missaviator
Well-known member
Hello fellow VR buddies!
My name is Rachel, I just turned 29 and go in for my second DVR on Tuesday, 5/14/13.
My heart history: At the age of 3, they discovered I had Aortic Insufficiency and monitored it throughout my childhood. Knowing that eventually it would be time to replace the Aortic Valve.
At 19, I started feeling a bit fatigued and gained about 10lbs. My dad had a hunch something was up with my heart and sure enough, we had to schedule OHS. The plan was the Ross Procedure January 9, 2004......Well, my heart couldn't wait, I caught the much dreaded endocardidis and like us heart patients are always told, will attack your "weak" valves.
Christmas day 2003, I went to the emergency room, because I could no longer walk on my left leg....weird I know. Well long story short, the vegitation from the infection DROPPED down my artery to my leg. I know God was looking out for me, because had it went to my brain, I wouldn't be here today. December 26, 2003 I had emergency open heart surgery to replace my aortic valve, but while my surgeon was in there, he noticed the bacteria really wreaked havok on my mitral valve as well. After trying to repair the mitral valve failed, he had to replaced both my Aortic (Bovine) and Mitral (Porcine) valve.
For the last 9 and half years I have lived an incredibly healthy and fulfilling life. I finished school, managed an airport, worked as a flight attendant on a private jet and tried to finish my pilots license...BUT the hiccup with that is, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), did not approve medical certificates for people with double valve replacement, only single valve replacements. The FAA denied my application.
January of this year, my doctor noticed a bulge in the echo and although they say they haven't really seen this before, have called it a psuedoaneurysm. After an echo, TEE, MRI, CT scan and the tipping point, stress test, it is now time to go in replace my two valves and address this psuedoaneurysm.
Although, I have been here before, I am nervous, I think the "planning" made this OHS seem 10 x harder. Last time it was an emergency, no time to think, just sink or swim.
I go in Monday for the angiogram and stay overnight for my early morning OHS. I am praying like crazy to have a quick and easy recovery. Last surgery, since I was in such bad shape with the infection, I stayed in the hospital for 15 days!!! I can't wait to be healthy again. I miss my workouts more than anything and the very best news of all, the FAA is starting to allow DVR for flight medicals!!! So my 6-month post op will hopefully be my check-ride to FINALLY become Private Pilot!!!!!!!!!:thumbup:
I am choosing to have tissue valves again, both Bovine, as I would like to have children and do not wish to start on blood thinners for life.
I spoke with my surgeon yesterday, the same one who fixed me up last time
and could not feel more blessed and ready. The only bummer is the last surgery he was amazing and did a horizontal incision (under breast)...but he said it is too dangerous to cut it there a second time, I guess the scar tissue could literally tear a hole in my heart. SOOO I get to have a vertical incision...I will literally have a cross of OHS scars:eek2:....lol Imagine the stories I can tell...haha but like we all know, life is way too precious to waste on vanity.
Anyway, I am excited to have a place to talk to people who can relate. It makes this all a bit easier.
My name is Rachel, I just turned 29 and go in for my second DVR on Tuesday, 5/14/13.
My heart history: At the age of 3, they discovered I had Aortic Insufficiency and monitored it throughout my childhood. Knowing that eventually it would be time to replace the Aortic Valve.
At 19, I started feeling a bit fatigued and gained about 10lbs. My dad had a hunch something was up with my heart and sure enough, we had to schedule OHS. The plan was the Ross Procedure January 9, 2004......Well, my heart couldn't wait, I caught the much dreaded endocardidis and like us heart patients are always told, will attack your "weak" valves.
Christmas day 2003, I went to the emergency room, because I could no longer walk on my left leg....weird I know. Well long story short, the vegitation from the infection DROPPED down my artery to my leg. I know God was looking out for me, because had it went to my brain, I wouldn't be here today. December 26, 2003 I had emergency open heart surgery to replace my aortic valve, but while my surgeon was in there, he noticed the bacteria really wreaked havok on my mitral valve as well. After trying to repair the mitral valve failed, he had to replaced both my Aortic (Bovine) and Mitral (Porcine) valve.
For the last 9 and half years I have lived an incredibly healthy and fulfilling life. I finished school, managed an airport, worked as a flight attendant on a private jet and tried to finish my pilots license...BUT the hiccup with that is, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), did not approve medical certificates for people with double valve replacement, only single valve replacements. The FAA denied my application.
January of this year, my doctor noticed a bulge in the echo and although they say they haven't really seen this before, have called it a psuedoaneurysm. After an echo, TEE, MRI, CT scan and the tipping point, stress test, it is now time to go in replace my two valves and address this psuedoaneurysm.
Although, I have been here before, I am nervous, I think the "planning" made this OHS seem 10 x harder. Last time it was an emergency, no time to think, just sink or swim.
I go in Monday for the angiogram and stay overnight for my early morning OHS. I am praying like crazy to have a quick and easy recovery. Last surgery, since I was in such bad shape with the infection, I stayed in the hospital for 15 days!!! I can't wait to be healthy again. I miss my workouts more than anything and the very best news of all, the FAA is starting to allow DVR for flight medicals!!! So my 6-month post op will hopefully be my check-ride to FINALLY become Private Pilot!!!!!!!!!:thumbup:
I am choosing to have tissue valves again, both Bovine, as I would like to have children and do not wish to start on blood thinners for life.
I spoke with my surgeon yesterday, the same one who fixed me up last time
and could not feel more blessed and ready. The only bummer is the last surgery he was amazing and did a horizontal incision (under breast)...but he said it is too dangerous to cut it there a second time, I guess the scar tissue could literally tear a hole in my heart. SOOO I get to have a vertical incision...I will literally have a cross of OHS scars:eek2:....lol Imagine the stories I can tell...haha but like we all know, life is way too precious to waste on vanity. Anyway, I am excited to have a place to talk to people who can relate. It makes this all a bit easier.
