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Heart & Cardiovascular Disease
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Posted 8/20/2015 9:45 AM (GMT 0)
Just a little bit about myself;
I have been a very focused long distance runner since the breakdown of my Marriage about 4 years ago as i really needed something in my lifer to channel everything and running really helped me do that...
Since then i have completed 4 half Marathans, a number of shorter fun runs and the London Marathon twice..
about 4 months ago i went to see my doctor as I was having really bad headaches (which turned out to be Cluster Headaches) and as part of the tests he completed an ECG which showed up some "Issues" and then reffered me to the Cardic guys in the local hospital...further tests (MRI etc) and i have now been told that i have a Dilated Aorta and that i will need surgery sooner rather than later to try and resolve the issue..tbh at the moment its all a bit raw and not too sure how to feel or how to act about this?
My family are very supportive about the whole thing but i also know that it is very upsetting for them....i guess it will all sink in soon (i am hoping it will anyways) but for now feeling a little lost.....
Posted 8/21/2015 2:01 PM (GMT 0)
welcome to the forum Foggy. I'm 40, female and was born with a heart defect, bicuspid aortic valve disease, which is the reason I too have an aortic aneurysm, or dilated aorta. Mine currently only measures 3.9 cm. As a women, they generally recommend repair at 4.5 cm. I have however had one open heart surgery to replace my defected aortic valve. I will most likely have another surgery in the next 5 years to replace the valve again and repair the aorta.

it's a little different for me as I've known about my condition my entire life and I've always know I would have surgery, it was a matter of when. But in all honesty, mine was not a bad surgery and recovery was much faster than I thought. I'm extremely active and was running 7 weeks after my valve replacement.

Best of luck to you! Just know that there are others out there living completely normal, fulfilling lives and that remain very active even after surgery.
Posted 8/21/2015 9:54 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Foggy100, I just joined the site today and read your post. What a shocker, and it must seem out of the blue. I have had two open heart surgeries. The first was in 1997, to repair my mitral valve, and then this past January to replace the valve. It is so frightening to learn you need ohs. You seem to have a lot going for you though, being in good shape physically, and this will help you so much! Through the surgery itself and the recovery. I am not nearly the athlete you are, and I was dubbed a "rockstar" by my surgical and recovery team for getting better quickly. It feels so overwhelming and scary, but usually, it goes very well in the end. Ask all your questions and voice your concerns to your doctors, that helps you feel in control, somewhat. Hugs to you!
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