Melissa's Profile

I was 1st diagnosed with an extremely high calcium score on a screening exam (2200). I was then referred to cardiology that kicked off this journey. Stress echo in summer 2023 showed aortic valve stenosis, mean gradient of 25; not too bad. One year later in August of 2024, it jumped to 38, and January 2025 it was 42 - severe. My cardiologist had been telling me for months I couldn get a TAVR "They don't open you up anymore!" It took me several months before I agreed to pursue TAVR, only to now be told by 2 IR Cardiologists they won't do TAVR on people my age (55 in May). This crashed my world; I work full time and also manage rental properties in addition to my regular job. My home life is also not compatible with a healing environment that a SAVR would require. I know for a fact that people in their 50s are getting TAVR procedures, but not in my area. I'm currently looking for a provider who won't turn me down strictly due to my age. I also saw my parents recover from their OHS years ago, and it was traumatic. I can't see myself consenting to that, but I don't want to die either. They found this stenosis almost 2 years ago now, so I know time is running out.