About Me (In My Own Words)
In 2005 my primary care doc noticed my heart was enlarged on a chest x-ray. She referred me to a cardiologist who sent me for an echo and saw that my aortic valve was regurgitating. I was followed every year with an echo, in April 2013 he noticed my aortic root had abnormally expanded. He sent me for a CTA, which had said my aorta was dilated to 5.5 cms. It’s funny I read the report but didn’t make a connection that dilation meant aneurysm until my cardiologist told me I needed to see surgeons. As I began getting appointments I always opened with the size of the aneurysm which qualified me for surgery and got me in fairly quickly. I went for three opinions and settled on Cornell with Dr. Leonard Girardi who specialized in aneurysms and valve replacement. Care at Cornell was excellent. In 2013, I had an aortic resection and valve replacement due to an aortic aneurysm. I was 57 at the time. The surgery was a difficult experience, but fortunately I did well. I had two bouts of a-fib. One in hospital one at home, but never had it again. The past 10 years have been good without any valve related issues until recently. My bio-prosthetic valve has started leaking. Currently, I am looking at TAVR and open heart as options. The key for me is making the choice that is right for me but will still provide an exit strategy because I will most likely need another valve in the future.
More Info About Me & My Heart
More About Me
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I am from:
Merrick , NY
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My surgery date is:
June 10, 2013
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I was diagnosed with:
Aortic Regurgitation
Aortic Aneurysm
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My surgery was:
Aortic Valve Replacement
Aortic Aneurysm Replacement
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My surgeon is:
Dr. Leonard Girardi MD
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