About Me (In My Own Words)
I don't yet have a surgery planned because I'm not "there" yet, but have been subscribed to this site and feel the time is getting nearer and nearer, and quite frankly, it's causing a little bit of anxiety in me. I was diagnosed with BAV when I was 19 (along with MVP), and other than being told to take antibiotics before surgeries and dental procedures (those guidelines have since relaxed), I was told nothing else of it. When I was nearing 40, I had a couple vertebra in my neck fused and prior to that surgery, my surgeon requested I see a cardiologist friend of his (I hadn't been since the original diagnosis). My new cardiologist was amazed that I hadn't been seeing one on at least a yearly checkup, but like I said, nobody ever said there was any need for it. I quickly learned that there would come a day, hopefully further in the future than sooner, that I would need to have surgery to repair or replace it. My cardiologist put me on Lipitor to control my cholesterol to make it even more likely that when that day came, I was a good candidate for limited invasive (non-chest cracking) surgery. Years went by and I dutifully went in for my yearly checkup and echo scans. Last year (prior to my 44th birthday), an aneurysm showed up on the echo at 4.5cm. Confirmed shortly after via a CT scan. Now the game has changed and we are in a watchful waiting game because with BAV, if it grows to 5.0cm, it means surgery to correct it and while in there, fixing the valve (I don't know what that means in terms of repair vs replace options), but it certainly means chest-cracking surgery and it is giving me pause for concern. I'm a pretty healthy guy, eat well, maintain a good weight for my height and run usually 3-5 days a week. I've noticed lately it seems I can't go as far without stopping to walk, but I don't know if that's just paranoia or coincidence that it has been really hot here lately (like heat indexes in to the 100's). My next echo is scheduled for the first week of September, so fingers crossed it hasn't grown. I'll keep everyone posted.
More Info About Me & My Heart
More About Me
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I am from:
Woodstock, Georgia
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I was diagnosed with:
Aortic Regurgitation
Bicuspid Aortic Valve
Aortic Aneurysm
