Norreen Brooks - Heart Valve Journal

My Journal

2654 days ago

Kelly Stoll reacted to this

Aortic valve replacement is schedule for May 15th.

Susan Roberts Hi Norreen, best wishes. We share the same surgery date. Which type of valve did you choose? I cho ... Read more

Susan Roberts Hi Norreen, best wishes. We share the same surgery date. Which type of valve did you choose? I chose Bio, bovine.

Rose Madura Hi Noreen. Glad you have a date.

Norreen Brooks Hello, I had my Aortic valve replaced with a pig valve. I have allergy problems with metals.

Norreen Brooksposted a journal

2841 days ago

Let me start by saying that I am a retired Medical Assistant. At one time I was certified. I have had a heart murmur all my life. My now retired GP would listen ...Read more

Let me start by saying that I am a retired Medical Assistant. At one time I was certified. I have had a heart murmur all my life. My now retired GP would listen to it each time I went in for 3 month visit. I also have diabetics. All he would say is that he heard my murmur. Now lets move to the last six months. I have a new GP, and when I went in for my 3 month office visit, he said to me that he did like the way my murmur sounded so I referred me to have an echo. So when I received a phone call telling me I have moderate aortic stenosis I was in shock. I was working in Internal Medicine so I didn't study the heart all that much, but now that I'm at home I have done a lot of research and not liking what I have found. I've been told that they can do anything until I have some problems, as shortness of breath, swollen feet. Some I have now like coughing when Lying down, and some chest pain. I was told that I would have to have open heart surgery probably in the next year or two. What I don't understand is why I wasn't told how bad a heart murmur is, I now have to worry about my son, as he also has a heart murmur from birth and from me. Sorry for the rambling I just can't understand why I was told the truth.

Rose Madura Hi Noreen, welcome to the site. It's never easy accepting that you have heart problems. A murmur d ... Read more

Rose Madura Hi Noreen, welcome to the site. It's never easy accepting that you have heart problems. A murmur doesn't always mean you need surgery so I don't think it's unusual that they were monitoring you. That being said, you may want to get a second opinion. My original (now retired) cardiologist said we should wait for symptoms but I had three other opinions who said I should have had it a year ago. You need to feel comfortable with your doctor. I'm glad you found this site. We all help each other through the process. Keep us posted and let us know if you have any questions.

Gerald Poulton Hi Norreen, 11 weeks post op and doing great. yes it is always a shock to us when we find out we requ ... Read more

Gerald Poulton Hi Norreen, 11 weeks post op and doing great. yes it is always a shock to us when we find out we require cardiac surgery. I remember while a fealing of shock even though I knew that surgery was inevitable. The murmer doesnt tell the GP much, it sounds like yours, the same as mine heard it and monitored it until he heard something that indicated it was time to refer you to a cardiologist.
It was at that time that I learned that I had a bicuspid aortic valve and ended up with an aortic artery aneurism which seems to go hand in hand. . They said about 5 years till they had to operate but it ended up to be about 12. At moderate they usually just monitor you until it becomes severe or critical or until you become symptomatic. In the end, from one 6 month visit to the other I went from moderate to critical and still remained Asymptomatic. There are doctors that like to be proactive and operate early but most seem to want to wait until you need the surgery. Because I had no symptons, even at critical they did not rush my surgery and allowed me to pick the date that suited me. A lot also depends on your age which is a big factor in which type of valve they recommend, mechanical or bio prothetic. You have come to the right place, welcome and I hope you can find some answers and comfort here. I can tell you that for most the fear is far worse than the procedure which for most is more discomfort than pain. All the best

Rita Savelis A heart murmur is very very common. It's not necessarily bad. Your new GP reacted because of the way ... Read more

Rita Savelis A heart murmur is very very common. It's not necessarily bad. Your new GP reacted because of the way the heart murmur now sounds. There was no need for you to worry all those previous years. At this point, your stenosis could still develop slowly. This is why you are being monitored.
I think you were told the truths as they existed at different points in time.
But I am sorry you have to go through this and sorry for the shock this must be.

Norreen Brooks I have been having some problems with dizziness so the NP that works with my Cardiologists has place ... Read more

Norreen Brooks I have been having some problems with dizziness so the NP that works with my Cardiologists has place me on a month heart monitor, and I had to have a PSG study done (sleep). I go to see this new doctor on the 27th of this month to get the results from this test, and I turn in the monitor at the end of the month. So hopefully I will be getting some good news soon. I have come to understand what is going on with me now and living each day.

Norreen Brooks Well, I have been given a date for my surgery. I went to a surgeon on Thursday, he ordered a new echo ... Read more

Norreen Brooks Well, I have been given a date for my surgery. I went to a surgeon on Thursday, he ordered a new echo on me that came back with bad news, so now I have to have a cardio cath done on May 4th, pre-op is scheduled for the 10th and surgery with be on May 15th. Will be having Aortic Valve replacement surgery.