Consultation with surgeon

Shop deals on ebay
shop deals on amazon
Advertise with us
Valve Replacement Forums

Help Support Valve Replacement Forums:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
J

JeffM

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 18, 2008
Messages
402
Location
Fairfax, VA USA
Hello good people! I stumbled across your wonderful forum this past week as I've been trying to educate myself on the various options for my BAV with regurgitation. I've learned a lot.Tomorrow I expect to make a "reservation" for valve replacement surgery and a Maze Procedure per my cardio's recommendation. You have already hepled me a great deal as I have been developing a list of questions for my surgeon, with whom I am meeting on Thursday, 8/21.

I'm checking in with you today because I am experiencing the same sentiments as I have read many of you are experiencing and have experienced: namely - excitment, anitcipation, fear and anxiety. I look forward to many more conversations with you prior to and after my surgery.

Jeff
 
Hey there Jeff and Welcome to the family. Sorry for the circumstances but you found the right place to ask questions. laugh or even vent.
Don't be shy and ask away.
 
Be sure to let us know your surgery date when you have it. We like to give you a boost over the mountain!
 
Welcome Jeff! You have come to the right place. Someone is always around to answer a question or give support. Look forward to hearing from you.
 
Welcome Jeff. I too am a new kid on the block. I found this site through wikipedia.org and it has been a great source of information and support. Like me, you will find the anticipation far out-weights the actual event. The time for me going from pre-op to post-op was less than a month after finding this site and it has all been a positive experience. Best of luck to you and Welcome again!
 
Welcome Jeff,

Since you have been diagnosed with a Bicuspid Aortic Valve, I urge your to read through the BAV and Connective Tissue Disorder (CTD) Forum since BAV is often a result of a CTD.

You would be wise to ask for a Chest CT or MRI to check your ENTIRE Aorta (simple Echocardiograms do NOT give a full picture of the Aorta) for signs of aneurism(s).

IF you have an Aortic Aneurism, it would be wise to find a surgeon who has considerable experience dealing with Surgery of the Aorta which is 'beyond the comfort zone' of Heart Surgeons who do mostly Bypass and first-time Valve Replacement surgeries.

'AL Capshaw'
 
Hi Jeff and welcome to the VR community. It's nice having you here. I, too, have a bicuspid aortic valve and am still waiting to see what will be done, if anything. There are a wonderful bunch of people here that will support you every step of the way. Best wishes and Good Luck!!
 
I sure do appreciate the warm welcomes folks. As I type this, I am awaiting a call from the surgeon's office to discuss a tentative date for surgery. Al Capshaw, thanks for your advice. In fact, my cardiologist had me get an updated CT scan last Thu (previous one was from '04). So far, no other problems with the aorta aside from some "very minor" widening of the aortic root due to the big whoooooosh. Had my catheterization last Fri, which also showed no additional problems...whew. The surgeon I am leaning toward is Dr. Alan Speir with the Cardiac, Vascular and Thoracic Surgery group, headed by Edward Lefrak and affiliated with INNOVA Fair Oaks hospital in Fairfax, VA. Dr. Speir is their aortic specialist. Of just over 200 aortic procedures in '07, 56 were valve replacements. Those numbers sound decent to you all? I keep asking if there's anyone better around, but it sounds to me like this guy gets a fair amount of practice. From what I've read in this forum, you have to do your research, but a good amount of that should support selection of a surgeon. Once I do that, I need to remind myself that "if you want a job done right, do it yourself" does not apply here. But I still plan to ask lots of questions.
 
Hope you get your date soon - the waiting is the hardest. Be sure to let us know so we can put you on the calendar and make it official. It sounds like you are doing your homework and that's "a good thing"! Put Dr. Speir's name in the search box at the top and see if you come up with any other members who have used him.
 
Phyllis said:
Hope you get your date soon - the waiting is the hardest. Be sure to let us know so we can put you on the calendar and make it official. It sounds like you are doing your homework and that's "a good thing"! Put Dr. Speir's name in the search box at the top and see if you come up with any other members who have used him.
Click to expand...

Thanks for that suggestion. I'm not real experienced with these online conversations and know very little about the tools available. That was a great one. Nothing but high praise for Dr Speir. I'll sleep a little better tonight.
 
Our member Marty (who is a M.D. Radiologist) had his surgery done by Dr. Lefrak and speaks very highly of him.

As a BAV'er, an Aortic Specialist is the type of surgeon you want working inside your chest so it sounds like you are in good hands.

Read around in the Pre-surgery and Post-Surgery Forums to see how many others prepared for and recovered from their surgeries. That should keep you busy! :)

And of course feel free to ask any specific questions as they come to mind.

'AL Capshaw'
 
Hi Jeff! Welcome to the forum--I'm glad you found it.

Dr Speir was my AVR surgeon in January. You will be in good hands with him and the entire practice. Their pre - and post-surgery support is excellent and responsive day and night.

Please post any questions you have.
 
"Read around in the Pre-surgery and Post-Surgery Forums to see how many others prepared for and recovered from their surgeries. That should keep you busy! :)"

All of it good reading.

"Dr Speir was my AVR surgeon in January. You will be in good hands with him and the entire practice. Their pre - and post-surgery support is excellent and responsive day and night. "

More encouraging reports on Dr Speir, the Lefrak group and Fairfax hospital. Hopefully, I'll be another Dr Speir advocate in the next few weeks!
 
Jeff,

Welcome to the group. I am in a very similar situation and have found a lot of great information here. It appears we are using the same Cardio Group. My surgeon will be Dr. John Rhee. I have heard lots of great things about these doctors and feel like I am in good hands.

I wish you the best of luck.

Victor
 
vkernus said:
Jeff,

Welcome to the group. I am in a very similar situation and have found a lot of great information here. It appears we are using the same Cardio Group. My surgeon will be Dr. John Rhee. I have heard lots of great things about these doctors and feel like I am in good hands.

I wish you the best of luck.

Victor
Click to expand...

Best to you as well Victor. Yeah, I've been hearing and reading nothing but really positive reports on these guys. Do you have a date yet?
 
Jeff,

Not an exact date. My cath with Dr. O'brien has been moved up to 8/27, and my appointment with Dr. Rhee is on 9/15. I am told that I will likely go in for the surgery sometime shortly thereafter.
 
vkernus said:
Jeff,

Not an exact date. My cath with Dr. O'brien has been moved up to 8/27, and my appointment with Dr. Rhee is on 9/15. I am told that I will likely go in for the surgery sometime shortly thereafter.
Click to expand...

Hey Victor,

It sounds like you already have plenty of evidence that you need this surgery done. The cath., from what I understand, is for them to get a look at your heart from another perspective and to take pressure measurements internally. Given that, they might consider scheduling you prior to your consult with Dr Rhee. I just got my date a few hours ago (should have been two days ago) and my consult is tomorrow. Date is 9/12. Are you dealing with Theresa McDonald? You might want to see if she'll schedule you sooner. If I could make mine happen sooner I would.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Back
Top