My Diagnosis of BAV, Symptoms, and What Comes Next

When I was diagnosed with Bicuspid Aortic Valve (BAV) on February 14, 2025, I had never even heard of it before. It’s something I was born with, yet I only found out about it after years of pushing for answers at the age of 44. If I had accepted the initial misdiagnoses of “Long COVID”, I still wouldn’t know that my heart was failing me.

Now that I’ve had time to process it, I want to share what BAV is, the symptoms, what it can lead to, and the treatment options.

What is a Bicuspid Aortic Valve (BAV)?

The aortic valve is the gateway between your heart and the rest of your body. It opens and closes with every heartbeat, allowing oxygen-rich blood to flow from the heart into the aorta—the body’s main artery.

A normal aortic valve has three cusps (flaps) that open and close properly. But with Bicuspid Aortic Valve (BAV), there are only two cusps instead of three. This structural abnormality puts extra stress on the heart and can cause serious complications over time.

How Common is BAV?

• BAV affects about 1–2% of the population, making it the most common congenital heart defect.
• It’s three times more common in men than women.
• Many people don’t know they have it until adulthood—especially if they don’t experience symptoms early on.

Signs & Symptoms of Bicuspid Aortic Valve

The tricky thing about BAV is that some people never have symptoms until they have an “incident”—while others, like me, experience significant issues without knowing the cause and can end up getting misdiagnosed. It’s not something that is tested for at birth or as a child, but with the fact that it affects 1 in 100 people, maybe we should be pushing for testing in babies and kids.

Common symptoms of BAV:

• Shortness of breath (especially during exercise)
• Fatigue
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Chest pain or discomfort
• Heart palpitations (fluttering or irregular heartbeat)
• Murmurs (an abnormal whooshing sound heard through a stethoscope)

For years, I struggled with my breathing. I was training hard—kickboxing, jiu-jitsu—but I was gassing out in 30 seconds. My endurance, which had always been my strength, was failing me. Every doctor I saw told me it was “long COVID” or something minor. (I wrote about that here.)

But I knew something was wrong.

Complications: What Can BAV Cause?

Because the valve doesn’t function properly, it can lead to serious heart problems over time:

• Aortic Stenosis – The valve becomes stiff and narrow, making it harder for blood to pass through.
• Aortic Regurgitation – The valve doesn’t close properly, causing blood to flow backward into the heart.
• Aortic Aneurysm or Dissection – The aorta can become weakened and enlarged, increasing the risk of a life-threatening rupture.

When I was finally tested, my biggest issue wasn’t just BAV—it was severe regurgitation.

What is Severe Aortic Regurgitation?

Aortic regurgitation is when the valve doesn’t close tightly, allowing blood to leak back into the heart instead of moving forward. In severe cases like mine, the heart has to work overtime to compensate.

Over time, this can lead to Heart failure.

When I was finally tested, my heart was functioning at about 50%. Blood was flowing backward into my left ventricle, and my heart was swelling to keep up.

If left untreated, this could be fatal.

Pushing for Answers: Why Self-Advocacy Matters

If I hadn’t fought for more tests, I never would have known I was sick.

I saw multiple doctors over four years who told me my breathing problems were just long COVID. I was prescribed inhalers that did nothing. I was told to be patient.

But I knew my body.

After pushing for more tests, I finally got an echocardiogram in February 2025. That’s when everything changed.

The reality is, the healthcare system failed me for years—but once I was finally diagnosed, my experience changed.

My Experience with the Cardiology Teams in Edmonton & Yellowknife

Once I got past the initial battle to be taken seriously, I was blown away by the care I received.

• The cardiology team in Edmonton has been incredible. They explained everything in detail, walked me through the risks, and made sure I understood my options.
• The team in Yellowknife impressed me as well. Once my condition was confirmed, they stepped up and made sure I was getting the care I needed.

This is how medical care should be. Unfortunately, getting to this point took years of fighting.

Surgery: The Only Option

Now, I’m facing open-heart surgery at the end of May.

There are a few options on the table, and the goal is simple: fix the valve and stop the damage before it’s too late.

The best case scenario? Valve repair.

There’s about a 60–80% chance that my surgeon can repair my existing valve. If it works, it’s the most ideal outcome—no foreign parts, no blood thinners, no long-term complications. Just my own heart, fixed. But if that repair doesn’t hold up during surgery, I’ll need a replacement. And that’s where the tough decisions come in.

I’ve had to pick a backup.

Valve Replacement Options

1. Mechanical Valve Replacement

A man-made valve that can last a lifetime—but it comes with a cost: lifelong blood thinners. That means a higher risk of internal bleeding and a permanent end to combat sports like kickboxing and jiu-jitsu. It’s the most durable option, but not without trade-offs.

2. Tissue Valve Replacement

A valve made from animal tissue. It doesn’t require blood thinners, but it wears out faster. Most people need another open-heart surgery within 10–15 years. It’s the least invasive on your lifestyle, but the least durable.

3. The Ross Procedure

My pulmonary valve is used to replace the damaged aortic valve, and a donor valve replaces the pulmonary valve. This option is appealing because it uses my own living tissue—no blood thinners, better function, and the potential to stay active in the sports that define me. But it’s also more complex, riskier, and doesn’t last as long as the mechanical valve. The odds are good I’d need another surgery down the road.

The Mental Side of a Failing Heart

What most people don’t see—and what’s harder to talk about—is the mental toll this takes.

Physically, my heart is failing. But emotionally, it’s been just as heavy.

Everything I normally do to protect my mental health—training, kickboxing, jiu-jitsu, coaching others, lifting heavy—those are the very things I can’t do right now. The things that help me stay grounded, strong, and focused are the things that my heart can no longer keep up with.

And it’s hard. Really hard.

Some days, I feel like I’m losing the pieces of myself that keep me sane. Like I’m trapped in a body that doesn’t match my drive. There’s a helplessness to it that’s tough to explain unless you’ve been here.

I’ve written about this before. About the importance of showing up for your mental health. About using physical movement as a tool to process emotions and trauma. And now, when I need it most, that outlet is gone.

That’s a kind of grief I wasn’t prepared for.

These aren’t just hobbies—they’re how I deal. How I process. How I connect to who I am and who I’ve become.

And it feels like that part is being ripped away.

But I’ll adapt. I’ll find a new way forward. I remind myself daily: This is temporary.

Because this isn’t just about me. It’s about living. About being present. About giving my boys the best version of their dad that I can.

Even if it means walking away from a part of me.

The Fight Isn’t Over

I’m lucky that I pushed for more testing because I would have continued to suffer without knowing what was happening to my heart.

Now, I’m preparing for open-heart surgery—something I never imagined I’d be facing.

I’ll keep sharing my journey, not just to document it, but to raise awareness for BAV, heart health, and the importance of self-advocacy.

If you’re dealing with unexplained symptoms, don’t stop pushing for answers.

Because if I had accepted what I was first told? I never would have known my heart was failing me.