Ed's Profile

In 2007 I went in for a physical and found out I had a heart murmur. I had a cardiac MRI, went to a Cardiologist, and was diagnosed with a bicuspid aortic valve. I was born with two leaflets in my aortic valve, where most people are born with three leaflets. The valve has been forming calcium and calluses deposits around the valve opening from the leaflets rubbing against each other. This means my heart has to work a lot harder as the valve opening closes. When the opening of the valve closes up to a certain point, heart surgery is required. The doctor told me to do an echocardiogram every year to keep an eye on the valve. In April of 2011 the doctor told me the echo numbers changed enough where I will have to have surgery soon. I will be having surgery this fall or early winter, as long as I continue to feel well. If I am not feeling well I will have to have the surgery earlier.