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

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