Susan's Profile

Well I am joining the Patient Community officially and so I will give my story in a brief form. I apparently was born with a bicuspid valve, but didn't know that I even had a murmur until I was 40. The doctor ordered an echocardiogram which revealed a benign murmur and so that was that for another 30 years. Like many other stories I have read, I forgot about the murmur, although I can look back and see signs of its progression. About 10 years ago I started having chest pains and my PCP referred me to a Cardiologist for further evaluation. I have been going to the same Cardiologist every year for an Echocardiogram and a Stress Test, until a year and a half ago, when he suggested a TEE. All these years I never knew exactly what kind of a murmur I had or what valve was involved, but after the TEE I was suddenly faced with mild to moderate Aortic Stenosis with a Bicuspid Value. Since then I have been going every 6 months and now it is classified as Moderate to Severe. I go back in March, but the last time I saw the Cardiologist he talked to me about loosing weight and more test to be done. He said the value would have to be replaced. I Googled Aortic Stenosis and found Adam Pick. What a God send he and the website have been. I immediately ordered Adam's book and devoured it in a day and a half. I am semi-retired,working part time in an insurance office. I live in a small community on Florida's east coast and enjoy the wonderful weather and beautiful beaches.