Melanie's Profile

I was diagnosed with "aortic insufficiency" over 20 years ago, in my mid-twenties and was told to "keep an eye on it". I've moved around countries and cities so much over the last 20 years and never looked for a cardiologist. I've run 2 marathons in my early 30s and never experienced any symptoms. Fast forward to Nov. 2020, I got Covid-19 and went to the ER with breathing issues and chest pain and while they were looking for blood clots (which they fortunately didn't find), they found a thoracic aortic aneurysm. After recovery from Covid-19 I finally saw a cardiologist and he says, that my bicuspid aortic valve has now caused an aneurysm. I have ignored my diagnosis from 20 years ago for so long, I can no longer afford to do so. This is just the beginning of my valve story. I have an echocardiogram next week to see what shape my valve is in and will go from there. Even though my blood pressure is in the normal range (126/62) my cardiologist put me on 25mg Losartan. I have a lot to learn and am very happy I have found this page.