of me lying in bed prior to surgery getting hooked up to all the equipment, IVs, etc. (by the way, everything turned out great)

You guys just hang in there. Modern medicine is truly a remarkable thing. When you are finished, you will be so happy to be through with the whole experience and you will have a whole new appreciation of life! Just relax beforehand and let things go as they will. You cannot change your course!

I know you will all do well!

Heather

 

[Bryan B]

After what I have been through the last few months I think when the time comes for surgery I'll be ok with it. I'm a worrier (get it from my mom). She will probably need the Xanax more than me.

I'm hoping my surgeon will have a chance to review my echo tapes next week and we'll get the ball rolling. I get nervous for you guys because you have helped me so much here and I've grown to care about ya'll very much. I'll be thinking about you and will be eager to hear about your successful trips to the other side.

 

[George DiMundo]

Bill, I am glad to hear the mock trial team did so well. For the rest of you out there, Bill and his wife coach the mock trial team at the high school where I teach in Cambria, CA. I went to observe the team last year during their first year of competition and they were very impressive. I am hoping to convince my wife to drive me to the courthouse on Tuesday 2/10 so that I can see this year's team.

It was only when the school community became aware that I was going to need a nearly immediate AVR in early January that Bill and I became aware of our respective and very similar situations. Considering how small our community is, it's ironic that our diagnoses should be so similar and our surgeries so close together.

I am grateful to Bill for encouraging me to become a member and I appreciate the support of all of you. If I had more time prior to the surgery I would have been able to learn a great deal from these forums and would have had a much more realistic idea of recovery time and expectations. I hope to see you on Tuesday, Bill.

 

[Raverlaw]

visualizing hiking

visualizing hiking

George,

The team put on a great trial Thursday, but we unfortunately lost on points. Sandy and I think the scoring attorneys blew it, but we have to be careful and consider that we might be more biased than we think. The kids are very disappointed, and there's now a lot of pressure on the defense team for Tuesday. Come on down and see it; it will be a good show.

Suz,

How's this for some positive visualization? I signed up (long before I knew I needed the AVR) to chaperone my daughter's 5th grade trip to Yosemite in late April. I went out today and bought some new hiking boots to replace my aging Pivettas, and even walked about 1/2 mile to start breaking them in! I'm visualizing myself making that steep hike up to Nevada falls in April, trying to keep a group of 5th graders from falling over the side or getting lost. In my visualization, my bionic heart just keeps chugging!!

These boots are made for walking...

 

[Shelba]

Bill,

I saw this post and I thought, Geez, if Bill has two weeks to go, that means I have three weeks left. Whoa! Time is a flying! You're in my thoughts!

Michele

 

[Raverlaw]

Hey, Michele,

I know that you're just behind me, schedule wise. Have you ever decided what kind of valve to go for? I know you were struggling with the issue and possible future pregnancy. I've been wondering what you settled on.

 

[Shelba]

I've finally made up my mind....again.

I've finally made up my mind....again.

Bill,

I have decided on the mechanical valve! I can't tell you how relieved I feel to have finally freakin' made a deciison. No more second guessing myself.



Michele

 

[SJJ]

Michelle,

Its good to hear that you've settled on a valve choice. I have an acquaintance who had a successful pregnancy after OHS with a mechanical valve. Her surgery was in '86 and her son is now 11....just goes to show ya. On the other hand, I have a lovely 22 year old son who we adopted when he was 10 days old-no heart issues at that time, just plain ol' infertility. However they enter your life, children are always miraculous.

I should just be getting home about the time you're going in for surgery. Won't it be good to have this behind us!

Sue

 

[Shelba]

Sue,

You are so right that it will be good to have our surgeries behind us. I'm looking forward to it. And when your time comes up, you will be in my thoughts...and I will be eagerly awaiting to hear how everything goes for you. Wow....can you believe how close we are to the big day?


Michele

 

[dwfreck]

Michele,

Congratulations! I know it was hard, and I know you gathered a ton of information, and I KNOW it feels great to make the decision. You did a great job! In case I'm not back online by the time you're up for surgery, good luck and Godspeed.

 

[ccrawford]

Bill - I assume you have read all the posts re getting ready and having all the stuff you need pre op. I had one little feeling of jumpiness exactly 24 hours before my surgery, but it went away and I was pretty calm. I'm sure you'll do just fine and I'll wait until you are feeling better before I harrass you with more lawyer jokes !! Chris

 

[Bryan B]

Bill,

I know what thread is coming tomorrow...I'm bracing myself!

 

[George DiMundo]

Hang in there, Bryan. Soon Bill's countdow--and yours--will be "countups" on the road to recovery with a stronger heart.

 

[Bryan B]

I actually got a little bit of good news today. I talked with Dr. Jaggers assistant today and my records arrived today. The echo reports were included, but the echo tapes are still somewhere between Nashville and Duke (this is what he really wants to see). I'm hoping he will get a chance to evaluate the tapes soon and I'll hear from him by early next week. I know Bill will come through with flying colors, and I can't wait for his "one week to go" thread.