About Me (In My Own Words)
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Tue, 9th March 2016 to Wed, 23rd March 2016
Fevers, sweats, shivers in nights. During days I function more or less OK. Continuous inflammations of various body parts (mainly legs and hands). Five GP visits and three courses of various antibiotics. In the meantime, trying to work normally – in the last stage of my sickness I work two weeks (with one-sided pneumonia & deteriorating health) on a construction site. Eventually I have chest pains, short-breath and I can barely walk. But then, one day…
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Wed, 23rd March 2016
…I feel a bit better so I go to see my GP to confirm that tomorrow I can go back my work. He hears a diastolic murmur in my heart and suspecting endocarditis gives me a referral letter to an A+E at the Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe, Co. Galway.
My wife brings me there and I am urgently admitted to the ICU. Echocardiogram shows “left ventricle is severely dilated although the function appears reasonably good; bicuspid aortic valve with aortic incompetence; very unusual mitral valve, large anterior cusp, mild MR; unusual appearance of aorta; no obvious vegetation seen though there is a bright echo on one of the aortic valve cusps.” Doctors agree that endocarditis is likely. I am located in an insolation room as I have a one-sided pneumonia and they suspect TB.
My wife is devastated and I am in a good mood. Ignorance is bliss.
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Thu, 24th March 2016
It is my birthday. I get a cake from my nurses.
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Fri, 25th March 2016
I am transferred in an ambulance to the University Hospital in Galway. Transoesophageal echocardiogram confirms all above including endocarditis. Heart surgery is inevitable. Sooner or later.
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Sat, 26th March 2016
8:00 am. I am told in the morning that heart surgery is needed rather sooner than later.
2:00 pm to 10:00 pm. First heart surgery. Surgeons – Dr Marc Da Costa (Consultant) & Dr Luther Kacper Keita (Registrar), Anaesthetist – Dr Leo Kevin. Aortic valve replaced with mechanical one and major repairs / patches done.
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Sun, 27th March 2016
Woken up in the CICU.
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Tue, 29th March 2016
Moved to the cardiothoracic ward.
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Wed, 30th March 2016
Post-op echocardiogram shows something strange happening with my mitral valve.
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Fri, 1st April 2016
Transoesophageal echocardiogram confirms further damage in my heart. Mitral valve to be repaired or replaced.
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Thu, 7th April 2016
11:00 am to 6:00 pm. Second heart surgery. Surgeons – Dr Marc Da Costa (Consultant) & Dr Luther Kacper Keita (Registrar), Anaesthetist – Dr Louise. Mitral valve repaired and more repairs / patches done.
I land in the CICU (again).
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Sat, 9th April 2016
I am moved to the cardiothoracic ward (again).
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Thu, 14th April 2016
I am transferred back to the Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe, Co. Galway, for an IV antibiotic course.
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Wed, 11th May 2016
After 49 days in hospitals I am finally free to go.
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More Info About Me & My Heart
More About Me
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I am from:
Athlone, Ireland
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My surgery date is:
March 26, 2016
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I was diagnosed with:
Bicuspid Aortic Valve
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My surgery was:
Aortic Valve Replacement
Mitral Valve Repair
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My surgeon is:
Dr. Marc Da Costa
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My hospital is:
University Hospital in Galway, Republic of Ireland
