About Me (In My Own Words)
I'm a 48 year old healthy Male, that just underwent an aortic root replacement due to a bicuspid aortic valve and related aortic aneurysm. The aneurysm was the biggest concern, until 3 months ago when I began having massive fatigue and cardiovascular breathing problems. I'm a runner and Coach and noticed that I was having severe problems. Thankfully at my bi-annual scan the massive regurgitation and aortic inefficiency was discovered before longterm heart damage had occurred. My surgery was performed on April 14, 2020.
My story began the fall of 2014, when I discovered I was in AFib, which earned me a trip to the ER and a lifetime supply of a cardiologist. The plan was to monitor my heart yearly, and beginning in 2017, I developed an aortic aneurysm which required closer monitoring. In March of this year, 2020, the bicuspid valve was found to be massively failing allowing a massive amount of regurgitation back down into my heart, creating the beginning of enlargement of the left ventricle. It was decided to move forward with the surgery to prevent longterm significant damage.
At the time of writing this, I'm now 3 weeks post-OP and my experience is nothing like I had imagined, and wasn't anywhere near as bad as I had imagined. Pre-surgery I was an absolute mess--scared to death that I would leave my family early in their lives, like my Dad had left mine with Cancer. Nothing could've prepared me mentally for that, and at the time I could've ever imagined how I was post-OP.
More Info About Me & My Heart
More About Me
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My surgery date is:
April 14, 2020
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I was diagnosed with:
Aortic Regurgitation
Bicuspid Aortic Valve
Aortic Aneurysm
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My surgery was:
Aortic Valve Replacement
Aortic Aneurysm Replacement
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My surgeon is:
Dr. Jeff Gibson
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My hospital is:
Centennial Medical Center, Nashville,TN
