“Pictures Of Heart Valve Disease?” Asks Ray

When I was diagnosed w/ aortic stenosis, my cardiologist tolde that one of the hard choices was to decide when to do the surgery because most patients feel fine for a good bit of the time. But it never. Gets better only worse. In my case, I had a spell at work and that was the kicker. They said it was time. I had my AVR this past feb.

Ray,

I am 58 and had my routine physical. the doctor heard a significant murmur and after testing etc was told I needed an aortic valve replacement.

I felt fine….and, in fact, had worked 70 hours that week. No shortness of breath….no nothing. So it was very hard to think that I needed open heart surgery. It took me two months just to get it straight in my mind.

How can I do that big of a surgery and feel so good? I am 7 months out now….did very well, recovery went well and I am glad it is behind me. It was not as bad as I expected. I thought I was crazy though because if I really needed surgery why would I feel fine?

This is a very common statement coming from patients. My cardiologist told me “It’s time” Everything was changing in my heart.

Hope this helps,
Jean Karloski

I felt great in Nov. when I got the news it was time to fix my heart valve. Due to a complicated series of events I couldn’t be operated on until the following October. I continued to feel great all winter and spring but by the summer I was tiring out and by that following October there were times I was breathing between words and had to sit down for long phone conversations . . . I even fell over 3x running up the stairs at work.

My point is to get a second opinion and do not wait. As blood in the heart was forced to swirl around over and over retracing its route while trying to get out, I was increasing my risk that a clot could form and either escape to cause a heart attack or a stroke.

Also, as the valve is not doing its job correctly, the heart muscle must work extra hard and as any muscle works harder it gets thicker. This hypertrophy or dilation is not good either. I needed to get my valve fixed while my heart was still in good enough shape to recover in a reasonable fashion from the surgery. You can do this. Read Adam’s book and find the best surgeon.

I was diagnosed around age 50 with moderate aortic stenosis after having a slight murmur and was told valve replacement was inevitable. By last year at age 55 I went from moderate to severe and I was told replacement was needed soon.

Living in northern Ohio, I researched Cleveland Clinic’s website. Wow, what a great site to learn about heart desease! They even have actual videos of surgeries. Wheather you’re near Cleveland Clinic or not, visit their website to get the basics as well as details of all areas of valve desease and replacement. It is extremely informative… http://my.clevelandclinic.org/default.aspx
Oh yes, after AVR on 12/29 I feel absolutely great and couldn’t be happier!