Edith's Journal

The time has finally come for me to have my aortic valve replaced. This journey began a year ago when I was told that I would need open heart surgery. The good news is that due to my age, 89, and my Cath report, I am a candidate (on the cusp) for the TAVR procedure. I will have it next Monday, Nov. 9th at the Banner University Medical Center in Phoenix. I'm glad that I chose not to go to Texas or Cleveland, as I had originally contemplated. I'll be close to home, near my son. If all goes well that I pray it will, I will post again soon. My best wishes to all recovering, and those waiting for surgery. Love, Edie

Thank you Terri, Steven, and Tammy for your kind thoughts and birthday wishes. My "social life" 😜 consisting mostly of doctors' appointments, has been so busy that I haven't stopped by here for awhile, or I would have thanked you sooner. I now have a definite date to have the TAVR on Monday, November 9. My cardiologist was looking out for me and would not let go! He was sure that ai needed to have the value replaced. He recommended Dr. Kevin Brady, with whom I felt very comfortable. After talking with him, I felt a lot less apprehensive about the procedure, especially about the risk of stroke, which he told me is less than it once was. My surgery will be at the Banner University Medical Center in Phoenix, not far away from home, where I was originally thinking of going. I appreciate Adam posting the videos of patients that have had the TAVR. I have learned so much about it that the surgeon, as he was leaving the room, said to me, "It was good to talk to a knowledgeable patient." 😊 I pray that Serena, Helen, and Patricia are resting comfortably this evening after successful surgeries today. I wish them a smooth road ahead as they recover. I will return soon. Love to all, Edie a/k/a my formal name, Edith 😉

Thank you Terri, Steven, and Tammy for your kind thoughts and birthday wishes. My "social life" 😜 consisting mostly of doctors' appointments, has been so busy that I haven't stopped by here for awhile, or I would have thanked you sooner. I now have a definite date to have the TAVR on Monday, November 9. My cardiologist was looking out for me and would not let go! He was sure that ai needed to have the value replaced. He recommended Dr. Kevin Brady, with whom I felt very comfortable. After talking with him, I felt a lot less apprehensive about the procedure, especially about the risk of stroke, which he told me is less than it once was. My surgery will be at the Banner University Medical Center in Phoenix, not far away from home, where I was originally thinking of going. I appreciate Adam posting the videos of patients that have had the TAVR. I have learned so much about it that the surgeon, as he was leaving the room, said to me, "It was good to talk to a knowledgeable patient." 😊 I pray that Serena, Helen, and Patricia are resting comfortably this evening after successful surgeries today. I wish them a smooth road ahead as they recover. I will return soon. Love to all, Edie a/k/a my formal name, Edith 😉

Thank you Terri, Steven, and Tammy for your kind thoughts and birthday wishes. My "social life" 😜 consisting mostly of doctors' appointments, has been so busy that I haven't stopped by here for awhile, or I would have thanked you sooner. I now have a definite date to have the TAVR on Monday, November 9. My cardiologist was looking out for me and would not let go! He was sure that ai needed to have the value replaced. He recommended Dr. Kevin Brady, with whom I felt very comfortable. After talking with him, I felt a lot less apprehensive about the procedure, especially about the risk of stroke, which he told me is less than it once was. My surgery will be at the Banner University Medical Center in Phoenix, not far away from home, where I was originally thinking of going. I appreciate Adam posting the videos of patients that have had the TAVR. I have learned so much about it that the surgeon, as he was leaving the room, said to me, "It was good to talk to a knowledgeable patient." 😊 I pray that Serena, Helen, and Patricia are resting comfortably this evening after successful surgeries today. I wish them a smooth road ahead as they recover. I will return soon. Love to all, Edie a/k/a my formal name, Edith 😉

I haven't posted in a long time, so I stopped by to say"Hi," and wish everyone well. I would like to thank Adam for the interviews he has shared regarding the TAVR procedure. They were of great interest to me because that is the procedure that I will have in the future, which may be sooner than later. I had a birthday since my last post, so I am 89 years old now, which is very hard for me to believe. I am expecting to hear from the surgeon that I had a consultation with on Sept. 1. My cardiologist spoke with him a few days ago, and they reviewed my Cath report together. Based on that, The surgeon, who had told that me "The clock is ticking," but that the TAVER won't be covered by insurance if my aortic stenosis is moderate, not severe now agrees with my cardiologist that it is not moderate. Thanks for being there. Love...Edie

After all of my records are reviewed by an intraventional cardiologist, here in Scottsdale, AZ., who performs the TAVR procedure, I will know if my aortic valve is severely calcified, as I was told by one cardiologist, or just moderate, as I was informed by the doctors at Baylor Heart Hospital in Plano, Texas on Apri 16, 2015. Since my last posting, I learned that one of the cysts in my pancreas has gotten larger, so as soon as my cardiologist gives his clearance, and I have an appointment with him tomorrow, I will be having an endoscopic ultrasound to determine if it is benign or "not." I would be fibbing if I said I am not frightened. Fingers crossed! My best to all who are waiting to have surgery, and to those of you dear fellas and gals, who are recovering. Love, Edie

My cardiologist was baffled by the conflicting report I received after my tests at the TAVR Clinic in Plano, Texas. He is sending all of my records to a doctor at the Cleveland Clinic with whom he has direct contact. I will know in a few weeks what his opinion is, and I will go along with his decision. I was not comfortable with the "Good News" because the TEE report said that my aortic valve is severely calcified, restricting blood flow. I will wait for the decision, and go from there. I hope everyone is doing well. Edie

My younger son and I went to Plano, Texas last Wednesday, and on At 7:15a.m. I reported to the TAVR Clinic for testing. It began with a CT-Scan to determine if the vessels in my legs, and abdomen are clear. I have never been allergic to the iodine for contrast before, but this time, I did have a bad reaction shortly afterwards, which worsened the following morning. I won't give details of that. I took a Benadryl Friday night and did get some relief. The Scan was followed by an echocardiogram that lasted for 90 minutes. That was followed by an EKG, then the pulmonary test, which I did very well with. Now, the best part...after the results of those tests were reviewed, a doctor came in to tell me that my aortic valve stenosis was Moderate, not Severe as I had been told by my cardiologist in Scottsdale after he received the results of the TEE I had on Dec. 4! The Plano doctor told me that he had good news...No surgery is performed unless it is Severe. Wow...that sure was Good News! He told me to come back in a year unless I have symptoms, in fact, I already have a scheduled appointment. What a relief! I am so happy that I decided to go to Dr. Ryan, and that is thanks to my having read Adam Pick's book. THANK YOU, ADAM! My love and best wishes to all of you, who are waiting for surgery, or are post-op, and into recovery. May it go smooth for all. Got Bless you. Edie

There was no problem at all posting the Profile Photo from my existing album, but when I attempt to post a photo from the same album, bathe message informing me that I need to allow access from Setting. That is already On in Settings, and I am always sharing photos with my Facebook friends. Does anyone else have a problem, (doesn't appear so) or have a suggestion? Thanks.

I am flying to Texas on Wednesday, April 15, with my son to have testing at the TAVR Clinic in Plano. Testing will begin at 7:15 a.m. the following morning to determine whether or not I am a candidate for the Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement procedure. After several hours of tests, we will meet with a panel of interventional cardiologists, and the heart surgeons, Dr. Mack, and Dr. William Ryan of the Baylor Heart Hospital. As I mentioned in my original Journal, which I cannot seem to retrieve, Dr. Ryan believes,, due to my age (88) and the fact that I am on prednisone, that I am a candidate for the TAVR. The more I read about it the more frightened I am of the risk of stroke. I will no more next Thursday.

Adam, I am having a problem. I was being denied access even though I was using my correct password, so I started from scratch and signed up new with a different password. I already have a Journal, but can't get into it. Is there anyway that I can, or am I correct in assuming that I have to begin anew?