Hello all,
I figured I would take advantage of resources such as this on the internet to get some firsthand advice on what to expect with this. I'm 29 years old, and have a congenital biscupid aortic valve that was discovered when I was around 4 years old. I've been closely monitored over the years, and about 5 years ago they found I had developed an ascending aortic aneurysm connected to my faulty valve. The aneurysm has been measured regularly and had been relatively stable for several years; I have also been asymptomatic in terms of the classic valve issues (passing out, dizziness, shortness of breath), but on my last visit, my cardiologist explained that the aneurysm had jumped from 4.0cm to 4.4 cm in a span of around 10 months, which was cause for alarm. They advised that I'd be best to go through with surgical intervention, and if not, they would be measuring it regularly every 2–3 months. I was referred to a cardiothoracic surgeon and have scheduled my surgery for November 22. They will be doing the Bentall procedure, and I will be receiving a mechanical valve.
I was just curious to see what others' experiences were for those who have undergone this surgery. I have had major surgery in the past-I had a thyroidectomy and radical neck dissection at age 21 due to thyroid cancer, and was in the ICU for 24 hours, so I am familiar with that experience. I would be lying if I said I wasn't trepidatious about the surgery, but at the same time, I realize it's necessary to save my life, and that the alternative is a sure early death. It did take me by surprise as the aneurysm had been stable up to this point, and increased significantly in a relatively short span of time. I got this news about a month ago and feel like I've had time to process it, though I still have moments of panic about what I'm facing down.
Long story short, for those who have gone through this (or similar procedures), is there anything you wish you had been told ahead of time? Tips related to recovery? I want to make this as un-stressful as possible for myself and my family.
Thank you in advance.
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Scott
Portland OR
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