About Me (In My Own Words)
I wish that I would have known about this site prior to my surgery! I have always felt a little alone with my aortic stenosis. I have been dealing with it and fretting about it my whole life. I was born with a heart murmur and diagnosed with aortic stenosis as a child. I have watched technology come so far. Echo ultrasound machines used to be huge and take up half the exam room in the 80's! Over the years I have had all sorts of diagnostic tests and procedures all to hopefully prolong a valve replacement until I absolutely needed to have it done and the theory worked because I made it to 42 years old before having my aortic valve replaced. Although I have already been through one open heart surgery in 1991 to repair and keep my own aortic valve as long as possible and to help me have an easier pregnancy and child birth since I badly wanted to be a mother. The repair surgery although not as successful as the surgeon had wanted did get me through another 23 years with my own valve! And the pregnancy and birth of my wonderful son in 1994! I had always been asymptomatic even with my severe aortic stenosis. My doctors over the years had encouraged me to wait before having my valve replaced, but not to long. They didn't want me to have more problems by waiting "to long" whatever to long was?? So I finally just pulled the trigger and had yet another and hopefully my last open heart surgery, only this time to replace my aortic valve on Nov. 3, 2014. I can tell you all that although open heart surgery is not a pleasant surgery at all, it has come a long way since 1991! It still took me a few days extra to get off the ventilator in CCU/ICU, but this time I don't remember being there at all (better drugs maybe??) and although my chest felt like a truck ran over it still this time as well as last time around, I did not have hardly any coughing this time (it hurts very bad to cough) and did not have the copious amounts of mucus (gross I know!) coming out this time around. So see things have improved with the ventilators and other not so fun things over the years, I am betting. Since this was my second open heart surgery my surgeon as well as my various cardiologist over the years recommended a mechanical valve for me so that is what I went with due to the fact that having another surgery in 10-15 years to replace a tissue valve wouldn't be a good option for me and that with a mechanical valve it should last my lifetime. I am not real thrilled about being on warfarin for the rest of my life but it's what I must do. The weekly (for now) protime INR's are a little inconvenient but it sure beats the alternative! The clicking of my mechanical valve is a little strange to hear still after almost 4 months post surgery. One of the many visiting cardiologists that visited me in the hospital told me that "after awhile the sound would be comforting to hear". I remember at the time thinking "no way", but I think he was right. I would probably freak out if I didn't hear the clicking sound now! I am very thankful for medical advancements and technology in our times and thankful for a skilled surgeon to get me through the surgery, the caring nurses and staff at Penrose St. Francis in Colorado Springs, CO (great hospital by the way!) and my loving family and friends to get me up and running again! Last but not least thank you God!!!
More Info About Me & My Heart
More About Me
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I am from:
Colorado Springs, Colorado
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My surgery date is:
November 3, 2014
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I was diagnosed with:
Aortic Stenosis
Bicuspid Aortic Valve
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My surgery was:
Aortic Valve Replacement
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My surgeon is:
Dr. John Mehall
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My hospital is:
Penrose St. Francis
