Hi everyone, I have a biscupid aortic valve, and severe stenosis, just turned 60. I was told by my doctors in Mexico where I was living, that I needed to get back to Canada IMMEDIATELY for an operation. My echo showed .5, and I believe that is very very narrow, right? They were quite alarmed and said the only walking I should do is to the airport and get on a plane for Canada.
That pretty much alarmed me, and I took off 2 days later, and here I am in Edmonton. I had no dr. so went to the ER where a doctor hesitantly, but finally, referred me to a surgeon. And now the surgeon has referred me to a cardiologist who is doing a cardiology workup. I had a bloodtest, and then tomorrow thankfully I have my first echocardiogram, and then I have to wait two more weeks for the angiogram.
I'm just concerned if I'll last that long. No one seems to be too concerned, and I haven't seen any heart drs. yet, although I've talked to their secretaries on the phone about my concerns. Maybe tomorrow when I get the echo, that will get some action.
But I just don't know....is .5 considered pretty dangerous? I have a lot of symptoms now: lightheadedness, shortness of breath, hard time swallowing, can't walk very far at all and have to walk really slowly, pains on both sides of my neck. And these things alarm me. I haven't ever fainted, but it's pretty scary.
Does anybody have any advice for me? Should I just wait and pray and hope I don't have heart failure while they slowly do the tests? Maybe I shouldn't be alarmed, and I would appreciate any encouragement!! The dr. at the ER said, "Oh, people walk around with .1 who can't have surgery, and they're still walking around, you'll be fine!" Is that really so??? The drs. in Mexico said my valve is extremely calcified and like a big rock!!
Thanks for any advice, I really appreciate it!
--Valerie
That pretty much alarmed me, and I took off 2 days later, and here I am in Edmonton. I had no dr. so went to the ER where a doctor hesitantly, but finally, referred me to a surgeon. And now the surgeon has referred me to a cardiologist who is doing a cardiology workup. I had a bloodtest, and then tomorrow thankfully I have my first echocardiogram, and then I have to wait two more weeks for the angiogram.
I'm just concerned if I'll last that long. No one seems to be too concerned, and I haven't seen any heart drs. yet, although I've talked to their secretaries on the phone about my concerns. Maybe tomorrow when I get the echo, that will get some action.
But I just don't know....is .5 considered pretty dangerous? I have a lot of symptoms now: lightheadedness, shortness of breath, hard time swallowing, can't walk very far at all and have to walk really slowly, pains on both sides of my neck. And these things alarm me. I haven't ever fainted, but it's pretty scary.
Does anybody have any advice for me? Should I just wait and pray and hope I don't have heart failure while they slowly do the tests? Maybe I shouldn't be alarmed, and I would appreciate any encouragement!! The dr. at the ER said, "Oh, people walk around with .1 who can't have surgery, and they're still walking around, you'll be fine!" Is that really so??? The drs. in Mexico said my valve is extremely calcified and like a big rock!!
Thanks for any advice, I really appreciate it!
--Valerie