About Me (In My Own Words)
After many years knowing I would need a new Aortic Heart Valve my surgery is scheduled for October 18th. It was back in 2000 I had a retinal embolism or Ocular stroke. I was tested thoroughly and found out I have a bicuspid aortic heart valve. The valve normally should be tricuspid but one side is stuck together thus it is call bicuspid. The cardiologist seemed to think this did not cause the embolism but we should become friends. Then I found out I have sticky platelet syndrome and it was believed the problem. So I was told take an aspirin a day and went on with my life. After a few years I started becoming friends with my cardiologist. About 5 years ago He started to say it was not a matter of if but when I would need a new valve. Every year he would ask if I was still riding my bike several thousand miles a year obviously showing my lack of symptoms. The last couple years I have backed off on my cycling a bit I only have 2500 this year. This year I have been feeling some symptoms. My bike rides mostly felt really good but I would be really tired after. So I see my cardiologist in August and he says my valve is getting tighter and discontinued the beta blocker he had me on because my blood pressure was low. He put me on the beta blocker a few years ago because of irregular heart rate. Beta blockers slow your heart rate and have made my bike riding a challenge at times. Now it was time for a second opinion and he referred me to Cleveland Clinic as I requested. They called me right away and set up an appointment in Sept. The cardiologist at Cleveland said my aortic valve was opening 1/4 normal and it is time like real soon. The risk of doing nothing is greater than doing the surgery. I was a little taken back because I was so used to waiting another year. My wife and I are glad to finally get my heart valve taken care of.
More Info About Me & My Heart
More About Me
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I am from:
Kalamazoo, Michigan