Eric's Posts

I was not planning to write another update until I was five years out from my OHS. Well, plans change and I am rolling with it. I have been a good patient by visiting my cardiologist regularly, getting my echocardiograms, and taking my meds on a regular basis. Also, life has been pretty good to me and my family over the years. So why am I writing this post? Well, when I started this journal it was because I made a commitment to myself to be open about my experience and tackle my CHD head on with the support of others and also provide support to others along the way. It is easy to feel alone on this experience and I refuse to feel that way. Also, I find writing this journal helps me sort through thoughts and emotions. About a month and a half ago I had a routine echocardiogram done and followed up with my cardiologist a week later. I was expecting a good visit, but that was not the case. My cardiologist alerted me that when I had OHS in 2012 my aortic root was at 4.0 cm and the most recent echo showed 4.6 cm which meant it was expanding at a fast rate. He then asked me to get an MRA (MRI with contrast) since echocardiograms are known to be inaccurate for this measurement type. So I scheduled the MRA for the first opening two weeks later. This past Tuesday I emailed my doctor and asked how I did on the MRI. I got an email response asking if I could meet him in his office the next morning at 8am. You guessed it, this made my heart race and of course I would be there. I arrived at his office and of course I was not on his schedule because he works at a totally different office on that day of the week. After searching, they found out he came in just to see me and then he would head to his normal office. We sat down and he performed his normal exam followed by telling me we needed to have a serious talk. He showed me all the previous testing (I knew he was making a case for something) and then reviewed my new testing. He even took out grid paper and diagramed Eric's 2012 aortic root and his 2017 aortic root. The testing confirmed the root was expanding much faster that predicted. For those unaware, it is common for people with bicuspid valves to have a weaker aortic wall which can expand and ultimately tear or burst. The conversation was very mutual and we discussed a plan of attack. Great, we had made a plan for me to goto the Cleveland clinic in 6 months to be reevaluated. I was getting ready to leave and he started asking me some routine questions he needed to close out the visit on his computer program. I then mentioned I had been experiencing indigestion more frequently than normal. Oooops or bingo, your choice! He instantly went into high concerned mode and poopoo'd any excuse I made for the indigestion. He then thought out loud for a minute and then said he needed to rule out an acute cardiac issue meaning I needed to goto the closest hospital ER. He then told me what to tell the ER doctors and made sure I had his cell phone and to demand they call him (he does not have rights at the closest hospital). I got to the ER and they did their workup, I dropped my cardiologist's name and stated what he wanted them to do. They told me typically they would have sent me on my way based on my workup, but they would admit me since my doctor thought they should. They then ran a CT, nuclear stress test, and and echocardiogram between yesterday and today with the intention of sending me home this evening. All day today, nurses and doctors were asking if I had been released yet even though the stress test results had not come back. In other words, everyone thought my doctor was being overly cautious! This evening I had the hospitalist show up in my room and start the conversation by saying, 'I assume the cardiologist has been here to explain the results of the stress test?' I said, 'not yet.' His face then went blank and I could see him thinking, 'Oh Sh@t!, what did I just get myself into?' He then stated they saw an ischemia and they thought they would keep me another day to do an angiogram. What?!?!?! I was not ready for that one especially from anyone other than a cardiologist! He must have felt caught of guard especially when I started asking very specific questions as if I knew something about cardiac medicine. Long story short, I wanted to be transferred to Northwestern University Hospital or Cleveland Clinic, but due to some other variables and tomorrow being Friday my own cardiologist and I agreed to have it done where I am currently staying as an inpatient as long as he has constant communication with the cardiac interventionist during the procedure. Yes, my cardiologist is absolutely amazing and believes he has the privilege to micromanage all other cardiac professionals which in this case may have saved my life. My reaction would have been different just 1 year ago, but now my wife and I have a 21 week old baby girl. I am trying to ensure a happy life for her with me in it for a long time to come. A year ago I would have checked myself out and driven to Cleveland Clinic for this procedure, but that is not realistic now. If I need OHS then yes, CC it is! I am used to having my whole family with me at the hospital for procedures like this, but this time someone will need to stay back with our baby. Also, my work family was going to be throwing my wife and I a baby shower tomorrow and I just got back to work full-time this past Monday after a wonderful paternity leave. Timing could not be worse! Thankfully I am surround with caring family, friends, and colleagues. I will now take my own recommendation from previous journal posts and start focusing on my recovery. Thank you for listening and hopefully I will be updating my journal sometime soon. Eric