All set, got the call to be there at 0530am at the University of Washington for my successful surgery with Dr. Gabe Aldea and Dr. Christopher Burke. GOD SPEED! ...Read more
All set, got the call to be there at 0530am at the University of Washington for my successful surgery with Dr. Gabe Aldea and Dr. Christopher Burke. GOD SPEED!
Mike Roskowinski You got this Brian. Keep your faith strong and your head high. Go into it with a positive attitude! ... Read more
Mike Roskowinski You got this Brian. Keep your faith strong and your head high. Go into it with a positive attitude!
Brian Tinsley AMEN... Will do.. Going to come out stronger and more thankful than ever for my family/friends and fa ... Read more
Brian Tinsley AMEN... Will do.. Going to come out stronger and more thankful than ever for my family/friends and faith. I appreciate it very much! BST
Susan Lynn You've got this, Brian! Tomorrow, you join the recovery club! We'll be here waiting for you! ❤
Had my final appointment with my surgeon, PA and got a chest xray and blood work done and met with an anesthesiologist. So, on the 18th I will get a call to ...Read more
Had my final appointment with my surgeon, PA and got a chest xray and blood work done and met with an anesthesiologist. So, on the 18th I will get a call to find out what time my surgery is. I have heard I am the first one of the day for them (Dr. Gabe and Dr. Burke), it's nice to have a 2 man team of surgeons - and the confidence in both of them is amazing. Gabe told me to concentrate on what you are going to achieve after the surgery! Let the TEAM handle it and believe in the TEAM as he states.
Mike Roskowinski Hey Brian that is great to hear. The waiting is almost over for you. You will be so happy to be on ... Read more
Mike Roskowinski Hey Brian that is great to hear. The waiting is almost over for you. You will be so happy to be on the recovery side soon. Good luck and keep your head up. Everything will be great for you.
Jeffrey Dyer I hated the waiting. Relax...enjoy your time with your family and friends...you'll be fine.
Hi Brian, I haven’t forgotten to pray for you. On the 19th you will have a new lease in life and af ... Read more
Hi Brian, I haven’t forgotten to pray for you. On the 19th you will have a new lease in life and after the recovery you will be stronger than ever. Hang in there, it will all be over before you know it. God bless you
Rose Madura Waiting is rough but you will be on the recovery side soon.
Frank Giovanniello Sounds like your all set. Keep your faith in your Doctors. All Things Good!
Hi Brian, I’m thinking of you and praying everything goes
well on the 19th. Blessings
I have now been able to confirm that my surgery is 100% covered by my insurance and MAN oh MAN am I lucky! I saw the projected cost and it's a lot of money. ...Read more
I have now been able to confirm that my surgery is 100% covered by my insurance and MAN oh MAN am I lucky! I saw the projected cost and it's a lot of money. My meeting tomorrow is the final 2 appointments prior to the surgery date of 12/19. My parents are staying at a near by hotel that will be able to be there first thing in the am. As well as my wife and son will be there.
Brian Tinsley I also think my surgery will include the hemiarch too -Bentall Procedure and Hemiarch Replacement
Susan Lynn Glad you don't have to worry about the financial piece. Sounds like your cheering squad is ready to ... Read more
Susan Lynn Glad you don't have to worry about the financial piece. Sounds like your cheering squad is ready to go, too! You're ready for game day, Brian! The rest of the work belongs your surgeon and your team. We'll be here to welcome you to recovery! All the best!
Good job Brian. So nice to have family close by. We’ll be praying for your surgery to be successful ... Read more
Good job Brian. So nice to have family close by. We’ll be praying for your surgery to be successful and recovery smooth. God bless you
OK.. Last Thursday was my final tennis until after my surgery. I went to the club to watching my doubles buddies playing at 700am. I have been part of this ...Read more
OK.. Last Thursday was my final tennis until after my surgery. I went to the club to watching my doubles buddies playing at 700am. I have been part of this group for 20 years! I made the decision on the Edwards Magna Ease Valve, its the version that has a great proven track record with 20 years! The newest on Resillia Inspiria (sp) is too new for me and granted the studies in the young sheep are promising, I am going with the proven one in humans and the stats to back it up. I have my surgery approved and hopefully it will be 100% ALL paid for as I have met my deductions for the year. The weird feeling that I am getting is that I have this strange thinking trying to creep into my thinking that "This is IT.............." It's all going to be over on 12/19 and I am just chalking it up to my mind. In reality, I have the %'s on my side and the surgeons at the U of W are great and this hospital is the number on in Washington State. My appointments that week are both on the 10th and then that is it, SURGERY Time... I imagine that it's going to be early as I am their only surgery that day,. I just got my teeth cleaned yesterday as my sister in law said it would be a good idea :). My goal is to get back to my 4.5 tennis level a level that I played at for 30+ years. But this last year, slowed down and my valve really was taking a toll on my performance. But, now I have another goal is to hopefully see if I can get back into running again and perhaps my new valve will do the trick. And.. finally, perhaps some weightlifting again. God Bless Brian :)
rob giddings Brian ,
hang tough my friend you will get through this with flying colors ! Good luck stay positiv ... Read more
rob giddings Brian ,
hang tough my friend you will get through this with flying colors ! Good luck stay positive you will be back to playing tennis again before you know it !
Marie Myers I was back on the court at about 10 months post Bentall procedure (AVR, ascending aortic aneurysm re ... Read more
Marie Myers I was back on the court at about 10 months post Bentall procedure (AVR, ascending aortic aneurysm resection, and aortic root) . I am not playing as much or as hard as before, but then again, that is fine with me. You can get back to what you want to do, just be a little patient with yourself. It is a big surgery, and you must be patient with yourself through the recovery process. Being in good shape really helps you through your recovery. Wishing you all the best!
Chris Calhoun your tennis wont suffer from your valve - you will feel better and stronger not worse - it will take ... Read more
Chris Calhoun your tennis wont suffer from your valve - you will feel better and stronger not worse - it will take a bit to get your swing back but that is it - not like an ACL Surgery would do to your game!!!
Well, I am just about ready to put the tennis rackets in the bag UNTIL I am on the recovery road. I am struggling to catch my breath somewhat even in doubles ...Read more
Well, I am just about ready to put the tennis rackets in the bag UNTIL I am on the recovery road. I am struggling to catch my breath somewhat even in doubles now and just do NOT feel like my old self whatsoever. It's really frustrating as tennis is such a big part of my life. However, I would love to be able to run again when I get out. The way my dissection goes, my calves feel like they never get enough blood when trying to run. But, and perhaps with the new root/valve and new dacron, my blood flow will improve? I just watched the IRON Man in Hawaii and that really got me motivated to want to try and run again. I can or could play 3 hours of tennis even singles, but when it came to running around a track, I would barely be able to jog one lap. In the back of my mind is an imaginary time clock that keeps clicking down towards my surgery date. I need to get my short term disability paper work out of my hair and have that in place and signed by the doctor and faxed in. More to come :)
Susan Lynn Brian - The last few weeks are filled with all kinds of emotions, but it sounds like you're in a good ... Read more
Susan Lynn Brian - The last few weeks are filled with all kinds of emotions, but it sounds like you're in a good state of mind. By the time you're headed into event day, you'll be ready to just put this one in the history books! You'll be joining us in recovery before you know it! All the best!
Marie Myers It is hard to not be able to do everything you would like to do. In time, though, you will be back to ... Read more
Marie Myers It is hard to not be able to do everything you would like to do. In time, though, you will be back to playing tennis. Wishing you a basket of patience at this time!
Cindy Williams I had no symptoms but I also missed my tennis so much, before surgery and recovery. But it felt so g ... Read more
Cindy Williams I had no symptoms but I also missed my tennis so much, before surgery and recovery. But it felt so good to be back on the court when I got the green light. Be patient, get the disability paperwork done and focus on how great you will feel after your recovery 💖
Well.............. It's finally happened. 16.5 years later my aortic valve is leaking too much and my infraction rate and left ventricle are at the point that ...Read more
Well.............. It's finally happened. 16.5 years later my aortic valve is leaking too much and my infraction rate and left ventricle are at the point that intervention needs to happen. I also mentioned that recently I was feeling shortness of breath early in the mornings and I would toss and turn and finally just sit up on the side of the bed upright and feel much better. They were very concerned at the U of W and I am scheduled to meet Gabriel and I will bring my wife and parents. Gabriel has already got a plan and that himself along with Dr. Christopher Burke would do the joint surgery together. I am just hoping for a successful surgery and being able to come out on the other side. Dr. Gabe feels very positive and that it will be a great surgery and an opportunity to most likely serve as a reference case for other surgeons to learn from. Best!
Rachelle Booth Good Luck! You'll do great! Modern medicine is amazing.
Rose Madura Very interesting story. I'm glad you were able to get more than one opinion. I think 16.5 years is a ... Read more
Rose Madura Very interesting story. I'm glad you were able to get more than one opinion. I think 16.5 years is a long time. Best wishes for a good outcome.
Marie Myers Hope all goes well for you in your latest surgical adventure!
Sandy Raeder The fact the doctors feel you will do well is great news! Stay the course.
Going to have my aortic valve retested soon. I have an echo scheduled in early May, but going to get second opinion at Swedish. Meeting with Dr. Gafoor, who ...Read more
Going to have my aortic valve retested soon. I have an echo scheduled in early May, but going to get second opinion at Swedish. Meeting with Dr. Gafoor, who I am sure will tell me that I need to see most likely Dr. Paul Ryan as a TVAR is not an option for me.
I live in the Seattle area. My aorticdissection required a visit to the ER and a 10 hour surgery. Fast forward 15 years, my aortic valve is now getting to the ...Read more
I live in the Seattle area. My aorticdissection required a visit to the ER and a 10 hour surgery. Fast forward 15 years, my aortic valve is now getting to the moderate/severe leaking level and my aortic root is enlarged to 5cm. I was thinking of going to Stanford or Dr. Starnes at USC has my latest echo and latest CT/Angio. My gut is telling me to stick closer to home and make things as easy on my family as possible. Gabe at the U of W, Dr. Brevig my original surgeon at Everett Providence and either Dr. Patrick Ryan or Dr. Barnhardt at Swedish. My situation is not a common one and the "experience" factor will be critical. thanks for your comments. I think my bicuspid valve will have to be replaced as well as my old dacron removed and a longer one to cover my aortic root. Hopefully my arch won't need to be repaired. Right now and honestly, I am not having any symptoms. But.. don't want to cause any more damage to left ventricle. Thanks again.
Susan Lynn Wow! What an incredible story. You are resilience personified! Making a choice in surgeon and fa ... Read more
Susan Lynn Wow! What an incredible story. You are resilience personified! Making a choice in surgeon and facility are important ones. Don't worry about the inconvenience - it's a small price to pay for an optimum result. All the best. ❤
Catie B You are a survivor, for sure! Welcome here! Best to you with all your research and decision making fo ... Read more
Catie B You are a survivor, for sure! Welcome here! Best to you with all your research and decision making for your second op. (My 2016 surgery addressed aneurysm, root, aortic valve).
Marie Myers Wow for sure! What a story. I had the same surgery as Catie (above) in 2017. Experience will be cruc ... Read more
Marie Myers Wow for sure! What a story. I had the same surgery as Catie (above) in 2017. Experience will be crucial in your cases, indeed. Wishing you all the best in your decision making process!
Adrianne Lane Hi I live across the water and I like you I have a Bicuspid aortic Stenosis and I’m going to be hav ... Read more
Adrianne Lane Hi I live across the water and I like you I have a Bicuspid aortic Stenosis and I’m going to be having heart surgery but don’t know when, I’m going to be having it.
Shannon Gray Wow! What an amazing story. Don’t worry about distance... go to where there is expertise and where ... Read more
Shannon Gray Wow! What an amazing story. Don’t worry about distance... go to where there is expertise and where you are comforatable. That is worth so much more. Best of luck in your next steps.