[Karen W. (OP)]

I am getting ready to have my whole Aorta replaced with this synthetic microfiber.....can you tell me a bit about it...how it is made and what is it made from?

I understand it  a newer material...What makes it so suitable for this purpose....? Can it cause a problem down the line after being inside my body so long... disenigration and all?

[Chemistry4me]

So when are you getting this done?
Btw, I have no idea what it is.

[Bored chemist]

Dacron is one of the many trade names for polyethylene terphthalate (PET).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyethylene_terephthalate
The "microfibre" bit just means that it's in really thin threads.
The PET polymers are fairly inert and very strong.
I have no doubt that they will have been well and truly tested before being put into people. The manufacturers don't want to get sued for damages.

[Karen W. (OP)]

I just caught this old thread and thought better update it.  This thread is from 10/05/2009.....9 years ago..... Things went downhill since then and I was not strong enough to undergo the aortic replacement but am now going down to be evaluated for the "TAVR" procedure....  Which is less evasive transcatheter aortic valve replacement.  they won't be able to do the aneurysms now they have to wait.

[chris]

Hi Karen - sobering to think that the problem has been grumbling on for nearly 10 years!

Don't get yourself into trouble this time by browsing the forum under the bedclothes in the hospital this time! (Wasn't that what happened to you once before?)

[Karen W. (OP)]

Lol..... I am terrible about that kinda stuff.  I have talked our forum and you special people up so nicely to my Standford team.. You guys were so supportive... thank you Chris........ You really helped ease my anxiety about the procedure...  I am feeling a tad overwhelmed today.. Very active yesterday we over did it a bit considering I have not been able to do 20 feet on foot without full blown angina attacks and total breathlessness and  exhaustion.. And yesterday I walked more then I had in an entire week before in 1 day.  So before leaving today was told to slow my pace down let things heal increase activity slowly and steadily, keeping pulse rate under control. Still not sure if a pacemaker will be needed. Hope not. I guess it depends on weather the irregular stuff stabilizes.. I did not understand that part
Very well.  My heart starts racing at the slightest little thing and the fluttering is unsettling.. shouldn't that get better?

[chris]

Hi Karen

I was thinking of you yesterday and wondering how you were getting on - it's so nice to see you back and, by the sound of it, improved and improving health.

It will take time for everything to settle down, so it's important not to overdo it at too early a stage. There will be a period now while the heart muscle adapts to a different workload and remodels itself accordingly. As this happens the function will likely continue to improve, so it's early days yet.

[Karen W. (OP)]

Thank you Chris.. I noticed something quite strange. My sleep pattern has been terrible for years now insomnia and all. Last night and night before after leaving the hospital I got 3 sets of two hour blocks of sleep but tthey were strangely very sound sleep and I rose at around 7 finally for last time and felt so much better then the last day at the hospital as my sleep was so interrupted by all the checks and the strange sensations in my legs... I can feel little shootings pans minor but up and down my legs.. It's better today but the doctor explained it to me as my blood flow at my lower extremities has been so poor that all the arteries that blood flows through are just getting used to the new amount of oxygenated blood flow where it was bad.  so I guess my limbs are experiencing proper flow so they are adapting too.  you know what's funny I feel like a little pink healthy baby! My coloring has changed so drastically that I barely recognize my body.  I have pink feet with lightly red toes not flour white anymore..  My terribly white chalky looking legs and arms have a lovely blush about them.... I am completely surprised... Sounder sleep better everything.. And it turned out when they did the valve my bicuspid was less oval then most and they were able to fit me with a valve that is not leaking at all..  The echo before I left was an amazing eye opener all the blood was confined within the new valve.. Which was complete opposite of pre-surgery.  It was leaking and regurgitating so badly that the difference on the screen is remarkable.  I can feel my heart pounding faster then it did before especially when lying flat on my back or my side.  In the back of my head I am a tad nervous still but like you said its early on and so far every day feels a bit better... So I am about to do a little walking and am still very excited that I have a new opportunity to keep on living...  it's such a life changing event I am feeling extremely emotional and very excited for the future..... And so grateful and There are not enough words to thank all the doctors and the scientific community enough for all the incredible unrelenting hours of study trial error and learning they have invested their lives in to give people like me a chance to continue on in life.. Where I had less then a six month prognosis at the rate of closure...  It's amazing...... Thanks for your support Chris I am forever grateful...