Darren's Profile

Dear Friends, I am a 50 year old male with a very active lifestyle here in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada. I have taken for granted perfect health since day one. I have very recently been diagnosed with a failing aortic bicuspid valve (heart defect) that will need replacement. Reality, I'm in otherwise great health. I am a professional Real Estate Appraiser and Mortgage Broker. I am also a musician and my current province's 2010 Vintage Motocross Champion. On Christmas Eve while in church I began to have moments of not being able to catch my breath. It's a long story, but over the past 6 weeks I've been somewhat given the run around by the local health care system. I have learned that I am suffering from AFL. A week before Christmas Eve when this all began to surface (AFL), I enjoyed going to the gym and being active. I run my heart from 140 to 180 bpm when doing my 30 minute cardiovascular workouts followed by 15 minutes of circuit training. So having had some chest buzzing symptoms I went to a doctor who told me I should go to our local ER so I could be properly checked out. I did that...but the system let me fall between the cracks. I wouldn't stand for that. I pushed the system and was referred to Halifax, Nova Scotia. Now I'm waiting fora phone call to come the 200 miles for a TEE test before they decide where we go from here. The anxiety is literally killing me. Now I am scared to death over this prognoses - literally. With the help of a new friend Dean on this heart valve site, I am conquering my fears. Investigative research has under-covered a symptom of this surgery called "PUMP". One chance in three that I'll be mentally slower after this surgery? That's not great news. 73 percent chance I will suffer from depression - not good again. This is scary stuff. At 50 my choices seem slim on available valve options. There is no "perfect" valve at my age. I was thinking Mechanical, but that's a life changing event as I will then face a lifetime of blood thinners. That's not what I had in mind last summer after winning almost all the races at our local vintage Motocross tracks. A bovine valve will likely allow me to race and retain my Island Championship Title in 2012. I am hopeful. Folks, I'm a well educated man and I guess I am experiencing this as a serious setback in that this kind of thing just doesn't happen to me -right? I have contemplated just dying instead of having this extensive valve procedure, but that isn't a great option for my family. If they manage to get me in the pre-op room, they may need serious drugs or a straight jacket to keep me on the gurney. Sign me "Scared".