Cardio Appointment

[Wise]

I had my follow-up cardio appointment to review the results of my stress/echo. My aortic valve appeared unchanged from last year. Great! My mitral valve, that has been the same forever, has changed. The doctor believes that the regurgitation has increase to about moderate and that the atrium is enlarged. Don't know measurements and all that yet. I'm have a follow-up echo in June. He may then have me get a TEE. That's all I know for now. Not happy about the change. If anything, I would've expected a problem with aortic valve first, but I don't know why. Family history I guess. Anyway, we'll see what the next test shows. I'm going to ask for a copy of the next echo.

Wise

 

[LUVMyBirman]

Sounds like good news Wise! Keeping those fingers crossed for you!

 

[Superbob]

If he wants an echo follow-up in June, sounds like he's following you pretty closely and your time in the waiting room might not be a whole lot longer, Wise. But positive side is that you've been preparing for a good while. You'll be fine.

Meanwhile, on the 3-month anniversary of my OHS, I was Mr. Excitement at cardiac rehab today. Near end of exercise routine, felt a tightness smack in the middle of my chest. They had said to report anything like that, so I did. Soon I was stretched out having an EKG, which was faxed to my cardio. All the numbers were fine, and the tightness subsided, so they let me go. For a moment I had visions of being wheeled in the OR and being popped open right along that incision line again.

So anyway I guess it never ends (as long as our luck holds out anyway.

Cheers,

Bob

 

[geebee]

Wise,

Good news & so-so news. Glad to hear of the follow-up. I am sure the TEE will give you the information you need. You might want to ask him to do one as it provides much more info than an echo.

I am sure things will turn out fine whatever the answer. We will help you through.

 

[Wise]

Thanks Gina, Bob and Gina for the words of encouragement. Maybe the next test will be better? Whatever happens, my new friends will be here to help me I'm convinced.

 

[Yaps]

Wish you luck, love the pup

 

[tobagotwo]

Ah, I don't put much stock in those stress-echoes anyway. The results are variable and subject to even more interpretation than a standard echo.

In ten years, I expect that stress echoes as we know them now will no longer be mainstream for "standard-plumbing" hearts and uncomplicated valve issues.

The aortic may last your lifetime, Wise. We don't get the skinny on them until they actually start to go bad - which (more often than you might think) may never actually happen.

I hope for you that your mitral regurgitation is not really worsening as this one test might suggest. Is the followup a "plain" echo? If so, wait for the next test news All in all, you may still be fine, or very small change. Let's look for that.

Best wishes,

 

[Sherry]

Hi, Wise,
Good news/bad news, huh? Hopefully, the TEE, should you have one, will give him a better look at your mitral valve. I agree with Bob; the other echoes can be so inconsistent, depending on the technician. (I've experienced discrepancies in numbers in the five or so I've had since my surgery several years ago.) The TEE, however, will offer more solid evidence. We'll keep our fingers crossed for that appointment.

 

[Wise]

Ah, I don't put much stock in those stress-echoes anyway. The results are variable and subject to even more interpretation than a standard echo.

In ten years, I expect that stress echoes as we know them now will no longer be mainstream for "standard-plumbing" hearts and uncomplicated valve issues.

The aortic may last your lifetime, Wise. We don't get the skinny on them until they actually start to go bad - which (more often than you might think) may never actually happen.

I hope for you that your mitral regurgitation is not really worsening as this one test might suggest. Is the followup a "plain" echo? If so, wait for the next test news All in all, you may still be fine, or very small change. Let's look for that.

Best wishes,

I sure hope the aortic lasts my lifetime. That'd be great. The cardio thinks because of family history that I'm prone to problems eventually. I'm holding out for the latter.

 

[Wise]

Hi, Wise,
Good news/bad news, huh? Hopefully, the TEE, should you have one, will give him a better look at your mitral valve. I agree with Bob; the other echoes can be so inconsistent, depending on the technician. (I've experienced discrepancies in numbers in the five or so I've had since my surgery several years ago.) The TEE, however, will offer more solid evidence. We'll keep our fingers crossed for that appointment.

Does it seem to you that if the next echo is inconsistent with the last one, either for the good or the bad, that it would be a good idea to ask for the TEE? I believe the doctor wants to do the TEE if the next echo still indicates an increase in regurgitation. I am all for not worrying unnecessarily, but I'm still learning what to be concerned about. You know when you're told something looks worse, you don't feel good. Geebee also recommended asking for the TEE. So, just wondering when should you ask for it, if it isn't ordered by the doctor?

 

[Sherry]

I think I would, Wise. Like I said, it's more precise because the wand is actually closer to your heart when it's inserted down your throat than when it is outside your chest. Let us know what you find out.

 

[Mary]

Does it seem to you that if the next echo is inconsistent with the last one, either for the good or the bad, that it would be a good idea to ask for the TEE? I believe the doctor wants to do the TEE if the next echo still indicates an increase in regurgitation. I am all for not worrying unnecessarily, but I'm still learning what to be concerned about. You know when you're told something looks worse, you don't feel good. Geebee also recommended asking for the TEE. So, just wondering when should you ask for it, if it isn't ordered by the doctor?

Wise,
It sounds like you're still in good shape. I wouldn't push for a TEE now. Cardiologists, in my experience, like to run TEEs, so if he doesn't suggest it, I would forget it for now.
I had a stress echo, 7 regular echos, two right/left heart caths before we got to the point of recommending surgery. I think you're still aways out.
(My opinion only.)