Heart valve leakage

[Mari07]

Hello,

Any hope of becoming a pilot?

All my life i didn't know what i wanted to be. As soon as i figured it out, i remembered i have Heart valve leakage. :/
Kind a sucks...

[space-shuttle-driver]

If your leakage is well tolerated by your body, i.e. the heart wall thickness remain stable and don't increase, then you should be declared fit.
Furthermore, in FAA & JAA medical requirements, there are clear paragraphs on how to re-qualify after valve surgery. I know of a case very close to me where the pilot had aortic valve replacement - twice - and always got a Class I medical back (after 6 month compulsory waiting period).

[gingernut]

It may be useful to have a look at who/how/when they "diagnosed" heart valve leakage.

This term could describe a whole range of things, whether or not this affects your future career, probably deserves greater scrutiny. :-)

[bigal1941]

If I may can I give my experiencesand I am not nor have any intention of being a pilot.
I was born, unknown to me, with a bi cuspic aortic valve. It had no effect on my school life, I played rugby, hockey, ran marathons etc. I had a vey active professional working life, worked in warzones as a news cameraman, progressed to doing other types of film work, my average working week was approx. 80hours per week for 9 months of the year. Not one ill effect was noticed, until, I did job eating and drinking, filming my way round Spain, a month away from home. I then went on to do an early heart transplant for Horizon, as a bit of a laugh I was wired up to take a picture of a supposedly healthy heart beat. There was a sharp intake of breath, my blood pressure was taken, and concerned questions were asked as to how I felt. I was lucky to be allowed to go home that night. so for many years every time a dodgy heart was on a science programme its was mine, and no I didn't get repeat fees. I was given the name of a specialist near home and thanks to BUPA I was able to see him quickly. He immediately put me on a "ace inhibitor " Ramipril, and 10 years later changed it for Canderstartin, both 10mg doses once a day, no ill effects at all. There was one thing that I was advised to do and that was be aware of Oral Hygiene. If there was invasive work at the dentist I was to take an oral antibiotic an hour before treatment. This cost pence, and eventually NICE decreed that it was unnecessary treatment and it was stopped. It now becomes difficult, due to various industrial incident's I have no front teeth, and my employer refused implants and paid for a bridge. 20 years later at aged 70 it broke, big laugh, even my dentist didn't take much notice and gave me falsies. That was in the October, by March I was very very ill and by August I had been sent to hospital with a possible diagnosis of Leukaemia or Lymphoma. Wrong, Endocarditis was diagnosed, a 10 week stay in Hospital was the order of the day. Endocarditis is a condition where fungal vegetation grows in ribbons inside your heart, it also eats away at the inside of the heart, and eventually I had to have a Titanium Aortic valve implant a year later. 3 years later I am just about recovered. Fun times for all involved. The moral of the story is to be very careful about oral hygiene, if you have a leaky valve, remember the mouth is a sewer. Best of luck with you piloting ambitions, and your condition shouldn't stop you from doing anything, it didn't me. Alan S

[Radgirl]

All very interesting but Gingernut is spot on as usual

OP has not given us a diagnosis, just wonky heart valve. It is like saying my car wont start. It is not a diagnosis.

It may be a mis diagnosis - some doctor heard a benign murmur which is NOT a sign of any illness. At the other extreme, OP may need serious advice about life insurance - I suspect not given his post.

So please carry on with anecdotes but OP needs to ignore the lot of them. Go ask your GP what the diagnosis was, get any information you can and PM me and I will have a look

[gingernut]

Squeak or leak, get an echo :-) Cheers Radgirl

[maxred]

Yes, echo is what you would require. PM me and I can get a cardio to do one for you. I have just had one, slight issue has crept up on me......

[gingernut]

If a doc has heard a murmur, it's perfectly reasonable to request an echocardiogram on the NHS.

Should imagine that you may need some help converting the interpretation of the report for the benefit of the authorities though. Perhaps someone who could tick both boxes would be your best bet :-)

[Norm Sanson]

Don't write off the dream. I've just completed 40 years of flying, after being told once I had a dicky heart. Second opinion from a specialist said 'It's not normal, but it's not about to stop either.' Have been under the watchful eye of a cardiologist for last 15 years, who told me I would need a heart valve replacement 'someday'. Had the op last year, turned out to be a repair, not a replacement, and now back to full speed.
Good luck.