Sue's Profile

My gp detected my murmur 11 years ago and sent me to a cardiologist who diagnosed aortic stenosis stemming from a bicuspid aortic valve. He told me that eventually it would need to be replaced but likely not until I was in my 60s or 70s. I'm 56 and found out 3 weeks ago that it's time. It was a shock to hear but I also think not knowing it was so imminent was a bit of a gift because, apart from my yearly checkups, I never thought about it at all. Since then, I've had my initial echo and blood work and this coming week a transesophogeal echo followed the next day by an angiogram. I don't have a partner or other close family nearby other than 2 disabled brothers who depend on me greatly. It's meant I've had to get my Will updated and call on good friends to be on hand when I'll need help, something I'm not used to asking for. I'm also berating myself for not being in better shape for this surgery—I'm 50 lbs overweight. Maybe this was the wake-up call I needed—I only hope it won't make for a rougher recovery. My Christian faith helps me in the low moments, and friends have been very supportive, so just trying to make positive changes now and stay in the moment. I'm so grateful to have found this community! Update: I had my aortic valve replaced with a bovine tissue valve on June 10, 2024; I was unable to have the scheduled Ross Procedure because of a few complications at the time. I was disappointed because i hoped to only have OHS once and be good for life. However, it was the right decision and i wouldn't have survived had they attempted it because of all the time spent on the heart lung machine as well as requiring a repair to my highly regurgitant tricuspid valve. I also had to have an emergency bypass operation following the procedure. Too much surgery to add a pulmonary valve to the mix. It has been just over 2 years and my health has never been better. I can do just about anything--I lost over 60 lbs and have recently joined a gym where I do a lot of weight bearing exercise to build muscle and help with bone density as I age. My life is full, not without challenges, because I'm human, but I am extremely grateful. My only concern is that I will need to have a re-operation one day because tissue valves are still not as durable as mechanical or human valves (as in the Ross Procedure), but I'm hopeful that by the time that happens significant progress will have been made in these surgeries.