Sandy's Profile

2026 - Almost 9 years later and echo on May 15 showed severe aortic stenosis. Had a cath and a CT the first week of June - and got the call today that I will have a VIV TAVR on July 7th. Apparently going to use the same 'size' valve (23mm) as before - have been told that twice now. Before the first surgery - I was walking 8+ miles several times a week, and I hope this procedure gets me back to where I can at least walk more than a mile without taking breaks. 2017 - Apologizing in advance for wordiness: Having been all over the internet since March 2nd, when I was told I have an ascending aortic aneurysm that is 5 cm in diameter, this seems like it may be the most helpful site. I was referred to a cardio-thoracic surgeon, that appointment was seven (7) weeks later. I did have a CT with contrast after three weeks - and then the appointment four weeks later. The surgeon recommended surgery within the next two months (probably June timeframe) and said we would talk after he got the results of the echo that was done the same day as the appointment and the catheterization which would be scheduled (and was done about two weeks ago). Have not talked, and have not gotten a reply to an e-mail sent to the coordinator over a week ago. I try to be grateful that my case is not an emergency and I don't need their immediate attention - but am also concerned about how long I should wait before becoming a squeaky wheel. I have two other concerns - 1) I have asked twice about the success rate (which their own hospital has on the list of questions you should ask a surgeon) - and not been answered - the surgeon said some people do have complications and they don't have a rate. And the next e-mail response said they weren't sure on the number of successful vs. unsuccessful surgeries. That seems weird to me - though I have been told medicine is not math. Seems like a hospital would know it's success rate. Any feedback? Has anyone else asked that question and not had it answered? And 2) because my aneurysm extends into my arch, the surgeon said they would have to cool my body way down and cut off blood flow to the brain while they replace that part of the aorta. I have read that there are hospitals that connect the heart-lung bypass machine in different locations so they DON'T have to cut off blood flow to the brain - and I'm thinking of looking into trying to have my surgery at one of those. Have any of you had either of these procedures done - and with what outcomes? Or does anyone have any other feedback? My aortic valve 'appears' to be bicuspid - and may (or may not ) need to be repaired or replaced, so my presence here is not totally abstract. I greatly appreciate this website - and did order the book a few weeks ago (though I haven't read it yet) (Found mention of another one I will want to order today). Reading about other's experiences has given me more questions to ask, and more ideas about how to prepare. Thank you all.