About Me (In My Own Words)
I guess it started way back on a November day back in 1959, the 29th day to be exact. The day of my birth and the start of a heart murmur. All through adolescents and later, there has never been any concern with this childhood murmur as many Doctors called it.
The first I knew it was something different was when my Dentist informed me that I would be required to take antibiotics prior to any dental care. The reason was because bacteria could enter the bloodstream. After taking these antibiotics for years, it was later decided I would no longer be required to take amoxicillin.
Years went by, retirement, feeling great and always exercising to stay in shape, keeping the weight at a manageable level. I have always prided myself on being healthy, maybe because while in grade school other students called me fat and I remember wearing husky size pants! I look back on these days and now think how cruel other kids can be and how foolish I was to care. In my adult years I was a police officer and saw how some in the professional failed at being fit and put on weight excessively. I have to be honest I recall toping the scales at 240 pounds!! These days I wore a size 38-40 uniform pants.
After having back surgery to correct an L5-S1 herniated disc, I decided to cut out the 1/2 price Whoppers and Fries at the local Burger King and get into shape. Through the years I dropped weight, exercised in the form of lifting and running. I was in my late 20's and early 30's. My weight reach 170 pounds and had a 32 inch waist.
That was then, today has changed. I was required to obtain a physical as part of the process to become a Certified Driver's Education Instructor. There I sat waiting for the Doctor to complete his routine check on me, the perfect specimen. The Doctor then asks, "Did you know you have a heart murmur?" No shit, I answer him "Yes". Then he asks, "How long have you had this?" to which I answer, "My entire life!" I recall this same Doctor saying, "You are one heartbeat from dying!" The Doctor said he wants me to comply to an Echocardiogram of my heart. The reason for the EKG was because the Doctor said there is leakage of one of my valves in the heart. Big deal I thought! I feel great and have had this my whole life without any problems, so why go through all this now? July 25th I had my EKG and as I laid there, I could clearly hear the swooshing of the murmur or blood flow. Test Results where forwarded to my regular Doctor. After he read these results, he scheduled an appointment for me to see a Cardiologist for his professional option on my test results.
August 20th I saw the Cardiologist. He informed me that I have a Bicuspid Aortic Valve instead of the normal Tricuspid Aortic Valve. Along with this issue, I also have Mitral Valve Regurgitation. With these latest results, I was scheduled for two additional tests on August 31st; Left Heart Catheterization or TEE along with a Coronary Angiogram. Both tests will determine the seriousness of my so called heart disease and whether or not it can be controlled with antibiotics or if it requires surgery.
Results of the previously mentioned teats; Non-Rheumatic Mitral Regurgitation (Primary), Myxomatous Mitral Valve Regurgitation, Chronic Diastolic Congestive Heart Failure, Bicuspid Aortic Valve, Ascending Aortic Aneurysm. In order words, the next appointment would be with a Cardiovascular Surgeon. All this and I feel great!!
Cathy and I met with the Cardiovascular Surgeon on Tuesday, October 16th at SSM/St. Mary's in Madison. The result of my tests indicate surgery is need to repair the Mitral Valve that is leaking and causing less Oxygenated Blood into my body, thus shortness of breath (which I haven't experienced) and being more tired (and here I thought being more tired was simply part of getting older!). As for the Bicuspid Aortic Valve, he didn't recommend operating on this at this time. Either way both the Aortic Valve and Mitral Valve can be repaired or replaced. My Mitral Valve will be repaired, which is good news as it doesn't require replacement. Replacement would involve a valve made of cow or pig, or a metal replacement valve. This is the same for the Bicuspid Aortic Valve when it gets replaced. If a metal valve is used, then the patient would be on blood thinners the rest of their life. Metal replacements last much longer than the ones made of cow or pig. Did I tell you how great I've been feeling??
The Cardiovascular Surgeon told us that I would feel 100% better after healing from surgery than I do now. He added that the way I've been feeling, I may have simply equated it to "being normal" and getting older.
Open Heart Surgery is scheduled for November 1st at St Mary's Hospital in Madison. I am ready for this and want to get it over with so that I can continue with life. My grandma Neidner always said, "If you got your health, you've got everything".
I've been seeing more and more people on FaceBook asking for their birthday they want donations made to specific causes. My birthday is in November and what I want for my birthday is a promise from all of you that you will be healthier in 2019 than you are now! Please start now, take little steps, before these steps become fewer and fewer to the point they simply stop. You owe it to yourself and your family. Health dictates Quality of Life!
It's now been almost 11 weeks post-surgery that repaired my Mitral Valve and one Coronary Artery Bypass Graph. In the future I will need another surgery to repair my Bicuspid Aortic Valve. But now I continue to exercise and lift weights. As many with heart disease, I watch a little closer as to what I eat. I've never had high blood pressure or cholesterol, but can always do better. Today will mark the 60th straight day of at least 30 minutes of exercise that helps build the little muscle called the "heart".
More Info About Me & My Heart
More About Me
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I am from:
Waterloo, Wisconsin
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My surgery date is:
November 1, 2018
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I was diagnosed with:
Aortic Stenosis
Bicuspid Aortic Valve
Mitral Regurgitation
Coronary Artery Disease
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My surgery was:
Mitral Valve Repair
Coronary Artery Bypass Graft
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My surgeon is:
Dr. Vijay Kantamneni
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My hospital is:
St Mary's Hospital -Madison, WI
