PeoriaValveUser
Member
DOB: May 14 1951
08/20/96 ? St Jude Mechanical AVR, Lakeshore Hospital ? Chicago, IL
12/05/05 ? St Jude Porcine AVR plus Guidant Pacemaker, Methodist Hospital Peoria, IL
06/03/09 ? St Jude Mechanical AVR plus Guidant Pacemaker, Methodist Hospital Peoria, IL
I was born with a heart murmur. When I was 7, I had my first angiogram and the docs told me to take it easy and have it looked at ?every now and then?. I did that and managed to survive for another 15 years when I started having chest pains.
After a barrage of tests at the University of Illinois Research and Education Hospital in Chicago, it was determined that I?d experienced angina due to an hiatal hernia. I also had an aortic insuffiency and a bit of regurgitation. With a bit blander diet, (I love Mexican food), and moderation I could go on for another 20 years or so before I?d need a valve replacement.
When I turned 45, I developed a double hernia and during the pre-op tests, a red flag went up on my ecg. I was referred to a great cardiologist who scheduled a full Cardio exam. Verdict: Cardiomegaly and aortic regurgitation. As soon as I?d repaired from the double hernia surgery, they scheduled the AVR. Five days later, they sent me home with a scrip for coumadin and pain meds and a steady clicking in my head. (It took me a few days to get used to that.)
I moved to Peoria in ?99 and remarried. I took a less physically demanding job as a Telesales Rep and established a relationship with the outpatient clinic for my pt/inr tests. In 2005, I cancelled a Thanksgiving trip to my in-laws because I was ?not feeling well?. I couldn?t put my finger on it, but something was out of sorts.
Initial tests showed that I was pre-anemic and pre-diabetic. Further tests showed that the valve was leaking. A nasty little germ called streptococcus bovis was making a smorgasbord of the sutures on the AVR and, to make matters worse, two infected pieces of the suture has broken free and made their way to my brain. I?d had two strokes! Daily infusions of drugs were added to fight the strep b. They implanted a new porcine valve and a pacemaker.
It seems that strep b has a second barrel waiting for anyone who dodged the first bullet. It has been linked to colon cancer. Once I was ready to go home and recuperate and the infusions had done their work, I scheduled a colonoscopy. They did find one cancerous polyp, but were able to get it all during the exam.
Earlier this year, I started having dull chest pains and went to the ER. They did ecgs and xrays and after four hours, sent me home with a nitro spray and an appointment with my cardiologist. After the full list of tests had been run, they diagnosed a tear in the porcine valve. It wasn?t serious, yet, and surgery was scheduled for April 30th. To add to the drama, the company I worked for was closing our branch. We arranged for COBRA continuance and made preparations for the trip to the hospital. We chose one of the best CV surgeons in the area and waited for the end of April.
On the evening of the 29th we got a call. Due to some emergency life-flights, my surgery had to be postponed until May 22nd. On the 21st, it was again postponed, this time until June 3rd. I?d only need to redo the blood panel and xray on the 1st. Luckily, there were no more reschedulings and a surgery that was estimated to tak 12 hours was done in six, this time, with a St Jude polycarbonate valve. My pacemaker still had two years on it, so they left it in. Hopefully, the only surgery I'll need for a while will be to replace the pacemaker.
08/20/96 ? St Jude Mechanical AVR, Lakeshore Hospital ? Chicago, IL
12/05/05 ? St Jude Porcine AVR plus Guidant Pacemaker, Methodist Hospital Peoria, IL
06/03/09 ? St Jude Mechanical AVR plus Guidant Pacemaker, Methodist Hospital Peoria, IL
I was born with a heart murmur. When I was 7, I had my first angiogram and the docs told me to take it easy and have it looked at ?every now and then?. I did that and managed to survive for another 15 years when I started having chest pains.
After a barrage of tests at the University of Illinois Research and Education Hospital in Chicago, it was determined that I?d experienced angina due to an hiatal hernia. I also had an aortic insuffiency and a bit of regurgitation. With a bit blander diet, (I love Mexican food), and moderation I could go on for another 20 years or so before I?d need a valve replacement.
When I turned 45, I developed a double hernia and during the pre-op tests, a red flag went up on my ecg. I was referred to a great cardiologist who scheduled a full Cardio exam. Verdict: Cardiomegaly and aortic regurgitation. As soon as I?d repaired from the double hernia surgery, they scheduled the AVR. Five days later, they sent me home with a scrip for coumadin and pain meds and a steady clicking in my head. (It took me a few days to get used to that.)
I moved to Peoria in ?99 and remarried. I took a less physically demanding job as a Telesales Rep and established a relationship with the outpatient clinic for my pt/inr tests. In 2005, I cancelled a Thanksgiving trip to my in-laws because I was ?not feeling well?. I couldn?t put my finger on it, but something was out of sorts.
Initial tests showed that I was pre-anemic and pre-diabetic. Further tests showed that the valve was leaking. A nasty little germ called streptococcus bovis was making a smorgasbord of the sutures on the AVR and, to make matters worse, two infected pieces of the suture has broken free and made their way to my brain. I?d had two strokes! Daily infusions of drugs were added to fight the strep b. They implanted a new porcine valve and a pacemaker.
It seems that strep b has a second barrel waiting for anyone who dodged the first bullet. It has been linked to colon cancer. Once I was ready to go home and recuperate and the infusions had done their work, I scheduled a colonoscopy. They did find one cancerous polyp, but were able to get it all during the exam.
Earlier this year, I started having dull chest pains and went to the ER. They did ecgs and xrays and after four hours, sent me home with a nitro spray and an appointment with my cardiologist. After the full list of tests had been run, they diagnosed a tear in the porcine valve. It wasn?t serious, yet, and surgery was scheduled for April 30th. To add to the drama, the company I worked for was closing our branch. We arranged for COBRA continuance and made preparations for the trip to the hospital. We chose one of the best CV surgeons in the area and waited for the end of April.
On the evening of the 29th we got a call. Due to some emergency life-flights, my surgery had to be postponed until May 22nd. On the 21st, it was again postponed, this time until June 3rd. I?d only need to redo the blood panel and xray on the 1st. Luckily, there were no more reschedulings and a surgery that was estimated to tak 12 hours was done in six, this time, with a St Jude polycarbonate valve. My pacemaker still had two years on it, so they left it in. Hopefully, the only surgery I'll need for a while will be to replace the pacemaker.
I hope your recovery goes well and bump free. Best of luck to you.
