About Me (In My Own Words)
My Valve story started at work in the summer of 2010. I was finishing my day at work and that is i felt lighthead in which i informed the customer where i working at that I wasn't feeling well and a bit dizzy. The customer decided to call the ambulance, I was then hospitalized for a few days in which a series of test were done. The results were in and that is when i found out that i had an biscupid valve. I was discharge and had to make an appointment with a Cardiologist in yearin 2011, i had an ultra sound and stress test done that day followed up with seeing the Cardiologist Dr. David Corteville. That is i was informed that they found an Aoretic aneurysm. From that day on they wanted to keep an eye on as it was at 4.3mm and to control it with medication, the visit were now 6 months a year as it was progressing my visits were now 3 months. 2015 June, Cardiologist visit my aneurysm had progress over 5.5 mm my Cardiologist informed me that its time to correct the issue. I was introduced to the surgeon Dr. John Talbott he suggest if i wanted to implant mechanical valve, i weighed my options and decided to go with it. I was slated for operation on June 22 2015, lots of pre op test were done i passed it all except my dental in which i had a tooth infection and now my surgey was postponed till July 25 2015 and until the infection gone and to heal as i had tooth pulled. Prior to surgery i went on a vacation with the family for 2 weeks and got home 1 day prior to surgery. I believe it help alleviate the stress. Surgey lasted 4 1/2 hours and according to my wife the nurses was given updates throughout the procedure. My hospital stay was 5 days and majority of my recovery was done at home for over a month. Recovery included weekly home visits from the nurse, daily vitals was monitored and sent to the agency that was monitoring my recovery. After 2 weeks I had to do Rehab at 3x a week for 1 month Also i'm on coumadin for the rest of my life. I had some moments during recovery, It was from over doing it physically and i experience dizziness follow by my field of vision going upside down. and also I had liquid trapped in my right chest cavity at which i needed Thoracentesis done. I was back to work on Sept. 6, 2015. Life after surgery. Did my yearly visit in 2016 had an ultra sound done and everything went well but i do suffer from pain in thoracic lumber area or right shoulder blade area of the back i informed my Cardiologist of it. 2017 visit went well I informed my cardiologist that i had one instance of irregullar heartbeat i believe it was from over working my body and just had a blood test done and still suffer with same back pain. Currently thanks to an active work life it help me physically to recover from this and also the change of eating diet and habits.Everyone is different and this my opinion but the first 2 months after surgery is crucial, and May the Universe Shine on You
More Info About Me & My Heart
More About Me
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I am from:
Petoskey, MI
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My surgery date is:
July 25, 2015
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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 surgeon is:
Dr. John Talbott
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My hospital is:
Mclaren Northen Michigan Hospital