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Diagnosis: Bicuspid Aortic Valve, Aortic Aneurysm

Member Since: May 31, 2014

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Derek Owens uploaded a photo

11 years ago (April 16, 2015)

👍 Emily Shively reacted to this

Derek Owens

1 year ago today this was taken out of me! This is what my first bovine aortic valve looked like after 6 1/2 years. They replaced it with a new bovine aortic valve. Notice the right leaflet of the 3 was frozen in place and all calcified. I played my... Read more.

Pat Bluemel

That is an interesting photo for sure. So were you asymptomatic or did you find out via a check up it was time to replace? Not that I want to think about replacement time but I ponder what my next go round will be like in (hopefully) 10 years or... Read more.

Adam Pick

Wow! That is amazing. Thanks for sharing. Congrats on your re-op anniversary!!!

Derek Owens

About 3 weeks before I had my operation I was having trouble breathing and was in pain a lot. I could tell something was not right. I waited two weeks before I went to the hospital because I didn't want to believe my valve was failing me already and I... Read more.

Robert Osmachenko

That's incredible. It looks like the other two flappies were compensating for the stuck one. Who knows? Good for you and glad you are here to share your story. One question for you: Why did they fit you with a pacer? Did you go for a tissue valve again?

Duane Beeman

That's a great paper weight !!

Ericka Carlson

WOW, that is so cool to see, thanks for sharing! Derek, do you mind me asking how old you were when you got that one?

Pat Bluemel

Thanks for the response Derek, I do hope you are blessed with 10-15 years before the next one and that we have TAVR so it's easier to recover. Keep jumping off those cliffs and keep us updated!

Derek Owens

Robert- When I came out of surgery my heart had no rhythm. They kept me an icu for 8 days hoping that my pace would come back. Never did, that night my heart stopped and they put a pacemaker in me the following day. Yes tissue valve again. Hoping my... Read more.

Derek Owens

Ericka- I was 16 when I got that valve pictured here.

Derek Owens uploaded a photo

11 years ago (March 19, 2015)

Don't let any doctor tell you what you can't do. Live the one life you were given! less than one year after surgery

👍 Kenny Knox and Ericka Carlson reacted to this

Vanessa Childs

Hi derek, I am a high school senior, I play varsity basketball and I am enlisted in to the army. I have just been diagnosed with bicuspid aortic valve disease and Dialated aortic root. My doctor told me I can play my last two weeks of basketball but I can... Read more.

Derek Owens

Hey just saw this. Glad we got to connect through Facebook tho