Welcome to our little community here at VR. If the stenosis of your valve is severe, then you very likely already have symptoms. You have just written them off to other things as many of us did. Sad though it may be, this is not a condition that improves even though a poorly executed or badly interpreted echo cardiogram may lead one to think that. For most of us, it is difficult to learn that we have a terminal illness unless it is treated and the treatment at present is a valve replacement. Three years ago, I was in your shoes. I had some seemingly minor issues which I ascribed to just growing older; I was 59. Then, over the course of just a few months, my valve became severely stenotic and I began to feel very very ill which made everything more difficult. I realize now that I hesitated to nudge my cardiologist, partially, because I was concerned about surger but mostly because I didn't want my life to change. In retrospect, that was silly because my life was changing every day and for the worst. The onset of radiating chest pains finally triggered the meeting with my surgeon.
Surgery was...well, we are not really there for surgery, are we? There is really before surgery and recovery after surgery. Before, I was ill and getting worse. As recovery began, I felt better even the first time I woke up and it got better every day. The experience of recovery proved to be a wonderful time in my life...not "awful" at all. Yes, like everyone else, I woke up astonishingly weak with absolutely no stamina but even with that I could feel the difference. On my 3rd day in the hospital, my Sister in law came into my room and looking sort of startled said "You're Pink!" Although she had said nothing at the time, two weeks before my AVR she and I had lunch which she left thinking I looked terribly ill. She didn't expect to find me sitting up and looking healthy three days after surgery and, to tell the truth, neither did I. We all have somewhat different experiences during recovery but for me it was thrilling to feel strength return and to begin once again to think about having a future. It is a different future than I had imagined for myself. I had never thought to include heart surgery in any future I imagined. Since the AVR, I have come to see myself differently, I mean, how can we not see ourselves differently after such an experience? Our surgeon's hold their patients hearts in their hand every day or so. For us, this may be the most significant health crisis we have ever confronted. That can make it look intimidating and even frightening....and so I found it. The worst period was that during the weeks leading up to surgery. Recovery turned out to be ever so much better than I had imagined.
I would encourage you not to wait longer than you must because as the valve grows worse it becomes more of a threat to you. Knowing this, we sort of put our lives on hold. Recovery will be better than you expect then you can get on with living. My life is different now. I would like to think that I appreciate it more and enjoy the small pleasures that are all around us. I also think these experiences have left me with more compassion for others. Life on this side of surgery is a lot better.
Larry
