About Me (In My Own Words)
10/20/2023 UPDATE - I'm 4 months post-surgery. I'll say that the first month after surgery was pretty uncomfortable but all in all, I feel pretty good now.
For those wondering, I chose the tissue valve over the mechanical. My decision came down to not wanting to take coumadin for the next 40 years (give or take a few.) Also, when it's time to replace the valve, my surgeon says the TAVR is very much an option.
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Hi, I'm Mark, 39 years old. Married with three vibrant kids, 13, 11 and 7.
At 38 years old, a chest CT revealed an aortic aneurysm measuring 4.1 cm around Nov. 2022. I was referred to a cardiologist and later learned I have a bi-cuspid aortic valve. My symptoms around that time were pretty mild, shortness of breath, an annoying cough and mild chest pain. I attributed all that to a bronchitis type infection, but my doctor ordered the CT to "see if anything else is going on."
I went to the Cleveland Clinic for my 6 month f/u in May, 2023 and my cardiologist referred me to surgery. The aneurysm was now 4.9 cm.
I'm 10 days away from surgery and I have to decide on a mechanical valve vs. a tissue valve. The thought of taking blood thinners forever (mechanical) sounds annoying but having to complete this surgery more than once, perhaps 3-4 times given my age (39), sounds pretty intense also.
More Info About Me & My Heart
More About Me
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I am from:
Chardon, Ohio
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My surgery date is:
June 20, 2023
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I was diagnosed with:
Aortic Regurgitation
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
