Cardiologist Appointment

The Hotel Julia in Rome, where Dan and I stayed 25 years ago. At the top of the street is the Barberini Palace and the Spanish Steps are not far away.

I saw my new cardiologist, Dr. Keane, on Friday. Two good pieces of information were the results of the stress test that I did in the Spring were negative for coronary artery disease, and that my aorta is normal from above the dilated area through the arch and the entire descending aorta. That's really good news because some of us with BAV have problems with aneurysms in other locations like the descending aorta. My blood pressure is edging higher, a cause for concern. If I can manage to shed a few pounds that might help. The most important decision that we made at this appointment was to evaluate my next echo scheduled for November before proceeding with another CT scan. I proposed that if the numbers are stable then I'd like to put off the CT scan because of radiation exposure. Dr. Keane agreed. So next month I'll get the yearly echo, compare it with last year's echo, and we'll go from there.

Have I Developed A New Symptom???

Lately I have been having this swallowing problem. I've had several episodes where it seems like food gets stuck in my thorat on the way down. For years I've had throat tightness...at first it was only on exercise exertion, but now I get it just walking. I don't find references to these symptoms in the literature. Could it be the aneurysm compressing the esophagus?

I just found this:

Symptoms of an aortic arch aneurysm or a descending thoracic aneurysm may include, but are not limited to, the following:

wheezing, coughing, or shortness of breath as a result of pressure on the trachea (windpipe)
coughing up blood (hemoptysis)
hoarseness as a result of pressure on the vocal cords
difficulty swallowing (dysphagia) due to pressure on the esophagus
pain in the chest and/or back

and this:

What Are the Symptoms of an Aortic Aneurysm?
Aortic aneurysms often cause no symptoms at all. But if present, symptoms include:

Tearing pain in the chest, abdomen, and/or middle of the back between the shoulder blades.
Thoracic aneurysms may cause shortness of breath, hoarseness, brassy cough (due to pressure on the lungs and airways), and difficulty swallowing (pressure on the esophagus)
Rupture of an aneurysm can cause loss of consciousness, stroke, shock, or a heart attack
If you are experiencing sudden unexplained chest, abdominal, or back pain, or any of the other symptoms mentioned above, seek medical attention.


???

Jim

Flying The Friendly Skies Again

We'll be on holiday soon...overseas...on another cruise. I really like cruises. There is nothing like being pampered. I'm on schedule for my six month check up with my primary care physician and my cardiologist in October. It will mean another round of tests. If things are stable then six months later I'll do it all again. There is no way to know for sure, but my guess is that not much has changed since last winter. We'll see.

Valve Disease Symptoms

A heart valve patient writes in an online article:

One morning I woke up feeling really tired - I couldn't understand it because I'd had a good night's sleep. Then over the next few weeks I started to feel breathless - it was a struggle even walking upstairs, which was odd as I've always been so fit and healthy. After about two months of this, my feet suddenly swelled up overnight - I couldn't even get my shoes on - and my throat felt really tight.

This morning I woke up feeling really tired even though I slept well last night. I also have a dull feeling, not quite a pain, in my chest. It feels like my heart is just so tired. I keep watching my ankles but so far there is no swelling and I'm not breathless. I've had tightness in my throat for years on exertion. These are "pre-symptoms" of valve disease. They don't count and you have to wait until you faint, get dizzy, or otherwise keel over.

So, it's back to watch and wait.

Summertime Relaxation

I'm enjoying my twice daily beach walks with Bradley the dog. We try for three miles in the morning and one mile in the afternoon, but sometimes we just play ball and swim in the afternoon. Summertime has finally arrived!

Photo: the garden railroald at "Liberty Bell," our beach cottage on Fire Island

Feeling Good!

Here's a photo of me and Dan that was taken 25 years ago in top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. It was our first overseas trip together. We started in Paris and then flew to Rome. Next month we'll be returning to Rome for the first time in 25 years. We'll see some sights then embark on a cruise to Egypt and the Greek Islands.

I'm feeling fine. I don't notice any increase in the intensity of any of my relatively minor symptoms. I walk three to four miles a day. My weight is not good but at age 60 at least I'm not obese and I'm still quite active.

My friend Jane had her surgery last week and she's doing well. That is good news!

Still Trying To Be As Active

Yesterday I walked five miles on the beach with Bradley, our dog. Last year I usually walked four or five miles a day on the beach and I'm hoping I can continue that pace this year. I've also been swimming in the ocean, although it's been a cool and rainy Spring with not much real beach weather.

As for symptoms, I continue to feel my heartbeats pulsing up into my throat. Five years ago I only felt this when I exercised. Now I can feel it when I'm resting. What is it? I think it is my enlarged aorta pressing against the esophagus or other throat structures that I'm feeling. When I have my next echo in six months I'll know if there has been any enlargement of the aneurysm.

PHOTO: a gargoyle in Lyon