Michael's Profile

10 years or so ago had a TIA episode and was referred to Cardiologist. Physical and tests revealed AFib. 5 years later during the annual echo, it was discovered I had BAV. So the routine visits and annual echos had more attention. Echo's revealed mild then to moderate AS last year. Over the last year I had noticed loss of energy, more frequent episodes of shortness of breath, lost desire and motivation of exercise regiment, though I wrote off too busy with work/travel and I was just getting on in time. ...then came the November echo, numbers jumped to severe (peak velocity 4.6/aortic valve area of .6/mean gradient of 48 mmHg). If you are reading this, be mindful of changes, don't write off as getting old, what I experienced were simple worsening condition/symptoms of AS. Good thing is that despite my busy travel and work schedule, I always made my routine visits...though I am guilty of pushing the last echo out, and not really mentioning to Doc what I thought was just part of another year in the books, until the barrage of question from Doc from the last echo results. ...AV replacement set for January 18, 2017. UPDATE: Successful AVR performed on January 18, 2017. St. Jude Mechanical Regent "23" valve. 4 Days in ICU, 8 total days in hospital.