kevin's Journal

I'm 69 and awaiting aortic valve surgery at the brand new Heart Centre at Barts Hospital in London in next few weeks. I have a bicuspid valve which has shown deterioration on yearly echocardiogram. My exercise tolerance has reduced dramatically and since being on wait list I've suddenly gone into atrial fibrillation which is being well controlled by meds. My situation is somewhat ironic. I'm a psychologist (still working) who originally trained as a nurse and worked at Guy's Hospital in London 40 years+ ago. I worked in cardiac surgery and actually saw Donald Ross (of the Ross procedure) operating. In those days outcomes were not too great and I have a number of very negative memories. While I know that outcomes today are very good, I'm still haunted by memories of what was. More positively, despite the AF, I'm in great form; still working with patients, writing (a book on PTSD published this year) and exercising, albeit somewhat cautiously - 45 minutes on the bike most days - this contrasts with the competitive (yes at my age!!!) running I was engaged in until last year - 5 and 10K races and running 40K a week and before that a veteran of many marathons. I've followed the website for some time and have Adam's books - I would recommend these to anyone! - indeed I have friends who are physicians who tell me that they have learned from these books, things they never knew. The website has given me a very positive lift and I will now become a more active member of the community from which I hope to derive support and also to contribute if I can .