Garth Wadleigh - Heart Valve Journal

My Journal

3199 days ago

I was born with a bicuspid aortic valve and have been having it monitored annually for the 9-10 years. I never thought much about it until Monday when--after ...Read more

I was born with a bicuspid aortic valve and have been having it monitored annually for the 9-10 years. I never thought much about it until Monday when--after a visit with my cardiologist--I became aware that I'm having symptoms that may or may not be indicators that valve replacement surgery is inevitable for me in the next few years. It's confusing to know what to pay attention to since symptoms come on slowly and could be indicators of something other than heart valve issues. My first reaction is one of shock. I have to be honest and say that I always felt certain that I would be one of those individuals who would not need surgical intervention within my lifetime.

Nicola Laker I was born with ebsteins anomaly and for 50 years I've breezed through without any intervention. Th ... Read more

Nicola Laker I was born with ebsteins anomaly and for 50 years I've breezed through without any intervention. They have been saying the last 3/4 years I will need it "soon" but nothing ever happened. Each year it was the same tests and chat and then another 12 month wait. I have felt the symptoms get worse but due to my husband, father in law and my dad all having cancer, I put it down to stress. I had further tests done and my heart has enlarged dramatically and only have 49% function of the right side. I am in for cone procedure late April/early May.

Best wishes, Garth. I had AVR surgery to replace my bicuspid valve on 12/1. Symptoms that I was havin ... Read more

Best wishes, Garth. I had AVR surgery to replace my bicuspid valve on 12/1. Symptoms that I was having before surgery that I think were directly linked to my valve included having intense (without exertion) dizzy spells where my head would hurt (every month to two months but gradually increasing), heart palpitations upon exertion (walking upstairs), feeling tightness in my chest, mild chest pains, etc. Now after surgery, I still get a little winded walking up stairs, have light flecks in my field of vision several times a day (direct result of surgery), periodic dizziness if I move my head quickly or stand up quickly. I can work out with much more intensity and I feel like I can breathe again. I still feel tired and don't feel "perfect" after surgery. Another interesting difference is that I could feel my valve make a sticking noise. It doesn't do that now. Overall, just thankful for technology.