This is a screenshot from chat gbt. It explains why I'm having trouble relating to most of you guys for obvious reasons. Most of you seem to be middle-aged ...Read more
This is a screenshot from chat gbt. It explains why I'm having trouble relating to most of you guys for obvious reasons. Most of you seem to be middle-aged or elderly you have stable lives... by the way you guys are making a lot of unchecked assumptions about me and it's frustrating. I have been in therapy since 1988. I do have an American therapist here in Thailand who's highly qualified they know what's going on. I've got a hard valve coach who's been through double heart valve surgeries. I do have a psychiatrist who happens to work at my hard hospital I have been trying to get treated for depression and anxiety for most of my life and you're correct it does predate the surgery. It sucks I just don't have what normal people have there's no career there's no job there's no house I'm not living in my home country I don't have a pet I'm at the end of a bad relationship I'm terrified of being single again and trying to find a new partner. I'm pissed off at myself that I didn't get another partner and break up with my current one before surgery. I feel like I'm on an island and I can't relate to anybody. I've never had a career I never found out what I was good at I mean I don't even own Furniture I don't own a house I haven't had a pet since my cat died in 96 I'm just an unconventional person. I moved to Hollywood to be an actor when I was 43 I moved to Asia alone at age 54. I have a lot of good friends here in Thailand as well as all over the world but I find the surgery and the recovery to be overwhelming. I'm already pushing myself hardcore cardiac wise but this is a long recovery in my lifestyle doesn't lend itself to Long recoveries. I don't like the disruptive nature of the surgery. I hate that we're forced to do this. I felt fine before it is surgery I guess I was probably asymptomatic severe I thought about waiting longer to do the surgery but I figured I was already at risk of having a heart attack or death and I know the ideal time to do the surgery is when you're asymptomatic severe. My condition was going downhill quickly. Again I was still feeling great though it's hard to believe I went from feeling great to feeling like garbage in a couple of weeks. I can't even look at the scar after 3 weeks I'm barely seen it. Maybe because my life is up in the air because I'm looking at becoming single again because hat because the scar really makes an impact on somebody like me who goes to the sauna who goes swimming who's often single who's an actor who prides myself and having a beautiful body I find the scar to be repugnant and disgusting. I've already picked up some sheets over the Internet that my doctor approved to try to minimize the appearance of the scar. Probably later this year or early next year I'm going to start doing laser surgery whatever cosmetic surgery I can do to minimize the scar. Like the rest of you I'm not thrilled about having an artificial valve I'm not thrilled about the drugs that I'm on in addition to the drugs that I was already on and yeah I suffer from severe major treatment resistant disorder. I kind of wish I'd move back to the States if for no other reason then to try to treat my depression. Then again I was in America for 50 years with depression and they weren't able to help me. My life in America was horrible as well my family was dead I don't have an extended family I don't have family of my own I was single I was alone I was lonely at least in Thailand I get attention from women I have a partner I have more friends here than I did back in the States but it's tough when you don't have family meaning purpose structure when your life is transient
Hello Everyone from Bangkok/Thailand, For the 1st time ever I have a time estimate of when I'll need surgery to replace my calcified aortic tricuspid valve. I ...Read more
Hello Everyone from Bangkok/Thailand, For the 1st time ever I have a time estimate of when I'll need surgery to replace my calcified aortic tricuspid valve. I am currently 59--estimate is 2 years for the surgery. So new valve at 61. I am pretty freaked out as the diagnosis says severe AS yet he thinks I have two more years until I need surgery (?) I am getting echos every 6 months althought the next one is in 8 months. He is thinking that I can go for a biological valve becuase he doesn't want to have me on blood thinners. I never discussed my concerns of blood thinners or ticking BTW. Estimate is 10,870 USD to 27.180 USD here at a top University hospital---more if I do it at private hospital. I am 100% on the hook for the bill as insurance will not cover pre existing. Other option is go back to the states, do it for free in LA/Califorinia where I think can get reinsured for free..I can do an Air Bnb and then bounce back to Thailand in a month or so (reasonable?) I've included my echo test results. Is two years a realistic window given the recent echo ? Further thoughts ? Thank you) David Pearl
Brady Busch Hello David.Who can perfectly predict the future?That's why the echo-cardiograms are done.I like the ... Read more
Brady Busch Hello David.Who can perfectly predict the future?That's why the echo-cardiograms are done.I like the idea of getting the work done in California,if that's available.
Arthur Schoeller Hi David. I am 67 and have been tracking my aortic valve, aneurysm, plus mitral valve issues for a LO ... Read more
Arthur Schoeller Hi David. I am 67 and have been tracking my aortic valve, aneurysm, plus mitral valve issues for a LONG time with, like you, semi-annual echo's and occasional MRI's. Aortic aneurysm has been a stable size over 10 or more years. It's not clear to me how they have done the "future math" for you! My last exam noted a decrease in my ejection fraction which was sufficient for my cardiologist to finally go get the surgery done. Not that I am an expert, but trending of ejection fraction is a key indicator on valve health and over time decline. So maybe give that a check. I have seen articles that say normal range is 50% to 70%. My last one was 52%, but it was the rate of decline since my last exam that has triggered my cardiologist recommendation for surgery. Since I have the aneurysm PLUS bad family history may all add up for a more assertive approach than JUST the ejection fraction. Hope this helps. I am going to have a MRI to tune up the echo finding, then possibly start surgeon interviews.
David Pearl Arthur totally understood at all levels..I just came into the severe category although I am not sure ... Read more
David Pearl Arthur totally understood at all levels..I just came into the severe category although I am not sure how this is derived as by most measurements the valve seems to be ok..I am getting a 2nd opinion today and maybe a 3rd and 4th as well as potentially seeing my doctor again....
Arthur Schoeller Hi David - let us know how the second opinions pan out, including any deeper insights into the ejecti ... Read more
Arthur Schoeller Hi David - let us know how the second opinions pan out, including any deeper insights into the ejection fraction metric to determine severity.
This is me doing an acting job for a Thai television series in Bangkok last Friday. I move to Thailand three years ago at age 54 dropped everything to move ...Read more
This is me doing an acting job for a Thai television series in Bangkok last Friday. I move to Thailand three years ago at age 54 dropped everything to move here)