Jason's Posts

Even though many medical concerns hit me hard, I feel I am lucky that all my medical problems are now up to the surface now. Should I not have done the angiogram, I would not have known that I have aneurysm. Then, it would be harder for me to handle. Thank God for giving me this alarm. The same goes with the huge liver cyst. I am taking it seriously now.

While reading my angiogram report in the car, my eyes were fixed on - Infrarenal Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm measuring 4.2 cm. I went home immediately checked it out on the internet. Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm could rupture and it would be life threatening. If ruptured, the mortality rate is about 50%. Most aneurysm grows about 1 cm a year for adults around age 60. The problem is that I do not know who should I go for help. I have no clue, my gastroenterologist? my cardiologist? or someone else? I called my family doctor. She answered patently and told me that I should be seen by a vascular surgeon. She will apply for the approval for me. We did this by phone. I am glad that I did not need to go to the doctor's office.

The MRI took about 45 minutes. I fell asleep in the big "donut hole." During the MRI Sherrie from USC called and left a message on my cell phone telling me that the heart surgeon had to take care of an emergency; therefore my appointment needs to be rescheduled to next Wednesday. I know that there are things that I have no control over them. But I kind of want to get over with it soon and want to use my sick leaves wisely. At least I got my MRI done for the afternoon that I took off from work. I decided to better use the time by picking up all medical reports from my family doctor's office. I want to read and understand the reports to at least the level that I could better communicate with the medical professions. I want to at least avoid the "your liver cyst is now 17cm" kind of shock. I picked up two test reports from the doctor's office. The echocardiogram report confirmed the two previous cardiologist's findings: I have mild mitral valve prolapse and moderate to severe mitral valve regurgitation. I also have mild tricuspid regurgitation and dilated atrium. By searching on the internet and reading Adam's book I felt I know enough about the mitral valve. But I have not done enough study on the tricuspid regurgitation nor the dilated atrium. From what I read, the dilated atrium and the tricuspid regurgitation are both related or are the result of the mitral valve regurgitation. The report also says that my ventricle ejection fraction is 55-60%, which is one of the indications for surgery. The anticipation of the outcomes of my first meeting with the heart surgeon always makes nervous. I am trying to imagine what he would say. Wait longer? Or do the surgery now? I want to get over with it soon but for some reason either way it makes me nervous. Another week of waiting in the uncertainty would add to my anxiety. I know a lot of you had gone through this. Can someone share your experience?