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My BAV was picked up when I was 46 - after leading a very active and sporty lifestyle since my teens - so I fit your idea in the OP of some folk going through a lot of their early life with no real symptoms. Once my BAV started to be symptomatic it seemed to deteriorate very quickly (I noticed a...

Thanks Norm - yes I've been looking for support from the 'experts' as far as possible. The really focussed support doesn't seem to be forthcoming but I'm keeping knocking. DuffMan - I had a CT scan and they picked up the damage in my right occipital region. The received wisdom is that it was a...

Thanks Dick - it seems your experience supports the notion that. whilst the loss itself may not be recovered, you (your brain) can do some recovery/compensation to make the difference. That's the bit I'm trying to facilitate. I appreciate the need to get good medical input but wanted to sound...

Hi everyone Well surgery day came - 5th December - AVR with tissue valve - minimal access. All went well and post-op recovery is going well. Managing around a 15minute walk each day now - looking forward to doing more! Seems that I suffered a stroke at some point though and I have lost a...

Hi all - just wanted to put a marker down that I have my date through for AV surgery (21st Nov - woohoo!) and more importantly to share my experiences of the last few months. In the summer I contributed to few posts and noted how tired I was feeling and that I was noticing pins & needles...

I would reiterate what's been said by others already Randy ... but will add that I can TOTALLY relate to the fear that you initially feel. Believe me though, it passes. As folk on here say, read up on the topic, arm yourself with the facts ... I'm not sure if that in itself helps quell the fear...

Hey Julian - just checking-in to share the experience ... I was diagnosed with AVD a couple of months ago and should (waiting lists permitting) be on-course for surgery in a couple more months time (October?). I was talking with my wife last night and outlining (well, complaining about) most of...

Norm - it seems like this whole adventure is just throwing up more and more to read up on ... ! I was aware of the dental work aspect but hadn't given much thought to the 1001 other times when the immune system may get challenged and need some help. Thanks for the input. JeffM - thanks for...

Thanks Larry - your experience seems to fit with what I'd view as the 'ideal' outcome, but I fully appreciate your comment on the lack of certainties in life. Re bacterial infections - is there a school of thought that says any infection should be hit with antibiotics asap? Maybe it's more than...

Thanks Greg!

Just the luck of the draw I guess. Of course I'll keep you all up to speed on how it all pans out.

Re post from Paleogirl "Do you know what made your surgeon decide on that type of surgery as opposed to cutting through the sternum ? What's the name of your surgeon btw?" Hi Anne - no, I don't know why he suggested the keyhole approach but it sounds good to me ... fyi my surgeon's name is...

Fair point Ken. I hope I don't regret things that quickly but I'd be amazed if, as the symptoms return and the time for a re-op is looming, I don't think back to this initial decision. Whatever, right now I accept I'll be doing this at least one more time - when the time comes to decide again...

Thanks ... with ref to Steve Epstein's post and the need for re-ops, my surgeon was telling me that he hopes to do most of his work 'keyhole' so I should be looking at a 4 to 5" entry just left of midline (to be fair, he did say it was very large key!). He needs to shift a couple of ribs to make...

Hi - let's start with a brief history. I'm new here - I'm 46, am (otherwise) fit, healthy and active, and have a young family. Through all of this I have unknowingly been 'carrying' a bicuspid aortic valve. In the last couple of months I've had some significant breathless episodes (one whilst...