Lex Luther
Member
I was diagnosed in 2012 with an ascending aortic aneurysm of 4.7 and mild aortic valve regurgitation and have been in the waiting room. I also have afib, but only have few occasional bouts and am taking warfarin. I have continued cycling with the blessing of my doctor. Through the recent 3 or 4 years I have seen my cycling times gradually get slower but know I am also 68. Within the past year, I have noted some breathing issues and started using Symbicort, which appeared to help, and I chalked it up to my childhood asthma making a come back. I noted a restrictive breathing sensation on the upper right lung, and the X-ray showed noting so went in for an echo in Feb. which determined that aortic regurgitation was now moderate, and the aneurysm had grown to 4.9cm. I was feeling tired in the morning when I woke up, but chalked that up to being exhaustion from being a caregiver for my wife. A year or so I had a sleep study due to poor sleep that indicated it was inconclusive for sleep apnea, but my doctor wanted me to consider a CPAP machine, which I was unable to tolerate. I have recently started to notice brain fog. I went through a list of my medications to screen for those that might cause restrictive breathing and brain fog, and determined to gradually taper off of Gabapentin and stopped taking it in early May, although I am told that its effects continue for some time. This did not appear to make a noticeable change so I purchased a wearable pulse ox to use at night, which provides fairly extensive reports. I noticed that on some rare occasions, there would be drops to the upper 70s associated with an elevated momentary heart rate of 95, I assume to compensate. I determined to lose the extra 7lbs I gained through this COVID debacle, and increased cycling with some offsetting weight loss, and the pulse ox reading has not gone down this low recently, dropping no lower that 85. My "average" now is between 90-95. I notice that there are drops associated with the motion of having to get up to go to the bathroom, which appears to be increasing, which I have associated with the heart valve as well as BPH. So over all, the symptoms are feeling more tired, breathing issues particularly at night, and brain fog. Add to that a concern for a resting pulse of 43. I have done aerobic exercise most of my adult life, am not overweight and have remained in good shape, but I am NOT an elite athlete. During the day, my pulse ox is always above 95, but the night time decrease is causing concern regarding brain fog and resolving oxygen insufficiency. I am scheduled for my annual cardio review in July, which will include an MRI thereafter. I monitor this forum every day and appreciate the insight and experience of your input. My assumption is that the need for surgery may be drawing near, even a 4.9 for the aneurysm, but would appreciate your input so I can have as much prepartion time as possible - I will sorely need it. I guess I have been blessed with being asymptomatic , or so I thought, but that time appears to be over. Still have have read your reports of having to deal with lack of energy and related energy which you endured for sometime before surgery?
