breathing symptoms

[dej72]

My cardiac output is normal as are the dimensions of my left ventricle, etc. Everything but my aortic root (46 mm) and my bicuspid valve ("probably" severe regurgitation)

Sometimes, even when I'm sitting down, I'm much more aware of my breathing. (I don't get winded when I'm climbing stairs, I can go an hour on treadmill with heartrate at 145 bpm, etc.) However, this "awareness" of my breathing while I'm sitting at my desk is starting to worry me.

Is it all psychological? Is this common? Has anyone else experienced the same thing? I know this sounds sort of flaky and sort of trivial, but it would be very helpful to hear other's experiences with this.

 

[dej72]

more

more

Oh yeah, I'm on 50mg of atenolol, which I restarted about 2 months ago. (I took them from 1995 until about 2002, when I stupidly stopped.)

 

[Georgia]

I wonder if you might have cardiac asthma - I did almost 3 years prior to being diagnosed. My doc said it was asthma - he never connected it to the heart.

 

[tobagotwo]

I didn't get winded for a long time on stairs. Usually did better than the young pups. But I seem to recall becoming more aware of breathing shortly before the symptoms started.

You might consider that the EF measures how much blood your heart pumps out with each beat, but doesn't take into account how much leaks back in through the regurgitant valve after that same beat. So your output ain't really your output...

As such, at rest, you may be just a little bit short on oxygen for your brain's taste. Not enough to do any damage at all, just a little annoying to the gray matter. Do you find yourself having occasional mild panic feelings, or waking up suddenly at night? These are things that sometimes can go along with very mild, occasional hypoxia.

It's always hard to tell with cardiac symptoms how much is real, and how much is just manifestations of our fears. Similarly, it's hard to tell how many symptoms some hidden part of our brains may be hiding from the cognizant parts of our brains.

Be aware of symptoms, but try not to make yourself crazy with trying to quantify them too much. Not very helpful advice, but at least you know we all realize how tough your position can be.

Best wishes,

 

[Natanni]

Nathan had moderate-severe leakage from his aoric bicuspid, and he did have left ventricle changes; He really had no symptoms that we could identify, although he felt an over all decline in his stamina within the last 1-2 years prior to surgery. He felt he may be more winded when carrying larger heavy boxes up flights of stairs, but I have had these changes as well so we just assumed they were probably more age related. His job involved lots of walking, lifting, bending, and running up stairs.

 

[aussigal]

Hi again Derek...

I am one who is very very aware of my breathing...actually I am so aware of it I hold my breath in a funny sort of way so I dont make the huffy-puffy sounds...its near impossible for me to just breathe normally and quietly...its like I cant breathe deep enough any other-way as well...this is something I have been doing for a few years now, which is why it is so noticeable to my family when I do attempt to breath properly , and when I do this I get palpitations which are yucky and relieved by breathing the way I normally do. Dont know if that helps or even makes sense .

My EF is around the perfect mark too but on my scans you can see the reguritant blood-flow and also my volume is higher than normal which makes me question whats going on.

I have NO stamina or exercise tolerance.

 

[dej72]

Aussigal;

well, fortunately for you all that should soon get a lot better.

I have a surgical consultation on April 17th. I'm inclined to push my luck and wait until 5.0cm or changes in left ventricle dimensions occur.

This might sound selfish, but I want to make sure I see my new (4th) baby in november before having it done

 

[Cynthia]

I wonder if you might have cardiac asthma - I did almost 3 years prior to being diagnosed. My doc said it was asthma - he never connected it to the heart.

I get winded pretty easily. I was diagnosed with asthma after failing their breathing tests repeatedly during last fall. But, my son has asthma, and I've never had grunting or coughing like he does. I'm also wondering if I was misdiagnosed, because I only just now found out about the BAV which is leaking. Is a leaky BAV something that causes shortness of breath?

Cynthia

 

[mntbiker]

Is a leaky BAV something that causes shortness of breath?

Short answer: Yes. Many of us with regurgitant BAV's have shortness of breath related to some sort of activity. For example - after breakfast each morning I will go upstairs to brush my teeth. It will take me about five minutes to catch my breath enough to actually brush them. Meanwhile I mountain bike (well I did ) about 3 to 5 times a week sometimes more. I did experience SOB then also but it would stabilize with the activity.

I believe most cardio's don't truly understand BAV in younger people and will end up looking for other reasons. I had one ask me how I could possibly be out of breath going up stairs when I claimed to be active. Then he accused me of not really being active. It takes time to find a cardio that understands the condition they just don't see it enough. I am not saying this is the cause of your SOB but the valve can cause it.

 

[Cynthia]

Short answer: Yes. Many of us with regurgitant BAV's have shortness of breath related to some sort of activity. For example - after breakfast each morning I will go upstairs to brush my teeth. It will take me about five minutes to catch my breath enough to actually brush them. Meanwhile I mountain bike (well I did ) about 3 to 5 times a week sometimes more. I did experience SOB then also but it would stabilize with the activity.

I believe most cardio's don't truly understand BAV in younger people and will end up looking for other reasons. I had one ask me how I could possibly be out of breath going up stairs when I claimed to be active. Then he accused me of not really being active. It takes time to find a cardio that understands the condition they just don't see it enough. I am not saying this is the cause of your SOB but the valve can cause it.

Thanks for the answer! What's so striking, is that I have had lots of people ask me what I was doing to get out of breath. Usually, it was nothing other than walking up steps while talking on the phone, or something like that. It's very odd. I consider myself very active, and am working out even harder nowaday in a gym. Yet, you'd think I had never exercised a day in my life. Also, when I crescendo into a high heart rate rhythm, I can stay there for a quite a while. And, I like to do that. Do you think I should not push it so hard now? Do you know if a high heart rate can bring on more severe heart jumps and racing, or worse?

Thanks so much for the info. After these posts, I'll be much more capable to make the most of my 5/1 appointment.

Cynthia