Laura's Profile

Upcoming Surgery I am 60 years old. I was diagnosed with a heart murmur about four years ago but told to continue living my life. In December 2014 I had my first echocardiogram. I was diagnosed with aortic stenosis and told that eventually would need a valve replacement. In February 2017 another echocardiogram and again advice was that I had nothing to worry about. I didn't feel right about it. I was not feeling great. I was tired, had a lot of thumping in my chest, slight pain that came and went, pressure and ringing in my ears, and a cough every time I laid down. I did not know whether the cough or the ear pressure was related or if it was something else like allergies. Then came breathlessness and pitted edema in my feet and ankles. I went to see a cardiologist for the first time and have been diagnosed with severe aortic stenosis and an aortic aneurysm. I was told that it was likely that I have a bicuspid aortic valve. I have never heard that before. I will have a CAT scan this Thursday, and surgery will be scheduled following that.