Aortic Valve Replacement with TAVR: What is it like?

@karen1945

I am glad that you are getting such good care at Mayo. I know that you feel confident about it and that is so important. I can certainly understand how you would feel worried about making this decision. I hope that after you get the results from the CT cardiac angiogram you will feel more confident.

I have aortic insufficiency, however, my problem will require open-heart surgery rather than the TAVR procedure. I feel frightened about that prospect as well. So far, I'm keeping my original parts until they cause me more problems. I have a mild case of heart failure but not congestive heart failure at this time. I do have a lack of stamina and just can't accomplish what I would like.

What are your main symptoms of aortic stenosis?

@hopeful33250 Hi Teresa If you have to ever have open heart go in with confidence that all will be well. I had open heart with 3 veins taken from my leg for my by pass It was an easy operation yes you will be uncomfortable for a while but nothing you won't be able to handle .I'm seeing my cardiologist tomorrow it's routine but I have some heaviness now when going uphill I'm concerned about

@hopeful33250 Your special so just wanted you to lnow

My main symptom is fatigue. I run out of steam much earlier in the day than I used to, and I am a little short of breath after climbing a flight of stairs. I thought that was just a sign of getting old. Nothing dramatic. I was shocked to learn I have severe stenosis.

I have prior experience with Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville. I have total confidence in them. When the local cardiologist started talking about surgery, I knew that my best choice would be Mayo.

I will ask the surgeon about delaying surgery until my symptoms worsen, or if it is better to take care of it now.

Best of luck to you, Teresa. These decisions are not easy. We just have to get all the information we can, weigh the odds, and make an informed decision. Putting all our faith and confidence in the hands of other people is difficult!

Hi @karen1945

Since you have shortness of breath it might be good to take care of it sooner rather than later, but only you and your doctor can decide that, especially given your experience with catheterization.

Do you know what your Ejection Fraction is? It might be listed as EF on an echocardiogram or other cardiac test. My EF stays around 60 - 65 which means my heart is still functioning at a pretty good level. If that begins to drop, I will probably have to do something sooner rather than later.

My EF by method of disc is 57%, and 2-chamber EF by method of discs is 61%.

Hi @karen1945

I'm not familiar with the terms "method of disc" and 2-chamber EF by the method of disc." I'll have to look that up.

Do you have diastolic dysfunction (where your heart stays stiff rather than relaxing)?

That I don’t know.

@karen1945, I googled the terms, but I found the explanations to be too complicated for me to grasp. However, it appears that different muscle groups within the heart can have different electrical strengths and this is what is being measured.

Are you currently taking beta-blocker meds or ACE inhibitors?

No. I’ve always had fairly low blood pressure, but lately it’s been erratic. Perhaps due to the stress I’m feeling over this. I put on Kevin Kern music and it goes down.