About Me (In My Own Words)
YIKES... How did I get HERE ???
Short Version – A heart murmur detected during a pre-op physical for minor hand surgery lead me on this path.
This is a bit lengthy, but I’m writing it for my friends and family members who really don’t know the story… so here goes…
This year I decided to have surgery on my hand for Dupuytren’s Contracture, which I have had for about 6 years. I decided on THIS year because my insurance deductible for the year had been satisfied, and I would not have to pay anything for the Dupuytren’s surgery. In preparation for the surgery, a physical is mandatory… so off to my PCP I went. During that visit he said he heard a heart murmur, and wanted me to have it checked out. I thought “what the heck… it isn’t going to cost me anything”… so an appointment was made. The day of my Dupuytren’s surgery I was asked if there were any medical conditions worth mentioning, so I thought I would tell them about the recent murmur discovery. The anesthesiologist assured me many people have them, and it was nothing to worry about.
A few weeks later… had an echo, and off to the cardiologist I went. She wanted to explain the results of the echo by pointing it out on the huge plastic model sitting in the corner, which I had eyed briefly when I arrived, and quickly put it out of my line of sight. I asked her to please not show me anything on the plastic model (more about that later). She told me she was unable to see if I was tri-lateral or bi-lateral, so she wanted me to have yet another test to be given at U-Conn Health Center in Farmington. I told her I would not go to Farmington because there was a study done, and out of 2,500 hospitals, U-Conn Health Center came in dead last. She told me that she only works out of U-Conn… so that ended that.
A former co-worker suggested I see her cardiologist who was well-respected, and she adored. So off I went. He was very nice and told me he wanted me to have a stress test. I told him I was not going on a treadmill, and to just put me down for an “F”. He then told me there was a chemical stress test he would prefer I have, so I agreed, and the following week found myself at St.Francis Hospital having that test.
Well… apparently I failed that one, because he called and told me I had aortic stenosis and needed surgery. BUT… they don’t do this type of surgery here… I had to go to either New York or Boston. HUH??? After that all I heard him say was “blah-ba-dy-blah…and blupe-ba-dy-blupe… my head was spinning.
Now those of you who know me really well know that I have NO tolerance for anything that has to do with the heart. I don’t know where it came from, but it stems back to when I was very young. I would never wear heart jewelry, etc… and can barely say the word. I have always called it a “H”, (e.g. - so-and-so had a “H” attack). I would cringe as a kid to the opening of the TV show ‘Medical Center’ where you would hear an “H” beat…UGH! … and viewing a large plastic model of one is not an option. So it’s really ironic that THIS would happen to someone who really doesn’t like the organ at all :-)
After receiving this diagnosis my husband, Don, went into action… research, reading, research and more reading. He has been the best!! His first action was to purchase Adam Pick’s book. It came in the mail, he opened it, and left it on the kitchen island. I came walking into the kitchen and found a HUGE heart on the front cover staring at me (you can see the cover of this book on the left-hand margin of this page). I flipped it over and ignored it. Within 2 days Don had finished the book. He disclosed a few things to me, but said “you really should read it”. A week later I picked it up and read all but two chapters, which I can’t bring myself to read, but I’m glad I read what I did!
After MUCH research, we chose Brigham and Women’s in Boston, and Don and I went on September 9th and met with Dr. John Byrne, the Chief of Cardiology, who will be performing my surgery. It is not an emergency, but needs to be done, and the sooner the better… so I have decided to schedule it for the end of October.
I have NOT had any of the symptoms usually associated with this condition. The only thing I have noticed is shortness of breath for the past 3 months or so after taking a load of laundry up 3 flights of stairs. I blamed it on gaining a few extra pounds within the last year, and didn’t think much of it. Although I was just told that in my case it is a birth defect… this could happen to anyone.
I don't have the exact date of the surgery yet, but will post it when I do... wish me luck!
More Info About Me & My Heart
More About Me
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I am from:
East of Hartford, Connecticut
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My surgery date is:
October 29, 2013
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I was diagnosed with:
Bicuspid Aortic Valve
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My surgery was:
Aortic Valve Replacement
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My surgeon is:
Dr. Aranki Sary
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