Expecting to need a Valve within Two Years
My PCP discovered a heart murmer four years ago (I am currently 53). After various scans it was determined that I had a bicuspid heart valve. I has never noticed any symptoms, biked and hiked very regularly with no ill effects. I did my annual echo this April, and antipated some progression but assumed that a valve replacement was still a decade away.
At my follow-up with my new Cardiologist, he informed me almost right away that he believes that I will need a mechanical valve within the next two years.
I am trying to be cool about it, but am not.
I don’t really have any questions—I understand that these procedures are pretty sucessful, and I am currently pretty healthy overall. Life-long warfarin and 3-4 months recovery does not sound great.