moderate aortic stenosis

just been told I have moderate aortic stenosis today from having and ultrasound! Waiting now to see cardiologist I'm a bit concerned as to what should I be doing I'm on Atorvastatin for high cholesterol and have hypothyroidism too ? I have some symptoms of lightheaded achy jaw and mild chest pain!suffered from irregular heartbeats, supra ventricular tachycardia . Feel like it's a death sentence how long can you live with this ? Otherwise life's good 👍 thank you for letting me join the group 😊

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Hello

I have no answer to your question but sure others will as they log on and see your post but just wanted to say Welcome x

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Thank you 😊

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x

[Blackcatsooty]

Dear Molly

Moderate aortic stenosis is just a step on the path to severe stenosis which in turn leads to replacing your aortic valve. Amongst most other heart problems us aortic stenosis patients are really the lucky ones. We can have a new valve and we will then be genuinely better.

It might be years before you need AVR,. So enjoy life now. The procedure is a major op but the success rate is brilliant. You will probably need three to six months convalescence, but the great aspect is that you feel the improvement every few days.

Right now, I recommend that you get your weight right, eat sensibly. Exercise a little every day.. cut down on booze. And start to plan your three month recovery. You will need someone to care for you when you get home.

AVR is not like other ops, it is not vague. The medical staff are just fabulous. You will be out of hospital in a week.

Before the op you will have three specific tests. Possibly as an inpatient but probably out patient..

By far the worst part is waiting to go in.

I was terrified, but as soon as I got in the hospital my fears dissolved. I actually have fond memories of the seven days in hospital.

When your stenosis becomes severe you might feel tired. Really really tired.

Good luck

Sooty

[Alisbabas in reply to Blackcatsooty]

Hi,

Sorry to jump in, what's the 3 tests that you have? Cheers

Ali

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to Alisbabas]

The first two tests I would expect to be done are an ECG and an echocardiogram to see how the heart is working. Then if the patient is symptomatic and surgery is under consideration there would be a whole lot more like an angiogram (you do not want to open someone up for valve surgery and to later go back in to perform bypass surgery), chest X-ray, carotid artery scan, lung function test and the usual bloods. The cardiologist might also ask for a CT orMRI scan. I too am puzzled as to what the three definitive tests are?!

[Blackcatsooty in reply to Alisbabas]

Dear Ali

1. Lung function. Sit in a large telephone booth and breath in to a mouthpiece a few times.

2. Echocardiogram. Lie on your side whilst a clinical person presses a reader over your back and side, near to heart. Painless. You can see your heart on the screen some of the time.

3 CT. Scan. You lie in a machine, with your head still outside, whilst it takes film of your dodgy parts. My dodgy parts were aorta artery, and femoral artery..

Staff warn you that you may feel you have wet yourself. I think you have a needle in you but I never felt that ! And I nigh on pass out when I have any needle anywhere near me.

Well that’s what I recall, just my, vague, recollection.

My three tests were as an inpatient. The pandemic was raging so it made sense to do these tests the day before the op. I think most people have them as an outpatient.

Please note I have no medical knowledge and I didn’t want to know what the doctors were doing, apart from anything they wanted me to consider.

Sooty

[Alisbabas in reply to Blackcatsooty]

Hi, yes had all those apart from the lung function

X

[Blackcatsooty in reply to Alisbabas]

The tests will give the surgical team a better idea of what they will find.. my surgeon wanted the tests immediately before operating.

[Hidden in reply to Blackcatsooty]

Thank you good advice x

[mtse in reply to Hidden]

Make sure you ask for an angiogram as the cardiologist missed seeing on my ECG problem which was caused by a blocked artery which meant I ended up in A&E. I had moderate to severe stenosis detected with ECG but my symptoms which were like yours was caused by blocked artery.

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Will do all good advice thanks

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

Hello and welcome to the forum!

You really need to be guided by your GP and your consultants. As blackcatsooty has mentioned you need to try and achieve a healthy weight, eat healthily and exercise within your capabilities. If things progress to the point you need surgery you may need bypass surgery at the same time (you have high cholesterol and there is a suggestion of angina). If only the Aortic Valve is affected you might be offered a minimally invasive TAVR (Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement). Mick Jagger has this at he start of the pandemic and was basically fully recovered in three months. Try not to worry. A call to the BHF nurses to discuss things might be helpful.

[Hidden in reply to MichaelJH]

Thank you Michael 😊

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Hi,I had moderate stenosis until it changed to severe in Nov 21. I have had my main three tests (angiogram, carotid scan and lung function test) and all came back clear. I am having a tissue aortic valve replacement and I have my pre-op on 23rd August. When I first found out I was being referred for surgery I totally freaked out but I am much calmer about it now. I know it needs doing and I am glad that I have the opportunity to be "fixed".

I think it comes as a shock to most people when they are given the news that they need surgery etc but I hope you get some reassurance from the posts on here and you can put your mind at rest a bit x

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Thank you and I hope all goes well for you on the 23rd xx

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It's like the rugs been pulled from underneath me but digesting information and advice helps z lot thanks