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Diagnosis: Bicuspid Aortic Valve, Mitral Regurgitation

Member Since: November 10, 2023

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Nancy Bukowski got a guestbook from Kate Watson

9 months ago (July 14, 2025)

Hi Nancy, thanks for your well wishes for my surgery. I was wondering how things are going for you and if you have more information by now from your TEE? Hope you're doing well.

Nancy Bukowski

Hi Kate, things are going ok for me. My TEE came back as moderate regurgitation ( as opposed to moderate to severe) so now I am in the waiting game. Another follow-up in six months.

Kate Watson

Iâ€™m glad to hear nothing is urgent now! Hope you are feeling well and things are stable for a long time.

Nancy Bukowski got a guestbook from Kate Watson

11 months ago (June 10, 2025)

Hi Nancy, I just wanted to say thank you for your response to my post. I appreciate you sharing the other places to check. I was thinking about Cleveland Clinic, though I sure hate the idea of traveling after surgery. I'm sorry to hear of what you are going through.... Read more.

Nancy Bukowski

Hi Kate, you're very welcome. I understand your reservations about travelling as I feel the same way. It's enough to have to go through this, and then place travel on top of it- ugh! Regarding my valve- my aortic valve, which was replaced due to a bicuspid aortic valve, is... Read more.

Kate Watson

Oh wow I'm so sorry to hear you're going through all of that. It's so distressing when you don't think you even have to worry about any of this for a long time. I hope you get the answers you need. And please keep me posted on you too. Would... Read more.

Nancy Bukowski

It is very distressing and I am trying to stay positive. I am continuing to research so I can ask all of the relevant questions. I have also been spending a lot of time on the Cleveland Clinic website and thought this might help you. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/podcasts/cardiac-consult/reoperative-cardiac-surgery-update

Reoperative Cardiac Surgery Update

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/podcasts/cardiac-consult/reoperative-cardiac-surgery-update

Shinya Unai, MD, provides an update on Cleveland Clinic Heart, Vascular and Thoracic Institute's Cardiac Surgery Reoperations.

Nancy Bukowski

Hi Kate, did you have your consult this week?

Kate Watson

Hi Nancy, Yeah, I had the first one today and I spent the entire day afterwards crying. It was just so much worse than we were expecting, not to mention the surgeon was callous. I knew he would be that way based on patient reviews and my cardiologist gave me... Read more.

Kate Watson

Thanks for sharing that article too.

Nancy Bukowski

Hi Kate, I am sorry to hear this. It is a lot to process and work through. And, it pains me to hear that the surgeon was callous. I would have hoped that he would have displayed some empathy. I would encourage you to reach out to the Cleveland Clinic... Read more.

Nancy Bukowski

https://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/learning/complex-high-risk/

Nancy Bukowski

Wasnâ€™t sure if you had seen/read this before.

Surgeon Roundtable: High-Risk & Complex Heart Valve Surgery

http://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/learning/complex-high-risk/

Learn critical facts and medical insights about complex and high-risk heart valve surgery from Dr. Edward Soltesz and Dr. Anthony Zaki of the Cleveland Clinic.

Kate Watson

Thank you for sending these. I did send my stuff to Cleveland but they are taking their time and I'm not sure how to expedite because I need to get moving on this asap. And I don't even know if I can make the trip there. I just had to... Read more.

Nancy Bukowski

Hi Kate, I am sorry you had to cancel your East Coast trip with your family. Itâ€™s very difficult to put everything on hold. Regarding the Cleveland Clinic, did you use the following for a second opinion? I wish I could help you more, I am still learning to navigate... Read more.

Virtual Healthcare | FAQ

https://www.clinicbyclevelandclinic.com/virtual-care-frequently-asked-questions/

Get answers to your virtual healthcare questions with Cleveland Clinic's virtual second opinion FAQ. Connect with world-class specialists today.

Kate Watson

Hi Nancy, have you made any progress or gotten any answers yet? I didn't use the second opinion thing at Cleveland because some patients said it was kind of generic. It's all been very confusing to me but I was told to email this address where I have since sent... Read more.

Nancy Bukowski

Hi Kate, thanks for the insight on the second opinion option. I did not realize that. Hoping you can get some answers soon. Would you able to call them and escalate? It is confusing and we donâ€™t need confusing on top of everything else right now. Please keep me posted... Read more.

Kate Watson

Hi Nancy, yes I hear you. It is exhausting and scary and confusing. How did your TEE go? I hope it was better news than expected ðŸ™ I found out which surgeon was assigned to my case at CC (which was only because one of my doctors here in CA... Read more.

Nancy Bukowski got a guestbook from Richard Munson

1 year ago (June 10, 2024)

The picture of your 3 beautiful dogs on the stairs must have been tough to set up. They never quite do what you want them to do. We acquired our first dog the year after our marriage in 1967. We have had 6 wonderful companions over that stretch of time.... Read more.

Nancy Bukowski

Hi Richard, believe it or not, those 3 siblings lined up on the stairs all by themselves! You have to love the doggies as they are such great companions.ðŸ¶