Post TOE

[Numberone1]

Hi. I thought I’d give you all an update on my TOE.

I had it on Friday after much delay. My measurements in November showed Severe. Valve size 0.58z

I was referred to Kings. Did another echo which showed .1.1cm.

Toe indicated moderate but I won’t know more about until my appt on Tuesday.

Is this actually getting better?

[IanGordon]

Susan, hi. Pleased that things are now moving forward for you. It would be good if the stenosis was really reversing but in all honesty, unlikely. The TOE gives a more accurate image than the echocardigram so is likely to be the measurement that determines what happens next which will become apparent at your next appointment. Generally once the valve opening is < 1 cm2 then surgery is generally the next step although other measurements and your symptoms are considered. Hope all goes well at your next consultation on Tuesday and even if this means deferring surgery, this is progress. Try not to worry if surgery is not scheduled yet as

[Numberone1 in reply to IanGordon]

Hi Ian. With a view to my appt on tuesday, I want to have as many questions ready as possible. I notice you have a pseudo bicuspid valve. Can you tell me what this is please? Glad you are continuing to improve.

[IanGordon in reply to Numberone1]

It's a defect that I and quite a number of other forum contributors were born with. A normal aortic valve has three flaps whilst with the pseudo-bicusped valve, two of these are fused, so effectively a two flap valve. This means that as it stiffens and calcifies, symptoms such as breathlessness and angina are triggered on exertion. I believed this defect makes it more susceptible to calcification so stenosis happens earlier and the impact is greater as the mobility of two flaps may be compromised earlier as the stenosis stiffens the two flaps.

Mine took a number of years to decline from mild to moderate and finally to severe at the back end of last year. Once "severe" the risks of doing nothing are for most people greater than surgery so I was keen to get it fixed once I reached this stage. So I'm now 6weeks post-surgery and can vouch for the improvements in comfort and tolerance to exercise and exertion although still early days in my recovery. Formal cardio rehab starts tomorrow but walking 5-6 miles daily.Looking forward to week 12 by which time I should be able to return to my normal levels of activity - fingers crossed!

So surgery will knock you back but it's a small price to pay for restoration of a near normal life expectancy - all other things being equal. Good luck. Embrace the changes and proactively pursue your recovery using the the support that's available here and the advice and guidance give by your cardiologist and clinicians. Take some encouragement from the fact that Open Heart Surgery is routine, although a major life event for us hearties!