Cactus52
Well-known member
Hello All
I have been in the waiting room for the last 4 years after a bad EKG (LBBB) led me down the road for additional testing Per the FAA and found my bicuspid aortic valve at 1.0cm. It has been stable until my echo 2 months ago where it fell to .8cm and I have become somewhat symptomatic, like loosing my breath climbing a flight of stairs or walking up a slight incline such as a jetway at work. I can still go out for really long hikes as long as it is mostly flat and I am slow to start and build up to a quicker pace.
Two weeks from tomorrow I will be under going surgery at the Cleveland Clinic to replace my aortic valve with the OnX valve using the minimally invasive procedure. (at least that's what they say before they run all their test) I have been dreading and been a little fearful of this surgery for a while now. In the last few weeks as I have been feeling I could go to sleep whenever I wanted and having a hard time catching my breath sometimes, I have reached the point of I can't wait for it. I know it will be an adjustment afterwards and there will probably be some pain and discomfort but as long as I make progress forward I feel I'll do ok. The last two months I have been upping my cardio where I am walking 40-50 miles a week, almost trying to get into shape and am now scaling it back to I have all my strength for the recovery.
I have to say that this Forum and the members have been great. I have talked with a few of you and other pilots who have had this done outside of this forum and have more information than I think I needed. Just want to say Thank you!!!!
I will post again after when I am up and around.........
Scot
I have been in the waiting room for the last 4 years after a bad EKG (LBBB) led me down the road for additional testing Per the FAA and found my bicuspid aortic valve at 1.0cm. It has been stable until my echo 2 months ago where it fell to .8cm and I have become somewhat symptomatic, like loosing my breath climbing a flight of stairs or walking up a slight incline such as a jetway at work. I can still go out for really long hikes as long as it is mostly flat and I am slow to start and build up to a quicker pace.
Two weeks from tomorrow I will be under going surgery at the Cleveland Clinic to replace my aortic valve with the OnX valve using the minimally invasive procedure. (at least that's what they say before they run all their test) I have been dreading and been a little fearful of this surgery for a while now. In the last few weeks as I have been feeling I could go to sleep whenever I wanted and having a hard time catching my breath sometimes, I have reached the point of I can't wait for it. I know it will be an adjustment afterwards and there will probably be some pain and discomfort but as long as I make progress forward I feel I'll do ok. The last two months I have been upping my cardio where I am walking 40-50 miles a week, almost trying to get into shape and am now scaling it back to I have all my strength for the recovery.
I have to say that this Forum and the members have been great. I have talked with a few of you and other pilots who have had this done outside of this forum and have more information than I think I needed. Just want to say Thank you!!!!
I will post again after when I am up and around.........
Scot