At 53, my bicuspid aortic was replaced April 17, 2017 at Hartford Hospital,.. your video is excellent, I wish I had the forethought to do a video like yours. I did go with the bovine valve as I dint want to have to be on blood thinners with my active and sometimes clumsy lifestyle... Anyways, other than waking up with the tube down my throat, the operation was a breeze and recovery was quick. I have known this was coming for 30 plus years as I was diagnosed at an early age...they said by 50 I would need it to be replaced, and they sure were close. I also had an aortic anurism that they repaired. I was working at 4 weeks light duty and full bore (Im a landscaper and work with heavy equipment and lots of lifting 50 pound bags of fertilizer) at 7 weeks. Im glad you did well sir,.. your video is a nice inspiration and I urge those who have to have this done to not dwell on the negatives as there are very few compared to allowing the problem to progress. My cardiologist tells me that the bovine valves are running 20 years on average, some much longer...and if nothing else takes me out before then,..the TAVR procedure can replace the valve (which was not an option for the bicuspid valve) with no open chest / heart procedure. IT IS AMAZING what technology and science has given us!!
Hi, I hpoe this finds you well. I'm 45, having this surgery on the coming Monday. I hope I heal up as well as it seems you did. I want to be able to use my gas powered post hole digger again. Fingers crossed.
Thanks for posting Timmy. I have to have BAV replacement surgery in exactly 1 month. Watching your videos has helped. I'm going to do the same in hopes to help out others.
I just had mine done 30 days ago, and now find this video. :) Your story sounds just like mine, including the malformed heart, military service (1970-2004), how quickly it came up, and even your time line. I almost didn't have it done (due to my age) but, my youngest wants me to walk her down the aisle next fall. So, I finally agreed. While I'm originally from Cleveland, I had mine done at Genesis Hospital in Zanesville. Excellent care!
@@stryke8585 I was 67 and in very bad shape. I couldn't walk from my car into a store. It's been almost 2 yrs now. I just started feeling better about 4 months ago. They finally have the right medicine combo and my pacemaker tuned. I did it so I could walk my daughter down the aisle on her wedding day. That's been just over a year ago and today she tells us she is expecting her first. Another reason to be glad I went through with it!
I had aortic valve replacement on January 18 of this year. I'm so glad that you've made it through. I experienced the same symptoms as you but i had to have a replacement. I'm also in cardiac.rehab and the thing that i miss is cooking with my grandkids. I've set a goal for myself also. To walk the mile up the road to the store and back. I couldn't walk to my front room due to severe shortnesd of breath. Thank you for sharing and continue in God Grace. God bless you.
+Deborah Pearson Good hearing from you :) I hope you will be walking that road and enjoying cooking with the grandkids quickly! I'm curious, which valve did you choose...tissue or mechanical?
I stumbled upon this clip quite some time after my own, similar, procedure. I can relate to your emotions and trauma. It helps me addressing my own issues afterwards. It is difficult to share. Your communication helps a lot to come to terms what happened. Blessings.
Your story sounds identical to mine. They found my bicuspid valve 7 years ago. Same symptoms you described. My aorta was also dilated. I have always been healthy sports, lifting, etc. ..... My root is now past 4.7 and its game time for me. I live in Tennessee but will be having my procedure at Cleveland clinic as well. I'm just glad to get this over with! 7 years is too long to have that weight on my chest. Glad you did well fellow zipper! Procedure within a month.
Jeff, you will certainly be in good hands at the clinic. they know what they are doing as long as you don't get trainees during recovery like i did. that kinda stunk. but my night time nursing staff were awesome. you will be up and walking faster than you can imagine. hoping and praying good things for you, friend.
Glad to see this. Just posted my experience which happened about six months ago. At the time I could find NO info about it though. Glad to see someone else posted. Recover well!
I can totally relate to you with an undiagnosed heart condition. I had begun having palpitations as well, which I completely ignored. Mine was diagnosed when I was trying to get surgical clearance for a probable knee replacement. It was about 6 months total from diagnosis until surgery. My after surgery was a nightmare. My digestive system stalled, both my kidneys and liver were out of whack. The NG tube was the worst. Even worse than projectile vomiting undigested food. Terrible experience. Thank you for sharing.
Just watched your video I'm having the same done in 6 weeks 54 years young they found it 4 months ago but because of covid things have got delayed. I feel just like you emotions running wild but let's hope all goes well. Putting my life in someone else's hands lets hope he or she had a good night's sleep and having a good day. Hope your Op went well and that you and your family are well. Great video 👍
Hei, I just found your video. I was diagnosed 6th of march 2017 with bicuspid aortic valve (first time in my life and I am 41) which is severly calcified. First few weeks I couldn't believe it was true. I have my surgery on 25th of August 2017. Really afraid of all what is going to be done to me. Watching your video little bit reduced my anxiety. Thanks
hey I wrote you before my surgery. I had the Ross procedure April 19 my surgeon gave me clean bill of health may 23 its July 29th today still at times have a little discomfort very little. God is good thanks for your prayers
I'm 20 years old and I got diagnosed with BAV back in 2012 and it all started with a sports physical. My case was like yours in the fact it went undetected for a long amount of time until then. I had several ECHOs and EKGs done. I also had an MRI done. I had my TEE done earlier this year on January 29th. We've been monitoring my condition and my next appointment with my cardiologist will be next summer 2017. Last time I saw him (earlier this year) he said I'm at the moderate scale to where I don't need the replacement yet, but it's slowly coming to severe. Obviously, we have not set a date for the replacement but it seems like it will be 5-10 years from now. Thanks for sharing your story. Gave me hope as I am also a Christian.
Nate Kidren so I was just diagnosed yesturday with bav and my is moderate to mild leak so he said he wants to look at in a year which will Be Valentine's Day next year I had a echo and a ekg several what are some of the symptoms u have had like any one get light headed thanks
Nick Stewart hey there! For the most part, the symptoms I have are a heart murmur, sometimes I get tired faster than others when exercising, but other than that, I can live a pretty normal life, much in the case like this guy lived before he found out about his BAV. Personally, I can't remember a time when I was lightheaded. One thing I have to watch out for at least is when I am lifting things a lot I have to be careful, especially exercising. I don't know about you though, do you have any symptoms?
Nate Kidren that's the thing my only symptoms I have are lightheaded a lot but that's it before I was diagnosed I had like 4 occasions where my chest got really tight but since then it hasn't happened since then so I said that they are just going to watch urs for a while not do surgery now like when u got diagnosed what did they say to you if your don't mind me asking
I have had moments where my chest got tight too, although they have been rare. When I got diagnosed, they originally thought I had a hole in my heart (long story on that) and if I did, we would have done surgery on the spot there. They told me that it was possible that I could live on with my BAV until my middle age years then get it replaced. That was a different doctor, and I've moved states and now have my current doctor, who has told me that my valve is moderate-severe at this point, but not to the point where I need it replaced now, as of summer 2016. The current game plan is that I go to my doctor once or twice a year (depending) so that we can keep looking at the progress to see what's next. Does that answer your question?
Nate Kidren so like when you go once or twice a year what has to happen to you before they decide on what they want to do and did they tell you the symptoms that you should report right away
I had a ultrasound follow up today after having a heart attack 4 years ago when they found the bicuspid valve ..the echo cardiologist said they have noticed its narrowed more and I should hear from my dr in the next week ..I think I am going to have to have surgery on it and I'm crapping myself right now ..I'm so not looking forward to open heart surgery ..I'm glad to see it's not just me that is really worried about it ..im 45 so it will be a mechanical I should imagine..thanks for uploading this
Hang in there. I’m sure you’ll do great! Mechanical is the right choice at your age. I chose that at 40 when I had my surgery. Thankfully they were able to perform a repair and not a replacement. I send up a prayer.
I have the same problem. I was born with a bicuspid aortic valve instead of the normal tricuspid valve and mine has calcified. Mine is now narrowed from 2.5 cm (normal) to 0.9 cm. I just scheduled my surgery for Dec 7rh. Your lucky that you have not had to deal with difficulty breathing which is quite scary. Hope you are doing better now.
DrCAS1964 I am doing better thanks for asking. Sounds like you are in for quite a repair/replacement. I am grateful to not have had a lot of shortness or breath. I had some. It it wasn't too noticeable. Best of luck to you. Take care of yourself and enjoy the healing process.
I’m about to have an Aortic value stenosis replaced .. my blood pressure was off the chart as well now on meds..also the 3 values are blocked.. this was 6 weeks ago I was diagnoses Aortic value stenosis… I’m waiting on a surgery date to have angiogram.. im hoping they can do all the stuff that needs to be done at one time .. wishfully thinking I guess but I’m hoping .. I just want my life back ..I want to go back to work .. and most of all I want to do things with my grandson and family without having to stop and take a brake to catch my breath,, I feel the same thing fears you mentioned when we have a rough day .. it’s scary I’ll pray for you ..
I just saw this now. I’m having open heart surgery in 2 days. I was basically asymptomatic although I had been experiencing subtle symptoms for years that I never associated with my heart. I was also born with a bicuspid valve, which I never knew. The way I found out about it was that I almost blacked out on the treadmill twice so I knew something was off when I knew I wasn’t dehydrated or hungry. Sure enough, my aortic valve was at a critical stage. I still walk 5 miles a day. It’s the craziest thing that ever happened to me.
Timmy V. I'm sorry I've taken so long to answer but I just saw your question. I choses a tissue valve replacement. I'm doing well and I'm still working towards that goal of walking that mile. But I have gradually started cooking again. I'm flavoured doing well. Keep healthy. We've been given a second chance for a reason.
I am looking like I will be having this done soon I went to the er a number of years for chest pain and they found out when I was 33 now I am 35 and it is getting a lot worse
Hello, I've known my whole life I've had BAV. So I don't have the shock you have. And I've been very healthy, but I'm 40 now and its getting really heart for me to breath. Just walking cross a two-lane street makes me winded. I had an echocardiogram today and I really feel like the results are not going to be good.
Thank you Tim. I am 51 and just found that I too have Bicuspid aortic valve. I take my stress test March 23rd. I work for UPS loading trailers with packages sometime weighing up to 150 lbs. I don't know if when I get the surgery and after recovery I will be able to go back to UPS. I was just starting to make good money there. I have two kids 10 and 12 and a wife to worry about too. God bless thanks for your video.
+bravethor I apologize that I'm so late in replying to your comment. Thanks for it and for your openness. It's taken me the full 6-8 weeks of recovery to feel better and I really do, so I'm certain you will be well again also in time. Be strong brother, I'll say a prayer that your physical strength will return quickly so you can provide for your family.
Merian Alipe didn't hear a thing. Totally out cold during the surgery. Was awake at one moment in the operating room and then the next moment I was waking up in the icu
4570sharps irregular blood pressure spiking and dropping. Thought it was just stress from work cause it wasn't all the time. Shortness of breath. Dizziness especially in the shower when I would tilt my head back to shampoo my hair I'd lose my balance. Thought it was just older age balance issues. A sometimes irregular heartbeat and heart flushing feeling. Pale face dark circles under eyes. Probly more but that's just a few
Thanks! I found out I have a bicuspid aortic valve after coming down with endocarditis three years ago. Bad unhealthy gums and generally overweight/out of shape. Last Dr. visit I had very little regurgitation but a some what larger aortic root, not yet considered an aneurysm. I've lost a lot of weight (on purpose - I was fat) and do some fairly serious amount of exercise with no issues. I'm 42 yrs old and hoping I can avoid the knife or keep it away for as long as possible. Did you ever have a life long history of your heart feeling like it would be 'skipping beats' some times?
