Breathlessness

[Oldmasons]

Hi everyone

Aortic valve replacement (twice due to infective endocarditis) and permanent pacemaker (for complete block).

I always knew that things would start to get worse eventually as my last two echo scans have shown mild to moderate leakage. Now I can’t walk upstairs, swim more than 20 strokes without becoming breathless. I don’t have chest pain though.

My next annual review with cardiology is November, is the breathlessness a worry or can I wait until then?

Previous advice from you guys has been really helpful so just looking for a guide again.

Thanks a lot

[Yumz199725]

Hi Oldmasons

I can see you have been through alot and the breathlessness would definitely worry you! Are you able to contact your cardiologist or specialist nurse? I also have my check up in November 😉😅. I noticed you said its mild to moderate regurgitation, that shouldn't be an issue but given your history with your valves I would definitely contact your cardiologist or GP. I have severe aortic regurgitation and moderate stenosis so I'm awaiting valve replacement surgery they just waiting for the stenosis to become severe. Wish you all the best mate hope your breathlessness turns out to be a vitamin deficiency as that can aslo cause breathlessness. I have asthma aswell so very difficult to differentiate between the two! Makes it so much harder to know if it's heart related. Keep us updated on what your GP says about what's causing it. Hope you feel better soon.

Take care and all the best ☺️.

[Anon2023]

hi. I think Yumz has given you good advice and I would encourage you to give the cardiologists secretary or the cardiac nurses a call. Failing that, ring your GP. It could be anything causing the breathlessness so please try not to worry too much but if you get checked it will hopefully reassure you. X

[devonian186]

High Humidity can cause Breathlessness. It has been very high where we live, indoors and out, compounded by our proximity to the coast and the wet July. If you have a Hygrometer its worth checking it, or if not you can get them quite cheaply. The first link is one posted on this forum yesterday, the others are ancillary

bbc.co.uk/news/health-66249805

mayoclinichealthsystem.org/...

humidifiercompare.com/can-h...

"Thus, you need to maintain a balanced humidity indoors. It should never be out of the range of 30 and 50 percent. Some sources also say 35 to 55 percent."

I have been quite breathless during this wet july, much more so than in dry June. It may be nothing to do with your condition but it might be worth checking out

[Oldmasons in reply to devonian186]

Very interesting and I had not considered this at all. Thanks 👍

[devonian186]

Can I add one more thing in to the equation?

Due to the earlier sun, then the rain, and through councils not cutting vegetation, pollen levels have been extremely high for 3 months. Even today in our area it is still rated as 'very high' although due to drop back sharply the rest of the week.

It is amplified by the high humidity and I know many people have been suffering this year, even though pollen does not normally affect them. As you know, breathlessness is one of the likely side effects.