calfoxwc Posted February 20, 2019 Report Share Posted February 20, 2019 Some weeks ago, my Wonderful Cute Wife and I visited our family dr., she was going to visit her Dad, 96, down in Texas, bought plane tickets, and just figured to get some anti-biotics to get over her bit of bronchitis before she left. Our Dr frowned, said she heard her heart murmur loud, nothing like the very slight one over the years. She arranged an Electro-cardiogram some days later, etc, and by the time we got home from that, after stopping at the grocery store, Dr. office called and said she had to see a heart specialist right away, as in, the next morning. So, we did. He explained that she had a Critical Aortic Stenosis. Never heard of that, but it's a drastic narrowing of the aortic heart valve. He said she needed heart surgery sooner rather than later - he seriously said " I wouldn't wait even six weeks, folks". Three days later, they did a heart catheter, and her heart was strong and clear. A very high level surgeon met with us after that, and discussed a few surgical options. He said our family Dr. was right on the money - the "red line" for critical aortic stenosis is .8 centimeter. Hers was even smaller - .6. They explained that the valve is supposed to be the size of about a quarter - and hers was only as wide as a pencil eraser. With zero symptom overt, they arranged a meeting early the next week to meet with the prominent surgeons to discuss options. then, the saturday night before.. she calmly came to me, a bit before midnight, and said she felt a weird, slight pressure on her chest, like one of our cats was laying on her chest. We found out later, that women don't have the same symptoms as men with heart problems occurring. With zero pain, etc, I drove her to emergency. They said she did not have any heart attack, but that the weird feeling with zero pain was considered a kind of pain, as in, a preliminary warning to worse and far more dangerous symptoms. So, with her stabilized, they said they wanted to send her up to the main hospital, pronto, and joked that I did a good job getting her there, but me driving her up to the main hospital wasn't an option, and yeah, we were both fine with that. The paramedics got her up to the main hospital, and she was quickly admitted to the heart floor. They did not want her going back home to wait for surgery - it was dangerous. I stayed with her the first two nights, in a recliner chair the nurses brought to me, in her room, without sleeping - the surgeon stopped in, joked that he hadn't expected to see her again so soon. He said their plan was to expedite surgery to about the end of the week. On monday, he said their surgical team met, and her surgery was wednesday. We discussed options again, got an amazing education, made the perfect decision. It helps that before the emergency trip, my longtime best friend's brother was a longtime heart-lung machine expert/research fellow, who gave us a great understanding of it all, and a great reference for the surgical team. Last Wednesday, she had open heart surgery, to replace the bad valve with a new bio-engineered valve. I stayed with her all the day and all night, in the chair... With the incredible advanced tech they have, she came home five days later, and she was carefully walking around the house like she never had surgery. We are so very fortunate - she could have been flying when symptoms hit, etc. She's my best friend, always and forever, and I am so much one of the luckiest guys ever, It's great to have such wonderful friends - we are so fortunate and blessed. Everybody take care. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldBrownsFan Posted February 20, 2019 Report Share Posted February 20, 2019 I am glad to hear the surgery went well and your wife is doing fine. Mrs. OBF is my best friend as well and we will be married 37 years this year. The secret to a good marriage is when you wife is your best friend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hammertime Posted February 20, 2019 Report Share Posted February 20, 2019 Great news! Thats the kind of story we all like to hear. Hope recovery goes qell Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LogicIsForSquares Posted February 20, 2019 Report Share Posted February 20, 2019 Cal, glad it was caught before something really bad happens. I am not a praying type but I will keep you guys in my thoughts. My wife is a cardiac nurse and handles a lot of valve replacements. She told me they tend to have great results and quick recoveries. So hopefully Mrs. Cal is up and back to her normal routine soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MLD Woody Posted February 20, 2019 Report Share Posted February 20, 2019 I imagine you need a healthy heart to deal with Cal all day Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JAFBF Posted February 21, 2019 Report Share Posted February 21, 2019 Sorry to hear that happen Cal, but glad everything worked out. My father went through four Open Heart Surgeries throughout his life. Not as advanced back then as they are now, but even now it can be tough times. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tiamat63 Posted February 21, 2019 Report Share Posted February 21, 2019 Well some good news. Godspeed for an easy recovery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calfoxwc Posted February 21, 2019 Author Report Share Posted February 21, 2019 sorry, folks, I ran out of "Thank You"s. 16 hours ago, LogicIsForSquares said: Cal, glad it was caught before something really bad happens. I am not a praying type but I will keep you guys in my thoughts. My wife is a cardiac nurse and handles a lot of valve replacements. She told me they tend to have great results and quick recoveries. So hopefully Mrs. Cal is up and back to her normal routine soon. Well, Bless your Wife, it takes a very special kind of person to do a tough job, so much responsibility, and be friendly and fun. because the staff there... I believe you couldn't to anywhere in the world and get better, more wonderful care. Twice, some young cranky floor doctor put my Wife into a list to switch regular room until surgery, and the nurses and staff went to our surgeon and had her overruled. They told us she was fun, no trouble, and they worked to keep her in the heart unit for three days, then in her room right after surgery, and until she went home. It's a really tough job, surely, but they were wonderful. Her surgeon made a special trip to let us know about that, he was smiling about it. What a wonderful bunch of folks. Actually, they took wonderful care of her, and me too. The free coffee and cokes they would bring to me, and reassurances that she was doing great - I'll always remember. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TexasAg1969 Posted February 22, 2019 Report Share Posted February 22, 2019 18 hours ago, calfoxwc said: sorry, folks, I ran out of "Thank You"s. Well, Bless your Wife, it takes a very special kind of person to do a tough job, so much responsibility, and be friendly and fun. because the staff there... I believe you couldn't to anywhere in the world and get better, more wonderful care. Twice, some young cranky floor doctor put my Wife into a list to switch regular room until surgery, and the nurses and staff went to our surgeon and had her overruled. They told us she was fun, no trouble, and they worked to keep her in the heart unit for three days, then in her room right after surgery, and until she went home. It's a really tough job, surely, but they were wonderful. Her surgeon made a special trip to let us know about that, he was smiling about it. What a wonderful bunch of folks. Actually, they took wonderful care of her, and me too. The free coffee and cokes they would bring to me, and reassurances that she was doing great - I'll always remember. I may have been PO'd at you, but I never wanted anything to happen to you or your wife. When I saw the thread on asking what happened to you, I took you back off ignore so I could find out for myself. I'm very glad you took such good care of your best friend for life Cal. You did a great job of taking it very seriously from the first moment and getting her expert help immediately. Give yourself a gold star for that and a hug for your friend. And thank God for the extra years you just got together. Could have been a far worse outcome had you not paid close attention. And it's good thing she needed to see a doctor before traveling. As I have said before, there are no coincidences. 💓🙏 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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