Diagnosed BAV with mild to moderate regurg

[Chritker]

Thanks for the advice and sharing your experiences.

Relating to reddwarf's post, I wonder how many of us have/haven't been prescribed bp meds years before the surgery and in which country we reside? The next time I see my cardio's I'll ask if it is necessary, considering I'm willing to continue with 6 monthly echo's (I know I'm probably being pedantic ).
I don't have high blood pressure in the first instance, so being placed on a bp med is food for thought.

I asked cardio no.1 if I could be prescribed something else and he's placed me on Atacand. I've been taking Atacand for the past 6 weeks and apart from some anxiety (not sure if it's just me worrying or the meds) I'm doing well. Chest pain, headaches etc have all gone. I've been given the OK to come back in September for my 6 month echo. Here's to hoping the measurements haven't changed by then.

One thing that I am noticing is after walking up sets of stairs (10/15+) I'm breathing a little heavier, heart is beating a little faster, I can feel it beating through my chest if that makes sense. Has only been happening for the past 2/3 months. I'm not sure if it's because I haven't really done any exercise since diagnosis or my condition. I took another stress test last week (Bruce Protocol) and reached Stage 5 - 13:30 minutes, 18% grade, 8 km/ph or 5 mph & 15 METS. Is that good?

I saw cardio no.2 as well. ECG good, can't hear the regurg with his stethoscope. Apart from the 35mm dilatation of the ascending aorta my valve is 24mm. At this stage he is more concerned with the anomalous LCX & ordered all the photos from the CT for he and his colleagues to review. I haven't heard from him since so hoping I'm clear for now, next consult is in July.

Allisoninoz, I read the article, you've highlighted all of my concerns, great to know that the procedure was a success and you're doing well albeit the kidney issues. When it's time for my op, as cardio no.2 explained, my LCX will be chopped from the RCA and repositioned where it is supposed to be. If you don't mind me asking, how long have you been on bp medication?

kimcdougc best of luck with the procedure and recovery. I'll be keeping an eye for a post op success story from you.

Keep well,
Chritker

 

[ski girl]

Hi Chritker-

Re: your stress test - 13:30 is good! Did they stop you or did you end the test?

I just did a stress echo last week (trying to figure out why my HR won't get over 145 when I'm running, while I'm gasping for air). I'm 20 months post-AVR and I managed 15:00 on the same protocol, max HR annoyingly only 150. There are only two stages more to go on the Bruce protocol so you did well to get through half of stage 5!

BTW I googled how long most people last on that test and it's 9-10 minutes.

 

[Chritker]

Thanks for confirming ski girl. The guy conducting the stress test asked if I had any prior injuries. I probably should have told him this but didn't want him to go easy on me.
I stopped the test. Three years ago I broke my right ankle (dislocation & a spiral fracture of the lower fibula) playing football/soccer. Since then the flexibility in my ankle has never been the same, unsurprisingly . It was the gradient that got me and not the speed, as soon as it hit 18 I was running on 1 & a half legs. I could have easily kept going on grade 16 for another few minutes.

Your test result is awesome and with a max HR of only 150! Mine was pushing 180/190 when I stopped.

 

[ski girl]

Ahhh I aspire to a heart rate of 180 . . . I bet I could finish the test if my heart would only pick up speed!

I am laughing (WITH you) at the thought of running on 1 and 1/2 legs. 18% is a crazy gradient!

 

[Chritker]

Ah ok, I misinterpreted your post. I thought you were super woman & doing it easy, 18% gradient with 150bpm. Goes to show I'm new to this valve replacement caper & grasping the enormity of the situation *slaps forehead* . Heart basics 101, the harder you push yourself your heart must compensate.

 

[ski girl]

My heart is doing it easy! I'm not! My cardiologist thinks I should be thrilled with what I'm doing, my sports medicine specialist is stumped, and my heart won't communicate with my lungs and speed up when I'm running out of air and gasping.

I agree - the harder you push yourself, your heart must compensate. My heart didn't get that memo. Very frustrating!!

 

[Chritker]

Just an update: I have had both of my daughters scanned and thank God they don't have bicuspid aortic valves, very pleased with that outcome. I have since seen cardio no.2 (The Prof), he basically stated that my anomalous LCX is not stenosed, proven with the stress test, if it was stenosed I would have been struggling under exertion.
The Prof also checked my blood pressure, at the time it was 110/70 which is great. He also stated that I can go back to playing soccer, which is also great news. My next appointment with him is in 12 months including the echo.

I am booked in to see cardio no.1 at the end of August where I'll have a 6 month echo, here's to hoping for no changes.