Wow What A Great Site!

[zlever]

HELLO ALL, MY NAME IS ZACK LEVER, I AM 29 YEARS OLD, HAPPILY MARRIED TO MY LOVELY WIFE TRACI WITH THREE KIDS, ALLI-5 , KATIE-3 AND ZACHARY JR.-1. FIRST OF ALL I WOULD JUST LIKE TO COMMENT ON WHAT A TERRIFIC SITE YOU ALL HAVE HERE, WITH JUST OUTSTANDING PEOPLE. I AM CURRENTLY ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY SINCE 1990. IN JANUARY OF 2001 I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH AORTIC REGURGITATION WITH A NORMAL TRI LEAFLET VALVE WITH MILD AORTICSCLEROSIS AND MODERATE TO SEVERE CENTRAL AORTIC INSUFFICIENCY. THE DOCTOR PUT ME ON RAMIPRIL AND TOLD ME TO COME BACK EVERY 6 MONTHS FOR MONITORING ETC ETC, THIS WAS IN FORT LEWIS, WA. IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR WE TRANSFERRED TO FORT CARSON, COLORADO, VERY NEAR COLORADO SPRINGS. I WAS REFERRED TO A LOCAL CIVILIAN CARDIOLOGIST SINCE FORT CARSON DIDNT HAVE A ONE. LAST WEEK WAS MY FIRST APPOINTMENT WITH MY NEW DOCTOR. HE REVEALED THAT MY VALVE WAS NOT IN FACT TRI LEAFLET BUT VERY CERTAIN WITH ANOTHER ECHO THAT IT WAS BI- LEAFLEAT, AND THAT SINCE AUG. OF 2001 MY HEART HAD ENLARGED 3MM. MY FIRST TEE IS SCHEDULED FOR TUESDAY OF NEXT WEEK AND THANKS ( TO ALL THOSE WHO RESPONDED TO ROSS Y ON HIS TEE), WHAT A GREAT HELP TO ME AS WELL! YOU ALL ARE TERRIFIC! SO ANYWAYS THE DOC TOLD ME THAT HE CAN NOT RULE OUT POSSIBLE VALVE REPLACEMENT TOWARD THE END OF THE YEAR, BUT WE WILL SEE BASED ON THE TEE ON TUESDAY. VERY UNEASY TIME FOR ALL OF US IN OUR FAMILY NOW AS YOU ALL KNOW AND HAVE BEEN THRU BEFORE! THANKS AGAIN TALJK TO YOU ALL LATER--ZACK

 

[hensylee]

Hey Zack - just come on in, sit awhile and have a cuppa. So glad to welcome you to our family. Yes it is an informative and supportive site with a little fun tossed into the mix.

We know your family is going through a distressing time and it is very scary, but as you will see, so many have gone up that mountain and are safely over it. I believe that support is so very important while traversing the path you are on and talking to those approaching the mountain or have already gotten over it can really help you so much. So stay with us from now on, ask questions, make comments - you will get more answers than you will believe. We truly care about one another. God bless

 

[Ross]

Welcome aboard Zack

Everyone here is or has been in the same boat, so if you have questions, want to vent, or just need to talk to someone who's been there, this is the place.

Where I stand with my Aortic Regurg is, I have to have the valve replaced very soon. My heart is growing larger and larger by the day and if I wait too long, it will become inoperable. I didn't say that to scare you and I hope I didn't.

When you go for your TEE, make sure you get enough numbing agent sprayed in the back of your throat. I don't think I had enough which is what lead to my problem with the procedure. It wasn't all that terrible, but I think I could've been made more comfortable and I think my Doctor was in a hurry. Don't let them do that to you.

Mingle about and get to know people. There is a ton of knowledge, friendship, hand holding, help, etc, here, so dig in and learn all you want.

 

[Nancy]

Hi Zack-

This is indeed the most fantastic site. Everyone here understands the problems and we're more than happy to help in any way as you go through the possible presurgery phase of your medical care.

So we hope to see you here often with questions and comments. We're your cyber family now.

So welcome and ask away.

 

[Ron K]

Welcome

Welcome

Hello Zack,

Welcome into the family. I think you're going to like it here!

I know a lot of the information you've been getting from the cardiologists has been scary, upsetting, and even shocking, but you will learn to accept the facts and move on. There are arrangements to be made, choices to consider, and much knowledge and understanding to be accumulated. The better you understand what's going on, the wiser your choices are likely to be.

As you know from reading this board, you can get a lot of information, or at least some guidance in finding answers to your questions right here. Just as importantly, you and your wife can get plenty of support to help you through the process. Most of us have been in your shoes and understand what you are going through. We've made it through, with help from our friends, and you will too.

I'm truly grateful for what this relatively new medical technilogy has been able to do for me. However, I am even happier that a young man of 29, with a wife and 3 young children, with his entire life ahead of him, can be restored to excellent health through the wonders of today's medical science. I don't think that 25 or 30 years ago they were even doing echocardiograms and TEEs, etc. Now such tests are fairly routine and the success rate of heart surgery is extremely high.

You've got a lot to be thankful for. Get yourself in a strong positive frame of mind and stay there. PMA helps a lot.

Once again, welcome and please post often.

Ron K

 

[Hank]

Welcome Zack!

Welcome Zack!

Welcome to our site Zack!

I created this site for people like you who are facing an uncertain future and need more info than the typical hurried physician can provide.

If there is anything I can do for you, just feel free to ask me personally at [email protected]

 

[Christina]

Dear Zack,

Welcome to our wonderful online family. This truly is a great site with people who genuinely care. We will be here to hold your hand if needed and guide you through whatever it is. Most of us have been where you are today, but with the life saving technology there is today you need not worry too much. Most of us do just fine, and you are young. It is a very scary thing and believe you me the waiting period up to the actual date of surgery will drive you crazy, but just think if we can do it, so can you.
Read all the personal stories, and ask away. Someone will come along who can identify with your particular problem and you will receive answers.

Please let us hear from you often.

Christina
Congenital Aortic Stenosis
AVR's 8/7/00 & 8/18/00
St.Jude's Mechanical

 

[Zazzy]

Zazk,
Welcome to our group! Sorry that you have these problems... but sounds like you are getting the help you need. There is little that I can add outside what everyone here has said. Glad that you found us!

Take care,
Zazzy

 

[Mara]

Hi Zack!

So, now you are a part of our little world . Remember the only dumb question is the one you didn't ask! There are some folks on here that are like you and just found out about valve problems and others, like me, who have known ourwhole lives about valve problems.

There's a lot of combined knowledge on here. But always remember that your docs know what's happening with you better than anyone.


I have a question for you: Didn't they pick up a murmur or anything on your medical exam into the service? I know my bi-cuspid aortic valve had a heck of a murmur.

And hey, thanks to you for being there for us!

-Mara

 

[zlever]

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR POSITIVE AND VERY INFORMATIVE REPLIES---IT REALLY MEANS A LOT TO TRACI AND I WHO HAVE FELT A TON BETTER SINCE ARRIVING AT THIS SITE. AS I SAID BEFORE MY FIRST TEE IS TUESDAY AND I WILL POST ASAP UPON COMPLETION OF THE TEST. TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION MARA, ON-------- HOW COME THE MILITARY DIDNT NOTICE MY HEART MURMUR BACK IN 1990 WHEN I JOINED THE MILITARY? WELL TRUTHFULLY I DONT KNOW------COULD IT NOT HAVE BEEN THERE?? OR WAS IT JUST SO FAINT AT THE TIME A TYPICAL PA COULDNT HEAR IT? JUST LAST WEEK MY NEW DOCTOR STATED THAT A TYPICAL PHYSICIAN'S ASSISTANT WOULDNT NOTICE IT. SO I GUESS THESE ARE ALL QUESTIONS THAT WILL BE ANSWERED AFTER TUESDAY HOPEFULLY. THANKS FOR YOUR CONCERN ALL AND GOD BLESS, TALK TO YOU ALL LATER---ZACK

 

[Perrster]

Welcome

Welcome

Greetings Zack,

I'm two years post op this week and powered by St. Jude. Major changes for the better have taken place in my life as a result. I hope the same for you.

I think all of us would agree that we're glad we weren't operated on 20 years ago. Technology and medical skills today are far more advanced. However, there are a few here who have been over that hump. God bless 'em.

You'll do great and we'll give you all the online support we can muster.

Take care.

 

[Mb]

Zack:

Welcome to this site. You are right, this is a wonderful site. Informative, very very helpful, and not full of anxious whining people. I found this site last summer, when my husband was looking at dual valve surgery. It has been a treasure trove of information, links, and emotional support. I am so grateful for the people on this site.

My husband and I wish you the best with your upcoming procedure.

Marybeth

 

[carbomedic]

Hello Zack
This site was a god send for me. I didn't discover it until after my AVR. While I have never personally met anyone on here, they were my constant companions during my recovery here at home. Now I can pay back others with my experiances. Just ask.
Best wishes
carbo

 

[sylgeren]

Alot of comfort found here

Alot of comfort found here

Hi Zack. I know how you must feel right now. Like everyone has said, we have all been in your shoes at some time. I found this web site quite by accident, and just in time I might say. I tried to find out everything I could about valve symtoms and surgery. Besides finding out all the pre-surgery stuff, along the way I was walked through every thing I might incounter along the way, good and bad. It was amazing how much I knew going into surgery. My Cardio said so many times to get off the PC,because I was asking too many questions and often too many answers. He thought I would get scared if I knew too much. But it only helped me. As said before, I have never meet any of the people here, but I regard them as my friends.

Even the little things that bothered me, I got on here and expressed myself and always got good advice and comfort. Best to you. Syl