Still in the waiting room

[Allisoninoz]

My cardiologist, who I was due to see in late June, rang me today after seeing the results of my stress echo, chest xray and blood tests. He put my next visit off until November, saying tests showed I had 'moderate to severe stenosis' but all well 'unless I'm hankering for an operation'.
He said we should just sit back and see how things go and to call if I have any concerns. I suppose it's good news and I should be relieved.
I think after reading how well so many people here feel after surgery I'm even more keen to get it done, given I am often tired. But it's so hard to discern if that's general 'life' tiredness or something more. My cardio says I'll definitely know when the symptoms start. But I know many of you had the surgery before the symptoms hit too hard.
Arrrggghhhh!!!!

 

[Superbob]

A 6-month echo is not uncommon when you're still approximately in the "moderate" stenosis stage. But take him up on notifying him if you have any concerns. Meanwhile, we're here to talk to in the waiting room, and we even bring magazines or videos with us occasionally.

 

[ARGreenMN]

Sounds familiar

Sounds familiar

I think my Cardio told me for the last 2 or 3 years (if not longer) that I had moderate or maybe even moderate/severe stenosis. And for the last 5 years, he kept saying basically the same thing - the symptoms are what he'd base the decision on. The tests weren't showing much difference from year to year. He'd say, it could be 2 years, it could be 5 years, it could be 10 years... It wasn't until I went in this year and described more noticeable symptoms that he said let's get you in for an angio. The symptoms that had gotten noticeably worse for me the last couple years were shortness of breath (noticable when walking up hills or stairs, or even just long hikes), pain or tightness that I thought was centered more in my back/neck than chest, including when I was just in bed or waking up with it, light-headedness and more frequent/noticeable skipped beats. I kept telling myself it was just that I was so out of shape - that's why I was out of breath, and that it was just stress or lack of sleep causing the tightness in my back/neck and the light-headedness. And of course, I've always been chronically tired during the day, but I always figured that had more to do with not getting enough sleep. But I now believe it was all probably related to the valve. I'll know more when I'm fully recovered (hoping all those symptoms are completely gone).

The rationale for waiting that my cardiologist used was - the longer you wait, the better the options and treatments get. So you're better off waiting as long as you can, but not too long. It worked out ok for me (I think). Had my surgery last week and am doing great so far. One thing I've learned though, is you definitely don't want to wait until you have permanent heart damage! So once you start noticing more pronounced symptoms, or when the experts think the time is right, don't ignore them!

 

[buncle]

For me , having some time to get mentally prepared helped. I did better getting educated prior to the surgery from the great people on this site.I had
made up my mind when I went to visit my surgeon what valve I wanted and he informed me he was going to save my valve and I would not
get a new one.So, I thought "so much for all that " lol but, I was very pleased.Your body will tell you when your getting close and you will be ready to
get it over and feel better.Good luck.

 

[ALCapshaw2]

Allison -

Do you have copies of ALL of your Test Results? If not, I highly recommend that you obtain them and learn to interpret them.

I have said the following Many Times to Many Newcomers:
In my Non-Professional Opinion, Symptoms are a sign that DAMAGE is being done to the Heart Muscles and Walls.
At some point that damage (especially enlargement) becomes IRREVERSIBLE, "even if" you have your defective valve replaced. Surgeons like to operate BEFORE there is Permanent Damage to improve your outcome and recovery.

Since you have BAV, it would be wise to have Chest CT or MRI to check for signs of Aortic Aneurism(s) which are often associated with BAV and Connective Tissue Disorders. You would also be wise to find a Surgeon who has experience treating BAV and KNOWS how to recognize and treat Connective Tissue Disorders.

'AL Capshaw'

 

[Bill B]

I'm totally with AL on this.

 

[Ross]

I'm totaly with AL on this.

I'll third the vote.

 

[nngbwh]

Count my vote.

 

[Luckyguy17]

Al is absolutely right on this, i'll quad the vote

showing symptoms is but one of the indicators

in my case, was living with symtoms and passing it off as ageing process, basically denial, until I had time to do the surgery, the numbers from tests and alarm from the professionals, finally woke me up that further delay not good

get the numbers, question the cardiologist and keep informed, could be that november re evaluation is Ok in your case, else cardiologist should be sounding alarm

Gil