My first Stress Echo.

[Joe]

Hey Guys/Gals. I've been trolling the forums for a few years now, but in effort to keep my brain from going crazy on the 364 days a year between Echos, I don't say too much. But VR.org has been a great source of help to me.

29 YO/M with a BAV.

So onto my current problem - I went in for my yearly echo on Thursday. Not only the tech, but the doctor were both very concern if I have been having at SOB. Then my cardiologist explained that there "has been some changes". I have been classified as moderate to severe for about 6 or 7 years now. I don't believe I have been short of breath, but that's very subjective. I try my darnedest to not be a hypochondriac (why I don't say much on here). He wants a Stress Echo in 5 weeks to determine if my heart is not holding up under stress. He has also put me on exercise restriction. He said to tone down training for a triathlon & told me to withdraw from the police agency I was in the process with because I won't be getting through the physical. It sucks because I feel fine. Granted that the last 4 days I feel every heart beat.

In light of the recent events, I'm thinking this is going to be sooner rather than later. Thoughts?

Joe.

 

[ski girl]

Joe I based when to have surgery on how I was feeling, and if you're training for a triathlon and don't have SOB then in my non medical opinion you're doing fine. Echoes can be misleading, for example in 1999 my aortic valve area was 0.6 and in 2002 it was 1.1. This is not possible.

Show them what you're made of in the stress echo, Google Bruce Protocol to see what you're in for! Good luck from down under

 

[scott.eitman]

I found that I could pass a stress-echo with flying colors. My heart worked so efficiently while working out that it compensated for the flaws. Based on your training for a Tri, I would guess that this will be the case for you.

In 2008, I had an echo and my cardio walked in and pretty much blurted out "you need surgery" I told him that I did not, and he gave me 6 months. At the 6 month point, I did a stress-echo and he walked in and said "you were right". I rode my Bike 3000 miles that year and the following. In 2010, it was time.

Keep in mind, it may be time and it may be good to get it over with and move on. After being told I needed surgery in 2010, I continued to ride until after I probably did some damage. It has taken 3 years for me to start getting back to normal. Last year, I pretty much gave in to the thought that I would never be 100% again and this year I am much closer to 100%.

Stay well
Scott

 

[Joe]

Ski Girl - Thanks for the info on the stress echo. I was wondering what scale they would be using & how it worked.

Scott - I'm very concern with doing exactly what you did. My body will compensate so well & I'm a stubborn SOB (not short of breath) that I won't admit defeat. When I had my PDA closed I was this stoic idiot at the hospital.

The last week has been very stressful, wondering what they found & why the concern over my breathing. So It dawned on me that I could just call & request a copy of my report!



The new clinical finding is : Mild Pulmonic regurgitation.
My valve is still eccentric moderate/severe - my EF is 75% - mild dilation to left ventricle.



Any idea's why the change in my pulmonary system? The valve is normal, but for some reason now I'm having mild pulmonary hypertension that is causing regurg...


One other random question - If the first procedure to close my PDA failed, do they warranty that work & do the second surgery free?

 

[fjd72]

Joe I based when to have surgery on how I was feeling, and if you're training for a triathlon and don't have SOB then in my non medical opinion you're doing fine.

...it's worth noting that it is possible to be outwardly asymptomatic due to compensation that is leading to irreversible heart damage. Just because you don't feel out of breath doesn't mean there isn't a problem that needs to be addressed.

 

[Rachel]

...it's worth noting that it is possible to be outwardly asymptomatic due to compensation that is leading to irreversible heart damage. Just because you don't feel out of breath doesn't mean there isn't a problem that needs to be addressed.

I have to second this - I didn't have any symptoms or indications that I even had a bicuspid aortic valve (let alone one with moderate regurgitation) along with a 5.2cm ascending aortic aneurysm.

Before I had a clue to my heart condition I was training for a half marathon - the last run I did before my shocking diagnosis was an eleven mile training run at about an 8.5 mile/min pace - I felt GREAT.

Sounds like your doctor wants you to slow down a little, I’d listen to that advice but try not to get too worked up over it. You’ll have the results of your stress test soon and that should tell you and your doctor the next course of action.