About Me (In My Own Words)
I went to see my doctor in December 2018 for a chronic cough. During my examination, the P.A. heard a heart murmur. She asked me about it, and I told her it was news to me; I'd never been told I had one. She mentioned that a newly discovered heart murmur and a chronic cough could be indicative of something else so she ordered a chest x-ray, echocardiogram, and a visit to an ENT. The next day I was told that my chest x-ray showed signs of aortic stenosis and that I'd need to meet with a cardiologist. I was diagnosed with moderate-to-severe aortic stenosis (mean gradient of 34 and valve area of 0.6). My cardiologist explained what the numbers meant and told me that the condition was progressive and that I'd need to have an aortic valve replacement.
On July 17, 2019 a third echocardiogram was peformed followed by a meeting with my cardiologist. Dr. Alegria told me that the stenosis had progressed quickly over the last three months and had advanced to the severe stage, with my mean gradient now at 48. He went over the new numbers and said that surgery was imminent. With that information he provided me with the names of two thoracic surgeons who could repair my AORCA as well as the valve replacement.
Dr. Alegria went over some of the pros and cons of mechanical and tissue valves as well as the different methods used to replace the valve (TAVR, minimally invasive, sternotomy). Because I have AORCA and am in otherwise good health, we both agreed that a sternotomy would be the most effective way to proceed, with the understanding that a final decision wouldn't be made until I'd consulted with a thoracic surgeon.
Two weeks later I met with Dr. Larry T. Watts, Director of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Atrium Health - Sanger Heart & Vascular Institute, Pineville. Dr. Watts, after reviewing my health record and test results, we decided that a sternotomy was indeed the best method to approach both my valve replacement and repair of my AORCA.
More Info About Me & My Heart
More About Me
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I am from:
Charlotte
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My surgery date is:
September 16, 2019
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I was diagnosed with:
Aortic Stenosis
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My surgery was:
Aortic Valve Replacement
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My surgeon is:
Dr. Larry Watts
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My hospital is:
Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center - Sanger He