Cococat
Member
Hi everyone,
Having known about my bicuspid, I got a little nervous about some chest pain last fall. Ended up getting a stress echo which I passed without pain, thought there were some ST depressions in recovery I was told. my cardiologist said that was due to the AS which he said was 0.8
Because of continued chest pain with exercise, I had a cath done in January which showed 0.77 Aortic opening, great coronary arteries, ascending aorta of 4.2. I was sent to a CTS who said: let's operate. however, I opted for 2 more opinions. the second doc reviewed all my echos, my cath, my history, and then reviewed the "evidence" with 2 other echocardiographers and discussed with my PCP. #2 said I had not hit the "sweet spot" for replacement. My valve is not that calcified and still "domes". My acending aorta is 2X the diameter of my pulmonary artery, but not to the 4.5 that would make them think about doing a replacement just for that. And my ejection fraction is good. The third doc agrees that I am not ready yet.
My problem is I get symptoms-not limiting per se-but they are definitely there. The docs really pushed me about the angina like symptoms- I think they thought the symptoms were not real. but I am not an anxious person, and they were not heartburn. I don't push my exercise regime to the point of this pain anymore.
Now I get a tightness/shortness of breath feeling when I hurry unexpectedly. I can exercise usually without any sob (shortness of breath). The sob is worse after eating-my cardiologist says this is not unusual. sometimes I get abdominal discomfort with exercise and I wonder if it could be I am compromising my abdominal circulation.
Did anyone else have these symptoms pre surgery? What were you told?
I know I will need my valve and aorta replaced though no one can tell me when. they all say they are willing to do it now, but advise me to be monitored for now.
thanks to you all in advance
Claire
Having known about my bicuspid, I got a little nervous about some chest pain last fall. Ended up getting a stress echo which I passed without pain, thought there were some ST depressions in recovery I was told. my cardiologist said that was due to the AS which he said was 0.8
Because of continued chest pain with exercise, I had a cath done in January which showed 0.77 Aortic opening, great coronary arteries, ascending aorta of 4.2. I was sent to a CTS who said: let's operate. however, I opted for 2 more opinions. the second doc reviewed all my echos, my cath, my history, and then reviewed the "evidence" with 2 other echocardiographers and discussed with my PCP. #2 said I had not hit the "sweet spot" for replacement. My valve is not that calcified and still "domes". My acending aorta is 2X the diameter of my pulmonary artery, but not to the 4.5 that would make them think about doing a replacement just for that. And my ejection fraction is good. The third doc agrees that I am not ready yet.
My problem is I get symptoms-not limiting per se-but they are definitely there. The docs really pushed me about the angina like symptoms- I think they thought the symptoms were not real. but I am not an anxious person, and they were not heartburn. I don't push my exercise regime to the point of this pain anymore.
Now I get a tightness/shortness of breath feeling when I hurry unexpectedly. I can exercise usually without any sob (shortness of breath). The sob is worse after eating-my cardiologist says this is not unusual. sometimes I get abdominal discomfort with exercise and I wonder if it could be I am compromising my abdominal circulation.
Did anyone else have these symptoms pre surgery? What were you told?
I know I will need my valve and aorta replaced though no one can tell me when. they all say they are willing to do it now, but advise me to be monitored for now.
thanks to you all in advance
Claire