Comments on: After “Waiting Too Long”, David Has Heart Valve Surgery Before Aneurysm Ruptures http://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2009/11/23/aortic-valve-replacement-stenosis-aneurysm/ 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: frank http://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2009/11/23/aortic-valve-replacement-stenosis-aneurysm/comment-page-1/#comment-38419 frank Mon, 30 May 2011 03:19:29 +0000 http://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2009/11/23/aortic-valve-replacement-stenosis-aneurysm/#comment-38419 I had my aortic valve and ascending aorta repaired 4/28/2010. That date was also my 70th birthday. The valve type was a tough choice. I had decided on the tissue valve. The day before the scheduled operation a cath was done to check for other possible problems. The surgeon recommended a mech valve because my other arteries were as good as a 40 year old man. He also said the connection w/the aorta is better (no leaks). My concern was the warfarin. I chose the mech because my life exp was longer than the tissue replacement time. I had blood work every week for about 1 month to get the warfarin adjusted. Now I get checked every month and my warfarin level remains in the 2.5 to 3.5 range. I have changed my life style very little. I am retired and play golf 3 to 4 times week. I walk the 18 holes on a hill course in western Pa. I cut firewood and split logs on 10 acre property. I fire a wood/coal furnace in the winter. Plowing snow and clearing sidewalks keep me busy in the winter. I also spend a lot of time in a barn converted to a wood shop. After more than a year I am satisfied with my choices. I have a checkup with my family doc every 6 month. I had a eco 3 months ago. The eco revealed no problems. My next check is w/my cardo for another eco and a stress test. I am expecting positive results. I had my aortic valve and ascending aorta repaired 4/28/2010. That date was also my 70th birthday. The valve type was a tough choice. I had decided on the tissue valve. The day before the scheduled operation a cath was done to check for other possible problems. The surgeon recommended a mech valve because my other arteries were as good as a 40 year old man. He also said the connection w/the aorta is better (no leaks). My concern was the warfarin. I chose the mech because my life exp was longer than the tissue replacement time. I had blood work every week for about 1 month to get the warfarin adjusted. Now I get checked every month and my warfarin level remains in the 2.5 to 3.5 range. I have changed my life style very little. I am retired and play golf 3 to 4 times week. I walk the 18 holes on a hill course in western Pa. I cut firewood and split logs on 10 acre property. I fire a wood/coal furnace in the winter. Plowing snow and clearing sidewalks keep me busy in the winter. I also spend a lot of time in a barn converted to a wood shop. After more than a year I am satisfied with my choices. I have a checkup with my family doc every 6 month. I had a eco 3 months ago. The eco revealed no problems. My next check is w/my cardo for another eco and a stress test. I am expecting positive results.

]]> By: Libby Vasel http://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2009/11/23/aortic-valve-replacement-stenosis-aneurysm/comment-page-1/#comment-38377 Libby Vasel Thu, 26 May 2011 17:20:52 +0000 http://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2009/11/23/aortic-valve-replacement-stenosis-aneurysm/#comment-38377 I was told by a cardiolgist that open heart surgery was not recomened for me because I'm 83 years old. I went for a second opinion and was nottold that as definately, however he didn't strongly recomend it either. I just heard of percutaneous aortic valve replacement. I would like some information about it please. I was told by a cardiolgist that open heart surgery was not recomened for me because I’m 83 years old. I went for a second opinion and was nottold that as definately, however he didn’t strongly recomend it either. I just heard of percutaneous aortic valve replacement. I would like some information about it please.

]]> By: Alan J Lewis http://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2009/11/23/aortic-valve-replacement-stenosis-aneurysm/comment-page-1/#comment-36126 Alan J Lewis Sat, 12 Feb 2011 04:00:47 +0000 http://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2009/11/23/aortic-valve-replacement-stenosis-aneurysm/#comment-36126 I agree that you have to become your own best advocate. I can appreciate all the talk about getting your valve replaced before it leads to something worse, but I have had a different experience. I found out about my heart murmer when I was 12 (now 42). Back then doc just said, it nothing to worry about but I should have some testing done when I turned 18. At age 18 I found out I had a leaky aortic valve(mild leak). They measured the size of my heart and they told me to watch the size of the Left ventrical as I got older. When I graduated from college in 1995 and started my first Job (stressful Job) I had some panic attacks which I intreterped as my heart valve. Anyway, I was told by my current cardiologist that' "maybe it was time to get my valve replaced". That sent me into an even deeper state of depression and anxiety. After several months of tring to determine what was really wrong with me a cardiologist at Mayo Clinic Scottsdale told me that I did not need surgery yet. So, I got my act back togather over the next few years and learn to handle stress better and get active again. Not as active as I was pre 1995 but more acvtive. I did several bicycle rides over 50 miles with out any significant issues(post 1995). All the while having an echo at least every year to keep an eye on the left ventricle size. So, in 2006, one of the echos came back as severe leakage and the cardiologist got with the resident surgen and told me they need to operate, but first they wanted to do a TEE (Echo where they cram the probe down your throat). They say it provides a better "picture". So again I got a second opinion from Mayo clinic. AS you can imagine 11 years later it was a different cardiologist and they had none of my previous records (but i did). My left ventricle size had not significantly increased in size or become larger than the upper limit of "normal". But oddly enough Mayo clinic recommended I get the valve replaced also. So I did all the research again and found the current leader for valve surgery and ended up at Cleveland Clinic with full intent on having the valve fixed or replaced. I bet you can guess what happened next. The cardiologist told me I did not need to have the surgery yet. So here I am almost five years later (a total of 16 years since the first time they told me to get the valve replaced). I ran 1.5 miles with my 6 year old last week. I climb 96 stairs to get to my office every day (up and down at least 4x every day). I go on hikes of up to 10 miles with elevation changes as much as 3000 ft (the hikes with alot of elevation change really are hard). Bottom line is I agree that you have to become your own best advocate. You have to understand the technology used and what the measurements mean (ask you cardiologist to explain, if they won't...find a new one.) Find out what can go wrong if you wait and watch the measurements. Technology has come a long way in the past 16 years. I would not be surprised if they could grow a replacement heart valve from your own tissue in the next ten years. that would mean only one valve surgery, not multiple or dieing because you are too old to go through it again. Sorry for rambeling on so long. I agree that you have to become your own best advocate. I can appreciate all the talk about getting your valve replaced before it leads to something worse, but I have had a different experience. I found out about my heart murmer when I was 12 (now 42). Back then doc just said, it nothing to worry about but I should have some testing done when I turned 18. At age 18 I found out I had a leaky aortic valve(mild leak). They measured the size of my heart and they told me to watch the size of the Left ventrical as I got older. When I graduated from college in 1995 and started my first Job (stressful Job) I had some panic attacks which I intreterped as my heart valve. Anyway, I was told by my current cardiologist that’ “maybe it was time to get my valve replaced”. That sent me into an even deeper state of depression and anxiety. After several months of tring to determine what was really wrong with me a cardiologist at Mayo Clinic Scottsdale told me that I did not need surgery yet. So, I got my act back togather over the next few years and learn to handle stress better and get active again. Not as active as I was pre 1995 but more acvtive. I did several bicycle rides over 50 miles with out any significant issues(post 1995). All the while having an echo at least every year to keep an eye on the left ventricle size. So, in 2006, one of the echos came back as severe leakage and the cardiologist got with the resident surgen and told me they need to operate, but first they wanted to do a TEE (Echo where they cram the probe down your throat). They say it provides a better “picture”. So again I got a second opinion from Mayo clinic. AS you can imagine 11 years later it was a different cardiologist and they had none of my previous records (but i did). My left ventricle size had not significantly increased in size or become larger than the upper limit of “normal”. But oddly enough Mayo clinic recommended I get the valve replaced also. So I did all the research again and found the current leader for valve surgery and ended up at Cleveland Clinic with full intent on having the valve fixed or replaced. I bet you can guess what happened next. The cardiologist told me I did not need to have the surgery yet. So here I am almost five years later (a total of 16 years since the first time they told me to get the valve replaced). I ran 1.5 miles with my 6 year old last week. I climb 96 stairs to get to my office every day (up and down at least 4x every day). I go on hikes of up to 10 miles with elevation changes as much as 3000 ft (the hikes with alot of elevation change really are hard). Bottom line is I agree that you have to become your own best advocate. You have to understand the technology used and what the measurements mean (ask you cardiologist to explain, if they won’t…find a new one.) Find out what can go wrong if you wait and watch the measurements. Technology has come a long way in the past 16 years. I would not be surprised if they could grow a replacement heart valve from your own tissue in the next ten years. that would mean only one valve surgery, not multiple or dieing because you are too old to go through it again. Sorry for rambeling on so long.

]]> By: Rachel Vaugahn http://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2009/11/23/aortic-valve-replacement-stenosis-aneurysm/comment-page-1/#comment-17332 Rachel Vaugahn Thu, 10 Dec 2009 05:35:47 +0000 http://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2009/11/23/aortic-valve-replacement-stenosis-aneurysm/#comment-17332 Joseph, everyone is different I just had AVR in late Oct, I chose to get a tissue valve mainly because I am 26 and want to have children in the next few years, but I feel at any I would have gotten it. I thought seriously about both and chose that I would rather have to have surgery again one day instead of changing my day to day by having to take blood thinners. I am 6 weeks post op today, feel great, and i am not on any meds except baby asprin. I am happy I chose the tissue, but i will admit after going thru the recovery I am not excited about doing it again one day, but this make it easier, no pills/no worries! goodluck with whatever you chose, and i wish great health and fast healing. rachel contact: rachely16@aol.com Joseph, everyone is different I just had AVR in late Oct, I chose to get a tissue valve mainly because I am 26 and want to have children in the next few years, but I feel at any I would have gotten it. I thought seriously about both and chose that I would rather have to have surgery again one day instead of changing my day to day by having to take blood thinners. I am 6 weeks post op today, feel great, and i am not on any meds except baby asprin. I am happy I chose the tissue, but i will admit after going thru the recovery I am not excited about doing it again one day, but this make it easier, no pills/no worries! goodluck with whatever you chose, and i wish great health and fast healing. rachel contact: rachely16@aol.com

]]> By: David Belisle http://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2009/11/23/aortic-valve-replacement-stenosis-aneurysm/comment-page-1/#comment-17223 David Belisle Mon, 07 Dec 2009 01:04:49 +0000 http://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2009/11/23/aortic-valve-replacement-stenosis-aneurysm/#comment-17223 To answer Daryls question: After my surgery I had very little pain. On the 1 to 10 scale (10 being the worst) I may have had around a 4 in pain once or twice. I used very little pain meds and was off of them in two weeks post op.. The biggest thing is being uncomfortable the first 2 to 4 days after the surgery. You will have have moniters, chest tubes, urinary catheter, blood pressure cath, insulin cath, etc. hanging off of your body which makes it difficult to stand and walk (oh yea, they get you up to walk with all that). Believe me when I tell you, I'm no hero and I went through it just fine. So will you! Good luck and my thoughts are with you. To answer Josephs question: I lead an active lifestyle and work in a manufacturing job so for me I did'nt want to deal with blood thinners. Yes I will have to have surgery again sometime down the road. I'll worry about that when it comes. Right now I have a new life to live!! To answer Daryls question: After my surgery I had very little pain. On the 1 to 10 scale (10 being the worst) I may have had around a 4 in pain once or twice. I used very little pain meds and was off of them in two weeks post op.. The biggest thing is being uncomfortable the first 2 to 4 days after the surgery. You will have have moniters, chest tubes, urinary catheter, blood pressure cath, insulin cath, etc. hanging off of your body which makes it difficult to stand and walk (oh yea, they get you up to walk with all that). Believe me when I tell you, I’m no hero and I went through it just fine. So will you! Good luck and my thoughts are with you.
To answer Josephs question: I lead an active lifestyle and work in a manufacturing job so for me I did’nt want to deal with blood thinners. Yes I will have to have surgery again sometime down the road. I’ll worry about that when it comes. Right now I have a new life to live!!

]]> By: Joseph Drasutis http://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2009/11/23/aortic-valve-replacement-stenosis-aneurysm/comment-page-1/#comment-17116 Joseph Drasutis Wed, 02 Dec 2009 20:07:42 +0000 http://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2009/11/23/aortic-valve-replacement-stenosis-aneurysm/#comment-17116 My saga starts about 3 years ago. While in my auto, my heart contracted suddenly and then released causing quite a flutter. My primary Dr. ordered a ct scan. The scan showed a 50% blockage. An angiogram was conducted that showed thee was no discerable blockage, however it showed moderate leakage and regurgitation in the aortic valve along with an enlragement of the aortic root. Between 4.8 to 5.0 cm. It was decided to monitor the situation with the hope that I could wait until 60 years of age. At the time I was 54 years old with no other symtoms. Well here Iam 57 and the size is now 5.2 cm., still no symptoms. My surgeon was about to give me another 6 months and decided the risk was too much. Due to my recovering from a serious auto crash the surgery will be delayed until December 28, 2009. To say I'm frightened would be an under statement, I will have the valve and the aorta replaced. There is a very remote chance my own valve could be repaired. My concern is the choice of valve. Mechanical or tissue. There are both positives and negatives. Should I choose the mechanical, I would be forced to retire form my police department, no coumadin allowed! Retirement is ok, I'm financially prepared, I just don't know about the blood thinner. Then again, I don't ever want to have heart surgery in 8 to 15 years. It seems as if it is a flip of the coin! Any comments? Joe My saga starts about 3 years ago. While in my auto, my heart contracted suddenly and then released causing quite a flutter. My primary Dr. ordered a ct scan. The scan showed a 50% blockage. An angiogram was conducted that showed thee was no discerable blockage, however it showed moderate leakage and regurgitation in the aortic valve along with an enlragement of the aortic root. Between 4.8 to 5.0 cm. It was decided to monitor the situation with the hope that I could wait until 60 years of age. At the time I was 54 years old with no other symtoms. Well here Iam 57 and the size is now 5.2 cm., still no symptoms. My surgeon was about to give me another 6 months and decided the risk was too much. Due to my recovering from a serious auto crash the surgery will be delayed until December 28, 2009. To say I’m frightened would be an under statement, I will have the valve and the aorta replaced. There is a very remote chance my own valve could be repaired. My concern is the choice of valve. Mechanical or tissue. There are both positives and negatives. Should I choose the mechanical, I would be forced to retire form my police department, no coumadin allowed! Retirement is ok, I’m financially prepared, I just don’t know about the blood thinner. Then again, I don’t ever want to have heart surgery in 8 to 15 years. It seems as if it is a flip of the coin! Any comments? Joe

]]> By: Sandra Johnson http://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2009/11/23/aortic-valve-replacement-stenosis-aneurysm/comment-page-1/#comment-17063 Sandra Johnson Mon, 30 Nov 2009 02:07:47 +0000 http://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2009/11/23/aortic-valve-replacement-stenosis-aneurysm/#comment-17063 David, my mother is supposed to have surgery in Maine with Dr Paul Weldner on Dec 15. I have been trying to research him on the web, but haven't found much. What did you learn about him that reassured you? Thanks! Sandy David, my mother is supposed to have surgery in Maine with Dr Paul Weldner on Dec 15. I have been trying to research him on the web, but haven’t found much. What did you learn about him that reassured you?

Thanks! Sandy

]]> By: Daryl http://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2009/11/23/aortic-valve-replacement-stenosis-aneurysm/comment-page-1/#comment-17055 Daryl Sun, 29 Nov 2009 17:08:39 +0000 http://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2009/11/23/aortic-valve-replacement-stenosis-aneurysm/#comment-17055 David, I have been diagnosed with an Aortic Root Aneurysm. It is now 4.5 cm. The surgeon said they are just going to watch it for now. He also said there will come a time I will have to have it repaired. Needless to say, I am scared stiff. What can I expect after the surgery. How much pain etc? David, I have been diagnosed with an Aortic Root Aneurysm. It is now 4.5 cm. The surgeon said they are just going to watch it for now. He also said there will come a time I will have to have it repaired. Needless to say, I am scared stiff. What can I expect after the surgery. How much pain etc?

]]> By: David http://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2009/11/23/aortic-valve-replacement-stenosis-aneurysm/comment-page-1/#comment-16987 David Thu, 26 Nov 2009 18:07:09 +0000 http://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2009/11/23/aortic-valve-replacement-stenosis-aneurysm/#comment-16987 Hi Adam, Happy Thanksgiving!! I was reading some of the comments about my story on your blog and have a few more answers to some of the questions people asked. The size of my aneurysm was over 6.0 mm which I guess is pretty extreme. My heart had also began to enlarge though not significantly. They said it would return to normal after the surgery. I also didn't explain that I was diagnosed with a bicuspid aortic valve when I was 18 years old through a cardiac catheterization. That was in 1972. I never saw another cardiologist until August of 2009 when my primary care doctor sent me to one because my heart murmur seemed to sound a little more harsh then it did the last time he saw me!! I still remember the doctor back in 1972 telling me that my heart was fine for now but when I got up around my mid fifties or so I would have to have my valve replaced. He told me the technology would be so much better by then! I think he was a prophet! Have a great holiday. Just ticken away,   David Belisle   P.S. I forgot to say what type of valve I had implanted. I didn't have a lot of choices due to my unique situation. I had the Medtronics Freestyle (bovine) valve and aortic sleeve implanted.  Hi Adam,

Happy Thanksgiving!!

I was reading some of the comments about my story on your blog and have a few more answers to some of the questions people asked. The size of my aneurysm was over 6.0 mm which I guess is pretty extreme. My heart had also began to enlarge though not significantly. They said it would return to normal after the surgery.

I also didn’t explain that I was diagnosed with a bicuspid aortic valve when I was 18 years old through a cardiac catheterization. That was in 1972. I never saw another cardiologist until August of 2009 when my primary care doctor sent me to one because my heart murmur seemed to sound a little more harsh then it did the last time he saw me!!

I still remember the doctor back in 1972 telling me that my heart was fine for now but when I got up around my mid fifties or so I would have to have my valve replaced. He told me the technology would be so much better by then! I think he was a prophet!

Have a great holiday.

Just ticken away,
 
David Belisle
 
P.S. I forgot to say what type of valve I had implanted. I didn’t have a lot of choices due to my unique situation. I had the Medtronics Freestyle (bovine) valve and aortic sleeve implanted. 

]]> By: William http://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2009/11/23/aortic-valve-replacement-stenosis-aneurysm/comment-page-1/#comment-16986 William Thu, 26 Nov 2009 14:41:27 +0000 http://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2009/11/23/aortic-valve-replacement-stenosis-aneurysm/#comment-16986 Rhumatic Feaver as a child (some 40 + years ago) as gifted me with a need for a valve job that I have put off, hoping it would just go away. Your stroy as inspired me to do my research,find the best hosipital possible and get this thing fixed before it is too late. I am a tech gadget type guy and I am intrested in ROBOTIC ASSISTED Surgury. Dr. R2D2 or C3PO? Looking at Cleveland Clinic, I have heard it is the best. Rhumatic Feaver as a child (some 40 + years ago) as gifted me with a need for a valve job that I have put off, hoping it would just go away. Your stroy as inspired me to do my research,find the best hosipital possible and get this thing fixed before it is too late. I am a tech gadget type guy and I am intrested in ROBOTIC ASSISTED Surgury. Dr. R2D2 or C3PO? Looking at Cleveland Clinic, I have heard it is the best.

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