I'm new too

[nancym]

Hello everyone--
I've been dealing with possible aortic valve replacement since March, and I think it's going to be in November at the Cleveland Clinic. I'm scared to death, but have been trying to educate myself and be in as much control as possible. Your site has been invaluable to me. I will be asking for advice and answers to all kinds of questions in the next few months. I have already found that no matter how supportive your family and friends are, they can't know what it's like. I hope that you all will help me through this.

 

[ejonbry]

Welcome, I too am fairly new here. Just had AVR on 8/6/08 with ON-X mechanical valve. These folks have truly been supportive an helped me through the toughest thing I've ever done. Any questions you have, I am sure can be answered, just post away. Good luck!

Eric

 

[cp172]

Welcome to the site. I had surgery in Feb. and without this site would have come unglued. Vent, ask questions, etc. We understand.

I think you will find it comforting to know that so many have gone through what you are facing and are back to living normal lives. Well some are more normal than others. They are all great folks!

 

[nancym]

Hi Eric--Thanks for the reply. I see you're only two weeks post surgery. I hope things are going well. My aortic stenosis is also congenital. Did that post any special problems with your surgery? That is one of the reasons that I will probably have mine done at the Cleveland Clinic--I just feel that they have so much more experience with every type of heart surgery. I also may need a mitral valve repair (I was told that they don't like to do two replacements), and maybe a graft if they see on a cath that my aorta is dilated. I am totally asymptomatic, and am just freaking out about all of these things that I never expected to be faced with. Thanks so much for answering me. It makes me feel so much better knowing that there are other people in the same situation. Have a quick and easy recovery!

 

[aussigal]

Welcome Nancym...I think most of us wre freaked out at first so you are not alone here...whinge, whine and ask away...thats what we are here for. In a few months you will wonder why you were so worried.

 

[ejonbry]

My stenosis had reached the point of having severe symptoms, shortness of breath, enlarged heart, heart failure. My surgeon actually said that surgery saved me from possible sudden death. All these things are getting back to normal, just as I was told they would. I feel better 2 weeks post op than I did for 2 years prior to surgery. It scared me to death, but you have to think OPS is fairly common now, with most good surgeons doing several a day. I promise the waiting is the hardest part. Be informed but don't let it invade every thought before your surgery, just know, believe it or not, you will feel better and notice small things that will get better that you never thought of as a symptom.

Eric

 

[Phyllis]

Welcome and I'm glad you found us before surgery. Ask away- we love to help!

 

[vkernus]

Nancym

You have come to the right place. There is a lot of good information to be had here. I too have a congenital BAV. I am symptomatic and will have my pre-op cath next week. I felt like it came on all of a sudden, but my wife tells me that I have slowed down a bit for the past year-year and a half.

Browse the various forums and ask any quesiotns you have.

I wish you the best of luck.

Victor

 

[ALCapshaw2]

Nancy -

Did you see my response to your question about Dr. Pettersson at CC (from another thread)?

Bottom Line: Dr. Pettersson is a World Class Heart Surgeon that seems to be liked and held in great esteem by his patients, a few of which are members of VR.com, and medical professionals as well.

'AL Capshaw'

 

[Rich]

Nancy,
Welcome to the site, you are in the right place.
I'm sure you will get answers from many of us who have been there,done that.
Rich

 

[Mary]

Hi Nancy.
Glad to meet you!
When you get a date, let us know and we'll put you on the calendar.

 

[Superbob]

Hi Nancy,

Welcome to this funny farm. Lots of friendly and well-informed folks here so ask away whenever you have any questions or just want to vent.

 

[dick0236]

Hi Nancym. I see from your profile that you work in a surgeons office. Being in the "business" can sometimes cause unneeded stress. You are correct in believing that this group can help you thru your surgery. I have only been around for about 18 months, but I have had a "ton" of nagging questions answered. OHS has been done successfully for many years and today many, many people go thru the surgery daily. It's normal to be scared and the wait is, by far, the hardest part.

 

[WayneGM]

Welcome to VR. Glad you found us. You're come to the right place for information and support from those who know what you are going through.

 

[Susan BAV]

Hi Eric--Thanks for the reply. I see you're only two weeks post surgery. I hope things are going well. My aortic stenosis is also congenital. Did that post any special problems with your surgery? That is one of the reasons that I will probably have mine done at the Cleveland Clinic--I just feel that they have so much more experience with every type of heart surgery. I also may need a mitral valve repair (I was told that they don't like to do two replacements), and maybe a graft if they see on a cath that my aorta is dilated. I am totally asymptomatic, and am just freaking out about all of these things that I never expected to be faced with. Thanks so much for answering me. It makes me feel so much better knowing that there are other people in the same situation. Have a quick and easy recovery!

I hope your experience ends up like mine. There was the possibility that I would need my mitral either worked on or replaced also but after they replaced the deteriorating bicuspid valve, they did a TEE test while I was still under and the mitral was working much better so they didn't have to do anything to it afterall. Welcome to the site.

 

[skeptic49]

Welcome,. Nancy! We're ridin' with ya all the way!


Jim

 

[hall]

Hi Nancy and Welcome. If you are looking for support and answers, you are in the right place. Looking forward to hearing from you.

 

[DebbyA]

Welcome Nancy! Ask lots of questions.

There are lots of CC graduates here. You might want to post and find out how those who traveled there managed post-surgical support.

 

[Blnmakerr]

Welcome Nancy:
You have come to the right place. I too had a BAV and had it replaced at The Cleveland Clinic last September. In my opinion the CCF is the best place to be for aortic valve replacement.

Ask all the questions and we will try and answer them. There is no emotion that you will experience that we haven't also gone through. Like others have said, "been there, done that"...

My experience at CCf was very good and the staff is very caring and understanding of our "fears". My pre-op testing took three days including the heart cath which determined that I would also have a double by-pass. My surgeon, Dr. Lars Svensson said my Carpentier-Edwards Bovine Pericardial tissue valve should last twenty years in someone my age (64), and it would be a shame to have to open me back up for by-pass at a later date. I agreed...

I was in ICU for just eighteen hours and in the hospital for a total of five days. Went back to work in three weeks with no ill effects. It is now nearly eleven months since my surgery and I fell better than I have in years. You will also...

Best of luck and keep us posted...

 

[Dawn-Marie]

Hi Nancy and welcome. I, too, am possibly going to Cleveland Clinic soon. I'm too high risk for surgery, but i may be part of The Partner Study. I would possibly get a percutaneous aortic valve. Wishing you the very best!!