that's excellent news ... always better to have substantial time up your sleeve for the possibility of furthering understanding and practice.
Yes - I agree. Part of me wishes we wouldn’t have come across this incidental finding but it is certainly safer to know and be monitored. And I feel I have matured in the past 3 months more than I did in the first 35 years. Perspective.
back in 2009 my wife and I were planning an epic skiing trip (based on some years of preparitory training in Finland {where we lived}) for the next winter, it was to go from Abisco to Kebnekaise towing sleds. We'd prepared the route but we had to come home (to my home, Australia) because of a few reasons.
Smoking is the best bad habit..Prayer is wise and has evidence to back it up.. I have arthritis as well; what do you take for pain ? NSAIDS work best for me...Tylenol not as much..Pain cream, exercise, swimming, physical therapy, magnesium, glucosamine help1. To me I wanted one and done at age 55. I'd had other surgeries and did not enjoy them or the disruption it does to your life. Plus, my job is not the most secure, so I didn't want to bet on good insurance and a generous disability program for future surgeries. I wasn't offered the Ross procedure, but I believe that's 2 valves impacted and a future replacement. I wouldn't be comfortable with that.
2. TAVR was not available to me, but tissue was. I went mechanical for the one and done concept. Warfarin's biggest impact on me is not being able to take NSAIDs for arthritis and other orthopedic issues.
3. With my St. Jude mechanical both my surgeon and cardiologist told me I would pass on due to something other than my mechanical valve.
A modern philosopher said that if a choice is difficult, that means both paths have equal merit. Take heart in that since you then cannot make a wrong choice...
For anxiety I like exercise, good movies and rote prayer. The rosary works for me. The occasional cigarette helps, but I cannot do that anymore
I agree, sometimes forums can raise anxiety because you're constantly reading about people with all different kinds of heart issues which if you're the type might get your mind racing about negative possibilities. However it is also a good place to get a lot of relevant information that helps make a decision. I think the positive part to take out of it is there's so many people out here who had surgery that was successful.Hi - I am in a similar place as you. 36 year old (competitive cyclist) with incidental finding of BAV. Mild regurg, no stenosis, no aneurism or dilatation. My cardiologist reported high confidence that intervention won’t be required for 10-15 years based on what we know now. As we continue to collect annual echo’s, that may even push out. The averages would say mid 50’s is most common for intervention. But some are lucky to push out further and anywhere between 20-50 percent of people never need intervention. I know it is hard, I also struggle. I always lean back on more recent data that life expectancy for us BAV folks is equal to that of the general population. We are blessed to have the opportunity to live a life of gratitude, understanding that every day is a gift. The life expectancy tables you are quoting are for the non BAV cohorts which are generally replacements due to unhealthy behavior, etc. they are also later in life. It’s all cause mortality they are quoting, so yea a 70 year old getting a new valve wont have great longer term stats
myself I would take a mechanical over a tissue valve and a tissue valve over the ross all day long every day of the year.
The basic answer is that all options are good, with only optimisation possible.
one last thing.
Everyone that can make a choice, does their own research and talks with the Cardio Surgeon, who has a final say on the matter of the valve that will be placed in. And it depends also on the health of the patient. If you need more information, from a better source. talk to your cardio and cardio surgeon, for the best information on the valve to use. And go to many reliable resources for information. Good luck and keep researching. Knowledge is great tool.30 year old BAV patient with mild to moderate regurgitation here. I have been dealing with extreme anxiety towards my heart, hoping some of you wonderful people can help.
1. The Ross Procedure sounds really good if I need to get surgery while I’m in my younger years. Why don’t more people in America use it? It’s much more common in Europe. My Cleveland clinic cardio said I could easily still make it another 25 years before needing surgery, does that sound right to you all?
2. My understanding is that TAVR isn’t used on regurgitation, only stenosis. but would I still potentially be a candidate for other minimally invasive techniques? Cleveland clinic does a ton minimally invasive now, so just making sure I could be a candidate for that(really intrigued by quicker recovery time) and that TAVR isn’t the only type of minimally invasive. J-incision is different than TAVR, no?
3. Are there any encouraging studies or stories from your cardio about life expectancy? I see studies that say no effect to life expectancy after BaV, then others that say it’s significant if you have the surgery as a young person. But those studies seem really flawed(I’m thinking of the new huge Swedish study everyone’s reading).
could really use some positivity on this one, so please consider bedside manor and thank you for your time
