My Journey to a Bicuspid Aortic Valve (BAV) Diagnosis

On February 14th, 2025, I was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect known as Bicuspid Aortic Valve (BAV)—a condition I’ve had since birth but only just discovered after years of unexplained symptoms and medical misdiagnoses.

I wish I could say this diagnosis came quickly, but the reality is, it took me over four years of pushing for answers, enduring symptoms that didn’t make sense, and being repeatedly told “it’s just long COVID”—as many as six to eight times, including two weeks ago, even after my BAV diagnosis.

When Everything Changed

In March 2020, after my first bout with COVID, something shifted. Before that, I was in peak physical condition—training for the Alberta Jiu-Jitsu Provincials, lifting heavy, pushing hard, and feeling strong.

But after COVID, my lungs were trashed and never felt the same. I struggled with breathing, recovery took longer, and I was gassing out—something that had never happened to me before.

Anyone who knows me knows my mindset in combat sports has always been:

“You may beat me because you’re better than me, but you’ll never beat me because of my conditioning. You’ll never out-train me!”

But suddenly, that was no longer true. My cardio—something I had always relied on—was failing me.

For five years, I lived with constant shortness of breath. Imagine that burning lung sensation you get after sprinting or a brutal HIIT workout—except it never stops, even at rest.

I knew something wasn’t right.

The Search for Answers

By December 2022, I had finally had enough. I had already seen multiple doctors, but I still had no answers. So, I scheduled a same-day appointment with another doctor.

At the time, I was training for the Canadian Kickboxing Nationals—my conditioning should have been at its peak, yet I was gassing out 30 seconds into a sparring round. My body wasn’t responding the way it should, and I needed answers.

The tests began. Bloodwork, EKGs, a stress test, pulmonary assessments—the works. Once some of the results came back, I was prescribed an inhaler. It didn’t work.

Then I was given another inhaler. That didn’t work either.

All while being reassured that it was “just long COVID” and that it would eventually go away.

So, I did what I’ve always done. I kept pushing through.

I went to WAKO Kickboxing Nationals at 41 years old—something I’m still proud of—but after the competition, my lungs still weren’t improving. I knew this wasn’t just post-viral symptoms. I kept pushing for more tests.

It took years to get an echocardiogram referral, and due to long wait times in our medical system, I didn’t get tested until February 2025—19 months after my referral.

That’s when I finally got the real answer: Bicuspid Aortic Valve (BAV).

What is Bicuspid Aortic Valve (BAV)?

• BAV is a congenital heart defect (present from birth) that affects about 1% of the population.
• It’s three times more common in males than females.
• It can lead to serious complications like aortic stenosis, aortic regurgitation, and aortic aneurysms.
• It often goes undiagnosed until adulthood, specifically later in life, and is typically only discovered after a serious “incident.”

Why Self-Advocacy Matters

1. I was misdiagnosed for over four years.
2. I was basically told it was in my head.
3. Reassured that it was nothing serious.
4. Told over and over that it was long COVID and that it would eventually go away.

But I knew my body. I knew something was seriously wrong.

Even after my BAV diagnosis, I had to go to the ER for chest pains—and I was still told the same thing. The ER doctor told me my symptoms were “absolutely not from my BAV diagnosis” and insisted that it was just long COVID.

So I pushed for more tests.

He reluctantly did a chest X-ray, which showed nothing. His explanation? “Microscopic COVID damage.” So I asked: “What’s the next test to confirm it?” He told me I would need a CT scan—but that I’d have to get it through my family doctor. I told him I wanted it now. I wanted proof that it was long COVID. He told me to go through my family doctor and that he wasn’t going to give me one. I was so pissed off at this point, I just left the ER.

Thankfully, the next day, the cardiologist at the Yellowknife hospital called me and completely contradicted the ER doctor. He told me—word for word—“That ER doctor is an idiot.” He confirmed that 100% of my symptoms were due to my BAV.

This experience showed me how critical it is to advocate for yourself.

If I can give you one piece of advice, it’s this:

1. If you feel something is wrong, don’t let it be dismissed.
2. Push for more tests.
3. Ask more questions.
4. Demand answers!!!!

No one knows your body better than you do.

What Comes Next?

Well, I think I’m going to be sharing my journey with BAV, all while trying to raise awareness for congenital heart defects (CHD). I’ll be blogging and journalling my journey here as well as posting on my socials about my progress. And when it’s all said and done, I’ll possibly fundraising to support research and advocacy.

This isn’t just about me.

So many people go undiagnosed, misdiagnosed, or ignored. If my story can help even one person push for their own answers, then it’s worth sharing.

If you’ve ever felt like your health concerns weren’t taken seriously, or if you’re struggling with unexplained symptoms—trust yourself and keep fighting for answers.