Might just be the end of the road...

FastEddieB

FastEddieB

Touchdown! Greaser!
Joined
Oct 14, 2013
Messages
11,865
Location
Lenoir City, TN/Mineral Bluff, GA
Display Name
Fast Eddie B
Home Airfield
Big T Airport (80TN)
The back story…

About 15 years ago my family doctor detected I had a slight heart murmur. I was referred to a cardiologist, who ordered an echocardiogram, which revealed a mild mitral valve prolapse. I recall my mom had a similar diagnosis, so maybe it was genetic. In any event over the last 15 years or so I’ve had annual echocardiograms, which showed at best a very slow progression towards moderate. In addition, the last few mentioned the aortic valve having some minor issues as well.

That all changed with my last echocardiogram, which showed more severe regurgitation. My cardiologist ordered a transesophageal echocardiogram, which goes down your throat (under sedation), to get a better look at the heart valves. The result of that was that my problem was severe and would definitely need attention soon.

All pretty unexpected - I’m pretty much asymptomatic, still going on bike rides up to 2 hours and up to 30 miles in the rolling hills of E TN. I’ve stayed fairly lean and fit and Karen feeds me VERY well. Any general fatigue I might occasionally feel I wrote off to being in my mid-70’s. But my AppleWatch gave me an alert a few days ago of an unusual recent decrease in VO2max, so something is definitely going on.

I had a consultation a week ago with a cardiac surgeon. She confirmed surgery to replace at least the aortic valve was indicated, and a repair or replacement of the mitral valve at the same time. She advised against putting it off - that she’d rather perform that surgery on a 76-year-old as opposed to an 80-year-old. And that without intervention I might be looking at heart failure within two years. She told me to avoid strenuous exercise, but moderate exercise was fine, keeping my heart rate below about 140. Fortunately, with my e-bikes that’s pretty easy to do in spite of the hills, and i’m trying to do that every other day to at least keep my heart muscle strong.

This is NOT minor surgery - it’s open heart. She said typically 1 day in ICU, and another 4 or 5 days recovering in the hospital. Then, no lifting of more than 10 lbs for 3 months while the ribcage heals. Right now just awaiting the scheduling of more tests to confirm my heart is healthy enough for the surgery. If so, then schedule the surgery as soon as practicable. Good news is Knoxville has a widely respected Heart Hospital as part of the University of Tennessee Medical Center and that’s only 20 miles or so from our E TN home.

Implications to my flying career to follow…
 
I allowed my medical to expire in 2009. The recurring annual Special Issuances for kidney stones were becoming burdensome, and having sold my Cirrus, flying my Sky Arrow under Sport Pilot privileges was preferable. Then, along came BasicMed and I’ve been flying under that since its inception.

But heart valve replacement is disqualifying for either of the above. So if I wanted to continue flying it would require what seems to be an arduous process following a mandatory 6 month grounding post-surgery. Right now, I’m just not inclined to put myself through that process for what might be just a few more years of flying my Sky Arrow around the patch. Not to say I might not change my mind later.

And it’s been a good run over the last 50 years or so. Just over 7,000 hours logged, with no accidents or violations. 4,250 hours instructing, starting many pilots on their flying careers and helping other pilots learn new skills and earn new ratings. Plus, I recently got to live my dream of living in an airport hangar home.

So, no regrets, and I’m resigning myself to the fact that this is likely a chapter coming to a close. Of course, I’m a little sad, but every flying career will ultimately end, and if I can manage to end mine gracefully and on my own terms, that’s a plus.

As an aside, my 2007 Sky Arrow E-LSA might be on the market in the not-too-distant future, should anyone be interested.
 
Eddie, sorry to hear of the news, I will be thinking of and praying for you. I had an aortic valve replacement in my early 50’s, genetic. Ten years later, I’m now in crap shoot land, the valve could go another 10 years, or another 10 days. Dr says when it goes it will go quick.

If you do the surgery and want someone to talk to post op, let me know. BTDT, and Dr Bruce is your man if you want to get that SI later.
 
Eddie, I’m sorry to hear all that, but why not defer a flying decision until you’ve recovered from the surgery and have a doctor’s opinion about your health? I’m sure you realize that if your health becomes acceptable, you could resume flying as a SP without any arduous FAA involvement.

Grounding yourself might still be the right ultimate decision, but you could possibly be making it a bit prematurely.

Thoughts and prayers for you, friend. Keep us posted.
 
@FastEddieB so sad to hear, but at least the decision making is happening on the ground rather than in the air.
Half Fast said:
why not defer a flying decision until you’ve recovered from the surgery and have a doctor’s opinion about your health?
Click to expand...
Given the magnitude, I'd be planning ahead for all possible near and medium term outcomes.
 
Sorry to hear, but like others, glad this is something you’re dealing with proactively. Your health is more important than flying.
 
Sorry to hear you're going through this. Why do you believe this would disqualify you from exercising sport pilot privileges after a full recovery?
 
Eddie, I'm sorry to hear about your medical condition. But I'm glad you seem to be getting excellent medical advice.

The thing that worries me is what are you going to do with all that time and money that now goes into flying?
 
Good luck, and all the best.
I would change my flying to only be second in command, and always fly with someone else. How that affects ownership, is up to you.
If you decide to NOT sell the plane, I would at least arrange for a broker to be contacted by your estate.

Tim
 
Get well soon, hang in there. Sounds like you’re healthy and health conscious. I’m guessing from afar that you’ll be back in the air during warm weather season next year, if ya want!
 
Glad you’re getting a valve replacement!
Hope it’s a straightforward surgery and recovery.
 
Thanks to all for the kind wishes.

Perhaps I did misunderstand. It did at first appear that cardiac valve replacement was disqualifying for Sport Pilot privileges, but it seems there may be wiggle room. BasicMed does appear to be out, and I may have conflated the two. I may be able to flight instruct, as long as the student is able to act as P.I.C. for the flight.

In any case, I’m not going to do anything rash or burn any bridges. One step at a time.
 
I just read a book about a Navy F18 pilot who had valve reconstruction, he spent two years getting approved but finished his 20 years flying in the F18 again. He's a cattle driver now for one of the majors.
 
Sorry to hear of the problem, but very glad you found it this way rather than the hard way, and that you have a good team. Friend of mine had a heart valve replaced 20 years ago, and he's better than ever. Wish you the best, and your plan of "one step at a time" is a good one. Don't sell that airplane yet...
 
FastEddieB said:
That all changed with my last echocardiogram, which showed more severe regurgitation. My cardiologist ordered a transesophageal echocardiogram, which goes down your throat (under sedation), to get a better look at the heart valves. The result of that was that my problem was severe and would definitely need attention soon.
Click to expand...

I've been dealing with heart issues for 6 years now. One of the minor issues was a mild mitral valve regurgitation. My cardiologist sent me to Mayo Clinic Transplant Department to get me on their radar and "to have another set of eyes on things" (that was just a bit sobering). So ever since then, once a year we drive over to Jacksonville and go through a half day of tests and a consult (I call it the annual on my heart).

A couple years back after an echo test my cardiologist said my mild mitral valve problem was now "severe". He also ordered a TEE and confirmed that the valve needed to be replaced ASAP. Like you, I was 100% asymptomatic. My annual MAYO trip was a few months off so we moved it up. Drove out went through the regular tests plus a stress test.

Results were the ejection fraction was the highest it's been since this whole ordeal started, the valve issue was "mild". The doc was surprised at my stress test results as they were what he would expect from someone 15 years younger with no heart problems.

My point is, get a second opinion from someplace like Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic. A place that really specialized in the heart.
 
Fast Eddie,

Not sure if it'd help you, but *I* would sure look into the TAVR (Transcatheter aortic valve replacement) Procedure at Cleveland Clinic or check the Houston area as a second opinion. Would skip getting your chest cracked open if it appeared to work for you. I'm in medical imaging (we own an ultrasound clinic), but we stopped doing cardiac exams a couple of years ago. Arnold Swarzenegger I believe had this procedure done ... take care.

Daniel
 
danhagan said:
Not sure if it'd help you, but *I* would sure look into the TAVR (Transcatheter aortic valve replacement) Procedure at Cleveland Clinic or check the Houston area as a second opinion…
Click to expand...

Fascinating. And there are apparently doctors here at the University of Tennessee who can perform that procedure.

I’ll probably at least give a call, but I’ll know more once my pre-surgery tests are complete as to whether I’d qualify.
 
@FastEddieB sorry about the bad medical news; great job to have kept an eye on it though. I know a couple of people who have had valves replaced. It's not a hip, but it is amazing how good they are at these - and as mentioned above people make great recoveries.

Good luck to you!
 
Thanks again for all the well wishes.

Update:

Over the past week or so I've had a slew of diagnostic tests to make sure I'm a good candidate for the surgery - heart cath, CT with contrast, lung function and carotid ultrasound. Passed them all. Scheduled for the surgery 10/30.

Needless to say, I'm apprehensive - it's quite a major surgery. Kind of a "Sword of Damocles" feeling hanging over my head. But this too shall pass.

As an aside, I still feel pretty much asymptomatic. But over the last couple of weeks my Apple Watch has alerted me to two disturbing trends: VO2max dropping from 22 to 18 over the last 6 months in spite of continued cardio training, and "Cardio Recovery" similarly dropping from 23bpm to 12bpm over the last 14 weeks (higher is better). Obviously the watch can only provide a rough approximation of these parameters, but my surgeon says both of these trends are to be expected as the valves continue to deteriorate - hence, the sooner the better for the surgery.

Also, I get to choose the type of valve replacement - "tissue" or "mechanical". The tissue uses tissue from a cow, and has an expected life of 12 to 15 years. The mechanical lasts forever, but necessitates lifelong heavy duty blood thinners. I'm going with the tissue, thinking that if I make it to the point where they do need replacing (88 years old plus), hopefully technology will have advanced to make it an easier, less invasive procedure.
 
FastEddieB said:
Also, I get to choose the type of valve replacement - "tissue" or "mechanical". The tissue uses tissue from a cow, and has an expected life of 12 to 15 years. The mechanical lasts forever, but necessitates lifelong heavy duty blood thinners. I'm going with the tissue, thinking that if I make it to the point where they do need replacing (88 years old plus), hopefully technology will have advanced to make it an easier, less invasive procedure.
Click to expand...

I too was offered the choice when they did my aortic valve, and like you I chose tissue. The Dr said it would be any of the three depending on my particular structure when he got on there, he ended up using a homograft. I, like you, ride motorcycles and bicycles and I didn't want a minor accident to be a life ending bleed out due to blood thinners. They're saying next time around I should be good for TAVR, I am certainly hoping so.

eman1200 said:
waiting for the inevitable PoAer to point out the differences between an ox and a cow in 3...........2............1.................
Click to expand...
I am sure we can milk that one for a while, just grab the yoke and hang on!
 
Just finished this book recently and he had the same surgery done in the Navy. He went with tissue as well and not only had a successful surgery, he went back to flying F-18s and went on to the airlines. It can be done. Good luck with your surgery @FastEddieB!

www.barnesandnoble.com

Through the Yellow Visor: The Life and (Mis)Adventures of a US Navy Fighter Pilot|Paperback

Ride Along with a Real Top Gun and Get His View from the Cockpit You've heard him as host of the Fighter Pilot Podcast. Now ride along. From the cockpit of a Navy jet circling overhead, an aircraft carrier-1,000 feet long and displacing 98,000 tons-looks no bigger...
www.barnesandnoble.com www.barnesandnoble.com
 
Good luck wishing you a successful surgery and quick recovery. Hopefully you’ll be back in the sky arrow after your recovery.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top