Beth's Guestbook

Beth Saunders   Thanks, Becky! So happy to be on the other side and now home. One of the benefits of complications is that you don't take the relatively better feelings of the heart surgery itself! Grateful for every breath and all my blessings- now to make my house as independently functioning as possible even though my husband and family have been terrific!

Beth Saunders   Thank you Bonnie. I am now 3 weeks post-op and doing very well. Hope you are doing well and if surgery is in your future best of luck to you!

Beth Saunders   Hi Leslie. I started seeing a cardiologist about 8 years ago to monitor my prolapsing mitral valve, which I had known about for many years, but was never a problem. She diagnosed my bicuspid aortic valve and I had regular echocardiograms each year to measure how far it was opening. I was always very active and my only symptom was shortness of breath from climbing or running. When the aortic opening went from .81 last year to .66 this year, I spoke to the surgeon again and he said it was time to replace it. I can tell a difference in shortness of breath and starting to have more pressure type pain in my chest- so in 2 days I will be in surgery! My surgeon also drew me a straight line that then drops straight down. He said you can go along just fine for years with a bicuspid aortic valve (like I had been doing- I'm 67 and was born with this) until you get to the edge of the cliff and then you will only deteriorate from then on. I am on the edge, so the time is right for me!

Leslie Bakos  So you have stenosis? What about your mitral? Will they address that as well...I am just wondering once they open you up does it kind of shake things up with the other valves...like worsen the mitral etc.

Beth Saunders   Yes, I do have stenosis. My surgeon said the mitral valve was not a problem at all and they will not address the mild prolapse. I have no other blockages and heart is normal size with no heart disease- so am hopeful replacing the aortic valve will be it for me! Hopefully they will fix me and not make anything else worse!