Aortic Stenosis.

[Meanfruit]

Went to get checked out after a bout with a bad cold, doctor at the walk in noticed I had a pronounced heart murmur. Was sent for blood work, and an echo cardiogram. Turns out I have Severe Aortic Stenosis. At 51, and with no previous heart issues, how common is that? Are the constantly cold extremities, blackouts in my right eye, fatigue, and general feeling shitty for the last 7 years all part and parcel of this? Feeling pretty bummed and scared. Anybody here gone through something similar? End of blog.

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[Dexter Rutecki]

I would talk with iceman. He's been dead like five or six times, and he's totally OK.

Good luck...I've got nothing.

[wooley12]

Start here then go

here

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-...t/drc-20353145

I'd guess the 7 years of feeling shitty was due to your condidtion but i'm not a doctor, I just go to them. Too often.

[CantDog]

My experience with AS: https://www.tetongravity.com/forums/...CPR?highlight=

So yes, it's scary, but also readibly treatable. And yes, you'd likely feel a whole lot better afterwards. Did the echo show a bicuspid aortic valve?

My dad feels great now, returned to work, working out, etc. No residual deficits after surgery. Only difference is having to take a blood thinner now.

[Meanfruit]

Thanks. So far, I don't have definitive answers from any doc I've seen. I'm guessing I'll need to wait until I see my specialist. And I thought I was crushing it.

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[iceman]

I have no idea about the eye thing, could be somehow related I guess. But basically one of your heart valves (or possibly more than one) isn't working properly and blood's getting past it. Some level of heart murmur is common but "severe" doesn't sound awesome and it's possible cold extremities might be related to inefficient pumping, and certainly fatigue could be related.

So you have a fucked-up valve and as a wild guess I'd say it might require intervention, quite likely in the form of valve replacement. The plus side is this is the best time in history to have an issue like this, especially with all the various kinds of micro procedures that are available now and the quality of the replacements that are now available.

Your mission is to get the best doctors on it that you can and just get it dealt with. Call the Mayo clinic and/or the Cleveland clinic and your own doctor and do some research. I don't know where you live but there's good Docs in many places, there may be some local to you. You don't want to waste time since a leaky valve makes your heart work harder which isn't good, so get on it.

It's kinda like my hip, which is fucked. The Doc walked in the room and said, "well the good news is you're gonna need a hip replacement." When I said that that didn't sound like good news he said, "But it is. It's just something to get through. And after you get through it you're gonna feel so much better you're gonna wish we did it sooner."

When you're healed back up you're gonna feel a lot better than you've been feeling for a long time.

[Meanfruit]

Thanks, Ice. I try to look on the positive side of most life affecting drama, so the eventual ability to screw like I'm 20 again seems as good a goal as any.

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[riser4]

You're fuct. Can I have your stuff?

[Meanfruit]

My shit looks like the goods you'd find at Value Village. All yours.

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[riser4]

My shit looks like the goods you'd find at Value Village. All yours.

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Heh. Well played.

[MTT]

My shit looks like the goods you'd find at Value Village. All yours.

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I googled it, looks like your going to get some heart surgery, and it's all good?>

Shit happens, and this time to you.

Look on the bright side, you will not drown of a house boat.

[iceman]

The fuck does that even mean MTT?

[abraham]

It means he's feeling like being a useless dick

[iceman]

He seems to feel that way a lot.

[mcski]

He's back on the Jameson. Said he couldn't feel it. Guess he was wrong

[splat]

The couple guys I know who got stents said they felt 500% better almost instantly.

[Meanfruit]

Well, one doc told me to tap her cool, no lifting at the gym until I get a valve replacement. Urgent need for surgery. Yesterday, the other one said ramp things up in preparation for surgery, my heart needs to being fighting shape. What. The. Fuck

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[iceman]

Sounds like get on the bike/treadmill?

[prsboogie]

I would go with the recommendation from the Cardiothoracis surgeon. Continuing to exercise at a level your used to seems reasonable to me but I don't think starting to train for a Triathlon if your only used to riding a mile or two at baseline would be a good idea (not saying that is your current conditioning at all). Did they tell you if they are doing an open or endovascular approach yet? TAVR surgery is the shit, but typically if your young they crack your chest, at least they places that I've worked at.

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[jm2e]

If nobody has mentioned TAVR, you need to see another doctor. You really must find out if you’re a candidate for the super easy less invasive procedure before committing to open heart surgery.

Where are you located?


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[Mazderati]

Good luck with whatever route you go.

[CantDog]

If nobody has mentioned TAVR, you need to see another doctor. You really must find out if you’re a candidate for the super easy less invasive procedure before committing to open heart surgery.

Where are you located?


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I do a lot of pre-TAVR evals and the primary indication is for high surgical risk patients who couldn't go through SAVR. I think they have newer data saying intermediate risk candidates do well with TAVR out to two years(equivalent mortality) but the gold standard is still the big surgical procedure. If I was 50 and fairly healthy, I'd want the option with the greatest chance to last another 30-40 years.

[jm2e]

/\ /\ /\
The main point here is, if the doctors he has consulted with have not even mentioned TAVR as an option, they are not giving him a straight answer. If the practice he’s at doesn’t do a lot of TAVRs, they probably won’t give him an accurate representation of his options. Unfortunately, that’s a reality with surgeons.


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[detrusor]

There are a couple of studies waiting to be published regarding TAVR for low risk surgical candidates. Until then the open procedure is the only real option. If it’s me, I’m getting the bio prosthetic valve so I don’t need to anticoagulated. I’ll get the TAVR for my second one in 30 years.

Good luck


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[Meanfruit]

Thanks for all the input. Open heart has not been mentioned yet, but TAVR has on two occasions. Seems there is a mortality rate of better then 8% at the two year mark with TAVR, but age wasn't mentioned as a factor in this number. I'm in Canada, so I won't have a big choice in who does the work, but the bill won't ruin my future either. I'll post more later this week when I've met with my surgeon. Again, thanks for all the info

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