Chad's Profile

I recently found out that I’ve been living my whole life with a Bicuspid Aortic Valve!! Growing up and until my mid 30’s I didn’t have a family doctor so each time I did have to go to the doctor it was always a walk in clinic. I guess that is why I never had anyone tell me I have a heart murmur! I played competitive hockey my whole life and had tests for checking my physical well being to make some high level teams but still nobody told me of a heart murmur. Into my 40’s and now being 48 I am still an avid trail runner, weight lifter and play hockey regularly. It wasn’t until one morning before work I went on a 5km run in the gym and felt fine until after my shower. I got out to get ready for work and started sweating and almost fainted and then just couldn’t stop throwing up. I took myself to the emergency and they still didn’t tell me about a heart murmur issue. I finally took it upon myself to see a doctor and have him check my blood pressure. I eventually was out on blood pressure meds and told to get an echocardiogram. This is when they found I had an enlarged left ventricle and I was referred to a cardiologist. Still at this point I had not heard or thought that anything was wrong and went to see the cardiologist thinking he was just going to put me in a higher dose of BP meds. Instead it was like I was blind sided. The first thing he said was “Has nobody ever told you you have a heart murmur?” I said “No why?” He said because you have a sever leak in your heart because of a possible Bicuspid Aortic valve!!! I was floored and shocked!!! That was mid April of 2026…. Now it’s summer and my life has completely changed. I don’t feel like anything is wrong with me but then again I’ve given all the other tests… Angiogram, Transesopogeal echocardiogram , CT scan and echo-Stress test!! They tell me my arteries are “A-Plus” and that my athletic capacity is what is keeping me from feeling the effects of my sever leak in my heart!!! It’s a lot to take in but I’m coming to terms with it and at this point the cardiologist is wanting to keep an eye on it. I’m thinking it’s time for surgery so I can get past this thing and start to live my life again. It’s scary, and the thoughts of the unknown are what feel the worst!!! This site and the community definitely put my mind at ease!! So thank you all for that!!! 🙏❤️