Kate's Posts

My cardiologist is Dr. Paresh Mehta at the Windsor Cardiac Clinic, UK, who diagnosed me with severe aortic stenosis after a TEE in April. I am currently asymtomatic and the thought is that I will have valve replacement surgery within 12-18 months (at Harefield/Royal Brompton Hospital, UK). I had my latest ECG and echocardiogram on July 29 at Berkshire Grove Hospital. I had the same echo technician as last time, and she remembered me because she was so surprised that my aortic stenosis was already so severe despite me having no symptoms. She said that most people with a valve as narrowed as mine are experiencing breathlessness or other symptoms by now. She was pleased to see that everything looks unchanged since my last scan, my heart is still in good shape, and my other three heart valves are all normal. She even asked if I was an athlete to explain how I’m still symptom-free. Me? An athlete?! 😂 Well, I am and always have been very active, though I would not describe myself as an athlete. I am a professed lover of whole foods and almost never eat anything ultra processed--could that have affected my valve health? Anyway, I spoke to Dr. Mehta on July 30 who said : my recent blood test shows that my Peptide levels are the same which means the heart is not under stress. My ECG was the same as last time, as was Echocardiogram. My heart has the same pumping ability as last time. He suggested a 6 month check up with BNP (peptides), ECG and Echocardiogram, unless I have symptoms in the meantime. Travel is ok as long as I am asymptomatic. Airplanes create a little a little more stress for the heart, so you want to be in good shape when you fly. I hadn’t thought about how cabin pressure is the equivalent of hiking at 1800 m and if you get dehydrated, that thickens your blood and means your heart has to work harder to circulate the blood. So, I can fly, but I need to hydrate and just pay attention to how I’m feeling. I’m feeling much more reassured after last week's appointments. Obviously, I’ll still need valve replacement surgery at some point...so my big issue is anxiety. Does anyone have any advice about how to live as normally as possible while in this strange holding pattern of being asymptomatic but waiting for valve replacement surgery in the near future? I am so grateful for this community and any help offered. Thank you.