Gail's Profile

In April of 2017 I was diagnosed with Moderate-Severe Bicuspid Aortic Valve Stenosis, a 4.1 Aortic Aneurysm and Mild-Moderate Mitral Valve regurgitation. Several months prior to this I was diagnosed with A-Fib.This last April 2018 I was still holding at same as one year ago. I have more fatigue than I want, I get light headed and occasionally feel like I could pass out. If I lay flat I wake up feeling like I can't get a deep breath. On June 21st I will be going to Baylor Plano Heart Hospital in Plano, TX for a second opinion. I don't like the waiting game!!! It has been 6 weeks since I ventured to Plano, TX to get my second opinion and then to spend a long weekend with friends. Well, my long weekend was extended to July 2, as I stayed in Plano to have Aortic Valve Replacement of my Bicuspid Valve, Ablation for A-Fib and an UNPLANNED EVENT during surgery on June 27, 2018. As Dr. Tabachnick was about through closing me to send me off to recovery my 4.0 aneurysm burst. A few more minutes and it would have been catastrophic. So I can do nothing but thank the Lord for the timing of this and for a surgeon who obviously had the skill to save my life. Other than this event, the surgery went well. I had a full sternotomy and I expected to wake up in pain. However, when I was aware that the surgery was over my only thought was that I had made it and I felt no pain. When my daughters told me what had happen, all I could think of was WOW, I really did make it. I am now starting my 6th week of recovery. I still have some what feels like muscle soreness so I would like to know from others if they have experience the same thing.