OK... I have registered and I am now an active member!
Thank you all for your encouragement.
Yolanda, my Ross procedure was problematic from the very beginning. I had a long hospital stay, fluid in the lungs, long time on a vent. Long recovery. It was pretty challenging to say the least. I eventually got back on my feet and resumed my normal active lifestyle.
I was teaching Fitness Kickboxing and Taekwondo 5 days a week. My big mistake was that I didn't keep up with my scheduled doctor's checkup. They basically lost me for two years post-op (Fall 1999 - August 2001). I figured that with my active lifestyle, I would be keenly aware if there were any problems. I was a dumb male... I was wrong.
One of my fitness students was also a nurse, and upon hearing that I did not have a followup visit in two years, she strongly encouraged me to get checked out (she chewed me out!).
So in August 2001 I had my ultrasound. The Cardiologist said that my pulmonic and aortic valves had failed and that I needed to have surgery ASAP. The funny thing was... I didn't feel bad. Just a bit tired, but I thought that was due to lack of sleep and taking care of three children.
So, two weeks later on September 5, 2001, I had the valves replaced at the University of PA (Dr Bavaria). I was really scared, since the Ross procedure was so problematic, I didn't think that I could handle the pain again. But to my surprise, it went very smooth. What a great staff they had!
Since then, I am doing great. Very active and feeling wonderful.
But the thought that I will need to have a third operation at some point is always on my mind. Sometimes to the point of waking up in a mild panic.
The surgeon strongly recommended mechanical valves, since he did not want me to have a third operation in the future. But with my lifestyle, I chose the bioprosthetics.
So, that is my story!
Mike