Waiting

Valve Replacement Forums

Help Support Valve Replacement Forums:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

Tazallie

New member
Joined
Apr 12, 2013
Messages
2
Location
England
Hi, I was recently diagnosed with a bicuspid aortic valve after suffering from odd symptoms for months. I have yet to see the cardiologist and have another month till my appointment. Naturally I'm worried and would just like some info that I can't seem to get from anyone.

I'm 40 years old with secondary fibromyalgia and mild secondary polycythemia. In August I ended up in a&e due to chest pains but tests determined it wasn't a heart attack and I was sent home. About a month later I began to have palpitations when I lay down or turned over in bed. I was tested for thyroid and sleep apnea both negative but the apnea monitor showed I had a high number of arrhythmic events whilst asleep (in 8 hours I had nearly 400 events) but no action was taken as I didn't have sleep apnea.


Due to the polycythemia (raised haemoglobin and heamatocrit) I was referred to a haematologist in December who discovered I had developed a heart murmur (it hadn't been present in August) but it was felt no further action was needed as my chest X-ray was clear and at that point no known heart problems. However at the end of December I ended up again in A&E due to being woken up with severe chest pains but again nothing was found. However the cardiac nurse decided that an echocardiogram wouldn't hurt as I had started to have chest pains and shortness of breath when walking up stairs and walking long distance or up hill. And due to the fact that my father and his mother both died of heart failure with onset in their late 30's early 40's.

I had my appointment in January and the results took 6 weeks to come back in the February that I had BAV. All that was given to my GP was one paragraph if no symptoms retest in 5 years if symptoms refer to cardiology. My dr after listening to all of this decided to refer me. My appointment is at the end of may.

Is all of this normal? I'm not too worried as from what I have read BAV is perfectly treatable but I am just a little bit fed up with how long this has gone on. The palpitations have got more frequent and I now keep having severe dizzy spells and feel very nauseous with it at times.

Sadly I live in an area with a recognised hospital that is of a very poor standard in the NHS and wondered if anyone can just give me some idea of what to expect.
 
Btw what should I be asking the cardiologist when I finally get to see him. What info do I need to make informed decisions and be proactive in my own care. One thing I do know is that this hospital do not like to give out information so I need to know what to ask. Thank you for your help.
 
If you're in Eng and going via the NHS you should get the results of an EKG and ECG immediately after with the results discussed by a cardiologist. Strange it took so many weeks but hopefully if they thought it was very serious they would have told you to come in immediately so I wouldn't be too worried. Are you going to a hospital that specialises in cardiovascular disease? Definitely try get referred to one because the first time I was diagnosed they told me I had a minor problem and only after a 2nd opinion at a specialist hospital did I get a proper diagnosis.

Wait for your appointment and I'm sure the cardiologist will discuss all the results with you the same day. If he / she doesn't then insist. If you start having major symptoms that you're worried about then you'd need to go to A&E. When one starts experiencing chest pains and palpitations it's very hard not to panic so I guess you have to go with your gut. I have BAV and experienced many minor chest pains from time to time but have just come to live with it once I was diagnosed. Nothing you can really do until you've had your appointment.
 
I also live in an area with a poor local hospital, so for routine appointments I avoid it.
On the NHS, you do not have to be referred to your local hospital. Your local health authority may prefer it, but you have the right to choose a hospital. However, if your appointment is soon, probably best to keep it.
http://www.nhs.uk/choiceintheNHS/Rightsandpledges/NHSConstitution/Pages/Yourrightstochoice.aspx

At a routine appointment you may have an echo, possibly ECG and see a doctor. Since you have recently had an echo, they may not repeat it. The doctor may not be the consultant. Write a list of questions before you go in, and take the list with you, because you will probably forget them.
Remember, not everyone with BAV needs surgery. It is very common, 1 in 50 people have it.
Ask what your test results are. What is the threshold for surgery. Does the doctor anticipate surgery will be needed either soon or in the future. Should you be on medication? Can your palpitations be treated. What is the schedule for follow up. Will you cc a copy to GP letter to you. I'm sure others have better questions.
 

Latest posts

Back
Top