Connie's Guestbook

Patricia Miller  Connie- I have not posted on here for quite awhile as I've been dealing w/ some unlucky post OHS arrythmia issues.
I read your bio, and it was like reading my own story.  I am sorry you are confronted with the diagnosis, but you are here and you will find empowering information and support here.  You are not alone and you will be ok.  I did not find this site until several months after my initial mitral valve surgery.  What I learned here led me to where I needed to be for my aortic root and ascending aorta repair.  Mitral valve and aortic aneurysms can be repaired in same surgery in a high volume heart center.  There are some guidelines on timing of repairing one or the other when it doesn't meet the repair guidelines on it's own.  
Second and third opinions are highly recommended.  Do you know the measurements of the dilated areas?  

Connie R  Hello Patricia,  Thank you for your reply.  I'm sorry you have having issues, I hope they resolve soon.  My echo was back in August that 1st mentioned the enlargements, prior echo was in Feb. (6mo between), my surgery is in Dec 19 (4 months after Aug echo),  I am concerned it might  worsening with time and I have a note into my cardiologist because my primary doctor was concerned my blood pressures are riding higher (130s-150s). I suspect they will re-measure during surgery w/ TEE, but  I think from the August echo, it is not in the repair range.  Maybe the risks are too great to repair if not large enough and hoping it may remodel back down in size? I'm interested to know what the guidelines are if one or the other doesn't meet the repair guidelines. Below are the measurements that I think  prompted the enlargement comments, not maybe significant yet, but unsure if it will continue to enlarge, esp. w bp increased.   They also mentioned mild aortic and tricuspid regurgitation.  THANK YOU For your words of support.  Hope you get your arrhythmias better soon!  Some of these are in normal range as of Aug.
Ao Ann diam, s, PLAX: 23.9 mm ( < 27 )
Ao Sinus: 32.6 mm ( < 36 )
Ao Sinus Indexed BSA: 22.03 mm/m² ( < 22 )
Ao ST junct: 31.12 mm ( < 32 )
Ao ST junct Indexed BSA: 21.0 mm/m² ( 11 - 19 )
Ao Asc: 37.4 mm ( < 35 )
Ao Asc Indexed BSA: 25.3 mm/m² ( < 22 )
Abdominal Ao: 25.8 mm ( 17 - 23 )
END.

Patricia Miller  Connie-  I'm afraid I don't understand some of the results.  Is the aortic root 3.26 cm?  That's a fairly nml size if so.   I would imagine if your doctor was concerned, they would have ordered a gated CTA.  A gated CTA measures aortic dilations more accurately.  Eliminates the artifact interference.  The information I came across awhile ago supported repairing a 4.5 cm aortic root aneurysm if already having mitral valve repair w/ OHS.  

Connie R  Hi Patricia,  Thanks for he info, I also am not sure how to interpret the results, I think the "AO sinus/3.26 cm" has to do w/ the sinus of valsalva and the aortic root in  text summary was mentioned separately. I have a preop appt Dec 10,  and you've given me more info to ask about, thank you  I appreciate it. I read your bio and wow you've been thru a lot. I think my issue was made worse from breast cancer drugs or the radiation I had last year.  I had been living w/ MVP for decades, and there were minimal issues until that occurred which I'm thankful I'm done with that and have good prognosis.  Now just need to get thru this surgery and hope all goes well. I hope your feeling better, thanks so much!  Hang in there!