Angela's Profile

About three years ago, my primary care physician at the time told me that she was hearing a murmur when she listened to my heart. I didn't think anything of it, so ignored it for a while. After a few more visits, my doctor told me I really needed to have a cardiologist evaluate the murmur. My doctor referred me to a cardiologist, who listened to my heart murmur and told me that he didn't think it was anything to worry about, but he would order an echo-cardiogram. His office was supposed to call me to schedule the echo-cardiogram, but I never got a call from them. Since the cardiologist didn't seem to think the murmur was a big deal, I didn't worry about getting the echo-cardiogram done. Right after that, I changed jobs. Since I was working as a contractor at my new job, I did not have health insurance to cover further evaluation. Six months later, the company I was working for as a contractor hired me on as a full time employee, so I had health insurance again. After I got the new job, I moved to a different part of the city I live in, so I found a new primary care physician closer to where I now live. When my new doctor heard the murmur, she told me that I really needed to have an echo-cardiogram to find out why I had such a prominent murmur. She sent me to a different cardiologist, who scheduled an echo-cardiogram immediately. In early November 2019, I was given the news that I had moderate to severe aortic stenosis and that I would likely need aortic valve replacement surgery very soon. I was devastated. I had just started a new job four months earlier, and for the first time in my life, it is a very physical job. The cardiologist told me that I would need to start looking for another job, and that she would see me again is six months for further evaluation. I was so depressed about all of this; not only would I need to have open-heart surgery, but I would have to find a new job. I had no symptoms of aortic stenosis at the time, so I could not accept the diagnosis. I decided that I needed a second opinion. In early January 2020, I saw a cardiac surgeon at Oklahoma Heart Hospital South. After looking at the first echo-cardiogram, he agreed that I would need aortic valve replacement in my lifetime, but wasn't confident in the echo-cardiogram from the first cardiologist. He referred me to my current cardiologist, who ordered another echo-cardiogram, this time with dye. He also ordered a stress test. During my stress test, the nurse told me I needed to do at least 5 minutes, but I had to quit at 4 minutes, 10 second. Two weeks later, I got the results to the echo-cardiogram. It showed that my aortic stenosis was much more severe than the first image indicated. I would need valve replacement surgery as soon as possible. I was admitted to the hospital on March 9th for a full day of testing to evaluate me for surgery. I had an angiogram which showed that I have no blocked arteries in my heart. The cardiac surgeon that saw me in January came into my room to tell me that I could have whatever procedure and valve I wanted, the decision was totally up to me because of my age (I'm 55). After a lot of research and consideration, I have decided to get an On-X mechanical valve. I know I will need to be on warfarin for the rest of my life, but I feel a mechanical valve offers me the best chance of living a longer life without having to my valve replaced again. Tomorrow is my surgery date. I am scared out of my mind, but I know it has to be done. I am terrified that I will contract Coronovirus during my recovery time, but I am trusting in God and my doctor that I will be okay. This will be a rough ride, but I know I can do this...