Newbie here; I need advice... would I be out of line in asking for a second opinion?

[BicuspidBuddy]

I kept my original BAV until my early 60's, and did pretty much anything I wanted until the last 6 months or so before surgery. I knew it was time to operate - but that's probably material for another thread. If you want to discuss how I knew, just ask, but I don't want to hijack this thread as it is well-focused and very worthwhile.

Hi,

I don't want to hijack this thread either, but I am really interested in knowing how you knew it was time to operate. Would it be too forward of me to ask you, what your measurements were at that time? AVA? mean pressure gradient? aortic jet velocity? (I'm assuming you had AS?)

 

[epstns]

BB - I don't have the report at the office with me, but I do remember that my AVA just prior to surgery was measured at 0.85 cm2. I was still, for all clinical purposes, asymptomatic. No SOB, no syncope, no angina. I just saw that my exercise tolerance and energy levels were finally decreasing at a very noticeable rate. Until about 6 months prior to surgery, I had been able to push through workouts far beyond what is normally expected for men in their 60's. The last 6 months, I just couldn't keep it up. I was tired much more often than before and I just couldn't keep up the pace on the treadmill. My times for a mile went from 7:30 several years before surgery to 9:30, then 11:30 and eventually to 15:00. I just couldn't compensate, and I was tired of it. Never did have any of the cardinal symptoms, though. I just had a chat with my cardio about it all. He said that the numbers had been saying that it was time for surgery for quite some time but he couldn't then recommend surgery when my exercise tolerance was so far above the norm for my age. Once I showed him the progression and described how I was feeling, we moved on to discussing surgeons.

Now, at about 15 months post-op, I'm still working my way back to my pre-op fitness level. I think I'm still above the norm for my age, but with a pacemaker and two grumpy knees, it is difficult and slow to build back to any reasonable level of running speed. I'm now at about a 13:00 pace, hoping to get back to 10 or 11 minute miles before it is all done.

 

[BicuspidBuddy]

Thanks epstns. That was helpful.

My husband's AVA is now 0.9 cm2. It was done with a portable echo and a newbie tech. We're going to get another echo redone in the usual way a few months from now.

My husband's exercise tolerance had been fabulous and he even said that he was feeling stronger and faster this year playing basketball with the younger crowd than in previous years. He was running up steep hills when he was not able to do this before. When we read the results of the recent echo, the mind games started to take over, and we both started questioning how he could really be feeling that good. I'm sure after our cardiologist(s) appointments, we'll be more clear with a game plan and our anxiety level will calm down.

 

[dcc617]

Re-ditto on the 2nd. Now...what's your insurance? HMO or PPO? If you're on an HMO, remember that you'll need a referral to a specialist. If you're in a PPO, you can choose anyone you want but network providers will be less out of pocket. Hopefully you'll have a lot of choices. As people have said, ask your PCP for recommendations.

Best of luck and welcome to the club.