Comments on: Doctor And Mountain Climber, Leo Hernandez, Recovering From Bicuspid Valve Replacement http://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2009/01/30/from-doctor-to-patient-leo-hernandez-recovers-from-bicuspid-valve-replacement/ Former Patient And Author, Adam Pick, Blogs About Heart Valve Replacement And Heart Valve Repair Thu, 09 Feb 2012 06:18:04 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: jeff http://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2009/01/30/from-doctor-to-patient-leo-hernandez-recovers-from-bicuspid-valve-replacement/comment-page-1/#comment-41353 jeff Sat, 06 Aug 2011 15:48:41 +0000 http://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2009/01/30/from-doctor-to-patient-leo-hernandez-recovers-from-bicuspid-valve-replacement/#comment-41353 Hi there Chido. About Drs it's just like ant relationship. You are trusting that person with your life so the most important element is you must totally trust and feel comfortable with that person. You can narrow the field to Drs who have done 5000 or more heart surgeries and just seeif you can trust and believe what the dr is telling you and how he ( or she, although I have yet to read about any female heart surgeons on this blog) answers your questions. If you have to travel to interview more Drs don't hesitate to do that. Of course try and talk to them on the phone and see if you can make a connection that way. How you are taken care of by their office says slot about how you will be taken care of by the dr. I had heard great things about Dr Stearns at USC ( he was Adam's surgeon) and I had tried to meet with him.  It took me 10 phone calls to get anyone to even return my call. I faxed all my records to the surgeons assistant that day and personally delivered the additional records the next week. I called and e mailed another 5 times AND NEVER EVEN GOT A CALL BACK. I just crossed him off my list. He might take good care of some people but my experience with him was not good. I can only imagine what the chances of someone older and less persuasive than myself would be to get to see a dr like that for a surgery they need. I was lucky to get an appointment with Richard Shemin at UCLA right near where I live. The same great surgeon who fixed Leo's heart. I got a call at noon one day that dr Shemin was out of surgery early and could I come in that day?  I got there at 12:30 and saw him at 3:30 but I could tell right away he was a nice guy. I had interviewed 3 other surgeons and had 2 more but I decided the next day I would use dr Shemin. His credentials are impeccable and he is easy to talk to. Make sure you have done your homework and know what questions you need answered. I believe you have a mechanical valve?  Would you like to get off the blood thinners?  Consider a tissue valve. And they may still be able to do your proceedure through a smaller incision. Good luck Jeff Pheffer Hi there Chido. About Drs it’s just like ant relationship. You are trusting that person with your life so the most important element is you must totally trust and feel comfortable with that person. You can narrow the field to Drs who have done 5000 or more heart surgeries and just seeif you can trust and believe what the dr is telling you and how he ( or she, although I have yet to read about any female heart surgeons on this blog) answers your questions. If you have to travel to interview more Drs don’t hesitate to do that. Of course try and talk to them on the phone and see if you can make a connection that way. How you are taken care of by their office says slot about how you will be taken care of by the dr. I had heard great things about Dr Stearns at USC ( he was Adam’s surgeon) and I had tried to meet with him.  It took me 10 phone calls to get anyone to even return my call. I faxed all my records to the surgeons assistant that day and personally delivered the additional records the next week. I called and e mailed another 5 times AND NEVER EVEN GOT A CALL BACK. I just crossed him off my list. He might take good care of some people but my experience with him was not good. I can only imagine what the chances of someone older and less persuasive than myself would be to get to see a dr like that for a surgery they need. I was lucky to get an appointment with Richard Shemin at UCLA right near where I live. The same great surgeon who fixed Leo’s heart. I got a call at noon one day that dr Shemin was out of surgery early and could I come in that day?  I got there at 12:30 and saw him at 3:30 but I could tell right away he was a nice guy. I had interviewed 3 other surgeons and had 2 more but I decided the next day I would use dr Shemin. His credentials are impeccable and he is easy to talk to. Make sure you have done your homework and know what questions you need answered.

I believe you have a mechanical valve?  Would you like to get off the blood thinners?  Consider a tissue valve. And they may still be able to do your proceedure through a smaller incision. Good luck

Jeff Pheffer

]]> By: Chido http://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2009/01/30/from-doctor-to-patient-leo-hernandez-recovers-from-bicuspid-valve-replacement/comment-page-1/#comment-40624 Chido Tue, 26 Jul 2011 05:56:58 +0000 http://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2009/01/30/from-doctor-to-patient-leo-hernandez-recovers-from-bicuspid-valve-replacement/#comment-40624 I'm writing about my upcoming surgery. I'm in the final decision stages. I have a history of aortic valve replacement (St. Jude)24 years ago. Recently found out that my ascending aorta is dilated to approx. 5.9cm. I need an aortic root surgery with aortic valve replacement. With my research I have found out that it's not an easy surgery, especially since it's a redo. I am struggling with a choice of surgeons at this time. What should I be looking for in an appropriate cardiothoracic surgeon? Is it volume of redo surgeries, aortic root replacement, experience, training, skills, success? I'm still active with work and family. I hope to resume my life after surgery. I'm only 43 years old. Any input would be appreciated. Thanks. I’m writing about my upcoming surgery. I’m in the final decision stages. I have a history of aortic valve replacement (St. Jude)24 years ago. Recently found out that my ascending aorta is dilated to approx. 5.9cm. I need an aortic root surgery with aortic valve replacement. With my research I have found out that it’s not an easy surgery, especially since it’s a redo. I am struggling with a choice of surgeons at this time. What should I be looking for in an appropriate cardiothoracic surgeon? Is it volume of redo surgeries, aortic root replacement, experience, training, skills, success? I’m still active with work and family. I hope to resume my life after surgery. I’m only 43 years old. Any input would be appreciated. Thanks.

]]> By: Jeff http://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2009/01/30/from-doctor-to-patient-leo-hernandez-recovers-from-bicuspid-valve-replacement/comment-page-1/#comment-38610 Jeff Sun, 05 Jun 2011 01:01:16 +0000 http://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2009/01/30/from-doctor-to-patient-leo-hernandez-recovers-from-bicuspid-valve-replacement/#comment-38610 Hi Leo and everybody else out there. I have a pretty long story but what I really want to say is how disappointed I have been with the medical world in the past 3 years since I really felt something was not right and it was not a simple thing. It took me continually looking asking and thinking about what the symptoms were and if they were all in my head. As in " just stress". I am a 57 year old attorney sole practioner with a very busy practice and a teenage boy. I compete in martial arts that involves sparing and submission grappling. I do Olympic weightlifting several times a week and love to snowboard and bike ride. You know there is a reason my participation has go e down in the last few years but I thought I was just getting old. Which ,let's face it, I am. I don't even surf anymore. I had heart palpitations at rest. As high as 150. I couldn't catch my breath when I wrestled with kids I could have dominated. I had to tap out many times even when I was ahead. I wrestled in high school a college. I scuba dive. I hike and a few years climbed machu piccu at 5 am with my son. But the feeling that something was wrong got no info. I was given an inhaler. Told to take it easy. Even after I went to the er and was finally told following my second echo ( was told nothing wrong on The first one 5 years earlier) that I had a bicuspid valve. Congenital. So it's not like it wasn't there earlier. Even the cardio in the hospital never gave me a diagnosis or connected my palpitations and sob with this finding. Worse he gave me no future plan or things to think about. He said I was not a surgical candidate ( what surgery he was thinking about he never said) and said I had such a low heart rate already ( athletes heart he said) medicine would make me miserable. I spoke with another cardio after that no help. When I applied for life ins they said it would cost more because of my aortic valve history. I say " what history". My family dr says let's do another echo. They probably made a mistake. By this time the echo I had a year before did say I had an enlarged aorta and mild aortic regurgitation. Of course at the time I had no idea what that meant and no one put it together. He did another echo and said yea you have a slightly enlarged aorta and you may need a valve replaced someday. It's no big deal. They do them through the vein. Arnold had one. Let's watch it and keep your heart rate under 130". I say why can't I get a new valve now he says you don't need one. I am not happy. I know I am not good in the cardio area. ( I did a mountain bike ride that should have been only a minor push and my heart goes to 225 on my garmiin and I about fell off the bike. I stopped 4 times. Never had that. So last week I found by myself another cardio who read the records and I said what is wrong and finally someone could tell me. " you have bicuspid aortic valve syndrome". All the earmarks. I am impressed. He says I don't want to sell you something Khoi dont want but you need a more recent echo. I say can you do one now. He says sure and does it himself right there. For the FIRST TIME I UNDERSTAND THE DANGER OF THIS. It's not the shortness of breath or palpitations it's the amount of blood back flowing into the heart that will kill me eventually. The heart has to stretch to pump that extra blood and eventually it doesn't return to its original size. That's bad. But since my heart was in such good condition no one wanted to fix or deal with the problem that would eventually kill me. That's if the alternative- a boringly sedative life had in store- did first. So he says I have severe regurgitation. He showed me all the blood flowing back into the heart when it should have been pumped to the rest of the body. And this was while I am lying down with a resting hr of 60 or less! So for the first time I hear of a test called transesopogeal (?) echo where they stick a camera down my throat and look. No one has said I need the surgery YET but I know if I don't do it my life will suck. I get the test on Monday and I already have 4 surgeons to call in LA including dr Shemin for opinions. My dad told me you have to be your own dr. Not that you don't go to Drs but you can't depend on them to make sure you get what you need to stay alive and well. I am so glad I didn't give up trying to figure out what to do. All you out there who feel good because your dr says you are fine you don't need surgery really ask yourselves what you want from your life and do you want to wait till there is permanent heart damage before you get it fixed or should you prepare and plan the inevitable now while you are healthy and insured. stay tuned. All the best Leo and hope to see you around west La. Jeff Hi Leo and everybody else out there. I have a pretty long story but what I really want to say is how disappointed I have been with the medical world in the past 3 years since I really felt something was not right and it was not a simple thing. It took me continually looking asking and thinking about what the symptoms were and if they were all in my head. As in ” just stress”. I am a 57 year old attorney sole practioner with a very busy practice and a teenage boy. I compete in martial arts that involves sparing and submission grappling. I do Olympic weightlifting several times a week and love to snowboard and bike ride. You know there is a reason my participation has go e down in the last few years but I thought I was just getting old. Which ,let’s face it, I am. I don’t even surf anymore. I had heart palpitations at rest. As high as 150. I couldn’t catch my breath when I wrestled with kids I could have dominated. I had to tap out many times even when I was ahead. I wrestled in high school a college. I scuba dive. I hike and a few years climbed machu piccu at 5 am with my son. But the feeling that something was wrong got no info. I was given an inhaler. Told to take it easy. Even after I went to the er and was finally told following my second echo ( was told nothing wrong on The first one 5 years earlier) that I had a bicuspid valve. Congenital. So it’s not like it wasn’t there earlier. Even the cardio in the hospital never gave me a diagnosis or connected my palpitations and sob with this finding. Worse he gave me no future plan or things to think about. He said I was not a surgical candidate ( what surgery he was thinking about he never said) and said I had such a low heart rate already ( athletes heart he said) medicine would make me miserable. I spoke with another cardio after that no help. When I applied for life ins they said it would cost more because of my aortic valve history. I say ” what history”. My family dr says let’s do another echo. They probably made a mistake. By this time the echo I had a year before did say I had an enlarged aorta and mild aortic regurgitation. Of course at the time I had no idea what that meant and no one put it together. He did another echo and said yea you have a slightly enlarged aorta and you may need a valve replaced someday. It’s no big deal. They do them through the vein. Arnold had one. Let’s watch it and keep your heart rate under 130″. I say why can’t I get a new valve now he says you don’t need one. I am not happy. I know I am not good in the cardio area. ( I did a mountain bike ride that should have been only a minor push and my heart goes to 225 on my garmiin and I about fell off the bike. I stopped 4 times. Never had that. So last week I found by myself another cardio who read the records and I said what is wrong and finally someone could tell me. ” you have bicuspid aortic valve syndrome”. All the earmarks. I am impressed. He says I don’t want to sell you something Khoi dont want but you need a more recent echo. I say can you do one now. He says sure and does it himself right there. For the FIRST TIME I UNDERSTAND THE DANGER OF THIS. It’s not the shortness of breath or palpitations it’s the amount of blood back flowing into the heart that will kill me eventually. The heart has to stretch to pump that extra blood and eventually it doesn’t return to its original size. That’s bad. But since my heart was in such good condition no one wanted to fix or deal with the problem that would eventually kill me. That’s if the alternative- a boringly sedative life had in store- did first. So he says I have severe regurgitation. He showed me all the blood flowing back into the heart when it should have been pumped to the rest of the body. And this was while I am lying down with a resting hr of 60 or less! So for the first time I hear of a test called transesopogeal (?) echo where they stick a camera down my throat and look. No one has said I need the surgery YET but I know if I don’t do it my life will suck. I get the test on Monday and I already have 4 surgeons to call in LA including dr Shemin for opinions. My dad told me you have to be your own dr. Not that you don’t go to Drs but you can’t depend on them to make sure you get what you need to stay alive and well. I am so glad I didn’t give up trying to figure out what to do. All you out there who feel good because your dr says you are fine you don’t need surgery really ask yourselves what you want from your life and do you want to wait till there is permanent heart damage before you get it fixed or should you prepare and plan the inevitable now while you are healthy and insured. stay tuned. All the best Leo and hope to see you around west La. Jeff

]]> By: gary koehn http://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2009/01/30/from-doctor-to-patient-leo-hernandez-recovers-from-bicuspid-valve-replacement/comment-page-1/#comment-9809 gary koehn Thu, 14 May 2009 21:39:51 +0000 http://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2009/01/30/from-doctor-to-patient-leo-hernandez-recovers-from-bicuspid-valve-replacement/#comment-9809 Hi Leo I am a recently retired dermatologist who lives in Colorado Springs. I also have a bicuspid aortic valve with pure aortic regurgitation. I am 66 and my cardiologist tells me it is time to have it replaced. My surgery date is June 1 at Mayo in Rochester by Hartsel V Schaff MD. I read your comments with interest. How much sternal/chest pain did you have immediately post operatively? Any other input would be much appreciated. I don't know yet whether Dr Schaff will do a total or partial sternotomy. Thankyou for writing your note. Gary Hi Leo

I am a recently retired dermatologist who lives in Colorado Springs. I also have a bicuspid aortic valve with pure aortic regurgitation. I am 66 and my cardiologist tells me it is time to have it replaced. My surgery date is June 1 at Mayo in Rochester by Hartsel V Schaff MD. I read your comments with interest. How much sternal/chest pain did you have immediately post operatively? Any other input would be much appreciated. I don’t know yet whether Dr Schaff will do a total or partial sternotomy. Thankyou for writing your note.

Gary

]]> By: Brian Nash, MD http://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2009/01/30/from-doctor-to-patient-leo-hernandez-recovers-from-bicuspid-valve-replacement/comment-page-1/#comment-9114 Brian Nash, MD Mon, 30 Mar 2009 11:40:56 +0000 http://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2009/01/30/from-doctor-to-patient-leo-hernandez-recovers-from-bicuspid-valve-replacement/#comment-9114 Hi Leo: I am also an active dermatologist with a bicuspid aortic valve that needs replaced. I am exploring options and am very interested in how things have worked out for you now several months post op. Thanks for sharing your experience to date. Happy trails, Brian Nash Hi Leo:

I am also an active dermatologist with a bicuspid aortic valve that needs replaced. I am exploring options and am very interested in how things have worked out for you now several months post op.

Thanks for sharing your experience to date.

Happy trails,

Brian Nash

]]> By: Elke Jennings http://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2009/01/30/from-doctor-to-patient-leo-hernandez-recovers-from-bicuspid-valve-replacement/comment-page-1/#comment-7802 Elke Jennings Sun, 08 Feb 2009 23:11:01 +0000 http://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2009/01/30/from-doctor-to-patient-leo-hernandez-recovers-from-bicuspid-valve-replacement/#comment-7802 i read your story and iam facing it..Ifound out 3 weeks ago that mt heart was inlarged and 7 days ago that i need to see a spcialist on tuesday and iam running scared...My doc told me when he callt you need to see a spe.. well and that my a..valve is bad well i have copd and asthma i just hope that that i find a good Doctor and that i might not need it soon and if i do that all will be well your site helped me a lot and iam writing for the first time good things Iam glad that you were blessed with an awesome doctor .. and you are still blessed Iam praying for the same for me thanks for ur blog it has been a blessing to me as well i read your story and iam facing it..Ifound out 3 weeks ago that mt heart was inlarged and 7 days ago that i need to see a spcialist on tuesday and iam running scared…My doc told me when he callt you need to see a spe.. well and that my a..valve is bad well i have copd and asthma i just hope that that i find a good Doctor and that i might not need it soon and if i do that all will be well your site helped me a lot and iam writing for the first time good things Iam glad that you were blessed with an awesome doctor .. and you are still blessed Iam praying for the same for me thanks for ur blog it has been a blessing to me as well

]]> By: Debbie Chambers http://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2009/01/30/from-doctor-to-patient-leo-hernandez-recovers-from-bicuspid-valve-replacement/comment-page-1/#comment-7742 Debbie Chambers Tue, 03 Feb 2009 16:17:54 +0000 http://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2009/01/30/from-doctor-to-patient-leo-hernandez-recovers-from-bicuspid-valve-replacement/#comment-7742 Dr. Hernandez, WOW!!! Your story is AMAZING! I had an opportunity to learn more about you and about your "journey" that lead up to your surgery. Thank you for sharing this article with me. I wish you the very best! Debbie Dr. Hernandez,

WOW!!!

Your story is AMAZING! I had an opportunity to learn more about you and about your “journey” that lead up to your surgery.

Thank you for sharing this article with me.

I wish you the very best!

Debbie

]]> By: Gina DeGirolamo http://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2009/01/30/from-doctor-to-patient-leo-hernandez-recovers-from-bicuspid-valve-replacement/comment-page-1/#comment-7730 Gina DeGirolamo Mon, 02 Feb 2009 15:55:50 +0000 http://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2009/01/30/from-doctor-to-patient-leo-hernandez-recovers-from-bicuspid-valve-replacement/#comment-7730 Hi Leo, So great to hear your story. I had no idea you had surgery until Patricia sent me the link to this article. You look amazing and I know that you are the kind of person that once your put your mind to something you give it 110%. I m sure will be mountain climbing vigorously by spring. Lots of Love, Gina Hi Leo,

So great to hear your story. I had no idea you had surgery until Patricia sent me the link to this article. You look amazing and I know that you are the kind of person that once your put your mind to something you give it 110%. I m sure will be mountain climbing vigorously by spring.

Lots of Love,
Gina

]]> By: sam http://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2009/01/30/from-doctor-to-patient-leo-hernandez-recovers-from-bicuspid-valve-replacement/comment-page-1/#comment-7727 sam Mon, 02 Feb 2009 04:15:05 +0000 http://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2009/01/30/from-doctor-to-patient-leo-hernandez-recovers-from-bicuspid-valve-replacement/#comment-7727 Dr. Leo Hernandez . I just read with great deal about of your story I recently got diagnosed with BAV disease , I am 45 years old living in Northern California around San Francisco area . At first when I was told that I have the BAV disease ,I did not even know what it was I just knew it was serious . Now the more I read the more I became puzzled with a load of questions and getting stressed out . I hole I will find someone skillful and great Dr like you. Eventually I know I will have the surgery Some day . You may suggest if I have any questions regarding my BAV disease your answer might be best if I talk to my own Dr which I agree with you entirely .And yet it would not hurt to hear any thing from some one who has done avery successfull surgery a few weeks ago. It is very cordial of you to share your story with the world .I really admire you for that .I wish you a full recovery and can not wait to see your picture as you are climbing ance more . Sam Dr. Leo Hernandez . I just read with great deal about of your story
I recently got diagnosed with BAV disease , I am 45 years old living in Northern California around San Francisco area .
At first when I was told that I have the BAV disease ,I did not even know what it was I just knew it was serious . Now the more I read the more I became puzzled with a load of questions and getting stressed out . I hole I will find someone skillful and great Dr like you. Eventually I know I will have the surgery Some day .
You may suggest if I have any questions regarding my BAV disease your answer might be best if I talk to my own Dr which I agree with you entirely .And yet it would not hurt to hear any thing from some one who has done avery successfull surgery a few weeks ago.
It is very cordial of you to share your story with the world .I really admire you for that .I wish you a full recovery and can not wait to see your picture as you are climbing ance more .

Sam

]]> By: Theresa Loureiro http://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2009/01/30/from-doctor-to-patient-leo-hernandez-recovers-from-bicuspid-valve-replacement/comment-page-1/#comment-7723 Theresa Loureiro Sun, 01 Feb 2009 19:54:48 +0000 http://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2009/01/30/from-doctor-to-patient-leo-hernandez-recovers-from-bicuspid-valve-replacement/#comment-7723 Dear leo, My goodness you are so brave and nonchalant about this surgery and honestly I did not expect for you to go to work so soon, please do not over do it and as always our prayers are with you. Love and God bless, Eduardo & Tere Dear leo,
My goodness you are so brave and nonchalant about this surgery and honestly I did not expect for you to go to work so soon, please do not over do it and as always our prayers are with you.
Love and God bless,
Eduardo & Tere

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