Jim P
Well-known member
Hello everyone,
I am a new member of the group, although I feel like I already know many of you, based on reading this forum. My heart problem has been a big shock to me and my wife, and I am grateful to all of you for so openly sharing your experiences without restraint. We are now much more confident in what we are facing and realize that I am not the only person being singled out for this trial by fire.
My story is similar to many of yours. I am nearly 64 years old and had no advance warning, as I have been extraordinarily healthy and energetic my whole life. In fact, for the past three years, my wife and I have been leading walking tours all over the world. In 2006 alone, we traveled for about 150 days leading groups walking 6 - 10 miles almost every day.
Because I was not bouncing back to full speed after returning home from 30 days in Italy this past fall, I went to see our family doctor. He heard the heart murmur and sent me to visit a cardiologist immediately. The big shock came after the echocardiogram, followed by cardiac catheterization, which confirmed the presence of severe aortic stenosis. The cardiologist said I was only months away from heart failure and needed to have OHS to replace my aortic valve. Fortunately, the tests also showed that the coronary arteries were clear. The past two months have been consumed with reading, studying, and preparing myself and my family for the circumstances to be faced.
I met with my surgeon (Dr. Kevin Accola) Monday. The AVR surgery will be done this upcoming Thursday, Feb 8, and I am scheduled to receive a CEPM (Carpentier-Edwards Perimount Magna) bovine pericardial tissue valve. My reading of the literature and discussion with the surgeon led to some optimism that the ThermaFix process on this valve might extend useful life of the valve to 20 ? 25 years, for my age group. This was my decision, and I believe it to be a good risk.
Florida Hospital in Orlando claims that they treat more heart patients than any other hospital in the United States and rank first in the state of Florida for the number of open-heart surgeries performed. So, I should be in good, experienced hands.
I have also learned that I am not invincible. Based on what I have learned from you, on this forum, I know this is serious surgery. I am blessed with a strong, supportive wife and we know that our life style may change as a result of this experience. However, that will not keep us from looking ahead to the future. I am still young enough and healthy enough that I intend to weather this storm and resume a full life.
I will keep you posted on the results.
Jim P
I am a new member of the group, although I feel like I already know many of you, based on reading this forum. My heart problem has been a big shock to me and my wife, and I am grateful to all of you for so openly sharing your experiences without restraint. We are now much more confident in what we are facing and realize that I am not the only person being singled out for this trial by fire.
My story is similar to many of yours. I am nearly 64 years old and had no advance warning, as I have been extraordinarily healthy and energetic my whole life. In fact, for the past three years, my wife and I have been leading walking tours all over the world. In 2006 alone, we traveled for about 150 days leading groups walking 6 - 10 miles almost every day.
Because I was not bouncing back to full speed after returning home from 30 days in Italy this past fall, I went to see our family doctor. He heard the heart murmur and sent me to visit a cardiologist immediately. The big shock came after the echocardiogram, followed by cardiac catheterization, which confirmed the presence of severe aortic stenosis. The cardiologist said I was only months away from heart failure and needed to have OHS to replace my aortic valve. Fortunately, the tests also showed that the coronary arteries were clear. The past two months have been consumed with reading, studying, and preparing myself and my family for the circumstances to be faced.
I met with my surgeon (Dr. Kevin Accola) Monday. The AVR surgery will be done this upcoming Thursday, Feb 8, and I am scheduled to receive a CEPM (Carpentier-Edwards Perimount Magna) bovine pericardial tissue valve. My reading of the literature and discussion with the surgeon led to some optimism that the ThermaFix process on this valve might extend useful life of the valve to 20 ? 25 years, for my age group. This was my decision, and I believe it to be a good risk.
Florida Hospital in Orlando claims that they treat more heart patients than any other hospital in the United States and rank first in the state of Florida for the number of open-heart surgeries performed. So, I should be in good, experienced hands.
I have also learned that I am not invincible. Based on what I have learned from you, on this forum, I know this is serious surgery. I am blessed with a strong, supportive wife and we know that our life style may change as a result of this experience. However, that will not keep us from looking ahead to the future. I am still young enough and healthy enough that I intend to weather this storm and resume a full life.
I will keep you posted on the results.
Jim P
