Monthly Archives: April 2023

Well, even tough guys have weakness.

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Turns out I have one. Little did I know, long long time ago, I was born with a bit of a flaw. Turns out there there should be three where I only have two. It’s called a Bicuspid Aortic Valve. Not only is mine missing 1/3 of its design spec, but now they tell me its too small & calcified and not working as it should. I totally can’t handle the demands my frame & structure put on it. The answer, like anything that has a bad valve, we fix it. Turns out there are several options & I have learned way more than I ever thought I needed to know about this subject. Number one choice was the TAVR Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement. for that one they just shoot a new cow or pig valve up thru an artery & boom… you go home the next day. Sounded too goo to be true & it turns out it was for me. Issue number one, my heart would only accept a small valve. When it wore out, my doctor assured me it would they would have to install an even smaller one in that space. Option number two.. The dreaded open heard procedure. This one comes with it’s own set of options & decisions to make. The doctor will be able to remove the old valve & make room for a much larger valve. The two options there would be a “Tissue Valve ” or “Mechanical Valve”. Again, both have draw backs… I don’t want to sound like a Karen here, all of these options are amazing and could potently give me a better life. For that I am immensely grateful! Okay, back to the open heart options. install a Mechanical valve & be done forever, except would need to take blood thinners for ever. Or, install a large tissue valve that would have no problem with slipping a new smaller one inside when it wears out via the aforementioned TAVR method. As of today, my choice is Open Heart, Large Tissue Valve…..I’ll keep you posted…. I hope….