About Me (In My Own Words)
October 2015:
With my profession as a commercial pilot it is required that I undergo a routine aviation medical examination every 12 months, as I was 25 at the time it was a required that year that I also underwent an ECG. The results from the ECG came back abnormal with a distinct Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome (WPW) pattern, in which case I was required to be referred to a Cardiologist for a stress ECG and report.
The results from the stress ECG were acceptable and the WPW pattern did not present as a real concern, however the Cardiologist suggested I also have an Echocardiogram to rule out any other problems, but did not expect to find anything. I went back in for the 'Echo' and I almost felt it was a waste of time since the WPW was no real concern and the Cardiologist said he didn't expect to find anything. I went back in to see my Cardiologist the following day and I'll never forget what he said to me, "Nick, I'm really sorry to tell you this and I was not expecting to find anything, but your heart valve is leaking quite severely and you need a heart valve replacement fairly soon". Before I had time to process anything I immediately started to panic not knowing what was going to happen with my flying, I was at the point in my career where I had new job opportunities present itself and I had an upcoming interview with a major international airline. My Cardiologist explained to me that I was born with a Bicuspid Aortic valve which has led to quite severe regurgitation with the need for an aortic valve replacement and most likely the aortic root to also be replaced. He then referred me to a Cardiothoracic surgeon, Dr. Chris Merry, to review my results and explain the different valve options I had available to me.
This part of my story had been quite difficult for me, trying to decide on which way to go in regards to the right valve for me that would allow me to continue with my flying career. At first I put more emphasis on wanting to continue to fly and not on what might be a better alternative in the long run. The biggest concern I initially had was how I would be impacted with my flying and after speaking to my Designated Aviation Medical Examiner (DAME), he explained to me that after surgery I would still be able to still hold a Class 1 Medical and fly as a commercial pilot, but the biggest limitation was to be on long term anti-coagulation medication. Being on anti-coagulants would 'most likely' restrict me to flying in multi-crew operations only, which would have been fine if I was already working for an airline, but as I am still flying single pilot to build up my hours/experience it was going to be a definite limitation for me.
February 2016 - Part 1:
I was scheduled to undergo a tissue valve replacement which would mean I would not be required to be on anti-coagulation medication and would still be able to fly single pilot after the recovery period and jumping through the necessary hoops in getting my medical back. I had planned to establish my career in building whatever hours I had needed in the coming years and getting into a multi-crew/airline job and then switching to the mechanical valve when the tissue valve had required to be replaced. It seemed like a good idea and I was happy with the decision, however I knew that the tissue valve would only last for a short period of time, I was told best case 10 years, but it is possible to fail a lot sooner. Three days before surgery I received a phone call saying my surgery had been postponed due to an urgent case that my surgeon had to take on and I could expect to wait up to a month until I am scheduled for surgery again.
February 2016 - Part 2:
About a week after my surgery was cancelled I was on my way to work when I started to feel short of breath, I was still able to breath but felt as though I was consciously having to breath a lot harder. This was the first time I started to feel symptomatic, up to this point other than being a bit more tired than usual, this was the first time where I started to not feel quite right in myself. I went into hospital and stayed the night for observation, I had all the tests run again and was discharged the next day. I started to think if having the tissue valve was really worth the temporary fix and ultimately at some point putting myself, my body and my family through a second surgery. The aviation industry in Australia is already very competitive and difficult enough to break into the airline level and now with having one surgery and then with the definite need for a second surgery in the future, would I be better off going for the mechanical valve and looking at a career change? I weighed it all up and decided that I would put my health first above my career and opted to go for the mechanical valve. I had accepted that this meant I may no longer have a career flying and that I had decided to go back to university to study Paramedical Science and become a Paramedic. I felt in myself that having the mechanical valve and sorting the problem in the one surgery was the best decision for me and my health, especially if there was the possibility I would not get as many years out of the tissue valve as I was hoping for and could potentially be in the same position. This was also the advice I got from a lot of different people that I spoke to, everyone had recommended the mechanical valve over the tissue valve. The surgery had been booked and was scheduled for the 25/03/2016.
March 2016:
I received a phone call from my surgeons office asking me to come in towards the end of the week for a chat regarding my decision to change to the mechanical valve and my stay in hospital. I went in to see Dr. Chris Merry and he asked how I was feeling and why the change to the mechanical valve. Dr. Merry then said to me that there was one more option that he wanted to discuss with me, that he felt it was necessary and ethical to give me this option before he went ahead with the mechanical valve replacement in the coming fortnight. At this point I almost wanted to ask Dr. Merry not to tell me, I felt at peace with my decision and I did not want to have to think about nor put myself through making another decision. Dr. Merry explained the Ross Procedure to me, which in Australia meant I would have to fly from Perth to Melbourne for the surgery under Dr. Peter Skillington and Dr. Marco Larobina. The Ross Procedure for me meant that I would be able to continue with my flying career not having the need for anti-coagulants and the possibility that I would not require a second surgery and if so it could be up to 25 years. At first I was still leaning toward the mechanical valve option as I wanted the surgery in the coming fortnight especially because I didn't know how long I would have to wait for the Ross Procedure and that I may still need a second procedure. The more I thought about it and after I looked into and researched the Ross Procedure I thought it was the better decision for me, even if I decide to no longer pursue flying, to not require anti-coagulant medication was a definite positive.
The Present - 21/03/2016:
I am waiting to hear from Dr. Skillingtons' office as to when I can expect surgery and if he would like me to come to Melbourne beforehand for a consultation. At this point I am still unsure if I will continue with my flying or if undergoing heart surgery and the possible need for re-operation in the future will always 'redflag' me when applying for jobs with an airline, irrespective of the fact I still hold a Class 1 Medical.
All of this really makes me think if things do happen for a reason; if it wasn't for my flying I would not have found out about this so soon and if it wasn't for my original date of surgery being postponed I would now have a tissue valve and not have even known about the Ross Procedure.
Nick
More Info About Me & My Heart
More About Me
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I am from:
Perth, Australia
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My surgery date is:
June 10, 2016
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I was diagnosed with:
Aortic Regurgitation
Bicuspid Aortic Valve
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My surgery was:
Ross Procedure
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