aorta stenosis

[Lavender987]

Hi does anyone with aorta stenosis, worry about breathlessness. G.P has given me a peak flow meter. I do not fully understand as yet at what level is a worrying reading.

[Lowerfield_no_more]

I suffer from mild asthma and keep an interest in my peak flow score. If you are new to alI of this I suggest you keep a daily diary of your scores, and you will soon home in on your personal 'normal' score. Take the best of three readings done reasonably close together at about the same time each day is one way of doing it. You can then compare to a 'normal' person of your age, sex , and of the same height from the numerous charts available on tinterweb. If necessary you can then present the information to your GP or consultant should the need arise, especially if the reading drops away to less than 80% of your personal 'normal' reading when you should be consulting with a health professional. But if it drops to below 50% the advice is to dial 999.

[Yumz199725]

I have aortic stenosis it's moderate, peakflow is for asthma though?? Do you have asthma? Or is your gp just checking to make sure its not causing your breathlessness??.

[Shabana1974 in reply to Yumz199725]

Totally agree hospital gave me before diagnosis. It looks like gp as with my gp are looking asthma rather than the heart

[Yumz199725 in reply to Shabana1974]

Both cab cause breathlessness. I have asthma and heart problems so can be hard to know what problem is flaring up. Hope you find out what's causing your symptoms x

[Lavender987 in reply to Yumz199725]

Do you know if a peak flow reading of 250 would be of concerns. X

[Yumz199725 in reply to Lavender987]

Depending on what your asthma action plan says, for me 250 is of concern and I should be in hospital. And my best is 500. So definitely helps to have an asthma action. Ask your GP for one it's literally a life saver! X

[Rhosyncoch]

there should be an instruction leaflet with a chart to indicate both how to use your peak flow monitor and to tell you when to inform your doctor.

[andy110519]

I was diagnosed with mild asthma years ago and only really had a problem with walking up hill and some animals would cause a problem too. My inhaler wasn't much help when walking up hill but worked when the trigger was an animal.

Fast forward 20 years and I had a mechanical aortic valve replacement 4.5 years ago because of severe aortic stenosis due to a bicuspid aortic valve. I now do Munroes no problem, breathlessness largely sorted. The breathlessness had got worse running up to being diagnosed with heart problems so presumably that is one indication as to how bad things are.

Take care.

Andy

[Lavender987 in reply to andy110519]

Thank you for your reply.