Guestbook of Elaine Cutri

Elaine Cutri Thank for the guestbook note. I think my mom is very courageous too.
I've never had an ablation, so ... Read more

Barbara Laurie Thanks Elaine, Even though I've had chronic neck pain for 22 yrs, NEW pain gets to me. The groin cath ... Read more

Elaine Cutri Less pain today. That's good to hear!

Barbara Laurie Elaine, Hello! I was wondering if you could tell me what type of repair you had done to the tricuspid ... Read more

Elaine Cutri The surgeon put a ring around the tricuspid valve to shore it up, called an annuloplasty ring. This r ... Read more

Barbara Laurie Yes, thank you, I've seen that online! You're sweet to take the time to reply, thanks😃💕

Elaine Cutri Sorry for the delay in answering your questions. It's been a little hectic this week, but I have some ... Read more

Emily Rowley
My highly experienced Surgeon would prefer a tissue valve so I can have children (do they calcify/we ... Read more

Elaine Cutrigot a new guestbook post

3713 days ago

Jean Knappik reacted to this

Michele Tracey posted a note for Elaine that says:

Hi Elsine, You're the sweetest! I appreciate you so much! I'm a active healthy 42year old mom of a 15 year old daughter and and a 10 year old son and happily ...Read more

Hi Elsine, You're the sweetest! I appreciate you so much! I'm a active healthy 42year old mom of a 15 year old daughter and and a 10 year old son and happily married! I just found out about this a month ago and am still in shock! I have a bicuspid aortic valve with a stenosis of 1.1 to 1.2 so as of now I'm in the watch stage. But reading about all these people having these aneurysms online with their bicuspid valve is just totally freaks me out. I feel like such a wimp compared to you going through four surgeries and all. You seriously must be one of the bravest people I know! I'm wondering if I would have a complicated time having heart surgery due to my small stature. I am only 4'11 and wait 111 pounds! I I am a total health finatic with very little other health problems other than chronic asthma. I love Dr. Starnes at USC but in leaning towards a surgery at Cleveland clinic due to their amazing statistics and outcomes. They have the lowest chance of morbidity and of any hospital I've researched. Plus I think they have the most experience and doing more surgeries than any other doctors in the United States. If there was a chance for you to have surgery again where do you go back to Cleveland clinic and do you recommend your doctor Roselli? Or would you stay local? I am considering at Cleveland clinic either Dr. Lars Svensson, Marc Gillinov or Roselli. My most important thing is to stay on top of looking for aneurysms. Do you get monitored constantly by ultrasound or CT? If so how often do you have them? Any insight on Cleveland clinic or recommendations for monitoring or aneurysm is greatly appreciated! I do feel super blessed and I'm grateful to God for finding out about this before it was too late to fix. I am trying to stay positive but it is been consuming my life at the moment. It's a very scary situation. Now I have to take my children into get them evaluated as well since it is congenital. Not something I'm looking forward to you. I am so worried about having surgery and I Just want to make sure I'm around for the next 45 years to watch my children grow old. That is my only wish! Thank you for being such a great friend Elaine and for being so supportive. I really appreciate you.

Elaine Cutri Hi Michele, I understand completely why you would be in shock, having just learned of this heart prob ... Read more

Elaine Cutri Hi Michele, I understand completely why you would be in shock, having just learned of this heart problem. I just don't want you to panic, it sounds like Dr Starnes is keeping an eye on your case. He is an excellent surgeon. This is a good place to keep asking questions, but you have a good doctor watching your case.

Before I go on, you are welcome to contact me at my email address evcutri @ gmail.com.

As far as your size, he works with children, I don't think your size is an issue and this being your first heart surgery, you don't have the complications of scar tissue from previous surgeries. I'm not much bigger, I'm 5'2" and 125 lbs.

You can get your children screened, probably start with a physician listening for a heart murmur and requesting an EKG or echocardiogram. These tests are non-evasive and give a physician a lot of information.

Once my aneurysm was a certain size I had a CT every 6 months. The first to second CT was the longest wait because I didn't know how fast it was changing. It was slow, about 1 mm a year.

As far as your aortic valve, they usually wait until the valve is severely stenotic and/or the heart is enlarged to a point that it would return to normal after the surgery or you are having difficulties with other symptoms. Did you get an X-ray? Did your cardiologist or Dr Starnes say anything about your heart enlarging? It may not be the case. Has he mentioned an aneurysm? You may have a normal aorta artery.

The CC outcomes are excellent. Since this was my 4th OHS, I wanted the best chance of a good outcome. It was going to be a challenge with the scar tissue and a difficult aneurysm going up into the arch. My USC surgeon seemed nervous. I didn't feel comfortable switching to Starnes after meeting with the other surgeon in his group.

Has Dr Starnes talked to you about valve options? Can yours be repaired? Has he mentioned tissue or mechanical? There are several types. They all have pros and cons. This is a continuous discussion on this site. It's a good discussion and helps everyone make the best decision for there personal situation.

Time for dinner. I look forward to chatting with you soon. Ask any questions you like. Best wishes.

Michele Tracey Hi Elaine, As of now my Aorta on Ultasound shows a measurement of 2.5, which I think is normal. They ... Read more

Michele Tracey Hi Elaine, As of now my Aorta on Ultasound shows a measurement of 2.5, which I think is normal. They mentioned nothing to me about an aneurysm. I've just read form this site that it's a common occurrence with BAV. I've also read there are hidden ones people find on CT. So I'm wondering if I should have a CT or MRI just to calm my nerves. I'm only seeing a cardiologist now at USC Dr. Tracey Lawerence with an Ultrasound once a year. I'm not ready for surgery, so I won't be seeing Starnes yet.

My heart is in perfect condition as of now, no thickening, not enlarge, normal stress and ejection fraction of 69%. I eat well balanced low fat and low sodium diet, with tons of veggies, and exercise too! I have an extremely low blood pressure and they say it's that of a teenager. My TOTAL cholesterol is high but my good HDL is high and bad LDL is high. I think because I was eating a lot of coconut oil, so I cut that out. Dr. Starnes wanted me to work on that, which I am!

I don't know how truthful or spot on Dr. Starnes can be but he projected me for surgery at 10 years or could be 15 years he said, but the cardiologist dr. Lawarence at USC said 5 years, but could be 1 because they have no previous test to compare me too. Dr. Starnes could tell I was terrified, so I don't know if he was just trying to calm me by saying its a long way out? My husband said no, that he can't say stuff like that because that's a liability, unless he was pretty sure. I want to trust Dr. States more as he's the surgeon! But, I don't know who to believe. I'm hoping the longer the better, as technology gets better, doctors get better, mortality statistics drop as years go on as they perfect our procedure with minimally incvassive techniques too! I pray one day they come out with a "forever" valve that doesn't require replacement or blood thinners. I feel we could be very close to that day and age within the next 10-15 years. God willing! I think, if my surgery won't happen for 10-15 years I would get a tissue valve because I believe technology will soon do everything though Trans cath or just not invasive or posdibly a forever valve I mentioned. I'm sure your amazed at their technology since you first underwent surgery. its amazing how much technology can improve in 10-15 years!

Dr. Starnes really pushes tissue valves and says these new ones are built to last 15-20 years. He said with rapid growing technology now days that he wouldn't be surprised if everything will be through TAVR and easy to replace for everyone. Again, I don't want survey at USC because their valve replacement mortality ranks at 4.5%-5% compared to Cleveland at 0.7-1%, do you blame me? Plus, Cleveland does quadruple or more amount of those surgeries a year! Also, I'm trying to keep my body in the best shape and health possible so that I hopefully will be a great candidate for a minimally invasive proceedure or mini sternum.

Dr. Starnes mentioned my Bicuspid valve can't be repaired because it's Stenotic at a 1.1-1.2. They can only repair bicuspid valves with regurgitation and I don't have any regurgitation. I was hoping for a repair as well.

I'm taking my kids to Rady's Chilrens to see a cardiologist. Please pray for them. I have faith in our Lord that they will be ok!

When you had a CT did you have contrast with it? How often do you get them now to monitor your situation? Also, how often do you get Ultrasounds now? Did you have a minimally incvassive surgery at Cleveland Clinic? Did Dr. Roselli seem confident doing your difficult procedure? Did he make you feel comfortable? Do you have to fly back to Cleveland for check ups occasionally? How many days after your surgery after discharge did you fly home? Where did you get your Cardio rehab at. I live in Murrieta near Temecula, so I know we're not to fat from eachother!

I can email you if you prefer that! My email is micheletraceyphotography@yahoo.com

Elaine Cutri Cute picture of you and your husband!

From the information you have, it sounds like surgery is a way ... Read more

Elaine Cutri Cute picture of you and your husband!

From the information you have, it sounds like surgery is a ways off. The aorta is in the normal range. Closer to 4.0 is abnormal range. You might want to ask Dr Lawerence about an MRI. Once a year for an ultrasound/echo sounds ok right now. I completely understand your nervousness. The waiting game is not fun.

The other option is to arrange for a second opinion at Cleveland Clinic. The 3 surgeons you mentioned are all great. I called CC last August and sent my medical records to the Cardio-Vascular department. Dr Roselli reviewed my case, he picked my case. He said "not yet for surgery" and this was when my ascending aorta was 4.9 cm. I then made arrangements to see him in person 4 months later, in January (crazy for someone from So CA)!

It sounds like you are asymptotic, including your heart being normal size - this is great. Staying in good shape and eating healthy is your job now. I agree that the coconut oil may not be a good thing for you or me. I've looked at that too. My cholesterol is a little high. My HDL and LDL is high so no cholesterol melds for now.

I agree with the information you found on the outcomes. I did not like USC's %.

I will have a CT in December when I go for my post surgery follow up in Cleveland. Then it will be 5 years for the next one. I'm not sure how often I will get an echo/ultrasound with my local cardiologist, maybe once a year(?).

I'm doing my phase 2 cardio rehab at my local hospital, Huntington Memorial, 3 times a week for another month. Then I will probably continue there in phase 3, on my own.

Last few things, waiting for surgery is stressful, but improvements in technology and technic are continuously improving. This is to our benefit. That's why I waited 2 years for my surgery. The wait wasn't fun, but the outcome was the best I could get. I had a tissue valve and that was great! It just didn't last that long and TVAR was not an option at the time it needed replacing (I had symptoms of fatigue at that time). If you can do the tissue, that would keep your lifestyle very much the same after recovery.

Let me know if I forgot something. Have a great weekend. I'm one the train to meet up with my mom and sisters for her 88th birthday today, Halloween!

Michele Tracey Thank you Elaine! If I could hug you right now I would! Have fun today! Happy Birthday to your mama! ... Read more

Michele Tracey You make me feel like I have hope of making it through one surgery if you have made it through 4! I c ... Read more

Michele Tracey Yes, one question I forgot...how long did you stay in Cleveland after your discharge and how was the ... Read more

Elaine Cutri I'm back on the train. Had a great weekend with family. Mom's birthday yesterday and baby shower for ... Read more

Elaine Cutri Hi Michele, no worries about the questions. My aneurysm was discovered by an echocardiogram in 2013 o ... Read more

Elaine Cutri Hi Michele, no worries about the questions. My aneurysm was discovered by an echocardiogram in 2013 of the heart (they were monitoring my mechanical aortic valve). The report stated that the aortic root was dilated to 3.9 cm. My cardiologist requested a CT and it showed a fusiform aneurysm of my ascending artery at 4.8 cm. I then went to a surgeon at USC/Keck for another full-length CT of my torso to look at the whole structure (BTW - Starnes is an excellent surgeon, I was seeing another in his group). I cannot have an MRI since it involves magnets and I have a pacemaker (a metal device).

As far a risk for additional aneurysms, my surgeon at Cleveland Clinic said studies are showing that the ascending and arch of the aorta are of one type of tissue and the descending is a slightly different type. I can't explain in more detail, but I've seen a 3D model of my upper torso and could see exactly where the aneurysm starts and stops. It was very fascinating.

My diagnosis for BAV started when I was a little girl of 3 or 4 and it was stenotic. I had my first surgery 1965 at 7 (a repair of the aortic valve). The result was a wider opening, but there was leakage. Better, but not great. At 22, I had a porcine valve implanted. It lasted 12 years and became very stenotic and probably had some regurgitation. The first 9 years with the valve were fabulous, I did some amazing activities, but then I had a seizure (one and only) and they could see the valve was showing its age. They prescribed Coumadin and I've been on it since 1990. In 1993 at 35 they implanted a St Jude mechanical valve with the hopes that #3 would be my last open heart surgery (and I received a pacemaker due to damage of the sinus node resulting in AV block). Looking at old echo reports, my root was slightly dilated, but the correlation between BAV and aneurysm had not been discovered. I did not hear about the correlation until ~2006, but didn't think anything about it for myself.

Coming into 2015, I was told to expect surgery #4 within the year to repair my ascending and arch of my aorta. They had to graph part of my carotid artery, but I think it was from the previous surgeries. It is a clamp site that became fragile (I will ask when I have my surgical followup in December).

I was offered a tissue valve, but at 57, that would mean another surgery, #5. That is something I do not relish. I have a wonderful, supportive husband who has been through 3 of the 4 surgeries with me. I can see it is hard on him as an observer. I have learned to live with my mechanical valve and Coumadin. Although the St Jude was working as it should, it was 22 years old and slightly undersized. The surgeon, Dr Eric Roselli recommended a replacement with a slightly larger valve. I got a new On-X mechanical aortic valve, slightly bigger (from 21 mm to 23 mm). The INR range is slightly lower, so I can take less Coumadin. My surgery was in May 2015. Recovery went pretty smoothly and feel very energized and back to my normal routine. I am very active and feel very blessed to be part of this world.

As far as your Cardiologist question, Dr Gary Conrad is my Cardiologist. He has done a good job for me. There is another Cardiologist in his group, Foothill Cardiology, Dr Alex Durairaj, that my primary doctor regards very highly.