When I walked out of the cardiologist’s office at age 49 after receiving a diagnosis of severe aortic stenosis (AS), my head was spinning. I sat on a bench in front of the hospital entrance trying to process what I had just been told. In that appointment, my doctor had explained that aortic stenosis occurs when the heart’s aortic valve no longer opens normally and the flow of oxygenated blood to the body is restricted. Aortic stenosis is one of the most common and serious heart valve problems, and the treatment for severe aortic stenosis is valve replacement. I needed to sit for a few minutes to let it all sink in before I could find my car in the parking garage and drive home.
Once I processed the initial shock, I spent hours in front of my computer searching for information to learn as much as I could. I didn’t know much at all about aortic stenosis beyond the brief overview my doctor gave me. I struggled to find resources online specifically for patients, and what I did find wasn’t comprehensive or easily accessible in one location. I also wished I could talk with other patients who had been in my shoes and could share insights they had learned through their own experiences.
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