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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
Aoritic Stenosis and ED
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Aoritic Stenosis and ED
by JayCee12, May 25, 2005 12:00AM
Thank you for taking my question. I am a 63 year old male, non-smoker, non-drinker and not overweight. I was diagnosed with aortic stenosis last Spring and the cardio who looked at the echo labeled my condition as "critical". My only sympton at the time was SOB. I have been taking 10mg. Norvasc for blood pressure and have just started taking 20 mg. Furosemide and 10 meg potassium cl for swelling in my feet and ankles.I have two questions. Is there any connection between aortic stenosis such as I have and Erectile Dysfunction. I have been suffering from ED for about the past two years now. My PCP doesn't seem to think that there is a connection. Also, I am very anxious about having heart surgery and my PCP has recommended visits to a psychiarist to work through this anxiety. How do you deal with patients such as myself with a very, very high level of anxiety?
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-M.D.-MJM, May 25, 2005 12:00AM
HI JayCee,
We have a lot of people that are quite anxious about there valve replacments surgeries. We do occassionaly have patients that refuse valve surgery for no appearant reason -- I only assume to be anxiety or denial about the severity of their disease. I have seen several cases where people don't decide they want surgery until the realize how severe their disease is and often by that point their surgical risk is much higher because they are sicker. My advice is proceed sooner than later if your doctor thinks you need it now. The risk increases with time.
I do not know of a connection between erectile dysfunction and aortic stenosis, although I wouldn't advise sexual intercourse in severe vavlular disease until the valve is replaced.
I wish you will in your decision and hope for a speedy recovery after surgery.
We have a lot of people that are quite anxious about there valve replacments surgeries. We do occassionaly have patients that refuse valve surgery for no appearant reason -- I only assume to be anxiety or denial about the severity of their disease. I have seen several cases where people don't decide they want surgery until the realize how severe their disease is and often by that point their surgical risk is much higher because they are sicker. My advice is proceed sooner than later if your doctor thinks you need it now. The risk increases with time.
I do not know of a connection between erectile dysfunction and aortic stenosis, although I wouldn't advise sexual intercourse in severe vavlular disease until the valve is replaced.
I wish you will in your decision and hope for a speedy recovery after surgery.
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I don't know whether you are still checking here. I also experienced very bad anxiety before two ht surgeries, so I feel for you -- and with you -- a lot. I did find valvereplacement.com really helpful. Also, I tried to stay very, very busy to keep my mind preoccupied. That did help me a good deal. I actually worked on the day my plane left for Minnesota, where I had the surgery. It helps too, to know about your surgeon, how many surgergies s/he has performed of the type you are having, what the rep of the hospital is. Also, treat yourself like a king! Do nice things for yourself. Enjoy happy times. Come to terms with risk... of injury or death, like everybody should because we all face this risk everyday when we so much as hop in our cars, right? I do this by considering all of the many aspects of my life I am so very grateful for. It sounds like your risk will be minimized by your good health generally. I was told that both times, and that did reassure me some, although the 2nd surgery was considered high risk. Also, my cardio told me, "You'll be fine!" That did not help at all! I was, if anything, more scared, but, strangely, when the time came, I did feel very calm and relaxed and in good spirits, even turned down Valium. Best of luck, and hope I read your post in the future that everything went great!!!