Jill's Profile

On August 12, 2012 I had surgery to replace a bicuspid aortic valve. At the time, I had an ascending aortic aneurysm, but the doctors chose to leave it has it wasn't a problem. The past three years my ARV has been building up pressure behind it and leaking and regurgitation. I went in this September and my cardiologist was very concerned about its status and wanted to see me in January. After I got back from vacation at the end of October I got a call from my new surgeon who wanted to see me for my five year check up. That check up turned into an appointment to talk about surgery. I really hadn't gotten my head around my September appointment and how bad my valve was only to have a CT scheduled the day after the surgeon's appointment and a week later and angiogram with my cardiologist who discovered a remus? artery, most people don't even have, on my heart. The surgeon had mentions a full stonotomy which I couldn't understand why it was necessary since he was only going to work at the top of my heart. But he was going to do a bypass on the remus artery and the doctors decided against this. This has been a very difficult time for me as I have had two back fusions in the past two Decembers and they haven't really been that successful leaving me with leg pain. I also have neck and leg pain. So heart surgery just adds insult to injury. I just hope It go well. After surgery I was informed my original replacement valve was defective. I ended up with a mini sternotomy, thank goodness. My valve should have lasted much longer. Unfortunately, I seem to have to things redone. I hope this new valve lasts much longer. My surgery went very smoothly and I was home in three days. Three more weeks and my sternum should be healed. My husband and I go to rehab starting Jan.4. I did find out after surgery that the first aortic valve replacement I had in 2012 was defective. That was like a kick in the stomach. So I know other people have had to have their valve re-replaced. My first valve should have lasted years longer.