Sean's Journal

I'm logged in. Every time I go to read someone's post to me it takes me to the log in page instead, and I have to log in and start all over again. Anyone know what's going on?

So, they told me to come to the hospital and 6 p.,m. to check in for surgery, due to issues I am having, I did, I was with my dog as I couldn't find temporary residence for her. They said they'd have put in the animal shelter, I told them I'd leave, and did. The shelter is a "kill shelter" I've got to find a new medical team, I am never going back to that hospital again.

UNBELIEVABLE! It wasn't me this time, I was ready to go through with the SAVR on Friday, sniffling and all. They said I MAY have an upper respiratory infection which would make surgery at this time to risky. They said that my surgeon is going on vacation for a month and wouldn't be able to see me until mid to late January. What if I have an emergency? I said, "I may not last that long as I'm deteriorating fast." They said, as he's going away it's the only alternative. Hmm! Okay, the little character on my right shoulder is secretly laughing and saying, hey, we dodged a bullet on that one. On the other hand the little character on my left shoulder know's that this isn't so and we're just prolonging the inevitable, I just hope we're not prolonging it until it's too late.

At this point, I'm far enough gone that my Dr. would put me in the hospital anytime I want and even start early. I of course haven't been able to board my dog (the brindle & white one) and I'm not about to turn my back on her. I'll start looking now.

Cedars, down in south Cali is experimenting on TAVI for patients with severe aortic regurgitation. This is something that isn't being done yet due to certain technical difficulties. I put my name in and was told I qualified and the Dr. would be in touch if I were excepted. If I'm not, traditional OHS is coming up at the end of the week. Has anyone else here volunteered for any clinical trials?

Hmm! I went to my surgical consultation yesterday. It was with allegedly, the top surgeon in the area. My pen had fallen out of my shirt pocket, and I said, "oh, I dropped my pen" but froze as I often do with my condition. He picked it up, he was very friendly over all and answered all my questions and really explained everything and seemed to know what he was talking about. With the pen I mentioned earlier? No, I'm a guy, he wasn't being a gentleman. My concern? He picked it up when he noticed he didn't have his pen so he could write down the name of the suggested valve so I could do my home work on it. Thanks to the group here. I understood that he was a pro, he knows what he's doing and what I need. However, He kept the pen. I don't believe it was out of malice, though it could have been, therefore he must have spaced out a little bit. I space out all the time, I even spaced out and forgot to ask for my pen back and didn't realize he had it until today, but I'm very sick and not a surgeon. Should I be concerned about that? I mean he put my surgery date on the short list, I don't have much time he says and it should have been done long ago. I mean his office claims that all I have to do is call and say something is wrong in the mean time while I'm waiting and immediate action will be taken. What do y'all think?

Hello, I want to start by thanking you all for your posts. I have a new surgical consultation scheduled. I have accomplished this because I am reacting to the advice the persons commenting on my posts and I understand certain actions have to be taken. I just hope I'm not too late as this is worsening. I also hope I pick the right doctor.

Hello Ya'll, I'm wondering if this has anything to do with the fact that I backed out of my original OHS scheduled in another town in August to have my aortic valve replaced. I've written in this group about the reasons behind that decision and some have supported it in that particular instance but told me I'd better have it done somewhere, soon. Saturday morning I'm walking my dog, I don't feel dizzy, but I do feel disoriented. That's all I remember, when I came to, my bloody nose is smashed into the road, I lift my head and see my dog (the brindle and white one) about 25 yards away smelling bush, I'm in a lot pain and I suddenly realize I'm lying in the middle of the rode. I sit up and scoot to the side of the road. Long story short, as my orientation returns I go home limping and with a sore and swelling arm, I also am bleeding from nose which is all scabbed over. A few hours later I figure I can drive and I head to local ER. The hospital was friendly except for the x-ray technician that took 12 ex-rays of my arm and shoulder (that's not normal is it?) which caused some annoyance due to the danger of the radiation, I finally had to stop him. Anyway, the cardiologist on call asked them to admit me and put a heart monitor on me which they did. A sonogram showed that my aortic valve was leaking more than it had been, in other words, my condition was worsening. I got released from the hospital early this evening with a battery powered heart monitor attached. Still now talk of surgery from this cardiologist though, I wonder if it's because of the August incident. By the way, my arm is still swollen and unusable and my nose is one big scab. Oh well. Good luck to those of you scheduled, and everyone else too.

I have shared about how I cancelled my last surgery date. I'm not sure if my inherent mis-trust of the medical profession and hospitals could have been overcome or not. The reason I'm not sure is because I was quick to cancel when the plans for care of my dog fell through and I had no place to leave her. The black one in my ID photo has gone to be with GOD in heaven. The brindle & white one is till with me and I have to find a caretaker for her while I'm in surgery. The person that was supposed to care for her, cancelled at the last minute. Providence, St. Vincent's in Portland has a woman that helps people with such issues but all the numbers she gave me for animal care were businesses that had nothing to do with animals or animal care. To shorten this, does anyone have any recommendations for animal care while I'm in the hospital?

Hello, No surgery yet and I hope I'm not too late. I cancelled that last one and now I am feeling very weak and dizzy, I can barely concentrate on my typing. I am thinking about going to the hospital tonight, but I don't leave near one that has a cardiologist.

Wow! I went for an MRI today and claustrophobia kicked in. It's far worse than my phobia of anesthesia. I couldn't go through with it. I couldn't go into the machine. If I survive this thing its going to be because GOD intervened. On my own I'm doing terrible.

I was supposed to go back up north to Portland with the same surgeon October 9th due to some very odd physical experiences I've been having due to my leaking aortic valve (purple face in one side while of normal color on the other side, feelings of extreme warmth and/or cold etc.). Everyone was friendly and it was a go at first. Then I started running into the rude hospital employees on the phone. I have no support system and people I thought were my friends became very hostile. I started thinking about the first trip mentioned in a prior post, and I never went up. Here I sit with this physical problem that has to be fixed, all the while knowing I'm going to have to find another place to have this done. I have to remember to keep my mouth shut about my situation when I'm out and about, just discuss this issue with persons that are there themselves, like here. I want to thank the friendly posters and if I survive long enough to get back on this issue, I will.

Okay, with all the problems I was having with my aortic regurgitation, the weakness, the fatigue and all, I did everything I could to make the to trip Portland (Oregon) on the 19th of August for my valve replacement surgery. I'm not from Oregon originally, and it is such a cold and lonely place to be, Portland was no different. The hospital personnel were rude. The pre-op nurse saw my dogs picture on my phone and asked me about her. The nurse said, "She's really going to miss you now that you'll be gone". This didn't make be feel good. The surgeon, who was late for the pre-op by about 2 hours, came in with bright red and watery eyes. She was in a very hostile mood, she looked like she hadn't slept in a week. I went back to my motel room feeling very despondent. I set my alarm clock for 5:00 a.m. that night to check in for surgery on time. I actually woke up at 4 a.m. with one of the worst nightmares I've had in years and it was about the surgeon I had met the evening before, she was doing horrible things to me in this nightmare. I didn't show up for surgery. I packed my bags and returned to southern Oregon.

My surgery has been moved up (valve replacement, aortic regurgitation and aortic root dilation, which I think is an aneurysm) due to odd episodes (Face dark red on one side only, tingling and numbness).