Martin 's Journal

Hi everyone, a quick thank you for your messages of support and wishing everyone on the forum my best regards.

Adam’s website, and your journals  have been really helpful in learning about my particular problem, and weirdly reassuring that others have survived, or going through a similar journey to myself.

I’m about 3 months into the investigation of my diagnosis- bicuspid aortic valve, with moderate stenosis.

On Tuesday I had an MRI, which lasted about 45 minutes. The technician injected my veins with a dye, and took a series of photographs of my heart. Next week a second echocardiogram, followed by an angiogram.

I’m taking one Aspirin a day, and a low dosage of statin. 

Recently I have been suffering from chest tightness during exercise, which means my condition / stenosis is getting worse. I have cut my exercise down to swimming 20 minutes a day. 

After the test results it’s a meeting with the consultant and surgeon as to the best way forward. 

I’m in the UK, being treated by our National Health Service; so far I can’t fault the care and service they have provided.

Best wishes to everyone.

Good evening folks, I’ve never been on an online forum in my life, so excuse me if I’m not up to speed with the current practices.

I found this website because I googled ‘diving with a replacement heart valve’, a couple of months ago, by chance, it was discovered I have a bicuspid aortic valve, with moderate stenosis and regurgitation.

In March this year my family and I were booked on a scuba diving holiday to Koh Tao, Thailand. I though I’d better run it past my GP, and to my horror he wouldn’t sign my fitness to dive forms! 

I’m 64, I’ve completed seven marathons, I train hard; HIT classes cycling , fitness, fitness, fitness, five days a week it’s been my life for forty years. I thought I was invincible - wrong!!! 😂

After a period of shock, feeling sorry for myself and asking why me ? I got onto the internet to try and find a positive solution to my problem. I found Adam’s website; any information, and all the answers to my questions in one place - thank you.

I have an appointment with a cardiologist on 3/5/24, when I’m going to explore the possibility of a replacement aortic heart valve.

In hindsight, I have suffered from a tightness in my chest during the first few minutes of my exercise warm ups for a number of months. I used to put it down to cold weather, air conditioning, starting off too quickly, etc. I carried on regardless, completing my run, or HIT session, often reaching 90-95% of my MHR for between 9 -18 minutes in a 45 minute session, without any ill affects, dizziness,etc.

I’m starting out on  an interesting journey (!)  - hopefully I’ll be eligible for a replacement heart valve operation on our fantastic UK NHS.

In the meantime, I’ll continue to read your posts, advice, updates and personal experiences, and wish everyone on the forum my best and a speedy recovery.

Kind regards 

Martin