LauraS
Well-known member
Wow, so much info for you to absorb. Maybe someone's history with BAV will help. Here's how I got to the operating table. I was diagnosed with a childhood murmer at age 13. In my 20's, I was in an aerobics class and almost passed out. That's probably when I had my first echo. I was told it was just a murmur. At some point in my 40's, my doctor had me wear the holter monitor and did another echo and I was told it was mild to moderate aortic stenosis but not to worry about it yet. It may present problems as I got older. Well, I had a cold when I was 55 and the doctor (who was covering for my internist) did not like the sound of my murmur so off to New York Presbyterian I went for catherization. I was scared to death because the cardiologist told me to be prepared for immediate aortic valve surgery if the numbers were bad. I went home that day and from that point on saw my cardiologist every three months and had an annual echo. This year's echo caused my cardio to do another catherization and he told me on the table that it was time and the valve needed to be replaced and he referred me to a cardiothoracic surgeon. They both told me they suspected a BAV but would not know until they saw it. I was 58 yrs old and was experiencing shortness of breath and dizziness but ignored the symptoms and found excuses for them like I didn't eat, etc. One day I came very close to passing out on the treadmill and I knew there had been a drastic change. I could barely climb my stairs but I blamed everything on "getting older." My valve was extremely calcified by now. I saw the calcification during the catherization which by the way is nothing to fear. It's kind of cool watching the whole test and is totally painless.
I know it's scary to be told there's something wrong with your heart but you have to live your life because you may never need the surgery. Some people go their entire lives without becoming symptomatic. My cardio told me if I said no to the surgery this year, I probably would have lived no longer than two years because of the heart damage that would be done but I had severe Aortic Stenosis by then. That's when you make the decision to have surgery. This is not elective surgery and it was the most difficult surgery of my life. The recovery is easy on some and hard on some. Mine was very hard due to complications.
As for the low blood pressure while exercising, my resting pressure now is 120/68 but when I was in cardiac rehab on the treadmill, it went up to 140/75 and the nurse told me it should go up when you're doing cardio.
Enjoy your holidays and just listen to your body. Come here anytime you want as this forum is so helpful. I was blessed the day I found this site.
I know it's scary to be told there's something wrong with your heart but you have to live your life because you may never need the surgery. Some people go their entire lives without becoming symptomatic. My cardio told me if I said no to the surgery this year, I probably would have lived no longer than two years because of the heart damage that would be done but I had severe Aortic Stenosis by then. That's when you make the decision to have surgery. This is not elective surgery and it was the most difficult surgery of my life. The recovery is easy on some and hard on some. Mine was very hard due to complications.
As for the low blood pressure while exercising, my resting pressure now is 120/68 but when I was in cardiac rehab on the treadmill, it went up to 140/75 and the nurse told me it should go up when you're doing cardio.
Enjoy your holidays and just listen to your body. Come here anytime you want as this forum is so helpful. I was blessed the day I found this site.
