Edith's Posts

I flew from Phoenix, Az to Texas on Tuesday, and had a consultation with Dr. William Ryan of the Baylor Heart Hospital in Plano, Tx on Wednesday afternoon. He was as nice as I have been told he was. After reviewing my records, and speaking with me, he told me that he could do a mini sternotomy to replace my aortic valve, which is what I was hoping he would suggest. However, due to my age, and the fact that I am on prednisone, he believes that I am a candidate for the TAVR, which does not require open heart surgery. Initially, only patients who were not able to have open heart surgery due to their health were candidates for the TAVR. However, it has been expanded to include other patients now., who are considered intermediate. I will have to make an appointment to return to Plano to the TAVR Clinic at Baylor to spend a full day having numerous tests, so I will need to spend two nights at the hotel nearby. I plan to do that about the middle of April. If, after all of the tests, I am judged to be a candidate, I will set a date to return to Plano again to have the procedure. There have been advancements in the procedure ie., a much better valve, or I would not consider having it. I have been living with dread, and I can relax now. Hopefully, Dr. Ryan is correct in believing that I am a candidate.