Bernard Unhassobiscay
sat. Jan. 2 1999
bernard@ridgecrest.ca.us

Well first I raced Mountain Bikes Downhill, that is I raced for years in the Norba,World Cup and World Championship events. I had a lot of fun , met many friends and had some good succes.

When racing became more serious, I started seeing a trainer. His name was Herman Falsetti, M.D. at Health Corp. in Irvine Ca. I knew I had a heart murmer before I went to see him. All of my life, every doctor would mention they could here one. Dr. Falsetti did an echocardiogram on me about once a year. He told me that the aortic valve had 2 leaftets and that was why I had the murmer.

Well last year and this year I didn't go see him and I thought I should have an echocardiogram done. So I went to Cedar Sinai and had one done the test came back bad they said the aortic valve is closing and is at 0.3 and they ask if I felt different. I said no. Well they said I would need surgery right away. I had copies of the echocardiogram tape made and sent them off to 6 heart surgeons.

Well 4 years ago I met Donald Doty, M.D. from Salt Lake City at Park City Utah. We met at a made for TV mountain bike downhill race. We met him and he stayed for awhile at our pits, Iron Horse Bicycles. I learned he was a heart surgeon and a very nice guy.

After finding out that my aortic valve was closing I called his office and he called me right back. He remembered meeting me and I told him about my valve. He said, if the aortic valve was at 0.3 then I needed to have surgery right away. So I sent him a copy of the tape and report. He called back and said it doesn't look good. He wanted me to fly out and see him the next day. So my wife and I flew out to see him.

After viewing the echocardiogram tape and looking at me, he said I would need surgery right away. Dr Doty specialized in aortic valve replacement. One of the ways to replace the aortic valve was the Ross procedure and after looking at all of the options we agreed that the Ross procedure would be best for my kind of life style. Although I was about to have open heart surgery I still didn't have any symptoms of feel any different and was riding my bike just a few days before surgery. Dr. Doty explained to me that the reason I wasn't feeling any symptoms was because my body was use to being under physical exertion with all of the athletic training I had done over the past 15 years. Well with him explaining the Ross procedure and why I didn't feelany symptoms I had surgery the next day.

Well we woke up and I was heading into surgery. For some reason I woke up right at the end of surgery and was wheeled to ICU. I remember being awake and I had no tubes down my throat. And I was breathing room air right away. About 4 hrs later I felt like getting up which they let me sit up on the bed for awhil. About 1-2 hrs later they let me walk to the chair and sit down. 6 hours later they put me in a roomon the floor by my self. I asked not to have the morphine shots after 3 of them. Just pills only, the morphine will put you in an another world.

Well that night being on the floor was great. My wife and I walked as much as I could. Boy I was not feeling great, my chest was sore and all the tubes that you have hanging off you don't look good. But I found that walking right away was a lot easier than just lying there. So I walked all over the floor good thing the LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City is big.

Mr. Doty could not believe that I was doing so well. And most of the time when he came to see me I was walking so he walked with me. Well the hospital was great everyone was nice.

Well everything was going great and they said I could go home on the 3rd day. We were surprised and a long talk with Donald Doty we were let go. But, on Dec. 24 we could not get a flight home. On Dec. 25 we were able to get a flight and so we left the hospital and flew home.

The first day home I walked 45min. arould the block and it seemed that the whole neighborhood was out and walking with me. They were very surprised.

The second day home I sneezed involuntary and that hurt that was the most pain of all.

I still walked a lot. But I'm feeling great. It is now the 8th day from surgery and Doty said I could ride my trainer but I had to keep my heart rate low. Boy that was great so I rode for 30 minutes.

Since home I have not taking any pain pills. I do take Ecotrin I believe it is like aspirin. I also take Digoxin to help regulate the heartbeat. Doty said take this for 30 days.

It is now the 13th day and I ride 45min to hr. on the trainer. I also walk and rest alot. Doty calls to remind me to kept heart rate low, which I do. I have my heart monitor alarm set to go off at 130 beats a minute. Which Mr. Doty said is good.

I'm sore but feel great. I don't drive or lift anything.

I highly recommend Dr. Doty and LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah. We received outstanding care from every person we encountered.