D
Der Biermeister
Haven't seen this discussed by itself before - even though so many of us are here BECAUSE of this condition and having to have an AVR. Perhaps a good discussion will help others as they navigate this minefield on their way to eventual surgery.
What were your symptoms, when and how did you first discover it?
My case was "discovered" almost a year ago now, even though I am pretty sure I had the condition for a couple of years because looking back on it, my shortness of breath had been plaguing me. On what was the hottest day of the year (about 105), in late July, I started feeling ill as the day went on, even though I was mostly in air conditioning, and by evening I was so short of breath, I couldn't breath. Fear entered quickly and I was convinced I was having a heart attack. Called 911 and took the long ambulance ride into the ER. A heart cath showed my stents were still open and no sign of a heart attack. Lung xrays and ct scan showed no embolisms or tumors.
Now -- this is strange, but I actually gave the clue to my cardiologist and pulmonary specialist that resulted in a diagnosis of AI. Not sure why they weren't more observant, because I had been hooked up to the telemetry for over a day - but I asked them why my Diastolic bp was so low? ... and I had been noticeing this for a few months? While I used to struggle to get a diastolic reading below 80, I was now consistently in the 50s or 40s. "Hmmmmm" they both said. Then a real close listen to my heart unveiled a murmur. As time went on, over the last year, my murmur became so noticeable that doctors and nurses would bring others in just to listen to a "tremendous" example.
So, other than significant SOB and murmurs, everything I've read on the subject points to a low Diastolic pressure as being THE sine quo non of this ailment. How many of you experienced something similar?
John
What were your symptoms, when and how did you first discover it?
My case was "discovered" almost a year ago now, even though I am pretty sure I had the condition for a couple of years because looking back on it, my shortness of breath had been plaguing me. On what was the hottest day of the year (about 105), in late July, I started feeling ill as the day went on, even though I was mostly in air conditioning, and by evening I was so short of breath, I couldn't breath. Fear entered quickly and I was convinced I was having a heart attack. Called 911 and took the long ambulance ride into the ER. A heart cath showed my stents were still open and no sign of a heart attack. Lung xrays and ct scan showed no embolisms or tumors.
Now -- this is strange, but I actually gave the clue to my cardiologist and pulmonary specialist that resulted in a diagnosis of AI. Not sure why they weren't more observant, because I had been hooked up to the telemetry for over a day - but I asked them why my Diastolic bp was so low? ... and I had been noticeing this for a few months? While I used to struggle to get a diastolic reading below 80, I was now consistently in the 50s or 40s. "Hmmmmm" they both said. Then a real close listen to my heart unveiled a murmur. As time went on, over the last year, my murmur became so noticeable that doctors and nurses would bring others in just to listen to a "tremendous" example.
So, other than significant SOB and murmurs, everything I've read on the subject points to a low Diastolic pressure as being THE sine quo non of this ailment. How many of you experienced something similar?
John
