Hi Everyone...I've been lurking around the forums for a few weeks now - great information around here. I finally decided to introduce myself.
I'm Yvonne and had my aortic valve repaired when I was 9. I'm almost 50 now and never had a problem or restriction. The doctors thought I might be able to go the rest of my life like this - I'll always have a heart murmur and a leak, but the leak was livable.
The past couple of years the echo has shown the leak to be increasing. My yearly checks ups went to one every 6 months. Last year I had a TEE and the doctor who performed that felt I would eventually need a valve replacement and it should be done sooner rather than later. In May my echo showed the leak at moderate/severe and in September it showed it increased to severe (4+). My cardio said I was in a gray area because I'm asymptomatic. My heart is mildly enlarged and the leak is severe. So, he sent me to a heart surgeon.
The heart surgeon felt I should have surgery and if I have it now - while I'm healthy - the success rate is excellent. They sent me for a stress which showed my arteries are fine. The heart surgeon and my cardio discussed the case and both agreed this isn't an emergency, but should be done.
I'm scheduled for surgery in January. The weird thing is that I feel fine. I guess I'm having a hard time wrapping my mind around surgery when I have no symptoms. I certainly would rather have it now then be in an emergency situation.
I didn't get any other doctor or surgeon's opinions as I had three (the doctor who did the TEE, my cardio and the heart surgeon). If I got another opinion and he said I didn't need surgery, how could I be sure that was correct? Also, I've had the same cardio for years and trust him. He's the one who recommended this surgeon and the doctor who did the TEE was part of his group as well.
I guess I'm just going through many stages - denial, fear, anxiety...I'm sure you all know what I mean. It's great to see a forum with people who are going through or have gone through a similar experience.
I'm Yvonne and had my aortic valve repaired when I was 9. I'm almost 50 now and never had a problem or restriction. The doctors thought I might be able to go the rest of my life like this - I'll always have a heart murmur and a leak, but the leak was livable.
The past couple of years the echo has shown the leak to be increasing. My yearly checks ups went to one every 6 months. Last year I had a TEE and the doctor who performed that felt I would eventually need a valve replacement and it should be done sooner rather than later. In May my echo showed the leak at moderate/severe and in September it showed it increased to severe (4+). My cardio said I was in a gray area because I'm asymptomatic. My heart is mildly enlarged and the leak is severe. So, he sent me to a heart surgeon.
The heart surgeon felt I should have surgery and if I have it now - while I'm healthy - the success rate is excellent. They sent me for a stress which showed my arteries are fine. The heart surgeon and my cardio discussed the case and both agreed this isn't an emergency, but should be done.
I'm scheduled for surgery in January. The weird thing is that I feel fine. I guess I'm having a hard time wrapping my mind around surgery when I have no symptoms. I certainly would rather have it now then be in an emergency situation.
I didn't get any other doctor or surgeon's opinions as I had three (the doctor who did the TEE, my cardio and the heart surgeon). If I got another opinion and he said I didn't need surgery, how could I be sure that was correct? Also, I've had the same cardio for years and trust him. He's the one who recommended this surgeon and the doctor who did the TEE was part of his group as well.
I guess I'm just going through many stages - denial, fear, anxiety...I'm sure you all know what I mean. It's great to see a forum with people who are going through or have gone through a similar experience.