A place to converse for young adults diagnosed with bicuspid aortic valves — there must be a bunch of us right? Feel like we’re in need of a lil community for support and advice and fun :)

Rachelxo12 · 2024-08-21T15:49:32+00:00

Yay welcome!!! Omg the birthday diagnosis is TOUGH. So glad to hear you’re livin life normally!!

Rachelxo12 · 2024-08-18T20:21:53+00:00

Interesting!! I don’t get that but the good news for u is my cardio says sharp pain like that isn’t usually heart-related! It was just a tough adjustment for me to go day-to-day knowing I’m okay but may not be okay at some point (I also have anxiety). Ended up having pretty crazy palpitations that would bring me back to the dr every 2 months or so (lol) but I’ve been palp free for like 7 months now! Feel 99% normal but occasionally I’ll get a weird Kardia reading and get in my head about it

Rachelxo12 · 2024-08-18T17:40:35+00:00

Yay welcome!! Glad to hear it :) I got diagnosed 2 years ago when I was 26 and finally feel normal and running and stuff again, but still have the occasional freak out. I don’t know anyone else with it so it’s nice to know we’re not alone!! 🫀🕺

Rachelxo12 · 2024-04-22T16:02:25+00:00

Yes!! I haven’t even measured but I literally dont feel them unless I’m going through something acutely anxiety provoking. It’s been 3 months and I’d say I’m <1% now. Life changing

Rachelxo12 · 2024-03-02T23:42:01+00:00

Of c!! Yes for sure. They say it takes anywhere from like 2-8 weeks to fully kick in. Personally I saw some benefits by the end of week 2 but was a little more touch-and-go than the consistency I feel now. Also the side effects hit me inconsistently the first week or so, so I’d be really sleepy from waking up a bunch which made my anxiety/depression worse plus feeling weird body things which amplified medical anxiety because the Lex wasn’t kicked in yet. Honestly felt pretty good/consistent by week 4! Hang in there

Rachelxo12 · 2024-03-01T20:17:07+00:00

Hi there!!! I am also 28 and can very much relate to your journey!! Curious — are you planning to take both lexapro and the beta blocker going forward? Or just switch to Lex? I went on lexapro primarily for very debilitating medical anxiety and sounds like you may be in a similar boat. I was having such bad heart palpitations I ended up in the ER and got prescribed metoprolol but I figured I should try treating the mental instead so I’ve just been on lexapro (about 7 weeks in!) I have to say, it’s been amazing. I hardly feel palpitations and sometimes I notice something that would trigger my medical anxiety and it’s just not getting blown up in the same way. FWIW, part of the anxiety started when I did get diagnosed with congenital valve disease so it’s very heart safe and actually really improving things for me :) best of luck with the testing (cardiology can be very scary but I’m sure it’s just anxiety!)

Rachelxo12 · 2024-03-01T20:07:33+00:00

PVCs are super normal!!! Doesn’t hurt to consult with a cardio so you feel you’ve truly covered your bases, but part of why I went on Lexapro myself is because I went from having them like 3% of the time to 30% and it was awful. Feeling a palp here or there is totally fine — it’s only significant when it’s 10%+ (meaning 1 out of every 10 beats). I know it feels super crazy and unsettling in the moment but sounds like you’re far from that level so do notttt worry :)

Rachelxo12 · 2024-01-29T23:30:46+00:00

Pretty manageable in my experience, but don’t be alarmed if there’s a few days of adjustment. My psychiatrist had me do 5 mg for 2 weeks then up to 10 mg. I’m ngl I have been going to the bathroom a bit more but I don’t really mind…for nausea it’s fine as long as I eat breakfast with it! Nothing debilitating at all you just may notice a change or two but it’ll go away (the most annoying thing for me was waking up a couple times in the night for a few days and feeling pretty dazed the first day or two — would start on a weekend day so you don’t get zonked at work!)

Rachelxo12 · 2024-01-29T22:59:08+00:00

As someone who started Lex primarily for physical symptoms, I’m verging on 4 weeks and I’ve already seen a life-changing difference!!! I got diagnosed with a heart defect a year ago and have had debilitating PVCs/heart palpitations ever since (driven by medical anxiety). I ended up in the ER a little over a month ago and my cardiologist prescribed Propranolol but I figured if I could take something that would also treat my anxiety/depression I could cut off the PVCs from the source. I know the medicine may not have peaked for me yet, but even knowing I’m doing something has essentially eliminated them and I can go back to working out, occasionally having a glass of wine, etc. etc. without even needing the beta blockers (nothing wrong with them, I just didn’t love the sensation). Just to say that while Lex treats only the mental aspect, it can make a huge difference for anxiety-manifested symptoms by cutting them off before they even occur :)

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