About Me (In My Own Words)
Bi-Cuspid Aortic Valve: Stable, moderate regurgitation and no signs of stenosis.
Distended Ascending Aorta. 51 mm at widest.
Over the years I had been told that I had a heart murmur, but it was always as an aside, an "Oh by the way..." and the doctors didn't seem too concerned about it.
About 12 years ago now I went on a back-country skiing and camping weekend with a group of friends and one of my sons. On it I had an incident where I was caught in snow up to my chest as I tried to maneuver a sled up from a frozen lake to our camp site. I had an episode of asthma which was unusual as I was an established distance runner, but this was extreme exertion. A nurse who was on the trip gave me a puffer and I saw a doctor on my return who focused on the murmur and (wrongly) diagnosed me with cardiac asthma.
Subsequent investigations determined that I had a bi-cuspid aortic valve and I joined this community. Gosh, I'm old!
But the valve was stable and over the years remained stable.
A little over 4 years ago I had my regular echo-cardiogram and they found that my ascending aorta was enlarged. Thus I embarked on another roller-coaster journey of specialist visits. The surgeon at that time recommended waiting as I was at about 48 mm.
So we waited.
In the meantime that little spot of bother with the pandemic occurred, I lost my job. We picked up stakes and moved to the wet coast. I decided that I would retire. Life went on.
And now... well, valve is still mostly stable, the aneurysm is 51.5 mm and it seems like it's time to talk surgery.
I'm baaaack!
More Info About Me & My Heart
More About Me
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I am from:
Ladysmith, Canada
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I was diagnosed with:
Bicuspid Aortic Valve
Aortic Aneurysm
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My surgeon is:
Dr. Rohit Singhal
