About Me (In My Own Words)
Diagnosed with a bicuspid aortic valve at age 25, I thought nothing of the condition and what really lay ahead for me. As the years progressed, I really didn't feel the changing condition of my health. I am fairly athletic and had been playing softball and Ice hockey on a regular basis. However in 2011, at the age of 41, I found myself making some big decisions about my health.
Early in 2011, I started feeling a bit under the weather. I had monitored my heart condition for many years having had early detection of the bicuspid valve condition, so annual EKGs and Echos were the norm. There was the slowly increasing issue with regurgitation but I didn't realize how much it was really affecting me. Then there was also the latest diagnosis of the aortic root aneurysm that further complicated my health and state of mind. But what sent everything in motion was the infection that was so hard to diagnose.
I was diagnosed with Endocarditis. This is a very serious infection in the blood stream that is very difficult to find and diagnose. Prior to the diagnosis, I had gone to the doctor several times for what felt like sinus infections. Run down from work travel, congested, shortness of breath, I just felt run down. Then strangely, I was getting night sweats. Waking up drenched in sweat, I would go from a hot sweat to chills. Luckily after several misdiagnosis we wife, at the time, called my cardiologist about my condition. The cardiologist suggested the blood culture test that determined the Endocarditis and set the treatment for this condition in motion. After a long treatment for the condition, I went in for another echo and it was evident that the infections caused severe damage to my mitral valve. At this point surgery was imminent, so on October 25th, 2011 I had surgery to re-construct my mitral valve, replace my Aortic valve and aortic root, and while in surgery why not fix that pericardial hole they discovered!! Thanks to the team at Inova Fairfax for a job well done. I did have a few complications after the initial surgery, but happy to say that 3 years later I am doing very well. Being in pretty good health certainly made the recovery a bit easier and I wish everyone the best of luck as they face their own challenges. I am happy to provide support or just listen to anyone that has the need to talk with someone who has been through a valve surgery.
More Info About Me & My Heart
More About Me
-
I am from:
Rochester , Michigan
-
My surgery date is:
October 25, 2011
-
I was diagnosed with:
Bicuspid Aortic Valve
Aortic Aneurysm
-
My surgery was:
Aortic Valve Replacement
Aortic Aneurysm Replacement
Mitral Valve Repair
-
-
My hospital is:
Inova Fairfax Hospital - Virginia
