pvc's and aortic stenosis

  
   I have recently been diagnosed with an aortic stenosis of about 50% of normal and have been experiencing lightheadedness and dizziness. I wore a holter for 24 hours and my doctor discovered pvc's.  I am now wearing another monitor for 30 days.  For the last few weeks I've had a constant pain in the center of my chest.  Sometimes my chest starts pounding when I am just sitting. I have also gotten dizzy just walking around the house. I can feel my heart beating when the pounding starts and lately I can feel a pressure in the center of my chest.
   This feeling I'm having seems to be getting stronger is this normal? I have been off work for two months now and am starting to get a little worried about all of this.
  

[Cleveland Clinic, MD]

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Dear Robert,
Thank you for your question.  To reply to your question no it's not "normal" for these symptoms to be occurring and that is why your doctors are ordering these investigations.  I think the real question here is is it time for aortic valve replacement?   Your doctors are probably looking for atrial fibrillation on the loop recorder as one of the determining factors.  Other factors would be if the aortic valve is causing your chest pressure or if something else is.  They may want to check a heart cath or stress test in the future.  
I hope you find this information useful.  Information provided in the heart forum is for general purposes only.  Only your physician can provide specific diagnoses and therapies.  Please feel free to write back with additional questions.
If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at www.ccf.org/heartcenter.  The Heart Center website contains a directory of the cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your cardiac problem.