Another newbie

[pekster11]

hi Valda ! And welcome to the site !

My valve is functionally BAV, and like Jason I was being monitored every other year for many years with no problems...or no mention of a dilated aorta.
My valve function was always described as "mildly stenotic".
Then in April of this year, at age 37, the echo showed the valve had deteriorated to moderate/severe and the ascending aorta had dilated to 4.9cm !
Surgery to be expected within 5 years was the prediction given !! (unless I carry on for a decade with no further deteroration, like Jason).

If your aorta dilates more, the consultant may very well advise surgery.

 

[Paleowoman]

Just found this thread - I'm from the UK too ! I'm in nearly sunny Surrey

My BAV was first heard as a murmur when I was 25. Had lots of investigations and an echo and a BAV was suspected, but this was 33 years ago and echos weren't so good and nothing more was done. Then when I saw a gastroenterologist four years ago he was listening to my arteries and heard the murmur and asked to listen to my heart - he immediately referred me to a cardiologist who saw the BAV easily on echo. My pressure gradient has steadily increased since then and now he's forecasting I will need surgery within two years. It is sooo stressful Last month he told me to look up surgeons at St George's, Lonodn, and decide whether I want mechanical or biological valve. I honestly didn't feel stressed about this until surgery was mentioned as being within two years - longer than that and I could put it out of my mind.

Thank goodness for this forum. Glad to have found more people from the UK - hopefully we can compare notes !

Anne

 

[pekster11]

Hi Anne!
A few more UK people on this site I see !
Will you be going for a mechanical or tissue valve ? The consultants at your age might advise mechanical or tissue. Fair play to your BAV Anne, its lasted a lot longer than mine will ! I'll probably have to have it replaced when I'm about 40, which means a mechanical valve for me.

I was very worried back in April, as to be honest I thought I wouldn't need intervention until I was also aprox 60, but I've accepted it now, and I'm just going to go along with the advice of the consultants and surgeons, keep myself healthy and not get stressed about it.

 

[Paleowoman]

Hi Pekster !

I'll be going for a tissue valve because if I had a mechanical valve there would be too many complications regarding warfarin with my other health problems. I'm hopeful that by the time I would need a re-replacement they will have the transcatheter valve on better form - that's what my cardiologist thinks will happen. I do lots to keep myself healthy, good diet, lots of exercise - I actually feel extremely fit, if it weren't for medical tests I wouldn't know there was anything at all wrong with me ! I am stressed though now I have such a relatively short time to wait.

Anne