About Me (In My Own Words)
I have had a heart murmur since I was a child. My primary care doctor noticed a change in 2018 and sent me to a cardiologist who diagnosed moderate - severe aortic regurgitation. After watching me for six months he sent me off to surgeons. Of course, they wanted to replace the valve and said I would need to do so in the next six months.
After interviewing many wonderful surgeons, I found a cardiologist who had read many studies and offered another solution to use medicine - blood pressure med/calcium channel blocker to hold the line and see if we maintained a stable state with no changes in heart structure. Fast forward almost four years later, I am just being told that the time is nearer for replacing the valve.
Unfortunately, my beloved cardiologist retired and I switched practices. Working now on figuring out if they are seeing the same thing and interpreting it differently or if there is a worsening of the condition. Grateful for this resource and for all of your stories.
Ended up having some high blood pressure so given medication for blood pressure and a calcium channel blocker to help heart muscle. Been in watch and see mode with echos every 6 months. After my echo in February 2024 was told by my local cardiologist that I needed to see a surgeon because my heart was enlarged.
My daughter is a physician at NYU Langone in NY so I went to there for diagnostics - CT scan, Stress Test with Echo and MRI. While heart is enlarged, I still am not showing symptoms. The Ross Procedure was suggested for the first time. I am 62 years old. Interested in learning more about outcomes in older patients.
I now have Regurgitation and Stenosis so the guidelines are not as clear cut as just one or the other. I am trying to plan for the long-term because I want there to be a long-term. I realize that I will need at least two surgeries as I do not want a mechanical valve.
Stay tuned....
More Info About Me & My Heart
More About Me
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I am from:
Mount Kisco, New York
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I was diagnosed with:
Aortic Regurgitation
Aortic Stenosis
