low blood pressure

[palms]

I?m a 42-year-old runner, diagnosed with a bicuspid aortic valve (without significant stenosis and trace leakage) in Jun 06. The first cardiologist I saw told me I could continue with my current live style (which included 25-35 miles per week and 2 marathons per year) and come back in 2 years. Cool, sounded good to me, as I had no idea what a bicuspid aortic valve was.

Later on after doing internet research and talking with a co-worker?s ex-husband who had his bicuspid aortic valve replaced, everything changed. Not so cool anymore! To be safe I got a second opinion and was told pretty much the same thing except the second cardiologist said I should not run any more marathons. He said I could run every day but not exaggerated distances. He said I should come back in December (6 months from my first Echocardiogram) to see if there were any changes. If there?s not, I won?t have to come back for 12 months.

Because running is so important to me I took the second cardiologist literally and have been running everyday. It?s pretty cool because although I haven?t run more than 8 miles at a time, I?m getting just as much mileage as I use to because I do it ever day. Thing is, this last week I have noticed my blood pressure is lower than normal. Normally, it averages 117/75 and now it?s been around 105/60. I feel great and have been extra strong with my running, but this low blood pressure can?t be good. I?m glad I have an appointment for the echocardiogram in a couple weeks, but in the mean time I was wondering if anyone else has had low blood pressure? What did it mean?

Thanks,
Scott

 

[msiwik]

Report Back after Your Echo

Report Back after Your Echo

Scott: Welcome to the site. There are several runners who belong here including several pre-surgery folks like you. No insights on the blood pressure but the echocardiogram coming up will tell you a lot. Please report back after that. Mark

 

[kodi]

Sorry I can't help with the blood pressure question. Before my surgery mine always was around 120/72.
The thing I wanted to comment on was your running. When I was first diagnosed two years ago with aortic stenosis my PCP told me no more marathons (usually did 3 or 4 a year). My opening was about 1CM2. I did three anyway. Last year after a bunch of additional tests because my RHR was dropping the cardiologist also said no more marathons and so I quit. I never had problems running until early this year and I knew something was going wrong. I tired easily, shortened my runs and on many occasions had to stop and walk. I tried to blame it on age (68) and summer (110+ temps) but knew differently. In August when I had my annual echo my opening was less the .7 so running stopped completely. I'm now back to walking five minutes and jogging five over about a six mile course.
I guess what I'm trying to say is as long as you can run without problems do it and don't be stupid like me and do marathons when told not to. I think your body will let you know when it's had enough and you'll feel it in your running.
Let us know the results of the Echo.

 

[Kate]

Hi Scott!
I also had a bicuspid aortic valve until it was replaced a little over a year ago. My blood pressure, both before and after surgery, has regularly been very low (as low as 70/40 at the most extreme, but typically more like 80 or 90 over 60). My cardiologist assures me that as long as I'm not having negative symptoms (fainting, lightheadness, etc.) this is not anything to worry about. Of course, every situation is different and you probably should check in with your doctor, but based on my situation, I wouldn't worry too much about 105 /60 . Take care, Kate

 

[StretchL]

Hi, Scott

Hi, Scott

I'm of a different opinion than K8 (what is it they say about opinions...?).

I have a congenitally bicuspid aortic valve. I'm 43 and for a long time I've been very attentive to the health issues surrounding this condition.

One of the greatest risks of bicuspid valves is something pleasantly known as "sudden death."

Obviously I"m not a physician, but from what I understand, sudden death is caused when a low blood pressure creates demands on the heart that the bad valve prevents it from meeting. Somehow this screws up the rhythm in a way that can't be corrected.

There are others on here with more knowledge than I, and they will probably chime in, but... if I was bicuspid and experiencing low bp, I'd follow my cardiologist's most conservative recommendations and I'd not push things. But that's just me.

Welcome to the boards...

 

[Jas0n]

i too was/am an endurance athelete - less since i had avr - and i too was told not too worry too much about the valve issue until it actually needed to be repaired. unfortunately, my valve did need to be repaired. and repair it they did!! the way i saw it (pre op, of course), the benefits of regular exercise far outweigh any possible complication resulting from your valve issue.

as for the low blood pressure, i would seriously consider calling your cardio and moving that echo up a bit, if you notice symptoms associated with low blood pressure. indeed, before my avr, my doctors hesitated to put me on ace inhibitors because i already had somewhat low blood pressure; they supposed this was from my training, and not any other issue. are you taking enalapril/lisinopril/etc ...?? i was only put on enalapril after i was prohibited from riding.

at the moment - 4 months post op - i believe i am suffering from low blood pressure, as i have noticed, within the last 2 weeks, that i get lightheaded/dizzy when i stand with any speed and i have also suffered from a string of occular migraines the last 2 weeks (nearly everyday). to the point, i will be seeing my cardio tommorow a.m! i hope it is merely from the lisinopril i take, but knowing that i only take 5mg daily, i fear it might be myopathy at play. lets hope not ...

keep running, just temper yourself a bit. there is life to be lived beyond the cardiologist's office!! none of us should forget that.

 

[epstns]

I'm another bicuspid valver -- aortic stenosis, still pre-surgery. My cardio is OK with my recreational jogging/running, in fact he thinks it has played a major role in delaying my surgery. I am 59, and run about 20 miles/week. Over the years I have slowed down (age + valve) to 9:30 miles, but I still enjoy it. Some days I'm slower, some days I could go longer. I've been told to continue my routine, but not to do any heavy weights and stay away from activities with high dynamic range (rest to top effort, back to rest in short bursts). Any and all cardio-vascular excercise has been ruled OK, as long as it feels good.

As a younger adult, I had relatively high blood pressure (got to 150/100 before treatment), but nobody paid any attention to it until my present cardio advised me that with the valve issue, I should treat the BP. Now it is in the range of 115/76, and I still have a resting heart rate of about 55 -- going all the way to 160 or so at full speed.

I would suggest that you consult with your cardio. Ask whether your condition is one that may be prone to sudden cardiac death -- not all bicuspid conditions are. Then jointly with the doc, you could develop an exercise plan that you both can approve. Keep it up as long as you can -- I'm convinced that it helps delay the surgery visit. . .

 

[tprice54]

Running

Running

I am firmly in the waiting room also, but not far away form surgery. I cannot help with the low BP, as mine was usually a little high. I kept running after the diagnosis, in fact did the Goofy marathon and a half challenge in January this year at WDW and did the Disneyland half marathon this Sept. Now, I can feel the difference, and am starting to have SOB. I was accepted into NYC this year, but did not run it, as I could tell it was not worth it, and my carido agreed. However, it was never mentioned NOT to run marathons. My cardio and I have agreed my first race back will be NYC in 2008!

 

[palms]

Thanks

Thanks

Thanks for the responses. This site / you guys are great. I?m sure I?ll make better decisions regarding my BAV care because of the information and smart people on this site. My Cardio is in for a different patient this time. He had better be ready to answer a lot of questions.

Thanks again,
Scott

 

[CathyK.]

I am in the waiting room and am going to be scheduled for surgery soon. I, like Jason, have always had low bp and they hesitiated putting me on meds also. Since yours is not normally that low, I would just check in with your doc and let him/her know. Good luck!!