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Ladybug, I think that you are in a position where you have three good options - TAVI, tissue open heart or mechanical open heart. Pick the option that you feel is the best fit for you. You are likely to get a good result whichever you choose. Best wishes

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (aortic aneurysm at the level of the abdomen - below the diaphragm) Stents for Australian Alcoholics Anonymous might be more entertaining.

I recommend getting an echo then you will know what’s going on. Hearing a murmur is often inaccurate. Often people have a murmur and the echo shows everything in fine (it might be a flow murmur in a young person with a high cardiac output). If there has been a potential change then an echo would...

Potentially if TAVR can be given to younger people then by the time this wears out a tissue valve could be used rather a mechanical valve. However, this is presently unproven.

Good luck rich01. Hope it all resolves quickly.

I already get at least one migraine with aura per week. The idea of increased frequency is an aspect of my booked surgery that I am not looking forward to.

TAVI's are potentially a game changer by avoiding open heart surgery. The trials so far are promising. Initially they looked at high risk patients (people who have significant medical problems that would make them poor candidates for open heart surgery) and found the TAVI group did at least as...

Hope you feel better soon. It is difficult to known when to go with the flow and when to seek extra help. It is reassuring that the blood tests and chest X-ray were okay. Possible red flags (that warrant review): 1) Increasing fever 2) Increasing pain 3) Shortness of breath 4) Palpitations 5)...

CT radiation does not stay in your body. It is electromagnetic radiation that flies through or is absorbed by the body. When it is absorbed, it transfers energy which can disrupt molecules (like DNA) in the body. It flies through or is absorbed in a near instant. It is safe for your family to...

I can't read it but can guess the words due to the very clear diagrams.

What can you do? Keep asking every time. Also ask the radiology staff. They might know about some new technique that your referring doctor doesn't yet know about. Hopefully they are taking into account your body size. Less radiation is required to penetrate a smaller body. Usually the...

Alright, I'll bite. You have a have a fair point. However, to play devil's advocate, blood's non-clotted state is thin (low viscosity). When blood coagulates, it becomes thick (high viscosity). Warfarin keeps the blood "thin". I interpret "blood thinner" as a non specific description. Aspirin...

Best not to swab the doctors. There will be none left.

According to the study, "Recurrent CT, Cumulative Radiation Exposure, and Associated Radiation-induced Cancer Risks from CT of Adults" (free journal article if you google it): For a 40 year old male, a CT scan causes about 0.6 extra cancers per 1000 patients. This would mean that 6 scans would...

A BAV with normal function should only require infrequent followups and the paediatric cardiologist would hopefully instil confidence that there are no limitations to physical activity. If a BAV is discovered with a significant functional problem, it can be managed appropriately.

They are compelling arguments, thanks Superman and pellicle

I am not saying that if they have a BAV, they should have it prophylactically replaced (which your mastectomy, hysterectomy example implies). The value would be in avoiding a valve issue presenting in an uncontrolled manner. Many people's first knowledge of a valve issue is presenting with heart...

A repeat echo is needed to clarify how the valve is functioning. Listening with a stethoscope is no substitute for an echo. Even echos have error margins which can be big. Echo trends over time will give you the picture, not a single scan. Many of us experience misdiagnosis during our heart...

Thanks for your all your thoughts. It has helped me to decide to organise scans for the kids. It is the safest way.

Likewise my BAV was picked up by a murmur. I consider myself very lucky to have it discovered this way. Most people have no reason to have their heart listened to. I agree that the absence of a heart murmur is not a reliable way to exclude a valve problem. Maybe I should get my other two kids...