Lila's Guestbook

Lila Robinson  Hi Ruth. My original diagnosis was a bit weird. I had Moderately Severe leaking of the aorta valve, with both thickening of the aortic root but also 4.5cm dilation (I think 5.0cm is considered aneurysmal and immediate surgery). Having both the thickening and the dilation is probably due to the fact that I had an unwatched heart murmur since I was 16 (I'm 56 now). I am so glad I asked after it and requested to have it checked because this was literally the first time it was ever looked at and so, honestly, from the date of that exam, the stress echo, (2/12/15) to my date of surgery 4/23/15, I spent the next 2 months having a chest xray, a CT with and without contrast, a Mammogram (that just happened because they had time available the day I was there for the chest xray and CT!), and an MRI with and without contrast (that turned out to be a relative waste of time as it was in a portable truck unit that was ancient, etc. and produced no usable results)! Then I had a Cardiac Catheterization, which, thankfully showed my arteries were wide open and clear. My Cardiologist said the important piece of that was because while they were doing the valve work, it it the time to do a bypass if needed. And then my surgery. I look back now and my scenario is fairly quick, but probably because of a 40 years of such hard work on my heart, etc. Who knows when and for how long it was this bad. My left ventricle was only slightly enlarged which my surgeon said would fairly quickly recede. I'm hopeful and positive. And 8 weeks post-surgery now! I start Cardiac Rehap Monday!

Hope all is well with you.

Ruth Valenzuela  Thank you for your answer. Looks like quite a bit was going on with you and I'm so glad you are on your way to better health. I'm still in the wait mode but can't help but wonder if it's wise to wait so long. I have no symptoms but from what I've been reading, that does not mean all is well. Again, thanks for responding and God bless!

Lila Robinson  Make sure you express yourself to your doctors, and, if you have any reservations, get another opinion. What I have learned from this whole experience, and from this wonderful website resource, is you have to #1. Trust your Gut Feelings at least to ask and get informed and #2. Don't be afraid to speak up for yourself!

Lila Robinson  I go tomorrow for my Cardiac Rehab evaluation and to start next week. I need help. I'm 56 years old, with a new aortic valve and aortic root. I'm recuperating very well, but I cannot continue to carry around all this extra weight. And it seems like I've put weight on over the last 4 weeks...not fluid, just eating and only slow exercise! How exciting to be celebrating your 1 year anniversary! I leave that day for an Alaskan cruise out of Vancouver!!!

Lila Robinson  Hello Mary! I just told my son I ordered it. At first he rolled his eyes and then we talked and I said I want it as a keepsake, and a reminder of what I've been through, what a blessing and miracle it is, and that I don't want to take being alive for granted! I have grown to absolutely appreciate and need and love everyone involved in this site. It's like we all share an unspoken secret; and yet we can speak about it!

Lila Robinson  Hello Larry - You will do wonderfully. I'm amazed by technology and even all the reading up and pre-preparing has left me still in awe of the technology and the human body's desire and ability to want to heal itself. Let me know if you have any questions.