About Me (In My Own Words)
26yrs ago at the age of 21 I discovered that I had a heart murmur. I was fit, sporty and very socially active. After a series of black-outs we discovered through a failed tilt-table exam and an echo cardiogram that I had a bicuspid aortic valve with mild regurgitation. This didnt phase my early-twenties years. After marriage and the birth of our second child in 2002 a further exam showed an increase in regurgitation as well as a slightly enlarged heart. Talk of an AVR in my 50s/60s was likely. Life became busy and as a f/t working mum I carried on as usual. We moved overseas 2008 and my new job was very time-sensitive but I thoroughly enjoyed the pace and somewhat the stress which accompanied the role. Unfortunately newly untrained management brought added pressures and my health suffered under 2years of extreme stress. I left the role behind in Dec 2017. In May 2018 my cadiologist suggested a 3-monthly follow-up due to severe changes between my yearly check-ups. Mid-Aug 2018 my cardiologist expressed his deep concern for the increase in regurgitation and enlarged heart and recommended a meeting with cardiothoracic surgeon Dr Andrie Stroebel. As Rugby union fans (he's a Springbok and I'm an All Blacks supporter) we hit it off superbly and he was firm in his stance that according to my latest reports further delay to open heart surgery was no longer an option and should go ahead whilst still elective and not emergent. So we had 5days to prep our children, families, get paperwork sorted, dentistry (I had to have 2 potentially-risky teeth removed to declare myself infection-free), angiogram to check all the pipes (found that term quite hilarious), then checked in a day before to begin monitoring. At 8am 24th August 2018, exactly 18weeks ago today and almost to the hour I was "first off the rank" for open heart procedures. My surgery and progress has been fantastic. I woke 9hrs later to my wonderful husband telling me my favourite rugby league was playing on the tv hehehe I was discharged after 6days to heal and progress at home. We have a flight of 18 stairs at home and I walked tentatively up and down the road twice daily. By day 10 post-op I walked 2.7km around my usual park. 15days post-op I walked my usual 4kms which Ive maintained almost daily. Some weeks were missed on and off for different reasons but I still got out and about. I highly recommend cardiac rehab. Despite some discomfort every now and then I feel extremely well and many friends comment still that I just never looked like I had had major heart surgery. Im a firm believer in having the kind of day you want to have and to pass that on to others. So every day is a blessing and Im sticking with that. Happy days all.
More Info About Me & My Heart
More About Me
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I am from:
Gold Coast, Australia
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My surgery date is:
August 24, 2018
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I was diagnosed with:
Aortic Regurgitation
Bicuspid Aortic Valve
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My surgery was:
Aortic Valve Replacement
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My surgeon is:
Dr. Dr Andrie Johaan Stroebel
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My hospital is:
Gold Coast Private Hospital
