waiting but wondering how much longer.

[Anne]

Hello everyone, I have introduced myself in a prior post but I'm 35 and have a congenital BAV with moderate stenosis and regurgitation. I am 8 months post partum of giving birth to my beautiful baby boy. I was monitored closely during labor and had no cardiac complications. I just had a follow up echo in July and my cardio basically told me that my ejection fraction was normal, left ventricle normal but that my peak gradient had increased some. We both agreed that I work on returning to my pre-pregnancy weight and that I have a repeat echo in a year. Anyhow some of my concerns are my blood pressure has lowered from it's baseline. Now I usually have low BP's to begin with like 90/60. But it's now 84/52 without any real symptoms. I've never fainted but at times I feel light headed. I had mentioned this to him and he didn't seem like it needed immediate attention, but I'm kinda afraid to lose a ton of weight, as wouldn't that be counter intuitive for further decreasing blood pressure? I'm curious if anyone else has low BP's, as I believe it is a symptom of AS anyhow and how you manage it.

I am in that god awful bracket of waiting for the numbers and symptoms game to determine surgery. I pray every day that I have at least 2 - 3 more years so that my son is a little less dependent on me. They have been monitoring me for a long time but since my son was born my anxiety has increased as I realize how much he needs me. I feel like I need to get this anxiety out of my system in order to be a better and more attentive mom.
I keep telling myself to take deep breaths and appreciate each day. Thanks for listening and know that all of your courage is so inspiring to me.

 

[Mom2izzy]

I had a 3 year old when I had my OHS (mitral valve repair). I worried more about her than about myself. With kids I'm not sure there is ever a "better" time, but my little girl was probably a good age. Too young to understand enough to be scared, but old enough to understand that mommy was going be gone for a few days, so the doctors could fix my heart. She understood that she had to be gentle, and her most exciting day ever was when the doctor cleared me to get fast flying hugs again (her running at me with arms out).

My BP is low too. I think it has always been pretty low, but I feel like I've had more dizzy spells since I had my daughter. They also coincide with hormonal changes, so I think there may be a link. I have passed out two or three times (prior to surgery). My cardio told me to eat more salt (causes water retention), and at rehab they always wanted me to drink a lot of water. It seems that excess fluid helps increase BP. Whenever I have days when I'm feeling a little "off", I drink more. It seems to help.

I also had issues with anxiety. My GP prescribed an anti-anxiety medication to use as needed after finding out it was time for surgery (November) and the actual surgery (February). It was fabulous...just took the edge off. I was having some anxiety issues anyway after the last time I fainted, but I didn't recognize it as anxiety until I tried the meds. I hate taking medicine and rarely take anything stronger than Tylenol and tums, so it was a tough decision, but worth it. I haven't neede it since just after surgery, but I am on a daily dose of beta blocker which I have been told also has some anxiolytic effects.

Don't know if any of that is helpful, but if you have any other questions, I will be happy to answer to the best of my ability...

 

[Anne]

Thank you so much mom2izzy! It's helpful to have people I can relate to right now. It really is hard to differentiate between what could be 'real' symptoms and what is just my anxiety- which I know I have a tendency for! I do plan on getting a med for the anxiety once I am done nursing my son. I'm feeling slightly better about things today, I went and checked my BP in the afternoon yesterday after drinking a bunch of water and eating some salty pretzels and it was 116/66- made me feel pretty silly for writing the first post! I also put a call in for a second opinion down in the bay area and I think knowing that I can talk to someone again before next July has put my mind at ease too. I also have to remind myself that if my cardio doc felt it was time for surgery he would of said so- I need to let go of my control issues and trust the experts

Alas thanks for your words. I bet you are relieved that your valve is repaired and that your daughter can hug you whenever!
Hugs

I had a 3 year old when I had my OHS (mitral valve repair). I worried more about her than about myself. With kids I'm not sure there is ever a "better" time, but my little girl was probably a good age. Too young to understand enough to be scared, but old enough to understand that mommy was going be gone for a few days, so the doctors could fix my heart. She understood that she had to be gentle, and her most exciting day ever was when the doctor cleared me to get fast flying hugs again (her running at me with arms out).

My BP is low too. I think it has always been pretty low, but I feel like I've had more dizzy spells since I had my daughter. They also coincide with hormonal changes, so I think there may be a link. I have passed out two or three times (prior to surgery). My cardio told me to eat more salt (causes water retention), and at rehab they always wanted me to drink a lot of water. It seems that excess fluid helps increase BP. Whenever I have days when I'm feeling a little "off", I drink more. It seems to help.

I also had issues with anxiety. My GP prescribed an anti-anxiety medication to use as needed after finding out it was time for surgery (November) and the actual surgery (February). It was fabulous...just took the edge off. I was having some anxiety issues anyway after the last time I fainted, but I didn't recognize it as anxiety until I tried the meds. I hate taking medicine and rarely take anything stronger than Tylenol and tums, so it was a tough decision, but worth it. I haven't neede it since just after surgery, but I am on a daily dose of beta blocker which I have been told also has some anxiolytic effects.

Don't know if any of that is helpful, but if you have any other questions, I will be happy to answer to the best of my ability...