About Me (In My Own Words)
I am a 40yo healthy male. At the beginning of August '18 I started having a recurring low grade fever at night and moderate fatigue and joint pain. A visit to a walk-in clinic yielded a round of antibiotics that temporarily abated the symptoms. As soon as the antibiotic regimen ended the symptoms came back. I then visited a primary care physician where they ran a myriad of tests that all came back negative except for an elevated white blood cell count. The doctor detected a previously undiagnosed murmur on this visit. After more antibiotics were ineffective, I was sent for an Echo (TTE) where the results revealed a Bicuspid Aortic Valve and evidence of possible infective endocarditis. The bacteria from cultures was revealed to be Alpha Hemolytic Streptococci. I was placed on i.v. penicillin and discharged with a pending consult with cardiac surgery. On 10/1/2018 I was told that a double valve replacement was necessary to remedy the bicuspid Aortic valve as well as the vegetation that had formed on the Mitral valve. Needless to say, as someone who is now otherwise asymptomatic, the prognosis came as a shock. The silver lining is that the endocarditis revealed the bicuspid aortic valve and significant regurgitation. Not looking forward to surgery and recovery, but am optimistic that I can come out on the other side feeling better than ever.
More Info About Me & My Heart
More About Me
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My surgery date is:
October 10, 2018
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I was diagnosed with:
Aortic Regurgitation
Bicuspid Aortic Valve
Mitral Regurgitation
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My surgery was:
Aortic Valve Replacement
Mitral Valve Replacement
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My surgeon is:
Dr. Ben Barton
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My hospital is:
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
