The Plan

I'm "stable" for now and due for another echo next year. My cardio thinks I have a couple of years before the numbers would perhaps dindicate the need for intervention. It's not great to have this hanging over me for the indeterminate future. I also face the prospect of a long slow decline in my physical condition as the aortic stenosis worsens. Finally, nobody likes walking around with an aortic aneurysm. However, I have to make the best of the situation, keep enjoying life, and that's what I plan to do.

Cardiologist: "A Couple Of Years Before Trouble"

My visit with cardiologist Dr. Keane yesterday went well. He believes my condition is stable and that it will be at least a couple of years before my condition becomes problematic. My next appointment is in a year. He believes that this is safe. So I'll have my nech echocardiogram in April 2011.

Vacation Fun

We went on a one week cruise to the Caribbean recently. I had the opportunity to do some snorkeling and underwater photography, which I really enjoy. Swimming and snorkeling in the sometimes choppy ocean gives you a workout. So far I have not noticed any difficulty in doing this sort of activity. The only signs I have of valve disease continue to be the palpitations and throat tightness I sometimes experience. I also wake up many times after a night's sleep actually feeling tired. It's like my heart gets no rest even at night fighting against the stenosis. I guess this situation will continue this way for the forseeable future.

Winter TIme Fitness Challenges

This winter has been difficult for me in terms of keeping up my exercise and activity plan. Since walking is my preferred activity, when it gets cold and particularly when it gets snowy and there is ice on the ground, wlaking is tough. Yesterday we got 28.5 inches of snow and the weather is supposed to remain very cold for the next several days. Walking is going to be a challenge. Howerer, this morning I did about a half hour of saucer sledding. It was fun and it was a great workout!

I'm In The Slow Lane

Got my latest echo report:

2008 gradients: 22/36 mmhg
2009 gradients: 16/27 mmhg

2008 AVA: 1.3 cm2
2009 AVA: 1.2 cm2

2008 ascending aorta: 4.25 cm
2009 ascending aorta: 4.5 cm

2008 aortic root: (SOV 3.5cm, STJ 2.55 cm)
2009 aortic root: 3.7 cm

2008 EF: 55%
2009 EF: 70%

The echos were done a year apart in November. Soooooo, it looks like I'm in the slow lane...relatively stable...in the waiting room for the time being.

Jim

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