About 6 years ago, my doctor discovered a heart murmur. After an echocardiogram, aortic insufficiency was diagnosed. In August of 1997, after a routine echocardiogram, my doctor said I needed an MRI because my aortic root had enlarged significantly in 1 year. The MRI showed an ascending aortic aneurysm of about 5.3 cm.
I had had no symptoms at all. I was a 54 year old female in good health except for high blood pressure. He put me in touch with a thoracic surgeon who reccommended surgery within 3 months. I decided to do some research and I got the names of about 6 other top rated surgeons. On visiting the third one, I knew I had found the right doctor. He was very confident and I felt all the fear go out of me after talking to him. I can honestly say, I was not afraid when I had the operation.
Dr. O. Wayne Isom (who also operated on David Letterman) did the surgery in New York Hospital with Dr. Leonard Gerardi assisting. When they opened me up, they found another an aneurysm beginning in the aortic arch, so they repaired both with grafts. They also replaced the aortic valve with a St. Jude's valve. My recovery was routine.
I am feeling well now. It's been 3 1/2 years and I don't feel any different now than I did before. I am on 3 blood pressure pills and coumadin. I do wonder, though. Hopefully I have a long life ahead of me and will I have a predisposition to other aneurysms? Also is there any problems with the St. Jude valve that I should know about? And what about taking coumadin for the rest of my life? What are the risks there?
My cardiologist says not to worry. But I would like to hear from others who have gone through what I have and what their experiences have been.