Thomas's Profile

I have had a heart murmur all my life. A couple of years ago I had and Echocardiogram done and they told me I had a bicuspid aortic valve with some calcification. Within the last year I have noticed a little shortness of breath when going up hills or up steps and some lightheadedness once in a while. I had and Echo stress test done and I could not do it. I lasted two minutes. Hated it! Couldn't do it the minute they turned on the machine. However I can walk for hours and generally everyday. I had tried to put the shortness of breath off to my age (75) but the doctors insisted that I needed the Aortic valve replaced. I am at the cardiologist now and have a cardiac catheterization scheduled in a couple of weeks and first appointment with the surgeon in about a month.