BAV Leads to Stroke

[johnnycake23]

Hello. It's been 14 years since my bicuspid aortic valve was repaired. On Coreg, Lotrel, baby aspirin and that's it. Have been able to lead decent lifestyle - hockey, hiking, even went skydiving last year. Anyway, last week my right eye went blurry. I thought it was just too much computer watching. Yesterday the opthamologist told me there was an embolism caught in my eye, probably some plaque that broke off and got stuck there. It blocked blood flow to my eye and has done permanent damage. He said if it went to my brain it would have been a stroke. As it is, it was a stroke nonetheless.

Later today I go to get an echo and an ultrasound of my carotid arteries. My girlfriend, who is a nurse, is quite worried. Truth is, other than some blurriness I don't feel bad.

My question is...........well, I'm not sure I have one. I think I just wanted to vent somewhere, and you folks have been great to me in the past. But maybe I should ask how worried should I be? Has anyone had this happen to them, or heard of it happening?

I guess as the hour approaches for the echo I am getting nervous. Can't believe I had a stroke. My g.p. says I will probably be put on Coumadin, which would be a first. Anyway, thanks for any input and encouragement. I will post again (if I'm available) with an update. Thanks to all.

 

[ALCapshaw2]

I sometimes get a 'kaleidoscopic' peripheral image, especially if I have been sitting in a hard chair for a long time. Whenever that happens I chew either Half or a Whole (325 mg) Aspirin, the non-coated type.

It usually clears in 10 to 20 minutes, often whether I chew the aspirin or not. And Yes, I am on Warfarin.

'AL Capshaw'

 

[Nancy]

My husband had the same thing happen. He didn't have BAV, but did have two mechanical valves and was prone to TIAs (emboli that break off, plaque or other types). He had many of those.

He lost all vision in the affected eye. And it was permanent.

I am sorry this has happened to you.

After it happened to Joe, I did a lot of research online, and found many websites which were about those who had lost vision in one eye, monovision, for various reasons men and women. They had adjusted very well with their situation, and drove and did other normal things. They had a lot of good ideas.

One of the things that was very annoying was that nobody remembered that he was blind on that side, since his eye looked normal, and he had several mishaps where where he couldn't see people coming from that side. He was hospitalized one time, and developed an eye infection, requiring nurses to put eye drops in his eye. He got a severe corneal scratch because the nurse assumed he could see the dropper coming. She wasn't careful at all. So you'll have to be mindful of those kinds of things.

Another things that the websites stressed was that you have to protect your good eye at all cost, and make sure your glasses are all non-breakable, and just be very careful of it.

I had a cousin who lost his eye to cancer. He was a physician. He continued to drive and see his patients. He was a surgeon too, I can't remember if he continued that. But I do know he went on with his practice.

Vent all you want. That's what we're here for.

 

[Nancy]

I should have also added this-- IT'S VERY IMPORTANT-- for those to whom this might ever happen. If you or anyone you know ever has a blind incident you MUST go to the ER immediately, no matter what. There is a three hour window of opportunity when they can do something about the clot, and you have a chance (not a large one, but a chance anyway) that they can help to restore vision in that eye.

Once that window passes, tissues die and the problem is permanent.

Joe never told me about his blind incident. He thought it was another TIA and that it would pass. It wasn't until several days later that he went to the eye doctor, and of course all was lost. The eye doctor was upset because he felt that something might have been done.

 

[tobagotwo]

You may be developing some calcification around that valve. How have your echoes been?

See if they can determnine what actually caused the clot. If you do have some calcification growth, and it's breaking off, Coumadin isn't going to do much about the source of it. You may need to have something more direct done about it, in order to feel secure.

If it's all blood and "normal" arterial plaque, Coumadin (warfarin) is likely the preferred approach, perhaps with a statin. Plavix (clopidogrel) might be a second line option.

Next time you get that feeling, follow Al's advice - on your way to the hospital.

Best wishes,

 

[Mary]

Gee,
I certainly understand your being worried, but it's good that you will have only a short time to stew. Until you find out where they believe the embolism is originating from (heart or carotid), there's not much to be done.
After you have the tests, please let us know what the results are.

 

[zarbie01]

I have just recently received my ID card from St jude's in Australia.
On it are the 2 valves and serial numbers and in bold red letters "MRI COMPATIBLE" I guess that means it is safe to have an MRI.
ZARBIE

 

[johnnycake23]

Just got back from the tests. I did not see the cardiologist but the tech who did my carotid said he didn't see any blockage there and that he "would bet money" that it is a result of my stenosis. Whoops, I forgot that I had stenosis. I was just told at my last visit last year.

Anyway, I see the doc tomorrow and then I should know if he wants to modify my meds. It was my g.p. who suggested Coumadin but I will wait till I hear from cardio. As another thread here mentioned it may be that I need Flavix and not Coumadin.

Thank you for your contributions and I will keep you apprised of my situation.