BAVD John
Well-known member
Hello. I've been a lurker here for some time and thought it was time for my first post. I was diagnosed with mild BAVD in the summer of 2004 and later that fall I had a drug eluting stent place in one of my arteries. I was 49 at the time the stent intervention took place. I've been monitored by my cardiologist with semi annual echo's since my BAVD was diagnosed in 2004. I had an angio done last summer and the stent and arteries looked good at that time.
I'm a fairly active 54 year old, actually I'll be 54 in the middle of August, that tries to get to the gym as my schedule will allow, usually 3 to 4 times a week. Under the advice of my cardio I quit lifting heavyweights in 2004. Since 2004 I've been doing cardio only on the stairmaster. I currently do a 5 minute warm up on the treadmill and then 35 to 40 minutes on the stairmaster at either level 3 or 4. I'm never short of breath but have noticed some chest discomfort when I first start working out and it sometimes subsides as I get further into my workout.
I had my 6 month echo two weeks ago and my follow up this past Mondaywith my cardio. My valve area is about .9 and I believe he said the mean gradient, I believe that was the right term he used, was just under 60. The minor chest discomfort while working out has been around for some time now. So.................my cardio finally thought it was time to get the valve replaced. I can't say I disagree becaused I know I do feel different while working out as compared to a few years ago.
I've got appointments with two surgeons Dr. Choh at Sherman in Elgin and Dr. Sullivan at Alexian Brothers in Elk Grove during the next two weeks. Does anyone have any experience with these two surgeons? Any other surgeons I should be taking into consideration? I hope to get over to Northwestern Memorial in Chicago as well.
Lastly, I'm the oldest of 4 males in my family. My youngest brother had an aortic aneurysm replaced with a St Jude and dacron graft some 10 years ago. He has 37 at the time of his surgery. He is doing just fine. My next youger brother has BAVD as well. He is two years younger than me. My next brother lucked out and doesn't share our heart problems. Neither of my parents have BAVD although my dad has heart disease with a triple bypass done in 1986 and a couple of stents within the past 3 years. He will be 84 in November.
Well, there you have it. Not quite my life story but a little about me and my condition. I apologize for the long post. I would appreciate any input from the Chicagoland folks.
Finally, Ross which one of those pictures is really you?
BAVD John
I'm a fairly active 54 year old, actually I'll be 54 in the middle of August, that tries to get to the gym as my schedule will allow, usually 3 to 4 times a week. Under the advice of my cardio I quit lifting heavyweights in 2004. Since 2004 I've been doing cardio only on the stairmaster. I currently do a 5 minute warm up on the treadmill and then 35 to 40 minutes on the stairmaster at either level 3 or 4. I'm never short of breath but have noticed some chest discomfort when I first start working out and it sometimes subsides as I get further into my workout.
I had my 6 month echo two weeks ago and my follow up this past Mondaywith my cardio. My valve area is about .9 and I believe he said the mean gradient, I believe that was the right term he used, was just under 60. The minor chest discomfort while working out has been around for some time now. So.................my cardio finally thought it was time to get the valve replaced. I can't say I disagree becaused I know I do feel different while working out as compared to a few years ago.
I've got appointments with two surgeons Dr. Choh at Sherman in Elgin and Dr. Sullivan at Alexian Brothers in Elk Grove during the next two weeks. Does anyone have any experience with these two surgeons? Any other surgeons I should be taking into consideration? I hope to get over to Northwestern Memorial in Chicago as well.
Lastly, I'm the oldest of 4 males in my family. My youngest brother had an aortic aneurysm replaced with a St Jude and dacron graft some 10 years ago. He has 37 at the time of his surgery. He is doing just fine. My next youger brother has BAVD as well. He is two years younger than me. My next brother lucked out and doesn't share our heart problems. Neither of my parents have BAVD although my dad has heart disease with a triple bypass done in 1986 and a couple of stents within the past 3 years. He will be 84 in November.
Well, there you have it. Not quite my life story but a little about me and my condition. I apologize for the long post. I would appreciate any input from the Chicagoland folks.
Finally, Ross which one of those pictures is really you?
BAVD John
