Okay, I've moved this date about 4 times in 3 years. Guess it's time to do the deed. Never a good time I guess so let's just shoot for 2 weeks prior to Halloween....
Going in for a Cath on the 10th, ordered by a second Cardio that I haven't see in 3 years (see my normal Cardio every 6 months) to check to make sure no coronary issues and to maybe spot the possible VSD leak (had a VSD repair at age 6, now 35).
I was kind of wishy washy on the whole thing but the more you mess with tests and talking about this stuff the more it hits home. I'm fairly asymptomatic (I can run up stairs, do normal activities, lift stuff) but the decline for me is like a 1% grade vs a 20% for others so I don't really notice a difference from 10 years ago.
I'm hoping that the 3rd time in to the chest is the last one for me. I have 3 kids age 6, 4, and 1.5 (I don't do months) so they need their daddy around for a long time.
Getting fixed by Dr. Ott at St Lukes in the Houston Heart center (Houston Med center) so I think I have picked a good place to have it done. I also am going to go mechanical so they don't need to use wire-cutters on me again....
Going to the attorney's office Monday for living will and power of attorney stuff (oh boy) and then hopefully I have all my affairs in order just in case something happens.
Dr. tells me 95% success due to my re-op from years ago (probably scar tissue etc) so I like my chances. Going out on the table is the biggest fear I guess for anyone doing this. I'm thinking positive and making plans for afterward to ward off the bad juju (whatever it's called).
I think I need to lose some weight prior to surgery just to have less to lug around after. Hoping I can drive soon after and get my INR crap figured out fast so I don't stress about it. Not really looking forward to blood tests the rest of my life but it's better than the alternative. Guess I will need a fancy hard hat for walking jobs after this.
Great site here, been on it for probably 6-7 years on and off!
Going in for a Cath on the 10th, ordered by a second Cardio that I haven't see in 3 years (see my normal Cardio every 6 months) to check to make sure no coronary issues and to maybe spot the possible VSD leak (had a VSD repair at age 6, now 35).
I was kind of wishy washy on the whole thing but the more you mess with tests and talking about this stuff the more it hits home. I'm fairly asymptomatic (I can run up stairs, do normal activities, lift stuff) but the decline for me is like a 1% grade vs a 20% for others so I don't really notice a difference from 10 years ago.
I'm hoping that the 3rd time in to the chest is the last one for me. I have 3 kids age 6, 4, and 1.5 (I don't do months) so they need their daddy around for a long time.
Getting fixed by Dr. Ott at St Lukes in the Houston Heart center (Houston Med center) so I think I have picked a good place to have it done. I also am going to go mechanical so they don't need to use wire-cutters on me again....
Going to the attorney's office Monday for living will and power of attorney stuff (oh boy) and then hopefully I have all my affairs in order just in case something happens.
Dr. tells me 95% success due to my re-op from years ago (probably scar tissue etc) so I like my chances. Going out on the table is the biggest fear I guess for anyone doing this. I'm thinking positive and making plans for afterward to ward off the bad juju (whatever it's called).
I think I need to lose some weight prior to surgery just to have less to lug around after. Hoping I can drive soon after and get my INR crap figured out fast so I don't stress about it. Not really looking forward to blood tests the rest of my life but it's better than the alternative. Guess I will need a fancy hard hat for walking jobs after this.
Great site here, been on it for probably 6-7 years on and off!