Doc says, " Its Time". UH O......

[scguy]

Well this is my first post and it looks like I will be joining the club here soon.

It?s official. I am now scheduled to have my aortic valve replaced at MUSC in Charleston, SC on September 16, 2008.

I have been able to put this off for almost 2 years but now the doctors are saying its time. Hard to believe I will be having my second major heart surgery at age 31. When I was 5 I had a coarctation of the aorta and have been healthy and active ever since.

About a year ago I started having dizzy spells and just didn?t feel right. They found very high blood pressure and numerous other things. After a year of testing and blood pressure medications I am feeling better but I have been told by many doctors that the valve has to go because my heart is very large and the leakage is bad. I am also loosing alot of my energy and get tired very fast.

I didn?t really have much of a choice in valves because of my age and active lifestyle. They picked a mechanical St. Jude valve. I was told this will give me the best chance of NOT having to have another surgery 30 years down the road and the least amount of problems. After reading some post, I guess I agree on there reasoning.

Well I am sure I will have many more questions as the date gets closer. For now the decisions and doctor choices have been made (I have been from Ohio to Florida) and since its still a month off I am going to try and forget about it for a while and put it in the back of my head. We?ll see how that works.

 

[marie]

Welcome and please ask any questions you have. There are many people here with lots of knowledge(not me) but many others.

You found the right place for support, information and lots of laughs too.

 

[Superbob]

Welcome, scguy. We have some other folks from down your way and I am sure they will be along soon. You have come to a great place for ideas and support. Lots of friendly folks willing to share their experiences and thoughts.

Sounds like you have made the major decisions, and now just have the wait. Waiting is not easy but good idea to get some r&r in advance.

All best wishes to you....

 

[ricks399]

Welcome

Welcome

You'll find a whole lot of information and experience on this site as well as encouragement and support. If you like the beach, I would hit it every day After surgery (even if the weather is still good) no baths, swimming etc until sufficiently healed. I had a sternectomy for my vr and bypass on July 21 and I can't wait to show off my zipper!

If you are like me, getting a date makes it closer but still not quite real. I don't think I totally realized/believed I was having OHS until about a week before. Anyway good luck and I'm looking forward to your posts as you share your experiences pre and post surgery. They'll be helpful to someone because there are many in your situation (waiting) and there will be many coming after you.

 

[dick0236]

Hey Scguy, you and I have a lot in common. I didn't have OHS at age 5 but I did have rheumatic fever, that damaged my valve, at that age. My aortic valve was replaced at age 31, and that valve is still going strong. Stick around here and ask your questions. The great majority of people who go thru this surgery will tell you that the "waiting for surgery" is harder than the surgery itself.

Wishing you a successful surgery and a quick recovery

 

[Phyllis]

Welcome, I put you on the calendar so it's "official". I hope you stop in often to let us help you through the surgery and beyond.

 

[Cooker]

Hey, hey!!! ... Greetings from SC !!! ... I'm just up the road in Columbia ... we get to Charleston on a regular basis so our paths may cross ... You have come to the right place ... information ... support ... laughs ... We have it all ... Wishing you the best!!

 

[Bina]

Hello scguy and welcome!
Be careful, sometimes our resident chimp "goes wild"....LOL

 

[strickrb]

Great!!! Another Charleston SC person. Welcome, I'm going to the same hospital, but a few weeks before you. Just sent you a PM.

 

[WayneGM]

Welcome to VR. Best wishes and good luck.

 

[CThrock]

Welcome to the forum... You will be in my thoughts and prayers that everything will run smoothly and your have a good recovery. Keep us posted on how you are doing.

 

[SHEEPDOG]

Just want to add my welcome.

Just want to add my welcome.

You have found the right place alright. We will give you our opinions, even if you don't want them. You may want to do some research on the ON-X valve. It is newer thanthe rest and has the potential of lowered to no Coumadin use. You say you have an active lifestyle, while plenty of others do ANYTHING they want while on higher doses of Coumadin, I am looking forward to the possibility of NO coumadin at some point in the future. The ON-X is new by medical standards (1996) but certainly not EXPERIMENTAL or anything. Just a thought! you should look it up on line and ask the doctor about it.
Any way, Good luck and don't stress TOO much. Ask any questions you may have.

 

[emc07]

Welcome!

Welcome!

Welcome to the site! Ask many questions. The people here are very knowledgeable.

We have a lot in common. I am also 31 and have severe regurgitation my ventricle is enlarged as well. I am having surgery in less than 3 weeks. Sounds like you have a good plan in place, so now we wait. It is difficult, but what is going to happen is inevitable, I just keep telling myself that... some days it works better than others. Good luck with surgery we will be thinking of you.

 

[Freddie]

Well Hello there "scguy" and welcome to the family.
I can't add much more than what has already been said, just wanted to say "Hi"

 

[Dawn-Marie]

Hi and welcome to this wonderful site. My best wishes and prayers are with you for a successful surgery on the 16th and an uncomplicated recovery. Please stop by now and then to let us know how you're doing. Take care, Dawn-Marie

 

[CJoelHenry]

Wishing you the very best, I was so tired I could only climb 2 stairs at a time before resting, it is a scary feeling. Now you have made the choice you will be very glad to have it done. I will pray for you.

FYI my surgury was on Friday and today I went up and down 16 stairs during my morning walk. Not tired anymore, I hope the same for you soon too.

 

[ALCapshaw2]

The St. Jude Masters Series Valves hold the record for durability at 30 years and counting.

If you would like to look over the latest developments in mechanical valves, check out www.heartvalvechoice.com and www.onxvalves.com

The leaflets were designed by the same guy, Jack Bokros, Ph.D. who developed the pyrolytic cardon material and recognized it's potential for use in heart valves. He's been designing Heart Valves ever since (St. Jude, ATS, Carbomedics, and now On-X).

'AL Capshaw'

 

[ottagal]

welcome!

welcome!

Hi SC Guy,

A warm welcome to this site. This is definitely the place for support, encouragement and information! I will be keeping you in my prayers that all goes well and that you have an uneventful and smooth recovery. Do keep us posted.

 

[Curtsmum]

Hi and welcome, you are not alone, my son has just had his second OHS at age 10 and we are now back in the waiting room. We dont get a choice either and my son will also be getting a St Jude when the time comes. So wanted to wish you all the best. You have found a great place for support.

 

[hall]

Welcome! You will be surrounded by a lot of support here. Questions? Someone will be able to help you. Wishing you luck on your upcoming surgery.