Alien
Member
I've been hanging out here for some time learning from the experience of others, but having just had a surgeon basically say "get in here, NOW" I'm about to join the ranks of the experienced myself!
I've had what started out as a slight murmur for 40 years (that makes me feel old) but a couple of years ago sudden shortness of breath after climbing stairs put me into the clutches of cardiologists, who told me I had moderate to severe aortic stenosis plus aortic insufficiency and there was talk about maybe getting a valve job someday in the future. So I've been getting regular check-ups with echocardiograms until those fun words "I think we need to do a heart cath" were heard. This was soon followed by "You need to start checking out surgeons" and things suddenly started getting serious.
I checked out a couple of surgeons and decided that Dr Jack Copeland at UMC here in Tucson was the right man for the job.
So the result of all this is I'm scheduled for pre-op on Jan 9 and an AVR on Jan 12 and reality has suddenly rushed in!
At least the way has been paved by a lot of the regulars here and I have a fair idea of what I'm in for. Not much fun but a lot better than the alternative.
I'll be getting an On-X valve (us engineers like gadgets)and will be joining the On-X study, although as I'm classified as high risk I'll either be in the regular Coumadin control group or the reduced Coumadin group (no Plavix or Aspirin).
So please make room for another one - I'm about to join this exclusive club and I hope to be back here in a couple of weeks to boast about my scar
Regards to all,
Doug.
I've had what started out as a slight murmur for 40 years (that makes me feel old) but a couple of years ago sudden shortness of breath after climbing stairs put me into the clutches of cardiologists, who told me I had moderate to severe aortic stenosis plus aortic insufficiency and there was talk about maybe getting a valve job someday in the future. So I've been getting regular check-ups with echocardiograms until those fun words "I think we need to do a heart cath" were heard. This was soon followed by "You need to start checking out surgeons" and things suddenly started getting serious.
I checked out a couple of surgeons and decided that Dr Jack Copeland at UMC here in Tucson was the right man for the job.
So the result of all this is I'm scheduled for pre-op on Jan 9 and an AVR on Jan 12 and reality has suddenly rushed in!
At least the way has been paved by a lot of the regulars here and I have a fair idea of what I'm in for. Not much fun but a lot better than the alternative.
I'll be getting an On-X valve (us engineers like gadgets)and will be joining the On-X study, although as I'm classified as high risk I'll either be in the regular Coumadin control group or the reduced Coumadin group (no Plavix or Aspirin).
So please make room for another one - I'm about to join this exclusive club and I hope to be back here in a couple of weeks to boast about my scar
Regards to all,
Doug.