Sara's Profile

16 years ago I had a heart attack just before getting anesthesia for a cholecystectomy. I was 4 months post pregnancy, with a DVT and pulmonary embolism. I found myself being flown through Life Star to a large city hospital and being diagnosed with Cardiomyopathy and uncovering a bicuspid aortic valve. I have been monitored annually with my cardiologist since. Over the years I have tried to stay very active. I was running for many years, even doing a half marathon once. I also bike and participate annually in a cancer fundraiser called "Closer To Free" where I ride over 60 miles. Now after celebrating my son's sixteenth birthday in January of this year, I am 45 years old having symptoms of the progressive aortic stenosis they have been monitoring. I am short of breath walking up one flight of stairs and when I lay down. Palpitations are frequent, as are the chest pains and the fatigue is severe. My cardiologist says its time to talk to a surgeon. So I am just starting this replacement journey. I have appointments with 3 surgeons over the next few weeks - one of which is Dr. Stelzer in NY, who I found through this website. While I have known for 16 years i would need to have this replacement done, now that it is very close to happening I am quite nervous.