Hi ya Granny-
Since I was born with the BAV, I have never felt normal. I wasn't near as athletic as most of the kids, couldn't jog or run without getting winded. No one paid any attention and just thought I was lazy and out of shape (even though I was skinny minny until my early 20's).
I started having, what I know now, to be palputations, in my late 20's/early 30's and the Dr. I'd had since childhood, told me I was an out of shape smoker. My ex and I went to the gym 5 times a week, where I did a light work out and swim, and we ran up Diamond Head in Hawaii, on our honeymoon. Needless to say, I swiitched doctors as soon as I could, and my new Dr. was awesome, and put me on a 24 hr haulter monitor, the 2nd time I complained of odd symptoms.
From there, I was referred to a cardiologist, when they found something on the test, who did an echo and low an behold, BAV. I was monitored yearly, and saw him just before I came to the UK 5 years ago, and he said, I had very mild leakage, and might neen my valve replaced when I was 65 (I was 40 at the time).
For four years, the doctors here, never even listened to my heart, even though I told them, every time I saw them, I had a BAV. I had a few episodes of fainting, for no apparent reason.
Then, about 7 months ago, I had a funny turn at work. My vision went funny, my thoughts were really slow, I had trouble articulating what I wanted to say. They thought I had a TIA (mini stroke) and I ended up in A&E, then a TIA clinic. They ruled out TIA and said it was a migrane, but there was no pain. That doctor heard a murmer and referred me to a cardiologist, where they did an echo, and found not only a possible BAV (they always said that in the US too, as you can't see it clear) but an Aneursym as well.
Then I had a battery of tests, CT MRI, angio, echo, trans-echo, CT angio, ECG's, chest exrays, And finally, surgery, 30th of July.
Hope this helps...