CJoelHenry
Active member
Hi my name is C.J. and thanks to all of you here who have made such a wonderful community. Glad to have found you and that I am not alone with this dreaded OHS and AVR stuff. The information I have found here has greatly put my mind at ease, it has helped me to focus on my questions, and to have new questions, and to learn from other member?s fears and victories.
I had started with a Google search and became consumed with things like mortality rates, and making my last will and testament??. The reality of reading the posts on this site has me realize I am ?lucky?? since I have been told since I was a kid that my valve was bad. Though I never took any of it very seriously until recently my cardio guy said he wanted me to meet the surgeon??.. I am 49 1/2 and also have gotten over a lot of self pity reading about guys and gals doing this a lot earlier than me.
One thing I have not seen is any information posted on the financial aspect of OHS. Besides not working I mean, insurance, my doctor said the average cost for AVR is 180K, and that most insurance pays 80% or so. Well that is almost 40K they will be looking for, minimum. Hmmmmmmm.
I got onto my wife?s insurance in January of 2007, there was a pre existing clause that requires 17 months to satisfy, that brings us to June of this year, I have a call into the finance office at my heart doctor, they said they will get back to me so I can go ahead and schedule a cath test and then the AVR.
I have questions about:
Advantage/Disadvantage of minimal invasive Procedure for AVR.
Advantage/Disadvantage of travel to Boston or Cleveland ( I am in Orlando)
Advantage/Disadvantage of Valve consideration On-X ?
I read a post by Al that Bicuspid valves also have a high chance of aneurism I imagine that would be discovered with the cath and not by echo.
I guess at a place like Cleveland clinic great numbers are posted on the front door. At Orlando General the data is very scary over 2.5% Mortality, my cardio guy said surgeons do the procedure a lot here but there is a higher percentage of high risk ?old people? here I would still like to consider the best venue for this event??I should be fine, I am young and strong, well, a little pale when I climb the stairs.
Thank you in advance for any help or advice you can offer.
C.J.
I had started with a Google search and became consumed with things like mortality rates, and making my last will and testament??. The reality of reading the posts on this site has me realize I am ?lucky?? since I have been told since I was a kid that my valve was bad. Though I never took any of it very seriously until recently my cardio guy said he wanted me to meet the surgeon??.. I am 49 1/2 and also have gotten over a lot of self pity reading about guys and gals doing this a lot earlier than me.
One thing I have not seen is any information posted on the financial aspect of OHS. Besides not working I mean, insurance, my doctor said the average cost for AVR is 180K, and that most insurance pays 80% or so. Well that is almost 40K they will be looking for, minimum. Hmmmmmmm.
I got onto my wife?s insurance in January of 2007, there was a pre existing clause that requires 17 months to satisfy, that brings us to June of this year, I have a call into the finance office at my heart doctor, they said they will get back to me so I can go ahead and schedule a cath test and then the AVR.
I have questions about:
Advantage/Disadvantage of minimal invasive Procedure for AVR.
Advantage/Disadvantage of travel to Boston or Cleveland ( I am in Orlando)
Advantage/Disadvantage of Valve consideration On-X ?
I read a post by Al that Bicuspid valves also have a high chance of aneurism I imagine that would be discovered with the cath and not by echo.
I guess at a place like Cleveland clinic great numbers are posted on the front door. At Orlando General the data is very scary over 2.5% Mortality, my cardio guy said surgeons do the procedure a lot here but there is a higher percentage of high risk ?old people? here I would still like to consider the best venue for this event??I should be fine, I am young and strong, well, a little pale when I climb the stairs.
Thank you in advance for any help or advice you can offer.
C.J.