Marc Gunderson
Aortic Valve and Ascending Aorta Replacement
My name is Marc Gunderson. I am 41 years old (10th December
1962). I am married with one child, a boy born 13th Sept 2003. I
live in the small township of Yandina, Queensland, Australia. I was
diagnosed with a slight heart murmur some 15 years ago and have been
seeing a Cardiologist every 2 years since then to monitor the
condition. The condition was a slightly leaking (regurgitating)
aortic valve.
At the beginning of 2003 I went for my usual 2 yearly
echocardiograph. The results showed a slightly dilated ascending
aorta (5.5cm). This had never shown up in any previous tests. I then
visited my Cardiologist and he said to have the same test redone in
6 months. So in 6 months time I had the test done again and it now
showed my ascending aorta to be even larger (6.1cm). As I felt this
test must be wrong my Cardiologist sent me to the Prince Charles
Hospital here in Brisbane, Queensland for a MRI of my heart. The
test was performed and it did show my ascending aorta was in fact
5.5cm and not 6.1cm as previously measured. I was then referred to
one of the Hospitals Cardiologist for further examination. In
December 2003 I had an angiogram done and it showed my Coronary
Arteries to be in perfect condition and my heart itself to be in
perfect condition. What it did show was my Ascending aorta to be
very dilated (6.1cm) and my aortic valve to have 3 leaflets, but 2
were fused together and the valve was not working very well.
The Cardiologist then referred me to a Specialist Cardiac Surgeon
who came and visited me after the angiogram. He explained the
operation to me and told me that it would have to be done very soon.
So a date was agreed on and the process set in place.
The 5th Jan 2004 was the day of the operation. I arrived at the
Holy Spirit Northside Hospital in Brisbane on Sunday 4th Jan at 12
noon. I was admitted and taken to my private room. I then had a
chest x-ray done and blood samples taken. I relaxed for the rest of
the day and had visits from the various Doctors who would be looking
after me both during the operation and post operative in the
Intensive Care Unit. That night I washed using an antiseptic/
antibacterial soap and was given a sleeping tablet to help get a
good nights rest. Well the sleeping tablet didn’t work. I told the
Anesthetist earlier in the day that to put me to sleep would be like
knocking out a horse.
My operation was scheduled for 8 am on the 5th Jan, but due to
not enough medical staff the operation was put back to 2 pm on the
5th Jan. Seems a lot of people take Christmas holidays at this time
of year. Anyway I had my body shave in the morning and at 11 am have
my final special bath and put on my gown. I laid in bed and at 12
mid day was given my pre-med medication of 3 tablets. I was told to
stay in bed now, as I would become drowsy. At about 12:50 pm I was
wheeled away to the operating room. I said my farewells to my Wife,
little boy, and Mother. On entering the operating room the
anesthetists asked me how I felt. I said I felt normal and not
drowsy and reminded her about what I had said the previous day about
how it would be like knocking out a horse to put me to sleep. We all
laughed and I joked a bit more with all the staff there. Then I
think she pumped in some super stuff to put me asleep and shut me
up.
Well as I was fast asleep I didn’t have a clue what was happening
to me. I had an ATS Mechanical valve and Dacron Aorta fitted I was
told that the operation was finished at 5:20 pm and was in intensive
care some few minutes later. They told my family I wouldn’t wake up
till morning, but I proved them wrong by waking up some 4 hours
Later around 10:30pm. The Nurse said that I shouldn’t be awake.
She called over the ICU Doctor and he checked me out to see if I
could be taken off the ventilator.
So some 20 mins later the nurse removed both the small tube and
the large Ventilator tube from my throat. There were tubes running
everywhere that I could see and I was breathing Oxygen through a
mask. They asked me about my pain level and I said I felt fine but
my Shoulders ached like hell. So they administered some high-powered
anti-inflammatory medicine via the back door. About an hour later I
was feeling pain free and relaxed.
At 5 am the next morning they got me up and had me sitting in a
big old chair. Even got to watch some TV. Then 8 am the
Physiotherapy Lady came round to get me started on my exercises. I
was up and walking in no time. My only problem was my lungs weren’t
expanding very well so I got breathless very quick.
I spent the next 3 nights in the ICU then I was transferred to a
private room in the Cardiac ward. Here I had some privacy and a TV
to watch. I was able to get in and out of bed, go to the bathroom,
shower, etc. After 9 days it was time to leave and go home.
After getting home I have had some good days and a lot of bad
days. I have had a lot of arrhythmia problems. If I lie down I get
missed beats, double beats or slow beats. I have had trouble going
for walks due to feeling faint and wanting to pass out. I guess it
is all one big shock to the system after this surgery and I need
time to get over it.
Me and my little boy before surgery
After surgery. My little boy Daniel never left his Dad for one
minute
The Doctor who performed this operation was Dr Trevor Fayers,
Cardiac Surgeon, Northside Cardiothoracic Surgical Services, at the
Holy Spirit Northside Hospital, Chermside, Queensland, Australia.
I feel that I was never in hospital but more like a health
resort. I had the best care and attention from all the wonderful
Medical professionals and nursing staff. The food was great and I
felt like I was on holidays. Except for the pain in the chest I
guess. The only thing that has bothered me since getting home is the
constant Tick Tick of the new valve. I will have to find ways to get
used to this strange noise so I can once again get some sleep. Other
than that I just have some days that I don’t feel full of energy and
others when I feel good.
The Arrhythmia I am getting has become a nuisance. But all the
Doctors say it is harmless. It feels strange to me.
For those facing this type of operation and have never been in
hospital, go in there with a positive attitude and you will be home
before you know what happened. Nothing scary about any of it. Just
make sure you tell your loved ones how you feel before you go into
theatre. They are the ones that will suffer the most while your
being operated on.
Also ask all the questions you want to the doctors and be happy
with the answers.
Do your research before you go to hospital as well to ensure you
know as much as you can about this.
Anyone that has any tips on “How to get used to the Ticking noise
from the new Valve” please email me at indianmarc@bigpond.com
All the best
Marc Gunderson
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