About Me (In My Own Words)
September 28, 2010 I was informed by my doctor that I needed to see a cardiologist before he could place me on a treadmill test. I had just the day before been given an ultrasound of my heart. When I saw the cardiologist he came into the exam room and look at me for a few moments. He smiled and said you look like you are in great shape. I said couldn't feel better. He shook my hand and said good. Do you know why we are seeing each other. I said I believe so since I heard the sound my heart was making while the nurse did my ultrasound. He said good. Don't worry even though you will. I know what needs to be done, you will need an operation, you are going to get an operation like 'Arnold' (Arnold Schwarzenegger) do you know what he had? I said yes (now I am scared). He said I will see you next week(this was Thursday) and need to do an angiogram to see if anything else needs fix while we are in there. He then said you are scared now, but don't worry you've got many years to go. When he place his hand onto my shoulder, I immediately felt all worry and fear depart from me. I left the office, and immediately went back to work and started researching aortic valve replacement. I came across many sites and even watch several open heart aortic valve replacements on Utube. I came across Adam's website, and started reading the different stories and experiences. The more I read the more peaceful I became. Within an hour, I went to my supervisor and said I would in the future need to be gone for a small period of time, date unknown as yet. He said ok, and then ask going to Hawaii? I laugh, and said I wish I was but I had just been informed by the cardiologist I've seen today I needed my aortic valve replaced. Poor guy he look like I just shot him. After several minutes, he said ok, we will work with it. Of course I did not get out of his office until about 30 minutes later. After discussion the operation, he said how can you be so calm. That's when I told him what I had been doing for the past hour, and that since I read on one websites (Adam Pick's) all the stories regarding everyone who had the same done, I was confident that I have 99.9% chance of not having any problems. When he said what was the other tenth of a percent, I said 'whatever will be, will be'. I, for the next two months, had all kinds of exams and 4 days after Thanksgiven I was called by the heart surgeon, whom I had meet the day before Thanksgiven that my cardiologist and he had decided on December 09, 2010 to have the operation done. When I tried to change it after January 1st, he informed me that if the cardiologist could had his way, I would be in there tomorrow. I choose the bovine valve after all the research and reading I did because of the mechanical you needed to take coumadin. I work out in the field in the desert and mountains and alone alot, so I could not risk bleeding. Went under the knife at 0800 December 09, 2010 and woke up at 2000 December 09, 2010. Everyone was amazed at my ability to sleep even after everything wore off, and everyone tried to wake me up. December 10 they removed all tubes, including beloved catheter. The 11th I got up walking, and the 12th I was informed I would be discharged on the 13th because of my progress in walking. I had gotten up at 10pm on the 11th left the heart ward, took the elevator down to the ground floor of the hospital and spent an hour talking to the sec19urity guard. When I got back to the heart ward I was met by two very angry nurses. They rat on me to the cardiologist and heart surgeon, so the cardiologist said if you can do that well walking around the whole hospital and without the walker, you may go home. Was I happy! It is now September 19, 2015. I have retired May 28, 2015 from work. I am enjoying myself immensely. Have never had no problems with the valve or the bypass they did. Believe the choice I made with the bovine valve, I got the Edwards pericardial tissue heart valve model 3300TFX. My cardiologist is Dr. Bhambi, Bakersfield, Ca. and he is a Godsend. I figure if I work things right I should have another 20-30 years before needing a replacement. I know it is all to my diet, exercise, and continue to read Adam's website. Thank you Adam for this site.
More Info About Me & My Heart
More About Me
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My surgery date is:
December 9, 2010
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I was diagnosed with:
Aortic Stenosis
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My surgery was:
Aortic Valve Replacement
Coronary Artery Bypass Graft
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My surgeon is:
Dr. Eric Peck
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My hospital is:
Bakersfield Memorial Hospital
