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Laura's Warning About Symptoms, Disease Progression & Cardiac Catheterizations

Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Published: January 11, 2024

I just received a very interesting and insightful email from Laura Holt about the symptoms, the progression, the diagnostic tests and the dangers of aortic stenosis. Considering that aortic stenosis is often under-diagnosed and under-treated, I wanted to share Laura's experience with our community.

Laura Holt - Aortic Stenosis Patient

Laura Says...

Hi Adam,

I hope that you are well. I'm not but I will be in a few weeks!

Just wanted to tell you briefly about an experience that I had recently that I believe other aortic valve patients should be warned about.

I've been a moderate aortic stenosis patient for a few years, and had yet another echocardiogram recently. This test showed that I am still moderate, and not qualified for a new valve. Since I've been feeling pretty horrible for over a year, this was very discouraging to me. I signed up for the new Expand TAVR II trial in the hope that I'd get the valve replaced sooner.

As part of the trial, they requested that I have another heart catheterization since I hadn't had one in 2 years. Well, when it was over, my surgeon came to my room and told me that the catheterization showed that my stenosis is severe now, which would explain my feeling so awful.

Aortic Stenosis

My surgeon told me that as a result of this experience, he will listen to his patients more and the echocardiogram results less. I will be getting my new aortic valve in January. I feel that "moderate" stenosis patients should be assertive about having a cardiac catheterization if they are feeling really bad. It could save their life!

Thanks, Adam, for all that you do to help so many people.

God bless you and your family.

Laura Holt

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Written by Adam Pick - Patient & Website Founder

Adam Pick is a heart valve patient and author of The Patient's Guide To Heart Valve Surgery. In 2006, Adam founded HeartValveSurgery.com to educate and empower patients. This award-winning website has helped over 10 million people fight heart valve disease. Adam has been featured by the American Heart Association and Medical News Today.

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