Alerion
Well-known member
Hello all,
Well after my cardiac cath (a boring walk in the park, btw) and an echo and some consulting with my cardiologist, I decided to go meet with a guy here in MA (Dr. Tom Carr, Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River, MA).
His rep in this area is outstanding and I can't find a word against him on the web. My concern is that he's at a relatively small hospital with a quite recent (2002) but Hi-tech cardiac facility.He's got great cred and has been doing valves at a rate of ~200/ year since his stint as an Army surgeon in the late '80s. .
And he was great - Waaayyy better than my PCP, who says things like "your 10 minute appointment is over in nine minutes" while tapping his watch and looking at me over his glasses (He hates sick people).
Dr Carr took a LOT of time to talk with Heidi and me. He read and answered the list of questions I grabbed off this forum (thnx Jason) and was willing to chew the fat about anything - mutual interests; his family; my family etc. I like him personally, so I think I might just go with him.
I felt a weird ambivalence after talking with him, though.
The reason for that, I think, is that after studying so much in the last couple of weeks and especially after reading so much on this forum, it was kinda anti-climactic. He didn't tell me anything I wasn't prepared for (Hurrah!) other than good news. The good news is that I don't need any by-pass surgery. My arteries are, apparently, muy macho and healthy in all respects. Every doc who has checked out the cath results has expressed jealousy (venous envy) so all I need is an aortic valve replacement.
Btw, "all I need is an aortic valve replacement" is not a phrase I ever thought I would be relieved to write.
He did tell me some things I'd like you guys to comment on if you'd care to.
He told me that with the Carpentier-Edwards bovine valve (His personal favorite) I would have a 30 to 40% chance of re-op in less than 20 years. That's a 60 to 70% chance of NOT needing one in less than 20 years, right? If that's the case, I am attracted to that idea. Are there a lot of folks out there with this valve who are happy with it? Any bad stories or stats?
He also said re-op with a mechanical valve (should I decide on the bovine) should pose no problem. He was very confident about that.
He also told me that he doesn't use the On-x (rats!).
He has in the past, but doesn't like the way he has to implant it and he's not totally convinced it's much better than his first choice, which is the St. Jude - a valve he has been using and assessing for 20 some odd years. I absolutely refuse to take any manufacturers literature seriously-That's one source of info I don't trust - but a surgeon who shows a marked preference is persuasive..
He did say that he knows a lot of surgeons who do use and prefer the On-x and would be happy to contact them on my behalf quickly to set up a consult. I've read a lot about the St. Jude valves - standards in the industry - so I'm thinking hard about those two choices. He told us not to wait very long since my valve is very occluded with 104 gradient - I'm GOING TO DECIDE this week. Period.
Oh, and apparently I also need my teeth cleaned before the procedure!
I assured this guy that I brush and floss religiously, but he was having none of it. If he tells me I need Hi lites in my hair or a pedicure, I'll find another surgeon. Barring that, I like the guy and trust him as much as I do any other stranger with a bunch of diplomas on his wall.
I could very easily strike out for B&W in Boston if I want, but a friend of mine just came back from there with a horrible experience with long-term consequences. Another person I know of went there and can't shut up about how great it was. I guess anecdotes are not the best way to judge a hospital. Anyone who has some real dirt on Charlton or Dr. Carr, though, please dish it this way. I am on a short deadline for this!
I haven't been on this forum much lately because of work, but I am home now and trying to stay current. I truly appreciate the help and support you all are so generous with. Because of it, I am well-informed and feeling pretty cocky!
Thanks everyone.
Well after my cardiac cath (a boring walk in the park, btw) and an echo and some consulting with my cardiologist, I decided to go meet with a guy here in MA (Dr. Tom Carr, Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River, MA).
His rep in this area is outstanding and I can't find a word against him on the web. My concern is that he's at a relatively small hospital with a quite recent (2002) but Hi-tech cardiac facility.He's got great cred and has been doing valves at a rate of ~200/ year since his stint as an Army surgeon in the late '80s. .
And he was great - Waaayyy better than my PCP, who says things like "your 10 minute appointment is over in nine minutes" while tapping his watch and looking at me over his glasses (He hates sick people).
Dr Carr took a LOT of time to talk with Heidi and me. He read and answered the list of questions I grabbed off this forum (thnx Jason) and was willing to chew the fat about anything - mutual interests; his family; my family etc. I like him personally, so I think I might just go with him.
I felt a weird ambivalence after talking with him, though.
The reason for that, I think, is that after studying so much in the last couple of weeks and especially after reading so much on this forum, it was kinda anti-climactic. He didn't tell me anything I wasn't prepared for (Hurrah!) other than good news. The good news is that I don't need any by-pass surgery. My arteries are, apparently, muy macho and healthy in all respects. Every doc who has checked out the cath results has expressed jealousy (venous envy) so all I need is an aortic valve replacement.
Btw, "all I need is an aortic valve replacement" is not a phrase I ever thought I would be relieved to write.
He did tell me some things I'd like you guys to comment on if you'd care to.
He told me that with the Carpentier-Edwards bovine valve (His personal favorite) I would have a 30 to 40% chance of re-op in less than 20 years. That's a 60 to 70% chance of NOT needing one in less than 20 years, right? If that's the case, I am attracted to that idea. Are there a lot of folks out there with this valve who are happy with it? Any bad stories or stats?
He also said re-op with a mechanical valve (should I decide on the bovine) should pose no problem. He was very confident about that.
He also told me that he doesn't use the On-x (rats!).
He has in the past, but doesn't like the way he has to implant it and he's not totally convinced it's much better than his first choice, which is the St. Jude - a valve he has been using and assessing for 20 some odd years. I absolutely refuse to take any manufacturers literature seriously-That's one source of info I don't trust - but a surgeon who shows a marked preference is persuasive..
He did say that he knows a lot of surgeons who do use and prefer the On-x and would be happy to contact them on my behalf quickly to set up a consult. I've read a lot about the St. Jude valves - standards in the industry - so I'm thinking hard about those two choices. He told us not to wait very long since my valve is very occluded with 104 gradient - I'm GOING TO DECIDE this week. Period.
Oh, and apparently I also need my teeth cleaned before the procedure!
I assured this guy that I brush and floss religiously, but he was having none of it. If he tells me I need Hi lites in my hair or a pedicure, I'll find another surgeon. Barring that, I like the guy and trust him as much as I do any other stranger with a bunch of diplomas on his wall.
I could very easily strike out for B&W in Boston if I want, but a friend of mine just came back from there with a horrible experience with long-term consequences. Another person I know of went there and can't shut up about how great it was. I guess anecdotes are not the best way to judge a hospital. Anyone who has some real dirt on Charlton or Dr. Carr, though, please dish it this way. I am on a short deadline for this!
I haven't been on this forum much lately because of work, but I am home now and trying to stay current. I truly appreciate the help and support you all are so generous with. Because of it, I am well-informed and feeling pretty cocky!
Thanks everyone.
