Christina Gjonaj - Heart Valve Journal

My Journal

467 days ago

Hi everyone . Has anyone gone out of state for surgery when the hospital was out of network with 30 percent copay. Was this costly since insurance will only ...Read more

Hi everyone . Has anyone gone out of state for surgery when the hospital was out of network with 30 percent copay. Was this costly since insurance will only pay an amount that they predetermine or did they provide estimates that were accurate?

Susan Lynn Christina - You're definitely going to want to get an estimate before you make that commitment. Ev... Read more

Susan Lynn Christina - You're definitely going to want to get an estimate before you make that commitment. Even without any complications, heart surgery is pricey. You may also be able to get approval from the insurance company to go out of the network if there isn't a physician or facility that is qualified to address your condition. Good luck!

Christina Gjonaj Thankyou Susan

Susan Lynn You're very welcome!! Also, if your surgery is 10 years away, you'll be on Medicare by then. I ... Read more

Susan Lynn You're very welcome!! Also, if your surgery is 10 years away, you'll be on Medicare by then. I believe Medicare is widely accepted across the country. Unfortunately, I haven't reached Medicare age myself and am not well versed on the benefit.

Also, heart procedures are advancing so quickly, the approach to your condition is likely to be easier and maybe even less expensive than the current, OHS techniques.

Christina Gjonajposted a journal

897 days ago

Hi my name is Christina and last year during a routine physical my doctor heard a murmur. One year later and after 2 echos and a TEE test I was told that I ...Read more

Hi my name is Christina and last year during a routine physical my doctor heard a murmur. One year later and after 2 echos and a TEE test I was told that I had a bicuspid valve which is a little leaky and a little calcified. I am waiting to do a catscan to check my aorta for an aneurysm. I am told that it could be 10 years before it needs replacing. I am currently 55..

Rose Madura Hi Christina. Be thankful that they discovered this and it's good news that you most likely won't h ... Read more

Rose Madura Hi Christina. Be thankful that they discovered this and it's good news that you most likely won't have to have surgery for quite a while. Imagine the advances in the next 10 years! Godspeed.

Marie Myers I was in your shoes a few years ago.I had a bicuspid valve, and I did develop an aneurysm on my ascen ... Read more

Marie Myers I was in your shoes a few years ago.I had a bicuspid valve, and I did develop an aneurysm on my ascending aorta and aortic root. My surgery was 4+ years ago, and am back to doing everything I was doing prior to surgery. Keep up with your doctor appointments and monitoring, and hopefully you may not need any surgery for a long time. Like Rose said, new technologies are developed every day.

Christina Gjonaj Thank-you for the well wishes I am hoping this is
accurate. In the meantime I wonder when people get ... Read more

Christina Gjonaj Thank-you for the well wishes I am hoping this is
accurate. In the meantime I wonder when people get a second opinion, is it only after they receive word that a heart surgery is recommended?

Rose Madura I got a second opinion after I was told I needed surgery.

Marie Myers I did the same as Rose. As soon as surgery was recommended, I got another opinion. In fact, my origin ... Read more

Marie Myers I did the same as Rose. As soon as surgery was recommended, I got another opinion. In fact, my original surgeon recommended getting another opinion.

Katheryn Applegate I too got a 2nd opinion once surgery was recommended, mainly because I had no symptoms yet. I got my ... Read more

Katheryn Applegate I too got a 2nd opinion once surgery was recommended, mainly because I had no symptoms yet. I got my 2nd opinion at Cleveland and they were very definite that I needed it done and to be careful (“act like a very old woman”) until I did. That was enough to make me move forward because that is not me! Had surgery 9/21/21 and doing great!