Jim Gabbe knew he had aortic stenosis after years of being monitored for a heart murmur, yet he lacked the telltale symptoms generally associated with the diagnosis. Under the care of a renowned interventional cardiologist, Jim carried on, believing he would recognize the warning signs if his condition worsened. But the changes were gradual: hills a bit harder, energy slipping, and periodically waking and gasping for breath. So gradual, Jim blamed them on age, allergies or fatigue.
Then, on a work trip abroad, Jim collapsed, catapulting him into a full-blown medical emergency in a country two continents away.
Told from inside the crisis, treatment and recovery, My Heartfelt Journey follows Jim from a crowded Jerusalem emergency room -- where he turns to AI for help understanding the mayhem of the moment -- through conflicting medical opinions, treatment in California, and the discoveries that follow. Along the way, he questions doctors, trades jokes with nurses and tries to reconcile how well he thought he felt with the seriousness of what was happening inside his body. His wife, Jill, brings warmth, humor and her own clear perspective to the experience they share.
At the center of the journey is TAVR, Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement, a remarkable procedure that replaces Jim’s failing aortic valve without traditional open-heart surgery. Soon afterward, he is breathing more easily, sleeping through the night, climbing hills with newfound energy -- and cleared to ski and go on another international work trip just a few months post procedure.
Only then does it fully dawn on Jim how much his life had quietly narrowed -- and how completely he had adjusted to it.
Intimate, candid and often unexpectedly funny, My Heartfelt Journey captures the disquieting ease with which diminished health can begin to feel normal, and the astonishment of discovering how much can still be restored. It is also an inside account of how medical knowledge, technology and compassionate care can return not only years of life, but the life within those years.
Show Notes:
For more information about aortic stenosis and TAVR:
- American Heart Association — Aortic Stenosis
Information about aortic stenosis, symptoms, progression and treatment options.
https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/heart-valve-problems-and-disease/heart-valve-problems-and-causes/aortic-stenosis
- American Heart Association — Managing Aortic Stenosis Symptoms
Information about recognizing and tracking symptoms and changes that can accompany aortic stenosis.
https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/heart-valve-problems-and-disease/heart-valve-disease-risks-signs-and-symptoms/managing-aortic-stenosis-symptoms
- American Heart Association — Aortic Stenosis Symptom Tracker
A practical tool for recording changes in symptoms and activity levels to discuss with your healthcare professional.
https://www.heart.org/-/media/Files/Health-Topics/Heart-Valve-Disease/Aortic-Stenosis-Symptom-Tracker.pdf?sc_lang=en
- American Heart Association — What is TAVR/TAVI?
An overview of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement and how the procedure is performed.
https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/heart-valve-problems-and-disease/understanding-your-heart-valve-treatment-options/what-is-tavr
- Music credit: Frederic Chopin, Waltz in B minor. Music by Nesrality from Pixabay
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