About Me (In My Own Words)
Mid last year I was diagnosed with a murmur, and decided to check it out with a cardiologist. Being 33 years old, I thought nothing of it as I felt no symptoms.
Through a series of tests, nuclear, stress test, EKG and echo's I was finally diagnosed with moderate aortic stenosis, regurg and a enlarged heart. A week before my official diagnosis, to my dismay, I had a deep cleaning done at a local dentist. Late last year I developed flu like symptoms, but thought nothing of it.
A few weeks went by, and my symptoms were still there. (chills, slight fever, cold sweats, loss of appetite) I decided to call my cardiologist during the second week asking if I possibly had endocarditis. He insisted it was not, so in turn I thought nothing of it. The next week I was feeling better, my symptoms were going away and I felt generally better.
Then the 4th week it all came back, I called my cardio this time insisting that I had endocarditis and I told him I was going to check myself in to the ER. He again insisted not to, and instead, to get a blood culture done (x2 in both arms) at a local clinic. I said why not, got my blood test, and the next day received the unfortunate call. The nurse called and said I was right, and I would have to be checked in to a local hospital for at least a few days to remove the infection. The same day, they reserved a bed, and I checked myself in.
The next few days there was lots of activity; blood being drawn every morning, lots of various antiobiotics, and EKG's.
After the second day, they found the strain of the virus (strepmitis) and the day after I tested negative for endocarditis from my blood cultures.
The good news was I tested negative, but there was also bad news. The infection developed vegetation on my valve which was pretty large, the doctors insisted I do surgery then (mid december) to avoid the complications of stroke. I decided to wait, and go through the course of antibiotics. The othe bad thing was because of my infection my valve got worse - possibly severe aortic stenosis.
They (the hospital) wasn't too happy about my decision to go home, but eventually, after 4nights, they eventually released me with a PICC line in my arm to administer my own antibiotics every 24 hours. I finished the 4week antibiotics course a few weeks ago. During these past weeks, I started looking for surgeons, and started learning more about the procedure.
I narrowed my surgeons down to Dr. Starnes USC and Dr. Laks UCLA.
I interviewed both, but in the end went with Dr. Laks from UCLA. You cant go wrong with both of them, they are both great if you're looking for surgeons locally. (folks fly to them for surgeries)
My surgery is scheduled for 1/24 (this thursday) and decided to go for a ON-X mechanical valve. The main reason I went mechanical is because of hopes of no reop in the future.
Both the surgeons and my cardio say the risk of anything 'bad' happening is relatively low. Still at this point, I am worried about pretty much everything out there. I am really looking at bouncing back to my normal life with my wife, these past two months I have learned entirely too much about the heart. :)
My advice to those that are about to go through surgery - don't read too much. (I should of took my own advice)
Talk to you soon!
Sash
More Info About Me & My Heart
More About Me
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I am from:
Downey, California