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Low oxygen levels with Aortic Root Aneurysm and Aortic Valve Regurgita

Posted by trki @trki, 5 days ago

My husband has an aortic root aneurysm 4.9 cm and moderate to severe aortic valve regurgitation. He is scheduled for an open heart procedure at Mayo in August to do a modified Bentall procedure.

He has been struggling with severe fatigue, which we had mostly attributed to his treatments for aggressive prostate cancer. He stopped his cancer meds a couple months ago, five months before he was supposed to, with the hopes of improving his fatigue. So far it hasn't.

He also recently had a sleep study to assess for sleep apnea (which he had previously been diagnosed with, but no treatment for 10 years). The sleep study confirmed mild obstructive sleep apnea, but also showed significant low oxygen levels for 2.5 hours (88% and lower down to 76%), more severe than would be explained by the sleep apnea per the report.
We have now started tracking his oxygen levels more frequently during the day...he has episodes of 88-89 % saturation sometimes associated with severe fatigue.
He will have a pulmonary function test tomorrow and will also pick up a CPAP device.
My question is: would the aneurysm and valve regurgitation cause the low oxygen levels? Has anyone else have low oxygen saturation with their heart issues?

Thanks for any feedback!

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kathy9746 | @kathy9746 | 5 days ago

I am a 77 year old woman. I have the same aortic root aneurysm that has been followed for 20 years when found indecently at 3.9. In 2023 it was 4.2 I’ll have another scan next month. My cardiologist said when and if it gets to 5 we will talk surgery. I also have valve regurgitation and it is not an issue or concern for my cardiologist. It’s more annoying as I do feel the flutter. I hike and walk every day with no fatigue and my oxygen and BP are fine.
I wish your husband well and hope he can find a resolution to his his health problems

REPLY
1 reply
trki | @trki | 5 days ago
In reply to @kathy9746 "I am a 77 year old woman. I have the same aortic root aneurysm that has..." + (show)
@kathy9746

I am a 77 year old woman. I have the same aortic root aneurysm that has been followed for 20 years when found indecently at 3.9. In 2023 it was 4.2 I’ll have another scan next month. My cardiologist said when and if it gets to 5 we will talk surgery. I also have valve regurgitation and it is not an issue or concern for my cardiologist. It’s more annoying as I do feel the flutter. I hike and walk every day with no fatigue and my oxygen and BP are fine.
I wish your husband well and hope he can find a resolution to his his health problems

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Thanks for your response.. best of luck!

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upartist | @upartist | 4 days ago

Hello Trki. I am sorry about your husband's combined issues. I have one idea that may be of assistance. There are wearable oximeter rings which can track the oxygen during daytime activities and during sleep. They work on bluetooth so you can move around freely. Some, such as "Wellue", have vibration alarms to alert you to low oxygen. You set the parameter point. This might help track your husband's patterns at night. I hope his procedure goes well. Prayers!

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1 reply
trki | @trki | 4 days ago
In reply to @upartist "Hello Trki. I am sorry about your husband's combined issues. I have one idea that may..." + (show)
@upartist

Hello Trki. I am sorry about your husband's combined issues. I have one idea that may be of assistance. There are wearable oximeter rings which can track the oxygen during daytime activities and during sleep. They work on bluetooth so you can move around freely. Some, such as "Wellue", have vibration alarms to alert you to low oxygen. You set the parameter point. This might help track your husband's patterns at night. I hope his procedure goes well. Prayers!

Jump to this post

Thanks for your response … we will look into the oximeter rings… right now just doing the finger oximeter device.
He had a pulmonary function test at Mayo yesterday… hope the results come back quickly!

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