Sean's Posts

Sean, I'm a trauma survivor and I get it that it's very hard to trust anyone. I totally get it about anxiety and fear, as well. But you're going to have to find a way to trust SOMEONE. (Not yelling, just emphasizing). In this case, you just have to. You have to get someone ASAP and trust them to care for your dog. Commit to it and be unmovable. You have to get a good surgeon and make that leap of trust to put your life in their hands and let them work on you. It has to happen. You've got to dig out some internal strength and take the steps. Sean, not patting myself on the back when I say this, but I walked through the process on my own and I had no one with me for my surgery out of state. It was very hard. I'm just saying you can do this. You've got to. People here care, they care a lot! It's just that we all see you're the only one who can take responsibility for these things. Make some good decisions for care for you and your pup, then don't let anything move you off course.

Sean, in the upper right of the screen you will see a link to heart hospitals. It depends on your specific situation and needs. Beyond that, you then need to decide how much you value the skills of those teams (and their process-driven approach) and compare that to teams closer to your home. The process to get in to see them differs and takes some time and dedication, in some cases. But once you are on the docket everything moves along and you just do what they ask you to do! Keep a clear head and shop for the skills you need and the place that fits you best. Eliminate risk if you can do it!

Not all heart hospitals are listed here, Sean. Just ones that have agreed to be listed on the site. Many here do have phenomenal reputations. Are you thinking about traveling out of state now? It does take some lead time and providing them with all necessary records so they can evaluate your situation. My own process was not quick. I've been under the impression that you're needing surgery ASAP. Another consideration is, will your insurance cover your surgery out of state? US news & world Report ranks heart hospitals on their website. Even if you're not able to go out of state, you could research online to find which hospitals in your region do the best job with heart surgeries. Just some thoughts.

Sean, I hope things come together very quickly for you, if you decide to travel. I went to Cleveland Clinic in 2016. But in my case, I had time and it was a process of several months with a long-distance consultation first. Then another delay, since I needed to switch to one of their more experienced surgeons. I didn't realize you have special considerations for anesthesia. On a quick search last night, Kaiser Sunnyside in Clackamas appeared to be high-performing in aortic valve surgeries. Don't know anything else about them.