J
John Cochran
It is hard to believe my AVR was six months ago already! I was a bit apprehensive about going to my checkup, since I wanted everything to be "perfect" but feared that something might not be quite right. So, I went in for my echo in the morning, and had a consultation right after lunch with Dr. King. As he walked in, looking at the echo results, he didn't mince words as he said, "This is just outstanding!" WHEW!!
At the time of surgery, which had been delayed twice, my ejection fraction had seriously deteriorated to 20 percent (55 to 70 percent is normal). Dr. King told me that I was now approaching a "normal" heart, and that I could throw away my ACE inhibitor, leaving me with just a 25 mg. daily dose of Toprol XL (beta blocker). He thought that I would continue to improve and within four to six months could get off that too, leaving me with just a baby aspirin every day.
I was surprised to hear the echo showed slight leakage in both my mitral and tricuspid valves, although Dr. King said that these are pretty inconsequential.
I am so relieved I can hardly believe it! During my surgery, the first valve actually tore. A second valve was implanted, but after being on the heart-lung machine for 10 hours, the bleeding couldn't be stopped initially. There was a point at which my family was told that I had maybe a 50 percent chance of surviving. After a total of 14 hours of surgery, and virtually a whole new supply of blood for my body, the bleeding was reduced enough that they closed me up. I guess I continued bleeding internally through the night, with the surgeon calling every couple hours to see if they needed to re-operate. Fortunately, the bleeding stopped, but within two days I had to have double procedures where they went in through my back with huge needles and HAND PUMPED the excess blood out of me. And I was fully awake, because they needed my feedback on certain feelings in my chest, lungs and shoulders as they did this.
In hind sight, despite the scary stuff, it was all worth it. I got the "green light" to start running again, playing tennis, and whatever else I might want to do. I am thankful and amazed--what a wonderful age we all live in!
--John
At the time of surgery, which had been delayed twice, my ejection fraction had seriously deteriorated to 20 percent (55 to 70 percent is normal). Dr. King told me that I was now approaching a "normal" heart, and that I could throw away my ACE inhibitor, leaving me with just a 25 mg. daily dose of Toprol XL (beta blocker). He thought that I would continue to improve and within four to six months could get off that too, leaving me with just a baby aspirin every day.
I was surprised to hear the echo showed slight leakage in both my mitral and tricuspid valves, although Dr. King said that these are pretty inconsequential.
I am so relieved I can hardly believe it! During my surgery, the first valve actually tore. A second valve was implanted, but after being on the heart-lung machine for 10 hours, the bleeding couldn't be stopped initially. There was a point at which my family was told that I had maybe a 50 percent chance of surviving. After a total of 14 hours of surgery, and virtually a whole new supply of blood for my body, the bleeding was reduced enough that they closed me up. I guess I continued bleeding internally through the night, with the surgeon calling every couple hours to see if they needed to re-operate. Fortunately, the bleeding stopped, but within two days I had to have double procedures where they went in through my back with huge needles and HAND PUMPED the excess blood out of me. And I was fully awake, because they needed my feedback on certain feelings in my chest, lungs and shoulders as they did this.
In hind sight, despite the scary stuff, it was all worth it. I got the "green light" to start running again, playing tennis, and whatever else I might want to do. I am thankful and amazed--what a wonderful age we all live in!
--John
