Dan's Guestbook

Dan Fouratt  Thanks, passed my one year check up. Replacement part is doing well in fact the doctor said it sounded great.  He gave me off 9 months before the check up unless I feel I need to come in. Hope all is well with you. Dan

Dan Fouratt  Good Morning,

Yesterday I had my 1 year follow up and asked my doctor about Duke Ross procedure.  What I said is "I see Duke got back in the Ross surgery program last fall."  He was unaware as he does not practice at the hospital and is not a surgeon.  He did say I, and I heard this from two previous Cardiologist who both left Duke in the last year, there was a lot of turnover in the Heart program so he thinks the guy was recently brought in to replace someone who left. Not sure what this means but it is what I learned yesterday. Reach out if you need anything.  Dan

Mona G  Hi Dan 
Thats kind of you to check about the procedure. I heard the doctor who performed Ross procedure left Duke. My cardiologist set up appointment with new cardiac surgeon who moved from Boston. Will see how it goes 

Dan Fouratt  Thanks Bill you will be there soon.  Good luck on your recovery. When you go to rehab i am not sure what your expectations are.  I have a tread mill in my home.  When I went to rehab it took 1:50 minutes door to door for 45 minutes of exercise.  I dropped out after 4 weeks as I could duplicate what I got at rehab but get 1:50 minutes of work out in.

Dan Fouratt  Tim,  Thank you. I am glad I could help. I received a lot from this site and committed to helping when possible.  Your comments made me feel like I achieve a goal, helping others. I am doing great, resolved my doctor issues and played golf again.  My wife off crutches and out of her boot.  We will try our first trip since the surgeries a week from today. Continue your recovery. All the best, Dan

Tim Carpenter   Thank you again kind sir I pray the both of you enjoy a ling healthy fruitful we are planning a trip for Christmas and maybe 2 of them next year thank you again 

Michael Garon  Hi Mirza, you can always get a second opinion. Doctor's wouldn't recommend surgery unless the risk of surgery was less than the current situation. I'm my case there were no symptoms but I was told the risk of mortality was greater if I took no action vs surgery

Mirza Baig  Hi Michael
You are right, i was told the same thing--I decided to go for surgery. I just hope that is gone thru TAVR- I have a friend who was gona have TAVR procedure but at the very last minute because of issues with artery or something they end up doing surgery (open heart)

Take care

Mirza 

Dan Fouratt  Mirza,
I am not sure how old your are, which is part of the decision process.  My stenosis was "severe" according to
the local doctors.  I had a consultant/friend a leading cardiologist in
another state. I sent him everything. His opinion was more moderate to severe.  He did say it is not going to get better only worse and if 'I was ready, surgery was not a bad option. However he felt I could go two to three more years before it become a must for surgery.  He assured me I was going to have OHS at some point  in the next few years. He went on to explain (as others have) that the heart is an incredible machine.  It will find a way to work around our problems and hid them from us hence do not get to caught up in your asystematic condition. Did I mention he was blunt!

Do to my age (young 63) did not recommend TAVR but a new (large) valve that will take a TAVR in 15 (hopefully longer) years.  Good luck in your decision journey.  If you want to talk off line reach out to Dan4att@gmail.com.

Mirza Baig  Hi Dan
I am 73years old, in this September 19, I will be 74
I have decided to go for TAVR and the size of my valve is Edward 26, I believe

Thanks for replying 

Dan Fouratt  Sounds like a great plan, good luck.  I have a golfing friend who had his TAVR at 83 and is now 90 and still going strong.

Mirza Baig  Thanks Dan
I will be calling the Nurse at Cardiology at Kaiser San Francisco, little nerves since I don't have much symptoms. But the reports(Echo) keep showing severe aortic stenosis. 

Mirza Baig  

Dan Fouratt  Max,  My leaky valve was discovered at 35 (1996).  I started doing echos every two to three years. June 2011 it was first noted as mild, Sept 2017 was when it was first rated as moderate stenosis, it was still moderate on my Feb 2022 echo. Dec 2023 I took another one and it was severe stenosis.  I did nothing to prevent it.  In the 28 years from discovery to surgery I did exercise fairly regularly ate fairly healthy (limited process foods) but other aspects of my life style were not the greatest, not horrible but not great. I did not live in fear of having the valve replaced. In those years I probably put on 40 pounds (now gone!)  I never had an aneurysm or any other systems.  Starting June 2023 I focused on my health (I retired).  I began exercising with more vigor.  I was down 30 plus pounds by the time the surgery happened (3/21/24). I qualified for minimally invasive surgery.  I was out of the hospital in three days. I walked over 50 miles the first five days home. I say this because one doctor said I could go another 2 to 4 years before replacement was really required.  I choose surgery as there was no other damage to my heart and I was in shape to handle it. The hardest part was the time from when I committed to surgery (1/19/24) and the actual surgery.  Fear of the unknown drove me crazy.  Also in my research and I hate to say this ,but most us with bicuspid valves will have them replaced at some point, however they replace 68K a year (more TAVRs are done) so it is common. I said to myself now was the time to do it, my wife agreed.  I am glad of the decision I made but each of us has their own journey.  Pick the path that is best for you and if you want more information about my Journey let me know.

Max Jam  The leak/regurgitation when you were 35 was mild? 
and what was found in june 2011 was a mild stenosis?

Dan Fouratt  Darrell,

I did the stress test and left a little comment on another group.  The day was great.  The test went well I pushed my self and got into level 5, which is a record for me.  The people were great.  I will let you know what Monday brings as that is the first day of actual rehab. my only problem is that I have the 7:00 am spot. 

Dan Fouratt  The first exercise day was a weigh in, blood pressure check, pulse check and teaching you how to put leads on yourself.  Then you went back to the workout area.  We had choices of machines (bike, stair climber, others). I stuck with a tread mill. The machine was set at 3.2 mph and 5 degrees of incline, their recommendation.  They told you to not hold on to the bar.  I did not hold on but as I looked around I was the only one not using the cross bar for support.  After 50 minutes where they are monitoring your heart through the leads, you stop go back in and get another blood pressure check and pulse check. My total time invested was right at two hours from when I left my house until I return to it for 50 minutes of exercise. Day two is tomorrow morning and i was told it is a repeat of today.  Their stated goal is to get me comfortable with exercising.

Darrell Malone  Hi Dan. Appreciate the info. Tomorrow is my stress test. When I do my first exercise day I'll let you know. I'm curious of what similarities and differences with the Cardiac Rehab there is between our countries or cities or just between programs. 🤔 keep up the good work. 👍🏻 

Dan Fouratt  Darrell, Day two of rehab, see day one only with less help.  They figured I was a seasoned participant.  How your stress test went well.

Darrell Malone  Hello Dan. The stress test went pretty good. I could tell that I haven't truly exercised in a couple of months. Using a treadmill is already a challenge for me as my hip is damaged goods. Every 3 minutes they increased the incline and speed so once I was into a trot I had to tap out. Lol. 10 minutes. Friday I meet with the Kinesiologist and should start my program next week. 2X a week for 12 weeks. 
Glad your doing well thanks for the update.  

Darrell Malone  The gym looks well equipped.  Saw bikes and elliptical. Tomorrow I meet with the Kinesiology to go over an exercise program.  

Deena Z  Richard, a potential 4-hour round trip drive every day really is a stressful.  I can see getting a second opinion with the best Boston provider (to ask such things as what is the 
state-of-the-art radiation machines and process .  Also ask your Boston provider how they may different from others.  Then see if such exists within a closer ranger of your home.  Most of the large urban hospitals have expanded to the suburbs with smaller facilities. 

Dan Fouratt  Hello Nancy,  I am glad you joined.  You will find it an awesome group of people.  As you probably read
i have just had my MI-ARV done at Duke. Glad to be done and in recovery mode. Lets stay in touch as Carolinas.  Take Care Dan

Ana Brusso  Wishing you a successful surgery, smooth recovery and know we will be praying for you. God bless you 🙏❤️

Susan Lynn  Dan - Wishing you the best, tomorrow. I had a minimally-invasive mitral valve repair and it all went just fine. Enjoy the quick nap - it'll all be behind you in what will feel like a moment. We'll be anxiously awaiting your post-op good news! Go get 'em!

Dan Fouratt  Sheri,

Thank
you for sharing.  I am still in the processing stage as I made the
decision less then 7 days ago. I love hearing this stories. It simply is coming for me.  Where did
you have your procedure?

Dan

Sue Maize  Thanks for posting Sherri! Same situation and still not sure which valve route to take—this is definitely an option I will discuss with my surgeon when we finally meet. 

Dan Fouratt  Richard,  Sorry I did not see this before.  Yes the surgery is delicate and facial paralysis is more common than we like.  The brains like being cut in to even less then the heart.  I not sure if your SIL has found the Acoustic Neuroma group  but it is loaded with information and support.   https://www.anausa.org/

There a far fewer people on that site then this one but it is active and they have local chapters which help navigate through the issues.  Vestibular schwannoma is a acoustic neuroma there is a fine line between the two and the AN are more common but the group is for both.

As I scroll down I see the above is not necessary.

Take care

Dan Fouratt  Daneen,

Thank you for your input.  Looking at your time line and know I have not met with my surgeon nor do I have a Cat scheduled I do not think I will make this in two months, which is what the last doctor said it should be done it.

One question for you is how did you decide o which doctor to use?

Thanks,

I guess the sign off here is Keep on Ticking, on the other site is is AN Warrior.

Go Lions, Yes I am a fan of them and took this break during half time.

Dan

Daneen Douglas  Great game!  Glad Lions won!

My cardiologist , who I really trust, researched a surgeon that was specialized in my conditions.  After I met with him I was reassured she had made a great choice.  

They wanted to do my surgery now but I asked if I could wait until after our state testing to get the surgery done.  I’m a 3rd grade teacher and thought taking off the last month or so of school would be best.  He said as long as my symptoms didn’t worsen they could wait until then.  

Ask your cardiologist who they would recommend.  Please keep me posted and a month or two either way would probably still be ok.  Let them know your concerns with the timeline.  

Go Chiefs!