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Leesa's Posts

Diagnosis: Aortic Aneurysm

Member Since: December 27, 2016

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Leesa Pratt posted an update

9 years ago (January 20, 2017)

Hi everyone. Sorry for taking awhile to post! I am now almost 2 weeks post op from having my ascending aorta/aortic root replaced with a dacron graft. The surgery was considered an "elective" surgery since it was scheduled. However, after they opened me up, they realized quickly that it was... Read more.

👍 Someone, Someone and reacted to this

Bob Fessler

Wow! You are a lucky person. Like you, I'd be ecstatic and jumping up and down. But then that might hurt a lot so jump up and down in your heart and soul.

Shannon Gray

Blessings to you! My surgery was 11 months ago for the same procedure...so happy you are home recovering well. It's certainly a life changing process. Many prayers.

Catie B

Oh, it is phenomenal that they caught the dissection and that you are recovering! Thanking the Lord with you!! May you get stronger and stronger day by day, Leesa.

Leesa Pratt posted a photo

9 years ago (December 30, 2016)

👍 Phyllis Petersen reacted to this

Leesa Pratt posted an update

9 years ago (December 30, 2016)

Hi everyone, I am only a week and a half away from my first OHS. I will be having my aortic root replaced. Luckily, my aortic valve is healthy enough to keep, so I will be having the valve-sparing procedure performed. I found out that I would need surgery back in March. My surgeon originally wanted to operate in June, but I was in my senior year at college so I wanted to graduate first. Well, I graduated two weeks ago, so now it is time for surgery! Since being told I needed surgery in March, I have been on an emotional roller coaster. Some days I am petrified about surgery, other days I am quite calm about it. I have poured hours into researching my operation as well as what to expect after surgery. One thing I have found especially helpful is watching videos of the surgery being performed. It's nice to know what will be happening to my body while I am asleep. Still, I am quite nervous. I have severe anxiety and panic attacks as it is; so bad, in fact, that I am agoraphobic (i rarely leave the house). So in some ways, I am actually more nervous about my general anxiety than the surgery itself, if that makes sense. In addition to my aortic aneurysm, I am riddled with medical problems. I have Marfan Syndrome, neurocardiogenic syncope (I canâ€™t stand very long without passing out), near constant vertigo, hypothyroidism, back pain from herniated discs, etc. My health is so poor that I am in bed roughly 22 hours a day, every day. Friends and family constantly tell me that after surgery I will feel so much better and will finally be able to live a â€œnormalâ€ life. This is soo frustrating to me because it is not true. The physical problems I face every day have nothing to do with my heart; indeed, aortic aneurysms rarely cause any symptoms. So, the surgery will not make me feel better. It will not be a cure all. I WISH my ohs would fix my other problems, but it wonâ€™t. So it is so frustrating when people think that after my surgery I will be better, and it puts a lot of pressure on me to somehow change my life after the surgery in ways that may not be possible. Anyway, Iâ€™m starting to ramble. I just cannot wait to get this surgery behind me. It's been on my mind for so long. A lot of people who have had OHS have told me that the wait is worse than the surgery itself. I hope this is true!

Rita Savelis

Hello Leesa. I'm sorry you have to go through all this, and I'm also sorry that your friends and family can not really relate to what you are going through, even if they mean well. Anxiety before surgery can be terrible, especially when anxiety is something you feel regularly. I... Read more.

Shannon Gray

Oh Leesa, I'm so glad you've found this space to share your story and write. We can relate to the fears and anxiety, and also the roller coaster ride this whole process brings about. I have Turners syndrome, another syndrome that brings about tissue elasticity problem with aortic aneurysms. We... Read more.

Linda Richards

It will be fine. I normally don't sleep well ... oddly, I had eggplant roll a tini and pizza, took a xanix and fell a sleep. My husband was up all night. I was up at 4:30 am for surgery. I went to the Cleveland Clinic in Westin Florida ...... Read more.