About Me (In My Own Words)
I'm 62. I've known of my bicuspid valve for 50 years.
At 12, after complaining of some minor chest pain, I was taken to the family doctor where the murmur was first heard. A catheter procedure was done to get a look and the doctors noted the valve deformity. They rightly believed it wouldn't cause me any problems for most of my life. True enough! I've been very active with no limitations up until recently.
I had a stent installed in 2014 and an echo which noted my leaking bicuspid aortic valve. But it was minor and dismissed. Although I would routinely begin annual echos to monitor for changes.
5 years ago, a new cardiologist noted the leaking was getting worse along with a slight amount of stenosis. With a relatively slow progression, he predicted I may need a valve replacement within the next 3 years and to begin considering a valve type. His recommendation was a mechanical valve.
Until recently, I was fairly certain I didn't want a mechanical valve. I'm a machinist by trade and a shade tree mechanic with at least a half dozen build projects going at all times. I'm also an avid gardener and it seems every thing I love to grow and eat is on the warfarin watch list.
I schedule my annual checkup the beginning of every year. I was scheduled and sent for the follow up echo in late February where I learned things had changed in the past year. The stenosis and regurgitation had both worsened. The beginning signs of left ventricular enlargement and wall thickening were there. I was sent to yet another new cardiologist since they don't seem to hang around here for too long. He thought it possible I may be a candidate for a TAVR valve. And I was sent to Spokane for a CT and other tests.
That's enough from me for now. At this writing, my surgery is only 2 weeks away.
I'll continue with more details in journal posts.
More Info About Me & My Heart
More About Me
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I am from:
LEWISTON, Idaho
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My surgery date is:
June 7, 2022
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I was diagnosed with:
Aortic Regurgitation
Aortic Stenosis
Bicuspid Aortic Valve
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My surgery was:
Aortic Valve Replacement
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My surgeon is:
Dr. Justin Reeves