Presurgery Symptons or not?

[Karlynn]

This is a very unscientific poll about what valve was at issue and whether or not you had symptoms leading up to VR. I'm just wondering if we can assess how much pre-surgical symptoms are associated with each valve.

So select your valve and then whether you were symptomatic or asymptomatic.

If you care to describe what your symptoms were, please do so.

If you felt you were asymptomatic, but realized after surgery and recovery that you had some symptoms, respond which ever way you choose and then "splain yourself!"

 

[perkicar]

Aoritic-Symptomatic

Aoritic-Symptomatic

After I had my surgery and recovery, I realized I was more symptomatic than I'd realized pre-surgery. I'd had the murmur for years, not realizing until 2001 that it was associated with aortic stenosis. In the year or two before my surgery, and especially in the year before, I noticed increasing shortness of breath with exertion, as well as mild-moderate chest "tightness" (wouldn't really call it "pain") with exertion. I just chalked it up to being overweight and out of shape, and didn't make the connection with my heart at all. Now, however, I know the difference, and can do the same activities with no discomfort. Still not in the best of shape, but that's another story.....

 

[MikeHeim]

Mine was Mitral (obvious when you look at my signature). I had SOB while running (which is what made me go in to get checked out and led to the diagnosis. I also had pressure in my lower neck, some chest pain while working out, two episodes of nocturnal dyspnea, and palpitations (heart pounding - not arrythmia). I also had problems with sweating. I constantly felt like I was warm and would begin sweating with pretty much the slightest exersion.

It is important to note, I thought the SOB was my ONLY symptom. I did not realize that any of the others were also symptoms until after I was "fixed" and they went away...

 

[MaryC]

I voted asymptomatic mitral but I am hoping I have symptoms and don't realize it. Sure would be nice to be full of new energy after this upcoming surgery.

Mary C

 

[kodi]

I voted aortic asymtomatic. I knew two years before it was going to happen but never had any of the usual symptons. The only thing I noticed in the 5 or 6 months before my running became harder and slower. It was at this point I knew I was getting worse.

 

[Magic8Ball]

I too voted aortic asymtomatic as i thought i had no issues prior to surgery.

However, since surgery i have realised that i was constantly knackered often going to bed around 8:30pm and had occasional SOB.

 

[Adrienne]

I voted symptomatic because even though the doctors always said I was asymptomatic (until I went into A-Fib - I guess that would be a definite symptom), the whole year after I had endocartitis, I realize I really was SOB. Also, for about 10 years, I always had palpitations (PACs and PVCs I guess). Also, it was hard walking up steep hills.

 

[Guest]

If you felt you were asymptomatic, but realized after surgery and recovery that you had some symptoms, respond which ever way you choose and then "splain yourself!"

This is me ... at least for my January 2003 surgery.

In October/November 2002, i started feeling a bit "down" and tired ... but, I attributed it to Gram's death in late October 2002. So, when, during my regular checkup in November 2002, my cardiologist said, "We need to do more testing" ... and I found myself in the hospital on a Monday morning after Thanksgiving on a treadmill ... I still didn't believe the test results, that surgery was needed.

After surgery, however, I noticed the difference. Yet, I still think most (or at least part) of my symptoms were caused by my "downward spiral" after Gram's death, coupled with the fact that those were my "evil twin" days where I was sad and bitter as well....

*shrugs*



Cort:33swm."Mr Monte Carlo.Mr Road Trip".pig valve.pacemaker
PICS:lego.HO.model.MCinfo.RT.CHD = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort
"I'm dying inside" ... The Tony Rich Project ... 'Nobody Knows'

 

[twinmaker]

I realized that I was SOB and that I was having trouble riding my bike, climbing stairs, and even making a bed. I didn't know why these things were happening until I was checked by a cardiologist for my murmur (which I knew I had. My childhood doctor told me it was a functional murmur). It was really Devine Intervention, because after my husband entered the army after his college graduation, I went to the army dental dept. for a cleaning and marked that I had a murmur. They wouldn't clean my teeth until I had the murmur checked. The rest is history. LINDA

 

[Harrybaby666]

All 4 of mine are leaking...

All 4 of mine are leaking...

I have an aweful lot of palpitations, SOB and chest pain and pressure mostly but I also have CHF on top of things also.....Harrybaby P.S. I haven't had any OHS as of yet....Harry

 

[weekycat]

Okay, I chose asymptomatic but now I'm going to "splain"

Okay, I chose asymptomatic but now I'm going to "splain"

I went for 43 years without knowing that I had MVP. In retrospect, one or 2 doctors had mentioned in passing that I had a "murmur". I didn't think anything of it because they never seemed concerned about it, it was more like, did you know you have a heart murmur? Kinda like, did you hear it's supposed to rain tomorrow?

I hadn't been in for a complete physical in a few years, and now had insurance that would cover it, so I figured why not? My current doctor listened to my heart which was now doing much more than murmuring...I think it was actually hollering.

Anyway, to make a long story short, from the same physical I ended up finding out I needed to have my "hystery" removed...and since I'd found out about this MVP thing and it was now 6 mos. later, I thought I should be checked out by a cardiologist. "Coincidentally" the night before this appt, I felt some chest pain/pressure when I was lying in bed. I attributed that to catching the chest cold that my hubby had at the time.

The Cardiologist asked if I'd ever had chest pain/pressure and I said, not really...except last night... He told me at that visit that I should "forget about the hysterectomy for a while and have this little valve problem fixed first! He sceduled a TEE 2 days later, where they discovered that 2 of my chordae tendenae (sp?) had ruptured and I was in desperate need of surgery...soon.

Soooo...I really didn't have any symptoms, other than some SOB while climbing hills etc. that I attributed to being "out of shape", and then the chest pain/pressure shortly before my surgery. Okay...I didn't exactly make my long story short, did I? Sorry...

 

[Nan]

I voted aortic valve, symptomatic.

I had what I call a "valve attack" one day going in to work. I thought I was going to pass out, was dizzy, SOB, nauseous, and hanging onto the walls just to get into my office.

When I told my pcp about this, she got me right into a cardio who had an echo done stat and found the stenotic aortic valve. I think it was about 2 months to surgery from that point.

I didn't vote for two valves, although I just had the mitral replaced. I was having symptoms, but not sure if they were from the valve or from a blocked artery.

 

[wildcat fan]

Voted on Aortic

Voted on Aortic

hey everyone,
mine showed up on a echo after being in the ER at the hospital where I work at and my Cardiologist mmediately pushed the panic button and ordered a Stat CT scan and that did not show the aneurysm and then order a CT ANGIOGRAM and that showed the anerusym . The next day I had a TEE done and then a trip to Cardiac Cath lab and when I got back to work a few days later I found out that I was about less than 2 hours away from haveing surgery done. But thankfully during that year I decided to get into shape and all before I had my surgery done in Nov.2006. The symptons I had were felt like someone hit me in my left side , arm went cold for a few seconds and BP was way high . The ER doc said it was namely stress that landed me down there and it was a good thing I went down there . Even tho one thing had nothing to do with each other being discovered. Thankfully I am still alive and ticking away . Back to work now full duty and full time now for 3 weeks .
Chris

Ascedning aortic anerusym 5.2cm in dilation
Aortic valve replacement with ATS Mech. valve
Dr.Sam Pollock @ Baptist Hospital East in Louisville,ky

 

[SumoRunner]

Symptoms? Symptoms? I dunno. You'd have to describe what a symptom felt like because I don't think I ever had any. Just as Kodi said, the only thing I knew was that my running got slower for no outward reason. I could still run 10 miles but would get a lot more tired than I should for that distance.

Of course, my valve leakage was well known for 30 years prior and it had been under scrutiny on a yearly basis since a TIA 5 years before, so the deterioration didn't surprise anyone. What made us set the replacement date was when I ran a 15Km road race (hard) and was wiped out for weeks.

I did reduce but not stop my running following that, about 700 miles that year instead of 1000. I even went out to the bike path to run a mile the day before my OHS.

 

[WayneGM]

I voted mitral-asymptomatic. I had a bit of SOB if I ran fast (I am typically a fast walker) or climbed steep stairs, but I'm not sure what was heart related and what was from being an over 50 couch potato. When I took the treadmill stress tests my Card was surprised how well I did given what the other tests were saying. Post-op I really haven't noticed any improvement. If anything, I feel worse than before but I guess that's an outcome of still recovering from the surgery itself (although at 11 months I'm pretty frustrated that I still don't feel 100% my old self). The Card says all the tests show the heart is "fixed" so who I am to argue.

 

[DeWayne]

I voted systematic-aorta

I probably had some signs at least a while before I actually went in.
I experienced blurred vision every now and then, I had a real problem in heat, I had shortness of breath and tired real easily when I exerted myself. And towards the end I started having an irregular heart beat. Plus my last exam at my primary I had high blood pressure which had never really been a problem before.
Having know since I was a child that I had an bicuspid aotic valve and had surgery to open in up in 1959 I always knew I would need the valve replaced some day. In February I told my wife to set up an doc appoinment and not let me talk her out of it this time. Got in last of May they told me I needed an operation and it needed to happen in the next 6 months. I was not surprised by this, what did suprise me is what she told me after that. That it was an anyeurism of the aorta that was the serious thing, that if it had just been the valve I would not have needed surgery yet. at 5.8 dialation she was a bit worried, told me not to lift anything heavier than a loaf of bread till I had had surgery.
Since the surgery I have not had any blurred vision at all, and I have had an irregular heart beat once or twice in 6 months., usually lasting just a few seconds. Nothing they are worried about

 

[Lisa in Katy]

Like Perkicar, I had symptoms I didn't know about until after the surgery, such as SOB and fatigue. Ones I did know about - palpitations (still have that occasionally), CHF when I had colds or other minor illnesses, bluish lips and tongue when I was tired.

MaryC - your boxer looks like our Jo Boxer - maybe slightly younger if the gray on the face is any indication. She is going to be 9 on June 21 (right before the 9th anniversary of my surgery).

 

[DavesMom]

Hi all,

I voted aortic non-symptomatic but like others who've replied I probably was symptomatic but didn't realize it.

I never had any SOB but did experience fatigue. However, I chalked the fatigue up to getting older and a fairly stressful job. Plus, have to admit that my diet's never been the greatest.

I honestly had no clue anything was wrong. I spent June and July of '99 in London walking for hours a day without a problem. I often went to visit a friend, which required a trek up a very steep hill. I could make it up that hill at a brisk pace with hardly any SOB. Then - just two months later - I found out that I had a severely stenotic aortic valve and a large aneurysm. Scary!

What worries me is I've been experiencing the same kind of fatigue over the past year. A recent stress test came back abnormal but from everything I can find on the internet the abnormalities the doctor noted are nothing to be concerned about so I don't know even know why he concluded that the test was abnormal. Ah well... I see the cardio at the end of this month so guess I'll get an answer then. : )

Take care everyone.

Cheers,
Michelle

 

[ruth]

I voted Mitral / Symptomatic.

Known before: SOB and PVCs

Known after: Shoulder pain upon exertion

Ruth