Aortic root surgery next week

rnc76,

Glad you have a plan and soon you will be on the road again...........From what I have read here in the forum,  Dr Lars Svensson is a great surgeon.  I will be thinking of you and keeping you in my prayers.

For now, remember to stay in the moment and try not to get caught up in what-if thinking.  Plan for a positive outcome.

Kindly,

Kitt

Thanks and I will give an update from my hospital bed next week. We are very fortunate that this can be fix. Not too many years ago, the technology didn't even exist to detect it, no less fix it. I would have died of a sudden "heart attack" with no warning at an early age leaving my daughters without a father. I don't know that I have any words of wisdom but I can say that I had some previous trials a few years ago that gave me perspective. I had a lot of negativity and anger and they are toxic. They will eat you from the inside. I had to change my view on aspects of life.

praying and thinking of you, will be waiting to hear back from you... what a joy it will be to not live in fear of a dissection!!! prayers to you from west texas!!

Thinking of you! May you get off that respirator and up walking quickly! You can do this!

Well I am thru surgery and to be released from the hospital tomorrow! Dr Svensson said my aortic root replacement and valve repair went exactly as expected. I am recovering well. The first couple days post op were intense. I can't even say whether it was better or worse than I expected because I didn't know what to expect. By day 3 I was getting slightly mobile and feeling generally better, with much less pain. Today I am 4 days post op and I can do most basic activities: shower, brush teeth, walk, go to the bathroom without much pain. Of course, I get exhausted very easily. I am very optimistic that the recovery will be smooth. The boredom, fatigue and loneliness will have its own set of challenges. But I got through the last few days, I will get through the next few weeks/months as well.

I cannot say enough good things about Dr Svensson, his team, the nurses and the clerical staff at Cleveland Clinic. Every person I met was so professional, knowledgable and punctual even! I had 3 days worth of tests, scans, appointments... Not one ran behind schedule.

Post Edited (rnc76) : 4/8/2014 7:53:09 PM (GMT-6)

I hear you on that. The first few days I am setting an alarm to remind me every 4 hours. I got behind on my pain meds at the hospital. I broke out in a heavy cold sweat, shaking uncontrollably, heart was beating 150 for no reason... Took me about 12 hours to fully recover from that. I felt almost like I was going into shock. The pain was bearable, it hurt quite a bit but it was bearable, but it felt like I was shutting down. I think after being in constant for several days, what is intense pain takes on a different meaning though. No more of that thank you.

hope you are doing well rnc76, still thinking of you in Texas!!

thats great! glad to here back from you and doing well!! What restrictions will you have after you have completely healed? no more worries about a dissection, that is a mind easing comfort! wishing you the best!!

Oh wow soo glad you are recovering so well and that they found the aneurysm in time! I have a polyester thoracic aorta ( well a part anyways) and a mechanical valve. I had my surgery at 39 with five kids at home! I like you am so grateful to the surgeons and support staff who performed my surgery three years ago. Sounds like you are on a wonderful journey to recovery! That's awesome!

Hi all, I thought I would give an update for those interested. I had my thoracic aortic aneurysm repair and repair of my aortic valve, 2 months ago today. I feel good, I am walking long distances up to 5-6 mile hikes on fairly rugged trails. I try to walk at least 30 mins/day. I got back to work a few weeks ago part time. I am still working about 30 hours/week. I am sure I could push it to 40, but I am pretty happy taking it easy for now and my boss is supportive. The pain of the incision is still present but not intense. Just enough to give me a gentle reminder occasionally of what I went through. I had an echo at 4 weeks. Everything looked great. My aortic regurgitation pre-surgery was a 3-3+. The recent echo measured "trace" regurgitation, written down as a level 0-1. I call that a success.

The physical recovery has been a slow steady progression. The initial couple weeks the healing was very fast, since then the "sprint" has turned to a "marathon". The speed of that initial healing I am sure is due to youth (relatively at least, I am 38) and general overall good health. The mental aspect of healing is at least as important after that initial phase. For a person not used to being limited, the sitting around and trying to rest can take a toll. Having a good support network is critical. I caught up with a lot of my extended family in this time, which has been nice. I have been in touch with a lot of my older relatives. They have been a great source of comfort. They generally have more time to talk, they are very supportive and many have been through health issues or know someone close to them who has.

I thought I would give an update now that the fog of surgery has lifted.

WOW, you have recovered well.. walking miles long hikes, thats great!! life is good!!! happy to hear good news!! my aneurysm at the root is still 4.35 and holding as long as I dont lift anything heavy, my main problem is the back pain from disc problems!! severe at times!! ugh!!!!

@rnc76 Thank you for sharing your journey and posting about your recovering. It has put my mind a little more at ease. Kitt... I did read the cleveland clinic pdf which was very helpful in understanding.

So I guess here on post 1, here goes my story....I am 44 (m) 2 amazing kids and incredible wife. (Live on Long Island, NY). Went for annual wellness check up in early May. At the end of the visit was pretty routine (I am in good health, active) - Dr said 'we should do a echocardiogram on you too' lets make an appt to get it done. So booked an appt at the front desk...and set 5/27 as the day for the echo. Echocardiogram was uneventful - joked a little with the technician and that was that. I must have been done within 20 mins. Ah life is good.

June 2nd at 1pm: Dr calls and leaves a message at home - call me back - need to get you into do a CTA asap. Call back and after a few calls set up CT for June 4th.

June 4th at 3pm: 20 mins and I am done with CTA. Pretty uneventful.

June 6th at 11am: At this point tests should be in...I am thinking..ah if it was bad Dr would have called me by now right? Nope. He is busy with a busy practice. I call at 11am. Dr tells me I have 4.9cm aneurysm on aortic root. Tells me to make an appt with Cardiovascular surgeon who he recommends here on Long Island. Call the specialists office and make an appt for this coming Wednesday (June 11th at 10am).

I will post later about the outcome and what the prognosis is for treatment now or later. I guess I am just in shock, scared out of my wits and a little terrified (ok no more googling and you tubing 'aortic aneurysm's" for me). I find RNC76's story very reassuring and on another website there is a story of a Finnish man who seems to be running like Forest Gump since he recovered. Fingers crossed, praying and here goes. I will post updates as regularly as possible.