Our 18 year son is on the border of severe for BAV stenosis. He was just cleared to play baseball now his senior year, but with restrictions of no heavy weight lifting and no cardio. Workouts....so he basically gets to play only a little. Dr. Says to wait for symptoms. On and off for several months now, he makes the comments that he just doesn't have the appetite like he used to, and compared to his 13 yr. old brother, or other boys his age, he doesn't. Could this related to his condition? He also had a double header baseball game a week ago in 40 degree weather (I know Crazy!) he played a few innings in the outfield and pinch ran.
The next day he stayed home in bed till4 pm sleeping....he said in the morning he had stomached ache, then at noon a headache...then he said he was just so tired.
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Anne,
From my own experience: I always tried to find a cause for my symptoms, any cause except the real cause. As human, I was simply in denial and disregarded the real fact about the need for surgery.
I always pushed myself despite the fatigue I always felt! Fatigue was my only symptom and if my cardio listened better to me or perceived I might be a smart patient when I complained about increased fatigue to the extent I could not walk, I would have had my surgery at least two or three years earlier. At least, my left atrium was not enlarged then to the extent that it is not shrinking after surgery!
Your son slept till 4 p.m., yet he felt he was "
so tired"! what more symptoms is his cardio waiting for? When I saw a surgeon and asked which symptoms I should look for, he said: "
when you feel tired and/or short of breath while resting doing nothing"!
I have not read other posts whether you mention anything about echo results and figures, though this was not helpful in my case neither.
My cardio thought the figures were still OK.
He was WRONG. My symptoms were worse than the figures and I should have had my surgery, I repeat, at least two years earlier.
I always pushed myself. So, My cardio was deceived how I looked and how I walked into his office, how I presented myself when I discussed my issues! Based on my appearance he decided to ignore my complaints about fatigue! He advised me to push myself harder to walk and exercise more often, which I did though I couldn't and the result was my valves started tearing out on me. My surgeon was shocked how I was up on my feet until the surgery!!
BTW, I fired him later and I wish I had done that two years earlier. I didn't because he was supposedly a top-notch cardio!
All I'm saying is seek another opinion and get all the results of echocardiogram.
I'm not trying to scare you, but fatigue for an 18 years old after 4 hrs of resting maybe a heart valve deterioration symptom.*
Just my 2-cents! Keep us posted.
