Stenosed Bicuspid Aortic Valve and and a leaking Mitral valve.

[Delle]

Just wondering if anyone else here with AF also has a stenosed Bicuspid Aortic Valve and and a leaking Mitral valve...I feel this could well be the cause of my problems. Would be interested to hear your experiences.

Thank you

Delle

[10gingercats]

if by 'the cause of your problems' you mean AF it might, I suppose, be possible,BUT with 2 other heart problems(not yours) I was told they could 'fix' one of them, and they did but it would not affect the AF.I would still be stuc k with it,The more minor heart problem stills exits.They did not see fit to fix it....too insignificant...they said!

For a definitive answer you would probably need to speak to a cardiologist,and/or, an electro physiologist.

[Delle in reply to 10gingercats]

Thank you for sharing 10Gingercats...btw I have 3 White and ginger Turkish Van cats!

Waiting to see Cardiologist...but it will be a few more weeks...oh to win the lottery and have my own Cardiologist hey??!!

Delle

[jeanjeannie50]

I have a slightly leaky mitral valve, but was told that it was nothing to worry about and it was common as people grew older.

Jean

[Delle in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Thank you Jean...good to hear from you...

If it were just my mitral valve leaking perhaps it wouldn't be so bad, but what about my stenosed bicuspid aortic valve?...wish I knew more..reading up constantly, especially since discovering this wonderful forum.

Take good care and thank you once more

Delle

[Hidden]

I'm the same as Jean....slightly leaky mitral valve and told nothing to worry about .

[Mrspat]

I was born with a stenosed aortic valve though not bicuspid. Also had a sub aortic membrane. Had no problems throughout my life. AF developed around my late 40s and my general cardiac state declined at the same time. Did not have valve fixed and membrane excised until my late 50s. These days they do it much earlier. Heart surgery wasn't as safe when I was a child.

I still have AF. It does not affect my daily life. No one is entirely sure whether my birth defect is or ever was connected to the AF.

[Delle in reply to Mrspat]

Thank you for sharing MrsPat, since I only discover my congenital heart condition in June along with my A fib...I'm 72 BTW...it's been just one scary ride...so your kind message really helps

[Mrspat in reply to Delle]

I tell people I was 58 before I had a birth defect corrected. Some of them find it funny. 63 now. My surgeon said that the valve still had a little way to go before it really needed replacing. However the membrane had grown and was causing a blockage. I asked if I was a bit old for the operation but apparently they do it on people well into their 80s.

[10gingercats in reply to Mrspat]

My significant hole in the heart was fixed in my seventies.Surgeon did not 'bat an eyelid' at my age.And......so much surgery can now be done vis keyhole.I was 'on the point' of a heart attack when the surgeon told me he planned to operate on me that way!.But ,bingo, all went very well and my stroke risk was reduced to nil so long as I continued to pop the Apixaban...you bet I do!

[BobD Volunteer]

Interestingly leaking valves came up at HRC in October. If I remember it correctly the mechanics are that when the ventricle contracts. the leaky valve allows a blast of blood back into the atrium which hits the back wall and can result over time in stretching. As we know. enlarged atrium for whatever reason can bring on AF. This "valvular AF" is quite different to lone AF where no other cardiac conditions have caused it. So yes Delle my understanding is it could be (one of) the reasons.

[Delle in reply to BobD]

Thank you BobD...as I'm so not clued up I find this somewhat overwhelming...been reading the Nice report on AF earlier...that was gloom and doom for me...since I take Sotalol and also Sertratline...

Cardiologist is obviously aware, but he's a very young, newly qualified Cardiologist...maybe this combo is causing the extremely debilitation I'm enduring these last 8 week now...each day i feel even worse...my life is mainly lying down, being extremely dizzy and now housebound...I was an energetic, self sufficient soul until this started 8 weeks...feels like I'm on my way out now but cannot rush my appointment..have to be on the waiting list..! :/

Appreciate your response,

Thank you so much.

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Delle]

Do go to AF Association website an read all you can about AF. the more you understand the less you will worry. Ask your cardiologist if an EP (electrophysiologist) would be able to help you. These are specialists in arrhythmias rather than plumbers like normal cardiologists. I'm not sure why you are on sotalol to be honest unless for another issue as it is not recommended by NICE any longer. (since 2014) for A F treatment .

[Delle in reply to BobD]

Thank you again...I do read and learn...earlier this evening was reading about Sotalol and the risk of Acquired Long QT Syndrome: So being so ill ATM, i just scare myself...even hate taking my PB...don't want to know...I know I must and i do...but until I start to feel alive again I'm in a bad place and find I scare myself even more by researching...!

[Dadog in reply to BobD]

Exactly what I was told too, Bob. The condition should be monitored as it has its own complications as well as being a trigger for AF.

[Stratton-sully]

Hi Delle, my problem was similar to yours, in my early sixties while undergoing tests for prostate related issues it was discovered I had a tricuspid valve that only had two opening. Probably from birth and they said

"No big deal we operate on people in their 80's with this"

A TIA and hospitalised with my first AF in my late sixties and a cardioversion

Nine months later cured it and got me off warfarin on to Apixaban,

Annual checks monitoring the blockage ended in July with the cardio saying it had hit the benchmark of 1.1 and it was time for an op. Given a choice of hospitals I selected Bristol BRI and had a few cancellations but on the 10th October keyhole surgery and replaced the aortic valve in the afternoon.

Unfortunately that evening trouble arrived in the form of pericardial effusion which leads to cardiac tamponade and death.

So full surgery followed and the double dose of drugs had me hallucinating but fixed.

4 weeks later I'm well on the road to recovery and have come off most medication. Started Apixaban yesterday after finishing the aspirin course.

Bisoprolol 2.5 in the morning and iron tablets.

The heart is settling down and I usually walk for a hour in the morning at a brisk rate with a man who will be 85 on Friday.

I don't know if this is of any help to you.

[Delle in reply to Stratton-sully]

Wow...you are an inspiration Stratton-sully...THANK YOU for sharing with me...will reply fully later...still feeling rotten atm

[ETFCfan]

Hello Delle, I too have leaky aortic and mitral valve. Have been told it’s only mild and not to worry but like you have wondered if it’s connected. I’m new on here and interested to read everybody’s stories. I’ve had AF for three years and had two cardioversions and two ablation but went back into AF two months ago although only paroxysmal now. Hope you get the answers you want.

[Mildhypochondriac]

I had aortic stenosis and six years ago had the valve replaced (keyhole surgery) with probably a pig's valve. Scans since have shown the new valve to be well seated and in good order. I also have a moderately leaky mitral valve. For the last four years I've had continuous atrial fibrillation, though with a slow resting pulse. I don't have palpitations, and the heart seems contented. I think almost daily pedalling a static bike with a couple of intense bursts may be very helpful ... plus resistance exercise.