Which activities with Bicuspid Aortic Valve?

[dsc]

Hello
I am new to this forum. During a stress echo last week to analyze why I had a low heart rate for 50 beats per minute, the cardiologist incidentally discovered that I had a Bicuspid Aortic Valve. After the test he said everything was 'normal' - (no blockages) and I should see him in 5 years to do another test.

Ever since the test, I have been feeling really tired, fatigued and depressed. The doctor seemed to be in a hurry and I wish I could have asked him some more questions - like

1. What activities can I now perform? can I continue to play squash? exercise?
2. Why am I feeling fatigued? is that related to the valve?
3. Even though he said I should see him in 5 years for the next test, would I need to have surgery in less than 5 years?

I am really anxious about the endotracheal breathing tube (having seen my mother suffer through it during her bypass surgery) and my anxiety maybe stressing me out.

Any words of wisdom/advice would be greatly appreciated.

P.S.
I am a 40 year old male, exercise 30 minutes/3 times a week, don't smoke, don't drink and am not overweight.

 

[tobagotwo]

I'm glad you're healthy, and that will serve you well. But you realize it has nothing to do with you having a bicuspid aortic valve. They are as related as smoking and a broken leg. You were born with the valve that way.

You've just been casually outed as having a latent cardiac abnormality by your cardiologist. It speaks volumes about him that he didn't even consider what effect his words might have on you. You're stunned, hurt, depressed and scared, being human. That will make you tired.

It would make sense to request a copy of the echo results, to keep on hand, and just to double-check that your results are normal. However, the fact that he's not looking to see you for another five years seems to indicate that he has really found no problem at all with it. Otherwise, you'd be going for another echo in six months, or a catheterization the day after tomorrow.

About 2% of the population has bicuspid aortic valves, but only about a third of them ever have any serious repercussions from it, such as surgery. It doesn't sound like yours is doing anything worrisome at this point, so you may be a part of the lucky 67%. I hope so. Good for you.

I'm not a doctor, but if there's nothing untoward about your echo results, there would be no limitations on your activities strictly because of the valve. Most bicuspid valves function fine until and unless they start calcifying. That is a gradual process that shows up well in echoes.

Best wishes,

 

[Granbonny]

I'm curious about what he had to say about your 50 beats per minute? Pulse? My hubby has a pulse of 60 plus..and I tend to worry about that...He is a very active age 74..works all the time....He has had a low pulse rate all his life..... He, too, had a stress test and cath about a year ago..They put him on b/p meds...They seem not to worry too much....(Cardio) Bonnie

 

[MarkU]

I was diagnosed with a bicuspid aortic valve when I was 15. My doctors did not restrict my activities and I continued to play football, wrestle, run track, swim and play tennis competitively. I wrestled and played tennis in college, and have been active physically my entire life. I was asymptomatic until I was 47, when I started to develop chronic fatigue and shortness of breath. Had my AVR within six months of developing my symptoms. No restrictions since my surgery, and I feel great.
Mark

 

[dsc]

Breathing tube experience

Breathing tube experience

Glad it went well and glad you're doing well. What was your experience like with the breathing tube? did you wake up with it? was it painful? did you gag? did your mouth feel dry? can you gulp/swallow with the tube in your mouth?

I was diagnosed with a bicuspid aortic valve when I was 15. My doctors did not restrict my activities and I continued to play football, wrestle, run track, swim and play tennis competitively. I wrestled and played tennis in college, and have been active physically my entire life. I was asymptomatic until I was 47, when I started to develop chronic fatigue and shortness of breath. Had my AVR within six months of developing my symptoms. No restrictions since my surgery, and I feel great.
Mark

 

[dsc]

low heart rate

low heart rate

He said a low rate is the sign of a healthy heart. My primary care physician had said - the low rate means either you are fit or have a problem. Since I exercise, 50-60 bpm is good. Per this reasoning, your husband has a healthy heart.

I'm curious about what he had to say about your 50 beats per minute? Pulse? My hubby has a pulse of 60 plus..and I tend to worry about that...He is a very active age 74..works all the time....He has had a low pulse rate all his life..... He, too, had a stress test and cath about a year ago..They put him on b/p meds...They seem not to worry too much....(Cardio) Bonnie

 

[dsc]

Thank you

Thank you

Thank you Bob for your warm and supportive words. really appreciate it.

I'm glad you're healthy, and that will serve you well. But you realize it has nothing to do with you having a bicuspid aortic valve. They are as related as smoking and a broken leg. You were born with the valve that way.

You've just been casually outed as having a latent cardiac abnormality by your cardiologist. It speaks volumes about him that he didn't even consider what effect his words might have on you. You're stunned, hurt, depressed and scared, being human. That will make you tired.

It would make sense to request a copy of the echo results, to keep on hand, and just to double-check that your results are normal. However, the fact that he's not looking to see you for another five years seems to indicate that he has really found no problem at all with it. Otherwise, you'd be going for another echo in six months, or a catheterization the day after tomorrow.

About 2% of the population has bicuspid aortic valves, but only about a third of them ever have any serious repercussions from it, such as surgery. It doesn't sound like yours is doing anything worrisome at this point, so you may be a part of the lucky 67%. I hope so. Good for you.

I'm not a doctor, but if there's nothing untoward about your echo results, there would be no limitations on your activities strictly because of the valve. Most bicuspid valves function fine until and unless they start calcifying. That is a gradual process that shows up well in echoes.

Best wishes,

 

[MarkU]

Glad it went well and glad you're doing well. What was your experience like with the breathing tube? did you wake up with it? was it painful? did you gag? did your mouth feel dry? can you gulp/swallow with the tube in your mouth?

My breathing tube was taken out just as I was waking up after surgery. The first thing I remember hearing was the nurse telling me that they were removing the tube. Guess I was lucky in that respect. I wasn't really awake enough to feel any discomfort.

 

[epstns]

Hi, dsc, and Welcome to The Waiting Room.

It sounds like Bob H explained the layman's understanding of the technical stuff really well (as usual). As others have mentioned, the bicuspid valve by itself will not dictate restrictions on your activities. The *condition* of the valve will possibly dictate some changes in the future. Ordinarily bicuspid valves do not show any noticeable differences from normal valves until some time in your 50's. You are lucky to have been diagnosed early so you can watch it. My bicuspid valve was not noticed until I was in my mid 50's and a doctor asked "How long have you had that heart murmur?" That was about two and a half years ago, and we are still doing annual echo's and watching the valve. So far the only restriction I've been given is not to lift heavy weights (working definition is to keep it under 40-50 lbs.), as lifting can raise blood pressure to extremes -- something I don't need with moderate aortic stenosis. I still work 10-hour days (office job) and jog about 20 miles per week (9:30 per mile), along with the light weight/high rep routine. So far, life is good. At some point my valve will likely need to be replaced. For yours, it is early, so who knows?

The bottom line -- once you get an understanding of the bicuspid valve situation and where you are in that process, make up your mind to just get back to living your life. Follow your docs' advice, but don't let it take over your whole life. I went through the exact series of emotions you are, and still have up's and down's, but as I said, Life is Good.

BE well, welcome, and visit often.

 

[dsc]

Borderline first-degree AV block

Borderline first-degree AV block

Thanks Steve. I just got a copy of my report and it says I have 'borderline first-degree AV block' -- any idea what that means?

thanks

Hi, dsc, and Welcome to The Waiting Room.

It sounds like Bob H explained the layman's understanding of the technical stuff really well (as usual). As others have mentioned, the bicuspid valve by itself will not dictate restrictions on your activities. The *condition* of the valve will possibly dictate some changes in the future. Ordinarily bicuspid valves do not show any noticeable differences from normal valves until some time in your 50's. You are lucky to have been diagnosed early so you can watch it. My bicuspid valve was not noticed until I was in my mid 50's and a doctor asked "How long have you had that heart murmur?" That was about two and a half years ago, and we are still doing annual echo's and watching the valve. So far the only restriction I've been given is not to lift heavy weights (working definition is to keep it under 40-50 lbs.), as lifting can raise blood pressure to extremes -- something I don't need with moderate aortic stenosis. I still work 10-hour days (office job) and jog about 20 miles per week (9:30 per mile), along with the light weight/high rep routine. So far, life is good. At some point my valve will likely need to be replaced. For yours, it is early, so who knows?

The bottom line -- once you get an understanding of the bicuspid valve situation and where you are in that process, make up your mind to just get back to living your life. Follow your docs' advice, but don't let it take over your whole life. I went through the exact series of emotions you are, and still have up's and down's, but as I said, Life is Good.

BE well, welcome, and visit often.

 

[Granbonny]

When I had my valve surgery..I remember nothing from the good feel shot they gave me in Prep room..until I woke up 2 days later in a private room. NO tubes..Just got out of bed and started walking the halls. with the I.V...thingy..Bonnie

 

[inlaguna]

I ( my parents)found out about mine at 18 months and , until recently, I have lived with it for my entire life. I think I have the same info as other posts, however as I reached my thirties I was advised to get the echo every one to two years. My valve went from moderate to critical over the span of 3-5 years ( not saying yours would do the same) so I would be more comfortable with something sooner than five years for the repeat if in your position. Also, not sure what your heart rate gets to when you exercise, but you may want to consider a stress test to ease your mind. I was also told:

No heavy weights (blood pressure and stress on valve)
anitbiotics before dental procedures
run as much as you want ( I did some form of aerobic exercise up to a week before surgery)

The breathing tube for me was relatively uneventful. I was awake when it came out, I gagged a little, but I think it looked a lot worse to my wife than it felt for me.

 

[tnboomer1013]

Hey DSC

Hey DSC

I had a murmur since birth. It never gave me any problems until I was 44. Up until that time I played basketball, baseball, ran 10 miles a day and worked out 3 times a week. I am Union Boilermaker so I have a very physical occupation. This didn't stop me until a pain right in the middle of my chest put me on my knees on morning. A year later I was having a permanant base drum installed in the middle of my chest to replace a bicuspid aortic valve that 65% leakage. I also had two bypasses done to give me an artery for the left side of my heart that was never there. All of these problems were birth defects that finally went south. As my first cardio said " you will know when it is time ". Until that time comes do whatever it is you have in mind to do. About the pulse of 50 it sounds to me as if you are just very physically fit. Good luck and keep an eye on it.

 

[RunMartin]

I found out about my bicuspid valve in 1987. I used to have yearly echos until recently. It is looking like the time is finally arriving to have something done! Each time I visited my cardiologist I would ask whether it was OK to exercise. Their reply has always been "do what ever you normally do" (no restrictions) . I normally swim, run and compete in fell races (running up and down mountains). I made sure the cardiologist knew what "normal" was for me. My resting heart rate is around 45 (but I have not checked it recently). Note I have been asymptomatic (no fatigue, shortness of breath etc). There have been times over the years when I thought I was developing symptoms but usually these were colds/flu etc. I used to use my race results/taining times as an indicator.

As changes are now happening (aorta getting bigger) I have now stopped racing and I am just keeping generally fit. I will be having a CT scan on Tuesday. The cardiologist said I could on training for now.

All the best

Martin

 

[Raverlaw]

Don't stress about the tube

Don't stress about the tube

DSC,

You're a long way from surgery yet. Don't get all stressed out about the tube; as some have said here, they barely remember it. Mine was in for a while after I was awake, but it isn't that big of a deal - you're still groggy and on painkillers. It came out in a flash and wasn't nearly as bad as I had imagined it would be.

Concentrate on keeping fit - do what you've been doing and pay special attention to your diet, watching cholesterol and salt intake. Get an echo every year and monitor the valve's condition. When it's time for a new one, your cardiologist will let you know.

Take care -

 

[dsc]

Thanks Bill; appreciate your comforting post

DSC,

You're a long way from surgery yet. Don't get all stressed out about the tube; as some have said here, they barely remember it. Mine was in for a while after I was awake, but it isn't that big of a deal - you're still groggy and on painkillers. It came out in a flash and wasn't nearly as bad as I had imagined it would be.

Concentrate on keeping fit - do what you've been doing and pay special attention to your diet, watching cholesterol and salt intake. Get an echo every year and monitor the valve's condition. When it's time for a new one, your cardiologist will let you know.

Take care -

 

[tobagotwo]

As from before, you wouldn't be on any restrictions until and unless your valve started to misbehave, which it might never decide to do.

While it's probably of value to be aware of it, you shouldn't be planning your life around your valve at this point, because every indication is that it is performing fully as normally as a three-leaflet valve would. I would consider that the restrictions and precautions being posted are really for after a problem has been found with the valve's function, which doesn't seem to be the case with you at this time.

If any functional valve abnormality had shown up, the cardiologist would have at least put you on annual echoes. Echocardiograms are the standard tests to determine whether you might need surgery and when. The doctor would not have told you to wait five years for the next one, if he felt there were any possibility you would both develop a valve problem (which you don't seem to currently have) and have it progress to needing surgery in that time. The borderline block is not a functional issue with the valve itself, as it is not affecting its physical functionality as a valve.

You don't need to concern yourself with intubation for at least years, and hopefully never. For that matter, I remember the tube well, as mine was in for a while after I was awake. I am claustrophobic and have a nasty gag reflex, and it turned out to not be a big deal at all for me.

Best wishes,

 

[stormrev]

Aortic valves and training

Aortic valves and training

Hi

I'm just on 48 years and coming up to my 12 month anniversary from AVR. Previous to this I was a keen marathon runner and triathlete right up until 3 years ago. After being diagnosed with a bicuspid aortic valve at age 38, I also was told that it shouldn't preclude me from doing anything in terms of exercise, but I was also advised to have a scan at least every two years. My Dad and younger brother also had bicuspid valves and all of us have now had them replaced - Dad at age 65, brother at age 37 and me at 47. So deterioation does seem to vary according to a number of factors.

I would agree that for peace of mind if nothing else I would inquire about an echo in a couple of years at most. Better to know what's happening than worry about what may or may not be symptoms!

Kind regards

Grant

PS I'm back running, cycling and swimming now - albeit not at the same level as in my competition days!