T
terence
Hi there,
My name is Terence, I'm 34 years old and live in Wellington, New Zealand.
In 1999 I developed Reactive Arthritis (ReA), which may or may not have turned into ankylosing spondylitis.
While I've finally shaken most of the more regular symptoms of ReA (i.e my joints are mostly fine) at some stage in the past the same inflammatory process which left me immobile has damaged by aortic valve and ascending aorta.
The result: valve replacement surgery, possibly accompanied by replacement of part of my ascending aorta, probably occurring mid-late August 2008.
It has been a comfort to read some of the really positive posts on this forum, as well as to learn that - as remarkable as it may seem - valve replacement is practically routine surgery.
In my case there are a few complications. The first being that Reactive Arthritis is a relatively rare cause of aortic valve damage. So there aren't many surgeons out there who have operated on people in situations like mine. Which shouldn't matter too much except that we are currently uncertain whether there is still active inflammation in the vicinity of my aorta. If there is, it isn't the end of the world, although it does present something of a conundrum. It isn't a great thing to be operating on inflamed tissue, nor is a great thing to be operating on someone who has been taking medication (like steroids) to dampen inflammation.
The second complication is the possible need to have part of my ascending aorta replaced. If it's a small part it's no big thing, but my understanding is that if they have to replace a larger strip, surgery becomes much more complicated and the heart lung machine less easily operated. Even taking this into account replacing a large section of my ascending aorta, hopefuly, isn't the end of the world. The odds of survival are still strongly in my favour. But I would be lying if I said I wasn't worried.
So, if anyone out there has had a valve replacement accompanied by a large chunk of aorta being replaced too, I'd love to hear from you. I'd also love to hear from anyone who has had valve replacement as a result of Reactive Arthritis or Ankylosing Spondylitis.
Thanks and thanks for such a great forum.
My name is Terence, I'm 34 years old and live in Wellington, New Zealand.
In 1999 I developed Reactive Arthritis (ReA), which may or may not have turned into ankylosing spondylitis.
While I've finally shaken most of the more regular symptoms of ReA (i.e my joints are mostly fine) at some stage in the past the same inflammatory process which left me immobile has damaged by aortic valve and ascending aorta.
The result: valve replacement surgery, possibly accompanied by replacement of part of my ascending aorta, probably occurring mid-late August 2008.
It has been a comfort to read some of the really positive posts on this forum, as well as to learn that - as remarkable as it may seem - valve replacement is practically routine surgery.
In my case there are a few complications. The first being that Reactive Arthritis is a relatively rare cause of aortic valve damage. So there aren't many surgeons out there who have operated on people in situations like mine. Which shouldn't matter too much except that we are currently uncertain whether there is still active inflammation in the vicinity of my aorta. If there is, it isn't the end of the world, although it does present something of a conundrum. It isn't a great thing to be operating on inflamed tissue, nor is a great thing to be operating on someone who has been taking medication (like steroids) to dampen inflammation.
The second complication is the possible need to have part of my ascending aorta replaced. If it's a small part it's no big thing, but my understanding is that if they have to replace a larger strip, surgery becomes much more complicated and the heart lung machine less easily operated. Even taking this into account replacing a large section of my ascending aorta, hopefuly, isn't the end of the world. The odds of survival are still strongly in my favour. But I would be lying if I said I wasn't worried.
So, if anyone out there has had a valve replacement accompanied by a large chunk of aorta being replaced too, I'd love to hear from you. I'd also love to hear from anyone who has had valve replacement as a result of Reactive Arthritis or Ankylosing Spondylitis.
Thanks and thanks for such a great forum.
