aortic stenosis

[bowls463]

hi I would like to visit my daughter in France for Christmas , by train, and have just discovered I have Aortic Stenosis and have seen cardiologist and told ok to travel as symptoms so far was a horrible dizzy spell when over exerted my self with too much walking etc. So as new to this, wondered what others have done ? Many thanks 😊

[Ageingfast]

many medics will classify your aortic stenosis as mild, then moderate then severe. That’s what they did for me. 3 years mild then one year moderate then panic for the op when I was severe.

But long before the mild stenosis description, in fact I think it was 7 years, doctors did mention a slight stenosis.

To determine the status I was getting annual scans.

With hindsight, I would have travelled to France with mild stenosis but definitely not moderate stenosis. France is nearby and has good medical facilities. Perhaps I would check my medical insurance.

I am (was) bicuspid which probably speeded up the degeneration.

Enjoy Christmas in France.

Sooty

[bowls463 in reply to Ageingfast]

hi thank you for your reply. The Echocardiogram person said it was severe but consultant didn’t say but did say I was ok to travel as long as told insurance people . I am on 6 monthly watch at moment and feel fine , just no running ( I don’t) or fast walking . Take care

Launa

[Ageingfast in reply to bowls463]

Dear Launa

I reverse my suggestions. If you are already severe then I wouldnt travel far. If/when you get a written copy of the Echo tests then it might be clearer. However I guess the consultant knows whats best. I went from severe to urgent op in a few weeks. The consultant made it clear that I needed the op very very soon. Maybe I degenerated faster because I was bicuspid, but by the time I got the op I didnt have many weeks to live. I only know this because the op was watched by a small group of medical students.

I felt awful for a few weeks before the op. One key feature for me was that I started to stumble forward. The fact that you seem to be OK is a big plus. I was 73 when I had the op and moderately fit. Not overweight.

When you do have the op, I hope it is as good as mine. Fantastic staff, wonderful surgeons followed up by total recovery. That was four years ago. The surgeons gave me my life back. The rehab is long but I just felt a little better every couple of days. I had a tissue valve by OHS.

Best wishes

Sooty

[bowls463 in reply to Ageingfast]

Thank you as said she says my heart is in good condition and not thickening so seems good .

Glad all going well with you

[Expostie]

Hi Aortic Stenosis is measured by the opening of the valve 2cm is normal it is when you get down to 0.8 0.6 then it is classified as severe so if possible find out we're you are at I was 0.6 when I had my replacement good luck.

[Gooner1947 in reply to Expostie]

May I just ask a question please. Does the Ejection Faction play a part in deciding severe, moderate etc?I was never told what my status of aortic stenosis is but know EF is 64%

Got my coronary angiogram this Wednesday as part of process leading to TAVI

[Expostie in reply to Gooner1947]

Tavi how old are you if I am not being to cheeky

[Gooner1947 in reply to Expostie]

77

[Expostie in reply to Gooner1947]

Ah OK probably best option for you less invasive

[Expostie in reply to Gooner1947]

After wvery echocardiogram I always asked what the opening was to keep track but I went very quickly from 0.8 to 0.6 in a matter of weeks I knew by my getting out of breath very quickly just walking

[Deejay62]

Hi it seems to me your cardiologist has given you good medical advice. Just make sure you have good insurance cover. I would have thought a train journey is a lot safer than flying at altitude. Enjoy your holiday, rest and relax, with your daughter. All the best.

[TasteLessFood4Life]

I wouldnt worry too much about it. Just treat it as a holiday and dont go all guns blazing. You will be in a foreign country, but then again France has a pretty solid health care system anyway, especially when it comes to cardiology.

[Taviterry in reply to TasteLessFood4Life]

But over Christmas and the New Year? (I admit that a couple of my friends doubted that I was being wise with some of my walks alone in the countryside.) The first cardiologist that I saw was very dismissive of my GTN spray, but that could have been because of my own particular condition.

[Jedi14]

As we are hearties we just need to travel fully prepared, take your GTN spray with you.

[PadThaiNoodles]

I flew to Colorado for vacation about 4 weeks before my scheduled mitral valve repair and aortic valve replacement. I was asymptomatic. (Surgery was scheduled because my left ventricle had started to enlarge to compensate for the leaky valves, and evidently that can cause other issues. Because my heart was compensating, my EF was still above 50% even though my regurgitation was severe. So, no, they're not necessarily related.)

[Gooner1947 in reply to PadThaiNoodles]

Did the cardiologist give you the ok to fly or you just used your own judgement?Any tips re flying please?

[PadThaiNoodles in reply to Gooner1947]

My cardiologist said it was fine to fly -- though he had to recommend against Colorado as we were going to be at 9600'. (But he knows I've been ignoring his advice on that for years, and his reaction was "you gotta do what you gotta do".)

FWIW, I believe airline cabins are pressurised to the equivalent of about 6000' altitude.

[Gooner1947 in reply to PadThaiNoodles]

Not sure what affect pressurised cabins have but I imagine its all been well researched for folk in our situation. Have coronary angiogram this Wednesday 16th. I've been led to believe my TAVI will be in about 5 months.

For the past few years we have been spending the winter in India and Philippines.

Long flight from UK but will stopover in Middle East to break it up if I'm given the ok.

I'm 77.

Hopefully I'll have a chat with cardiologist on Wednesday.

In the meantime would welcome any tips etc

[PadThaiNoodles in reply to Gooner1947]

Higher altitude equates to less-dense air (ie: less oxygen per lung-full).

The only tip I have is to fly business class -- but I don't think that has much to do with heart function. 🙃

I must say, India and the Philippines sound really nice for the winter....

[Gooner1947 in reply to PadThaiNoodles]

Just hoping we can go. Yes it's a risk but IF the decision is left with me- then I would go.

Business Class? Just a distant dream!

Did you have to tell the airline about your medical condition? Hope not

[PadThaiNoodles in reply to Gooner1947]

I didn't tell the airline -- though I haven't a clue whether I was supposed to or not....

[Gooner1947 in reply to PadThaiNoodles]

Good enough for me

[Gooner1947 in reply to PadThaiNoodles]

I assume you were on medication at that time. I have apixaban, furosemide,betablockers being the main ones.

[PadThaiNoodles in reply to Gooner1947]

No, I was still asymptomatic so not on any (heart-related) meds. (I have depression so I've been on escitalopram and lamotrigine for years -- but I don't figure that's any of the airline's business.)

I'm on bisoprolol post-surgery to slow my heart down a bit, and warfarin to prevent clotting from the mechanical valve, but wasn't on either of those before-hand.

[Yumz199725]

Hi I have bicuspid aortic valve moderate to severe aortic regurgitation and stenosis, are you not symptomatic yet, I feel tired all the time out of breathe all the time, tight chested and the palpitations are getting ridiculous! I'm still preop so will soon need valve replacement surgery x ❤️ can be scary and a shock when you haven't had long to process it. I have had my whole life to process it and I'm still scared!. I hope you enjoy your trip to France 🇫🇷 x

[bowls463 in reply to Yumz199725]

Thank you for that and hope you are sorted soon and all goes well. 🙂