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AVR and anxiety/panic - An open discussion Hi, I identify myself with much of what you said. I am not currently having panic attacks, but i had them in the past. Anyway, i beleive that therapy + medication, if necessary, should offer good relief. Personnally, i have no problem with anxiety...

Waiting Room Rule List I am not so sure about 10 (do your own research). Excessive googling just leads to anxiety and fear. Every health problem looks scaring and potencially life threatening if you google it. Reading some serious patient oriented articles is ok. Reading forums like this one...

Hi! When looking for a surgeon, do you take his age into account? I ask this because getting older gives experience but also, at a certain point, some physical (and also cognitive) decline. I have read somewhere that in UK, for instance, surgeons over 65 cannot perform surgeries anymore (is...

Can anxiety play a role here? If you beleive that you are going to the bathroom too often, you overthink about it and control yourself, you will surely feel the urgency more often.

Very true!! Take care. You will be ok. PD: I had to look for STALK in the dictionnary. This forum improves my vocabulary!

As i undestand it, you have 3 kind of patients with valvular problems: A- Surgery is not recommended at all for the moment. Just periodical controls are indicated (once or twice a year, for instance). B- Surgery is a must. Without the surgery, the patient will die quickly. C- Grey zone. Surgery...

Hi knotguilty: I am 45. Mi regurgitation is at moderate level. It is the result of a mitral valve prolapse. Left atrium and left ventricle are mildly enlarged. I am being controlled twice a year (with echo doppler). Currently asymptomatic. But my cardiologist is pretty sure this will need...

Hi! From my diagnosis of mitral valve regurgitation, that will require surgery at some moment, i have clearly developped a degree of hypochondria. Every physical symptom, even if mild and not remotely related to my cardiologic condition, worries me. And when anxious, googling is your worst...

Ejection Fraction question As a matter of fact, before reading Eva answer, i was unaware that a high ejection fraction can be indeed a negative thing. We allways learn something new! Anyway, if 55-75 is normal, 77 cannot be that bad! I would call it upper normal. EF Measurement, as i said, is...

I wish you the best! You will be fine!

Ejection Fraction question As far as i know, EF can be estimated by various techniques. And it is not something constant. As a matter of fact, EF can vary with each heartbeat. 76% or 77% does not make any difference. 1% is completely irrelevant. In order to be referred for surgery, EF is just...

32 and confused re: valve type selection Mike, it is my understanding that for people over say 70, tissue is the way to go because life expectancy is probably shorter than valve durability (and also the valve wears out at an slower rate). But if you dont count this population segment, i am not...

Made it to the other side! Happy to be here...here's my experience (thus far!) Glad to know you are doing great! Congratulations, and take it easy! The body will perfectly recover, but it needs time...

As a side note, the other day i had an appointement with a renowned cardiologist (in my country) specialized in valvulopaties. Among other things, i asked him about the benefits of what is currently called "early surgery". He said that you must be careful with many published works, because, in...

Hi! I am followed twice a year because of moderate mitral regurgitation (originated by a mitral valve prolapse). In my last visit, my cardiologist looked at my echo, said there were no significant changes, and asked me to come back in 6 months (LV and LA are mildly enlarged). The echo report...

You will be fine!

Agian, just relax. You have already undergone your valve surgery many times (in your head, i mean). Must be tiring. My suggestion is to not anticipate things. You dont know when surgery will be needed. Neither do your doctors. Follow their advices, have your regular checkups, and FORGET about...

Hi DebbyA: I visited my cardiologist yesterday, with my last echo report in hand. He said that nothing has significantly changed. And that i should continue my life, not worry about this, and have another checkup in 6 months. And less Dr. Google, of course. As i see, cardiologists take into...

Hi: Today i had my echo (i am being followed because of moderate mitral valve regurgitation). Tomorrow i will see my cardiologist. I dont have the report yet. There is a peculiar situation happening during my echos. Because my cardiologist want them to be performed by the chief of the...

Hi! Are surgery recoveries more or less similar for aortic and mitral valves? I know this is probably a question more suited to a cardiologist/surgeon than for patients, because patients usually have just one of both replaced/repaired (or both at the same time, in which case no comparation can...