New Kid

[PaulD]

I found out last year that I have a bicuspid aortic valve. I had a murmur at birth, but no one had heard it for several years. Because my mom has a bicuspid, she made me have an echo and that's when it discovered.

I'm on annual echos to keep it checked out, so I hope I can postpone surgery a long time. I am a brown belt, Tae Kwan Do, and I don't want to slow down if I can help it.

I'm going to check the different forums out and read what I can. I might disappear for awhile, but I suppose I'll be back eventually!
Thanks for reading.
Paul

 

[tobagotwo]

There's plenty to be found, here, Paul. And you're weclome to it.

Glad to have you join us. Come and go as it works best for you.

Best wishes,

 

[perrybucsdad]

Paul,

If you don't mind how old are you? I remember feeling great when I was younger and had hoped I would stay asymptomatic for as long as I could. I wish you well there.

Have you had any issues with shortness of breath or other problems.

Take care and hope you join in many of the discussions. The folks here are wonderful and full of knowledge.

- John

 

[PaulD]

Paul,

If you don't mind how old are you? I remember feeling great when I was younger and had hoped I would stay asymptomatic for as long as I could. I wish you well there.

Have you had any issues with shortness of breath or other problems.

Take care and hope you join in many of the discussions. The folks here are wonderful and full of knowledge.

- John

I'm 20 and I have no symptoms that I'm aware of.

 

[Ashley]

I found out last year that I have a bicuspid aortic valve. I had a murmur at birth, but no one had heard it for several years. Because my mom has a bicuspid, she made me have an echo and that's when it discovered.

I'm on annual echos to keep it checked out, so I hope I can postpone surgery a long time. I am a brown belt, Tae Kwan Do, and I don't want to slow down if I can help it.

I'm going to check the different forums out and read what I can. I might disappear for awhile, but I suppose I'll be back eventually!
Thanks for reading.
Paul

Hi Paul - welcome!
Glad you are on annual echos. I too have a biscuspid - they heard and echo at birth but didn't diagnose me until I was 16. I was put on 5 year echos - and I really think it was too long because the last time I had an echo done, a lot had changed. Glad to hear you are asymptomatic (I am too!).
There is a lot to read - and lots of valuable info.
Take care

 

[Superbob]

The Long Run

The Long Run

Paul: Welcome!

An internist first told me he heard a murmur when I, too, was a young man in my 20s.

Later, the annual monitoring and echos began. Meanwhile, I played sports, and even ran a few marathons.

This February, at the age of 63, I had to have the OHS for valve and root replacement.

Our situations are all different, but just wanted to make the point that the monitoring sometimes can go on for years. You are wise to pay close attention early, though, and learn all you can about your condition and what's ahead.

Best wishes!

Rob

 

[McCln]

They had heard the murmur all that time, but it was not bad when you were younger. It is progressive and you never know when the tables will turn on you. Always best to be with great cardios, that is a big help. Communication is a plus. Good luck that you can keep any surgery at bay. Just come when you need a question answered. Or just to shoot the breeze. Welcome aboard.

 

[Fburns]

Diagnosed @ 21

Diagnosed @ 21

Paul,

My murmur was discovered when I was 21, and I lived a reasonably normal life until I had my surgery at 49. Duing all this time, my condition was monitored, and the advice was not to "overdo" things. I played sports etc, but never felt fully comfortable pushing myself. On reflection, the surgery was so sucessful and straight-forward, I often wonder should I have had it earlier ? Since it, I have been wonderfully better.

Good luck.

Frank

Paul: Welcome!

An internist first told me he heard a murmur when I, too, was a young man in my 20s.

Later, the annual monitoring and echos began. Meanwhile, I played sports, and even ran a few marathons.

This February, at the age of 63, I had to have the OHS for valve and root replacement.

Our situations are all different, but just wanted to make the point that the monitoring sometimes can go on for years. You are wise to pay close attention early, though, and learn all you can about your condition and what's ahead.

Best wishes!

Rob

 

[MarkU]

Welcome, Paul.

I was diagnosed with a bicuspid aortic valve when I was five, and had my first catherization at 15. I was told not to worry about it until I developed symptoms later in life.
I was fine until my mid 40's when I started to develop shortness of breath and chronic fatigue. Had surgery 4-1/2 years ago at age 47 to get a St. Jude mechanical valve.
I have been very active in sports my entire life. I was an avid weightlifter/bodybuider prior to my surgery, but afterwards my cardiologist asked me to lay off the heavy weights and concentrate more on aerobic activities. Got hooked on triathlons 1-1/2 years ago. I'm in better shape and feel better now than I did in my 30's.
Checkout the "Active Lifestyles" section for some pretty inspiring stories about others who are marathoners, triathletes, etc. Having valve replacement surgery is not necessarily going to sentence you to a sedentary life afterwards.
Good luck,
Mark

 

[hensylee]

Welcome - my, you're handsome! You have come to the right spot to find out all you need to know and some you probably don't. It's a really good place to be for support and info.

You might want to watch out about the Tae Kwando stuff for awhile after surgery - don't want to take chances w/your chest bones. Your dr will tell you all about that part. Many members had a favorite sport and went back to it after surgery - eventually.

 

[Joel]

Welcome Aboard.

Welcome Aboard.

Welcome Aboard.

I was diagnosed at 8, heart murmer followed up with catheterization. (Didn't have Echos back then - 1970.) My parents were told I would probably need valve replacement some time during my life. (Most likely when I was teenager.) I am amazed how calm they were about it since these surgeries were not always as successful back then. I am finally facing surgery next week - at age 42.

So my advice to you - keep on monitoring, but don't worry about it.

By the time your valve actually wears out, replacement will probably be done with a capsule you swallow containing nano-robots carrying stem cells. They will float tiny inner tubes down your blood stream and set up a construction site around your old valve. They will build a replacement valve sending you hourly emails on how things are going. When they are done, they will hang around and check on things periodically. When things are slow, they will entertain themselves by coming up with nano-robot poetry. They will email you their poems. You probably won't understand the poems unless you are into nano-robot culture. A little annoying, but a small price to pay for your new heart valve.

Or maybe not.

 

[Granbonny]

Welcome

Welcome

My, you are handsome..Ooops..Ann beat me to it..... Hopefully, it will be a really long time before you will need surgery..But, please plan to stop in again......Bonnie

 

[Wise]

Paul, welcome to the site. You are in a great place to learn about your condition. I was diagnosed over a year ago with BAV. I had been diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse 20 years ago. I'm doing well and shouldn't face surgery for years to come, if at all. I recommond that you take some time and just read. Do some searches and you may be surprised at all of the information available here. I searched years for good information on mitral valve prolapse and more recently on BAV; this is the best central source I have encountered. The company here is imcomparable as well. Take care and good luck.

Wise

 

[PaulD]

Thanks for telling me about your experiences. I just hope I can make it without surgery for as long as some of you have. I hope there are no changes on my next echo.

Paul

 

[hensylee]

My, you are handsome..Ooops..Ann beat me to it..... Hopefully, it will be a really long time before you will need surgery..But, please plan to stop in again......Bonnie

Bonnie, reckon he's a model, too - like August? Wow, the jackpot twice in a row. (Sorry, Paul, but you really are a sight for sore eyes)

 

[DebbiN]

Lol

Lol

Paul I gotta agree, you are very handsome! LOL

Welcome to the group, I am new here too!