First things first:
Bicuspid aortic valve diagnosed February 2015.
Moderate stenosis: 1.0cm².
Peak gradient: 41mm Hg, mean 21mm Hg. My peak gradient three years ago was 35mm Hg
Mild aortic root dilation: 3.6cm.
Ive been lurking here some months now, gathering information and advice from the remarkable conversations being conducted and soaking up the generous and humane wisdom of the brilliant archive. I begin by saying a very big thank you to all past and present contributors.
I bumped into a bicuspid aortic valve diagnosis back in February this year after a routine echocardiogram for continual palpitations.
The technician doing the echo at St Thomas Hospital in London suddenly exclaimed mid examination: Oh, you have a bicuspid aortic valve. He then went on to describe what it was and drew me a little diagram on a piece of paper. Id never heard of it.
I was discharged from hospital surveillance aged seven following early recognition of a heart murmur and febrile convulsions. Im now a few days over fifty-seven. Ive always mentioned to health practitioners throughout my adulthood that I have a murmur (some heard it without me telling them about it), but none had ever suggested a need to investigate as to its probable cause.
Three years ago I'd experienced several episodes of severe encompassing aching pain around my heart region and a radiating pain down my left arm (both occasions lasted about two or three minutes and were really quite alarming). I immediately sought medical advice as I assumed I was having a heart attack. But it was not a heart attack. Most likely a muscle spasm. I had an echocardiogram. Slight wear and tear of the valve. Advised that there was nothing of real concern and told to come back in five years. No mention of the term bicuspid valve.
As I waited for a first cardiology appointment in April at St Thomas Hospital, my mill pond was initially unsettled as I researched bicuspid valve disease. But more considered reading in the meantime, and the superlative and measured accounts at Valve Replacement dot Org, soon helped calm any choppy waters I was experiencing.
I've had an x-ray and a CT-angiogram and have worn a 24-hour holter monitor to study my palpitations (which incidentally have now receded in regularity). And last week I had a second echocardiogram, which has shown my readings have remained pretty much the same as an echo I had in April.
My cardiologist has arranged for me to speak with a cardiothoracic surgeon at St Thomas Hospital, London. I await an appointment.
It seems there may be some way to go before surgical intervention, according to my measurements. My stenosis is apparently 'on the cusp of severe to moderate', but I remain moderate.
Suppose that means I rest in the waiting room. But its certainly a room made much more comfortable knowing there are generous minded people like your good selves to listen to. My appreciation and warm thoughts abound to all.
*Bit of further past health info:
For three years before 2000 I had been continually ill with extreme fatigue and fevers. I was a keen swimmer and hill walker then and both of these pursuits became increasingly difficult. Instead of swimming my usual daily thirty lengths, I had to crawl exhausted out of the pool after only three or four. I knew something was amiss. Various doctors consistently fobbed me off by as either having a post viral blip that would soon abate or an acute attack of hypochondria. Finally, a sympathetic doctor sent me for an x-ray. I had enlarged lymph nodes (bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy). My GP was worried it was cancer (lymphoma). There was a hospital stay, a general anaesthetic and a lymph node biopsy performed. The biopsy confirmed I had sarcoidosis (Id never heard of it). So it was good to know my symptoms weren't imaginary. Which was an object lesson in itself.
I had to take high doses of steroids (prednisolone 'the only effective treatment for the incurable and potentially fatal illness sarcoidosis'). After two years the illness went into remission and has not returned since.
Even so, I had continued to be extremely exhausted with muscle weakness and pain, aching bones and general fatigue. The doctors suggested my body was possibly recovering from the side effects of the prednisolone. But the extreme malaise continued. As they could find no obvious cause of my continuing malady, I was eventually diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, the symptoms of which continues to varying degrees of severity until this day.
But, noticeably, the last year or so my fatigue seems markedly worse. It seems my already limited ability to sustain reasonable walking distances or aspects of physical activity has worsened. My sleeping is heavy and deep, fatigue and degrees of muscle pain at rest predominate.
Of course, Im ageing, which may be a factor. Yet, now with my bicuspid aortic valve diagnosis in the mix (and its potential effects on the body), there are questions here as to whether Im experiencing BAV symptoms and not CFS or possibly a mix of both or not (as the case may be!)? Perhaps the CFS symptoms are in effect BAV symptoms? Perhaps I dont have CFS any longer? Or perhaps my BAV isnt at a serious enough stage to warrant the type of symptoms Im currently experiencing anyway? But hey ho, who knows
As I write theres a beautiful wren singing outside my window. For now, all is good.
Bicuspid aortic valve diagnosed February 2015.
Moderate stenosis: 1.0cm².
Peak gradient: 41mm Hg, mean 21mm Hg. My peak gradient three years ago was 35mm Hg
Mild aortic root dilation: 3.6cm.
Ive been lurking here some months now, gathering information and advice from the remarkable conversations being conducted and soaking up the generous and humane wisdom of the brilliant archive. I begin by saying a very big thank you to all past and present contributors.
I bumped into a bicuspid aortic valve diagnosis back in February this year after a routine echocardiogram for continual palpitations.
The technician doing the echo at St Thomas Hospital in London suddenly exclaimed mid examination: Oh, you have a bicuspid aortic valve. He then went on to describe what it was and drew me a little diagram on a piece of paper. Id never heard of it.
I was discharged from hospital surveillance aged seven following early recognition of a heart murmur and febrile convulsions. Im now a few days over fifty-seven. Ive always mentioned to health practitioners throughout my adulthood that I have a murmur (some heard it without me telling them about it), but none had ever suggested a need to investigate as to its probable cause.
Three years ago I'd experienced several episodes of severe encompassing aching pain around my heart region and a radiating pain down my left arm (both occasions lasted about two or three minutes and were really quite alarming). I immediately sought medical advice as I assumed I was having a heart attack. But it was not a heart attack. Most likely a muscle spasm. I had an echocardiogram. Slight wear and tear of the valve. Advised that there was nothing of real concern and told to come back in five years. No mention of the term bicuspid valve.
As I waited for a first cardiology appointment in April at St Thomas Hospital, my mill pond was initially unsettled as I researched bicuspid valve disease. But more considered reading in the meantime, and the superlative and measured accounts at Valve Replacement dot Org, soon helped calm any choppy waters I was experiencing.
I've had an x-ray and a CT-angiogram and have worn a 24-hour holter monitor to study my palpitations (which incidentally have now receded in regularity). And last week I had a second echocardiogram, which has shown my readings have remained pretty much the same as an echo I had in April.
My cardiologist has arranged for me to speak with a cardiothoracic surgeon at St Thomas Hospital, London. I await an appointment.
It seems there may be some way to go before surgical intervention, according to my measurements. My stenosis is apparently 'on the cusp of severe to moderate', but I remain moderate.
Suppose that means I rest in the waiting room. But its certainly a room made much more comfortable knowing there are generous minded people like your good selves to listen to. My appreciation and warm thoughts abound to all.
*Bit of further past health info:
For three years before 2000 I had been continually ill with extreme fatigue and fevers. I was a keen swimmer and hill walker then and both of these pursuits became increasingly difficult. Instead of swimming my usual daily thirty lengths, I had to crawl exhausted out of the pool after only three or four. I knew something was amiss. Various doctors consistently fobbed me off by as either having a post viral blip that would soon abate or an acute attack of hypochondria. Finally, a sympathetic doctor sent me for an x-ray. I had enlarged lymph nodes (bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy). My GP was worried it was cancer (lymphoma). There was a hospital stay, a general anaesthetic and a lymph node biopsy performed. The biopsy confirmed I had sarcoidosis (Id never heard of it). So it was good to know my symptoms weren't imaginary. Which was an object lesson in itself.
I had to take high doses of steroids (prednisolone 'the only effective treatment for the incurable and potentially fatal illness sarcoidosis'). After two years the illness went into remission and has not returned since.
Even so, I had continued to be extremely exhausted with muscle weakness and pain, aching bones and general fatigue. The doctors suggested my body was possibly recovering from the side effects of the prednisolone. But the extreme malaise continued. As they could find no obvious cause of my continuing malady, I was eventually diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, the symptoms of which continues to varying degrees of severity until this day.
But, noticeably, the last year or so my fatigue seems markedly worse. It seems my already limited ability to sustain reasonable walking distances or aspects of physical activity has worsened. My sleeping is heavy and deep, fatigue and degrees of muscle pain at rest predominate.
Of course, Im ageing, which may be a factor. Yet, now with my bicuspid aortic valve diagnosis in the mix (and its potential effects on the body), there are questions here as to whether Im experiencing BAV symptoms and not CFS or possibly a mix of both or not (as the case may be!)? Perhaps the CFS symptoms are in effect BAV symptoms? Perhaps I dont have CFS any longer? Or perhaps my BAV isnt at a serious enough stage to warrant the type of symptoms Im currently experiencing anyway? But hey ho, who knows
As I write theres a beautiful wren singing outside my window. For now, all is good.
I too am from London, near Hampton Court.
