About Me (In My Own Words)
Endocarditis Results in Aortic Valve Replacement (On-x Valve in a 30yr old)
Month 1 (Oct/Nov-17): I started feeling sick with a low-grade fever and chronic cough. I went to urgent care and was treated me with antibiotics round 1 (diagnosis: flu or bronchitis - which made sense this time of the year). The fevers went away but the cough remained.
Month 2 (Nov/Dec-17): Next I went to a PCP who identified I had anemia and blood in my urine. I was still coughing at this point but really had no other symptoms. The PCP gave me antibiotics round 2. He ultimately referred me to a Pulmonologist.
Month 3 & 4 (Dec/Feb-18): The Pulmonologist laid out a path of tests to determine my illness. We started with Sinus Infection, Asthma and went down the list. The Pulmonologist concluded I had a sinus infection because at the time my symptoms were the same cough, post nasal drip and low-grade fevers (~99.6-100.1). However, he couldn't yet explain the anemia and other odd blood results and was going to have me perform some other tests. In the interim, he prescribed antibiotics round 3 which was 10-days of Bactrim and it cured me for about 5-7 days.
March 5, 2018: As the antibiotics wore off, I became even more sick. I called the Pulmonologist to report 1-2 weeks of non-stop night sweats, freezing cold, low grade fevers, no energy, dizziness, the cough returned and inability to go to work. He ordered a blood culture and I had it done the same day.
March 6, 2018: The next day I'm at work and get a call from the Pulmonologist who starts with "I have terrible news". Yikes! Not what I wanted to hear. He told me the blood culture shows that I have Endocarditis and that I need to stop everything I am doing immediately, do not pass go, do not collect $200 and drive directly to the hospital for admission because they are waiting for me. For those unsure, Endocarditis is a rare infection of your heart that is deadly if untreated quickly. I drove directly to the hospital, was admitted immediately and had 3 doctors waiting to see me: Head of ER, Infectious Disease and Cardiologist. The Infectious Disease doctor explained that I had an infection of my heart which was something I was prone to due to my bicuspid aortic valve. He also let me know that "I have a bug, he's the bug man and he's going to kill my bug". The way he delivered it added some much-needed humor to the situation. He also told me that I would need a TEE the next morning to see if any damage was done to the heart or specifically the bicuspid aortic valve. If there is no damage, treatment is 6 weeks of IV antibiotics and I'd be on my way!
March 7, 2018: I had my TEE first thing in the morning. I woke up from the anesthesia to my fiancée hysterically crying with the news that my aortic valve had been damaged beyond repair. Crap! The valve was reported to have medium/large vegetations growing on it and a hole in it. The regurgitation was severe and the doctors wanted the valve removed urgently (not emergently). It's a good thing the news was delivered while I was still a bit out of it from the anesthesia! That helped me remain very calm. Surgery was scheduled for 5 days later with no release from the hospital between now and then. I was told the vegetations could break off and cause a massive stroke (comforting, right?). I now had a mere 5-days to determine 1. Was I in the best hospital for this type of surgery or should I transfer? 2. What type of valve does an active 30-year old choose? 3. Is my surgeon the best in the area? 4. Why me? 5. Am I going to have a stroke between now and the up-coming surgery? 6. etc...
March 13, 2018: Game time. I have open heart surgery and they replace my aortic valve with an On-x Valve. The Surgeon (who was excellent) provided me a picture of the valve and described the vegetations as worse than expected. I was fortunate to not have had a stroke pre-surgery. Additionally, I rolled away (in my ICU bed) with an awesome picture of the infected valve to show/disgust all my friends and family.
March 30, 2018: I'm writing this story just 2 weeks post-surgery. So, lots to learn and experience as my new life is still beginning. I'm a passionate mountain bike rider and adventure sport lover. I hope with the lower INR levels of the On-x (1.5-2.0) I can continue my passions with some added caution. If anyone else out there is cycling with an On-x valve, I'd love to hear all about it.
More Info About Me & My Heart
More About Me
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I am from:
Newport Beach, CA
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My surgery date is:
March 13, 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 hospital is:
Hoag Hospital
