About Me (In My Own Words)
Just diagnosed with BAV at 41yo, moderate stenosis and moderate to severe regurgitation via echo .. awaiting first meeting with cardiologist.
Jump 12 months later ...
After seeing the cardiologist and discussing putting off surgery until as close to 50 as possible, and discussing the valve options that a porcine would be best, I was booked in for a follow up round 8 months later in march 2016 after going for an echo.
My cardiologist cc'd the results to me, so I had a good chance to read through, compare and get an idea of what is going on before seeing him. I'd figured I'd be lucky to even make 45. I'd had LVH for over 18mnths, my EF was falling about 5% per year, although good at 50, my energy had dropped noticeably to others who knew me well, and the fact my yard takes me 3 days to mow now instead of a solid 2hrs as would be usual was something that was bothering me.
So when I walked in to see my cardiologist a week and a half ago, it was really no great surprise his first words were, "So I guess you have read between the lines already? .. It's time".
Still it was like getting a kick in the guts from a cranky kangaroo all the same.
Am blessed in a way that I went through what I call my 'cancer trip' when I was 34, was diagnosed with an anal SCC that required concurrent chemo/radio-therapies and about 10 weeks living on the palliative care ward at our local hospital .. at least I have past experience and planning now for OHS I have a blueprint to go by.
This sternum thing is a concern, and the limitations it will bring to someone fiercely independent when it comes to my health issues and looking after myself .. basically I won't be able to run around like I did when I had cancer helping out around the ward, and am pleased its not really that long in hospital and I can get home and feel useless in private.
The ball starts to roll in just over a weeks time, first week I go in for all the bloods to be done, week after that I have a TOE booked in, week after that an angi, and the week after that on the 16th of May I see the surgeon. In the meantime I’ll do a full autumn spring clean, all the winter pruning and fallow the veggie gardens over the winter till next spring, all going to plan I should be sweet by then.
Other than that, am a happily single man living with my cats, one 16, the other 9 .. from a very close family, I have two sisters, am an uncle to two beautiful nieces, have five great-nephews and 3 step great-nephews who are lifes little joys and little drivers of insanity when I babysit them too.
So, that is ‘My story’. :)
More Info About Me & My Heart
More About Me
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I am from:
Gosford, Central Coast, Australia
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My surgery date is:
July 6, 2016
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I was diagnosed with:
Aortic Regurgitation
Aortic Stenosis
Bicuspid Aortic Valve
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My surgery was:
Aortic Valve Replacement
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My surgeon is:
Dr. John Brereton
