Update -- Met with Jaggers today

[JCDavis81]

Hey all,

Just a little update. I met with Dr. Jaggers at Duke for the second time to talk about valve choice. Let me just say this guy is The Man! After meeting with him again I have total confidence that he is the guy to perform this surgery. The best way I can describe his manner is quite confidence.

A quick aside, before I got into Jaggers office, I was sitting in the waiting area. Another doc walked in and Jaggers' assistant introduced him as Jaggers' purtusionist (sp) y and told him I was having surgery on the 29th. I (jokingly) told the doc that I hoped he was good at what he does and his response was perfect: "Oh don't worry, I'm the best. Really." It's nice to know that the guy that will be controlling your bypass machine thinks of himself that way. :)

So I met with Jaggers for about half an hour. He's still pretty confident that he can repair my post-ross aortic valve by just replacing the root - going so far as to call up my MRI on his computer and show me why. He said the surgery would take a little longer than normal becuase he would replace the root, attempt to repair the valve and then take me off the pump to see how it performed. If the repair worked, that's it and I'm off to recovery. If not, I'm back on the pump and as he explained "we pop in a mechanical valve."

It's pretty clear now that the best decision as a backup to the repair is mechanical. Due to my age and surgery history Jaggers would not recommend a tissue replacement because it would require a third surgery down the line. I asked him if that mattered if my pulmonary valve would eventually need fixing too (because of the ross) and he said that the PV may never need to be replaced and if it did, replacing it down the line doesn't mean an higher mortality rate than normal. A third AVR would come with at least a 10 percent chance of mortality, but any future futsing with the PV would have only a 2 percent mortality rate.

So there it is. All the decisions have been made and I'll be ready to go on the 29th (but I reserve the right to change my mind until the last minute).

In the wonderful words of Der Beirmeister on another thread: its time to GET ER DONE!

:)

[Mary]

I'm glad they inspired you with confidence. I had heard about my surgeon, but I didn't know until I met him that I actually liked his demeanor. He was very confident, and his confidence made me feel very secure in my decision.

I wish I could speed time up so you could get this over quicker, but I can't, so you might as well try to enjoy yourself these last few weeks. :)

[Phyllis]

You are in the best possible situation pre-surgery- confident in your surgeon and happy with your choices. We wish you the best and look forward to all good results.

[tobagotwo]

I concur. It sounds like you are temporarily in the catbird's seat. A repair as he describes, that would rescue your own valve and the Ross Procedure, would be a wonderful outcome.

Best wishes,

[Karlynn]

Great meeting! Now time for some pre-surgery fun.:)

[Christian]

Good luck to you. You've been through this before, so I'm sure you're familiar with how everything works, and that's probably the biggest hurdle once your decisions have been made.

[JCDavis81]

thanks to all of you for your kind words -- I'm feeling pretty good about everything right now. Interestingly, though, I've started to have very realistic dreams about the surgery and being in the hospital. Don't know why. They're not nightmares just very vivid.

And Christian, thanks for the luck -- I can only hope my surgery and immediate recovery goes as well as Jaydee's has. :)

Best,
Joe


Good luck to you. You've been through this before, so I'm sure you're familiar with how everything works, and that's probably the biggest hurdle once your decisions have been made.

[Christian]

I hope so too. Knock on wood.

I've been having a recurring nightmare for about six days in which my one year old son is being wheeled away for emergency heart surgery (he has no known defects in reality -- this is just a bad dream). It's so terrible that I've jolted awake and upright each time. I know there are a few members here who have young children that are surgery veterans. My heart goes out to you guys. And to your parents, Joe. They have to be very proud of where you are right now, and this must be a constant worry for them as well as you.

Christian

[knightfan2691]

*raises eyebrow*

Vivid dreams, Joe? Wow...how so, if I may ask (and you don't mind sharing)...?


And, Christian, for some reason, I just _now_ noticed your location listed as Pittsburgh PA ... sorry I missed seeing you and your family when I was in Pittsburgh during my eastern road trip this past August.... My Dad is from the Johnstown/Holsopple area, so we get back to PA at least once a year, sometimes twice if we make it back for a Cubs/Pirates game at PNC Park ... maybe we can meet next time I'm in PA...?


Cort, "Mr MC" / "Mr Road Trip", 32swm/pig valve/pacemaker
MC:family.IL.guide.future = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort/
chdQB = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort/quilt.html
"I didn't mean to take away your dreams" ... Hootie & The Blowfish ... 'Only Lonely'

[Christian]

Sure. Just send me a note before your arrival so I can keep our calendar free.

[JCDavis81]

Sure, I don't mind telling you about them if you don't mind reading about them :)

In the most recent one, I "wake up" in my dream and think that I've just woken up in the ICU after surgery. I can't believe that's true, and my eyes are still closed so I think I may be dreaming...but I feel really sore and don't want to move at all. Finally, I open my eyes and look down and I see the fresh scar with those little strips across it, the chest tubes below it. Then I look around and I'm in the ICU, recovering after surgery. I feel okay, but just incredibly sore and can only more very carefully. It just felt so real. I felt badly when I woke up because I really had wished that the surgery was already over :D

Anyway, as i said, they're not really nightmares just dreams about surgery. Since I've been though this before, I guess its just my subconscious mind reminding me what it feels like, what it looks like. It's interesting.

Best,
Joe

[Marguerite53]

Well, I concur with everyone, you sound great! I think your dream is the result of your subconscious agreeing with your waking conscious.... the brief experience with the surgeon and your feeling of relief that you are in confident hands. You are only waking up sore in your dream. You are not waking up frightened or with any new difficulty. And, you are waking up! :D You are telling yourself all is well!!

As I'm still in the Waiting Room I have less than no experience to share, but I certainly like all the statistics which the doctor gave you. As far as the Pulmonary valve needing anything, one of our members just had his "replaced" 40 years after a tetrology of falot repair (?? Several here with that situation) and I believe he is still doing great at about 2 months out. It’s George. I’m sure he would respond to a PM if you had any questions. He lives pretty close to me and he owes me a lunch as soon as he’s up and rolling ;) . His disability with limb-girdle muscular dystrophy prompted an earlier than actually needed PVR. AND he had his same surgeon, the infamous Dr. Starr (whom I would venture to guess has met Dr. Jaggers at some point).

I see that you are on the calendar for November 29, yet in your member profile you say December. We need to know for sure!!

Keep posting with all your concerns/fears/questions. I know you’ve been through it before, so you’re pretty up to snuff, but if you need us, there are so many here just armed and ready to go through the wait with you!

Best wishes!

:) Marguerite

[JCDavis81]

Thanks for your kind words Marguerite! This community his been such a wonderful find for me.

My surgery is 11/29 and I'll update my profile accordingly. When I joined it was tentatively planed for end of november/early december but now the date is locked in.

I agree with your thoughts about my subconscious/conscious thing. I think its my mind's way of finally accepting what's going to happen. For a long time I had blocked out almost everything about the earlier surgery - I remebered bits and peices but more like I was remembering a story someone told me once, not like I was remembering what had really happened to me.

But now, I've been having little flashbacks -- again nothing scary -- just remembering what it was like to go through surgery and recovery though my own eyes and not someone elses.

Best,
Joe

[liza]

Congrats on your decisions! It sounds like everything is going swimmingly. How has life been otherwise? School has been keeping me VERY busy. Be sure to keep us updated on everything! :)

Liza

[knightfan2691]

Christian,

Excellent ... I will do that ;).



Joe,

Holy cow are those vivid images ... even in the written form. I agree with all of the evaluations ... I think it is you "coming to terms" with the surgery ... and wanting it complete! Perhaps even a little bit of your mind putting yourself at ease about the surgery...and preparing you for the "aftermath".... Good luck...thoughts/prayers coming your way!

[George]

This talk of nightmares reminded me of a humorous moment in the hospital, following my recent pulmonary valve replacement. For the second of three times, my newly repaired heart went into atrial fibrillation during the night. My cardiologist was called at home in the wee hours for advice. When he saw me the following morning, he jokingly asked me this question: " So, what happened to you last night? Did you have a dream that Dr. Starr (my surgeon) was chasing after you with a knife?" :eek: :D
Joe, as Marguerite suggested, I'd be happy to discuss pulmonary valve replacement with you. Our situations are different, but I can assure you I am VERY glad I went ahead with it. Oh, and to Marguerite.....YES, we are still on for lunch!;)

[MarkRose]

Good luck kiddo!
You seem to be on top of everything, doing all the right things. I'm sure your surgery will be a success.
God bless, Margaret