About Me (In My Own Words)
OCTOBER 20, 2021
I have some news to share. I have a bit of a heart issue, an aortic aneurysm caused by a bicuspid valve. Here’s a video from my surgeon, explaining what the condition is, and how it’s going to be treated. Take a look, it’s explained by my surgeon, Dr. Eric Roselli.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hYmyHX1YT50&feature=youtu.be
Interesting, huh? The procedure is open-heart: involves cutting through my sternum with a sternum saw, stopping my heart, deflating my lungs, moving everything out of the way, replacing my ascending aorta with a Dacron sleeve, repairing the valve if it can be repaired, if not, replacing the valve, then restarting everything, closing me up with stainless steel sutures and a titanium plate.
I’ve known about my bicuspid aortic valve for over the past 20 years, I was born with it, my cardiologist 20 years ago in Atlanta saw it on an echocardiogram, but never shared with me that a bicuspid valve could cause an aortic aneurysm, and people can live their entire lives without any problems or symptoms caused by a bicuspid valve, but sometimes, the valve creates an aneurysm. In October 2020, a different cardiologist here in Marietta found the bicuspid aortic valve has caused an aortic aneurysm measuring a diameter of 4.8cm, and at the time, it was not needing any surgical intervention. Surgical intervention is indicated when the diameter of the aneurysm reaches 5 cm, you have to monitor it, this isn’t something you want to fool around with, aneurysms never get better, they only get bigger, you absolutely need to get it repaired before it “dissects” or bursts, and you want the best of the best to perform this repair/replace procedure.
I researched this condition online and consulting friends and associates in the medical field, found the three best medical facilities in the world are the Mayo Clinic, Johns Hopkins and the Cleveland Clinic. And out of those three, I chose the Cleveland Clinic because of their advanced “cutting edge” expertise with this particular procedure. And, they are in-network of my insurance.
We traveled to the Cleveland Clinic in May 2021, met with Dr. Eric Roselli, the aortic/valve team did a CT scan, echocardiogram and EKG and found my aneurysm in six months had grown 4 mm, so now it’s 5.2 cm just above the aortic root, and it’s time for surgical intervention, but it’s not an emergency, in the words of Dr. Roselli, “book it at your convenience, just make sure you get in here before the end of this year”. So, I booked to have this completed in October. Currently, my only symptoms are mild shortness of breath, and I’m still walking and running at Kennesaw Mountain 3-5 days a week. Dr. Roselli okayed the walking and running.
I should be a good candidate for the David Procedure (explained in the video), but he won’t know until he actually gets in there and looks at any plaque buildup on the valve leaflets. It’s scary, but I’m getting it taken care of at the best facility in the world, by the chief of aortic surgery. I appreciate the calls, texts, fruit baskets, thoughts and cards. I will get through this, and I’ll be better after recovery.
UPDATE: so today is Tuesday, October 26, surgery is on for Thursday, October 28. They found something new today. I had the heart catheterization today at the Cleveland Clinic, the surgeon found a lesion on my heart and told me it was a “widow maker”, a 90% blockage. So besides having my aorta replaced and valve repaired, I’m also getting a bypass. I’m getting a “three for one”. I am so glad I am up here. The worlds best. I told the cath surgeon, “geez I was just out running 5 miles on the trails at the national park last week” and she said, “you are very lucky. I’m surprised nothing happened.” When a heart catheterization surgeon who’s team performs 60 of these procedures a day, tells you “you are very lucky”, that’s…alarming.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27
This morning, we met with Dr. Roselli’s nurse and anesthesia doctors, and we were given detailed instructions regarding tonight and tomorrow morning, and tomorrow I have a 10am check in. It looks like I’ll be the second surgery of the day, his first procedure starts at 5:30a.
Dr Roselli will be correcting everything tomorrow: a new aorta, repairing or replacing the aortic valve and a single bypass. He’s harvesting the artery for the bypass from the internal thoracic artery (ITA). Initially I was told the surgery would be about 5 1/2 hours, but that was for the new aorta and repair or replace the bicuspid valve. But, because he’s also doing the bypass, I’ll be in surgery for probably 7 hours, rather than 5 and a half hours.
He performs the complex procedures, his surgical team does the open and close.
Post surgery time:Time in ICU 1-2 nights, cardiac step down unit, 3-5 nights. (I could be out in as little as 4 nights!!! But might be longer)His nurse said “with your level of exercise, you’ll be out in no time”.
So tomorrow’s the big day.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29
I’m in ICU. Dr. Roselli came into my room today and said the surgery was “textbook perfect“. He said it really couldn’t have gone any better. So now I have to relax and hang out in ICU for a few days. I think what’s the most painful right now are the chest drainage tubes. Very uncomfortable, you can’t take a deep breath because these tubes are in your chest and they’re sucking all of the liquids that occur in your chest cavity after a traumatic surgery like this.
WEDNESDAY, November 4th
Last night I was moved out of ICU and into a “step down unit” and I will be here until I’m well enough to leave and be discharged. Pretty cool stuff. And I feel fantastic. A little bit lightheaded, slow and wobbly on my feet, but, come on, I had open heart surgery, a three for one (new aorta, new valve (the old valve was not repairable) and a bypass that had a 90% blockage), and I’ve been laying in bed for almost the past week. Every day I feel better and better.
SATURDAY, November 6th
I have been released, I left the hospital last night, and moved back to the hotel. Monday, November 8th, are a few follow up appointments and then I’ll be released from care, flying back to ATL tonight and back HOME.
IN SUMMARY:
If you have a family history of heart disease, like I do, and/or a family history of sudden death - that could be an aneurysm, OR a blocked “widow maker” artery. Please, get checked out and get it taken care of before you have any unwelcome surprises.
More Info About Me & My Heart
More About Me
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I am from:
MARIETTA, Georgia
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My surgery date is:
October 28, 2021
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I was diagnosed with:
Bicuspid Aortic Valve
Aortic Aneurysm
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My surgery was:
Aortic Valve Replacement
Aortic Aneurysm Replacement
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My hospital is:
Cleveland Clinic
