Early warning signs/symptoms you may be having a problem with your AV replacement?

[worktheday]

Hey all,

As the title says, I'm wondering what some early warning signs or symptoms (physical) may be for someone such as myself, who has had mechanical AVR and may be having a problem with it? I had my AVR about 8 years ago at the age of 31 do to regurge. I have taken my health for granted over the last two years or so I'd say. Put on weight, haven't eaten well, had been drinking alcohol more than I should have. Finally said enough is enough a few weeks ago. Quit drinking, have completely changed my diet....much healthier. Have lost about 10 pounds so far, needing to lose another 25 to be at my "ideal" weight for myself, etc.

In addition I have also been on 3 different medications (albeit very low doses) for nearly the same amount of time, 7 years, for anxiety/depression. I have quit two of the three of those also in the same time period, one about 8 weeks ago the other 3 weeks now. I only mention this because it could be part of my reason for not feeling well recently.....withdrawal, etc.

As I eluded to I haven't felt great recently, extremely lethargic, even feel "fragile" if that makes sense? A feeling of trepidation in pushing myself physically. But back to the original question, what would be some signs that I may be having an issue with my valve? What would I feel, and or be experiencing anything? Side note it has also been about the same period of time since my last echo. I have moved from another state twice, am looking to reestablish with my original cardio soon. But am currently unemployed and without insurance. The insurance part should be fixed in about two weeks I believe (fingers crossed). The obvious and easiest answer here is go and get the echo. I realize that, and its number one on my to do list when the insurance comes through. But in the meantime I'm wondering if anyone has any answers? Any and all input is welcome.

Thank you in advance for reading!

J

PS - I actually ran into my cardio who I'm getting back into see out in public since I had moved back into town a few weeks ago. She very briefly asked me how'd I'd been doing/feeling, and at the time I was feeling "ok", and that's what I told her. Her response was "That's good, you'd know if something was wrong with the valve", but didn't elaborate and I didn't ask, nor was looking at the time to get more info because at that time I was feeling "ok" as I stated. So I'm just wondering what it is that I "would know" as she put it, if there were any issues. What I may feel or experience. Thanks again.

 

[dornole]

Congrats on your positive changes and all you are doing to improve your physical, mental and chemical health!! :thumbup: Keep it up, you are empowering yourself for better health whatever your heart may decide to do.

I don't have your same valve issue (I have mitral and had percutaneous repair) but having also suffered from depression, when you say "lethargic" or "fragile" do you feel like it is an energy level thing of being hard to start and keep doing things, which is what I associate with depression? (I KNOW these feelings can be very strong in one's body). Or objectively and clearly physical like it's harder to climb a flight of stairs, which is what I experienced when my heart was bad and was different from the depression feeling?

Of course some people have zero symptoms and still need help with their valve, so I'm not sure how reliable physical symptoms even are. I am just wondering if you might need a med adjustment for the anxiety and depression. Maybe you can ask your doc about your weaning off meds theory and see how long it would be reasonable to wait out this lethargic, fragile feeling. You need good solid mental health so you can stay on the good track you've put yourself on. Take all the help you can get.

I hope you can get an echo soon so you know for sure about your heart.

 

[clay_from_nj]

So, worktheday, you have been improving your lifestyle for a few weeks? That's a good start, but I wouldn't expect to feel 100% that quickly. Ten pounds in a "few weeks" seems like awfully quick weight loss - are you eating enough, getting proper nutrition? I quit smoking, started eating right and exercising at the time of my AVR, in September 2012. I started at 200 pounds, probably 5-10 of that water weight and in February was in the 180s. By the end of summer I was down to 160. Exercise is VERY important. At first, I walked 1-2 miles, twice a day. I added some at-home dumbbell work and then started riding my bicycle a couple of times a week. This past September, I started working out daily (weekdays, before work) at a gym, doing various weights and treadmill running. Now, I feel really great and have a tremendous amount of energy, but, it took a while to get there. Though it sounds counterintuitive, a strenuous workout can actually make you feel less tired and more energetic. After working out with weights for 30-45 minutes, then running for 15-30, I go to work practically running and skipping, totally charged up.

 

[river-wear]

If you were on SSRIs and stopped abruptly, it can make you ill. A quick search turned up this: these symptoms may include “a flu-like reaction, as well as a variety of physical symptoms, that may include headache, gastrointestinal distress, faintness and strange sensations of vision or touch.”

 

[Mentu]

Hi, J, I can tell you what my surgeon and my cardiologist have said to me. If a valve begins to fail for whatever reason, the result is impeded blood flow and you would expect to experience the same symptoms as with the original condition. Other than a heart murmur, I lived for 8 years with no symptoms. During the last five years before symptoms, I rode five times in the Hotter'n Hell Hundred - that's a bike ride in Wichita Falls, TX so I felt really well. During the two years before my valve replacement, I kept a pretty good journal as I began feeling less well. My own earliest symptom was a periodic pain in my left side after being active then over the months I started becoming out of breath more easily. As time passed, I found that exerting myself was much more difficult including any kind of exercise. One day while waiting for my Cardiologist to make up his mind about recommending surgery, I experienced radiating pains across my chest (I have great coronary arteries by the way.). It only happend once for about five minutes but when I reported it, my Cardiologist called me back within the hour with the name of the surgeon he thought I should speak with and had already scheduled an appointment for me. From that day, during the two months before the AVR, I began to experience debilitating palpitations which were at first initiated by exertion then, finally, began happening at all hours even during sleep. Only in those last two months did I ever experience any dizziness.

The Mayo Clinic lists the following expected symptoms:

Chest pain (angina) or tightness
Feeling faint or fainting with exertion
Shortness of breath, especially with exertion
Fatigue, especially during times of increased activity
Heart palpitations — sensations of a rapid, fluttering heartbeat
Heart murmur

Larry

 

[mom2angel]

First, congrats on the positive changes you have made! That is something to be proud of.

I can tell you when I experienced when my valve failed. (I outgrew mine. Received it as a toddler, and I grew and it didn't.) When I got to the point that I needed another valve, I would get winded easily. I would be out of breath walking up stairs. I got to the point that I was out of breath while sleeping. My mom said that my whole head would move when I was sleeping, because breathing was such a challenge. I know they had to put me on Lasix, because fluid was backing into my lungs. Really, the main thing I remember was being winded easily. It would make sense that you would tire easily, in general, if your valve was failing. Because your heart would have to work harder.

Good luck with everything. I hope you can get some answers.

 

[Gail in Ca]

I needed a new mechanical after being treated for bacterial endocarditis. My symptoms were shortness of breath when climbing stairs, my hematocrit was not wanting to get better, my coloring was grey. I was admitted to the hospital, given another TEE, and they found leakage around the valve, but the valve itself was fine. So, I was scheduled for surgery, got a new valve inside a graft. My blood numbers went back to normal, no more SOB, my coloring also righted itself.

 

[worktheday]

Thank you all for your responses. They have definitely given me a bit to think about. I'm not sure if I'm experiencing any of the "symptoms" any of you have mentioned. I was asymptomatic leading up to my initial AVR (to the best of my knowledge). With some of the other issues I had listed, I'm not sure if it could just be stress, anxiety, hypochondria, etc. Or if it could be an issue with the heart/valve, or any combination of all. Very troubling when you have had a physical condition (AVR), and you have a major anxiety issue also. So many of the symptoms overlap.

I believe I have worked out my health insurance issue, and may have coverage as early as within the next week. I will immediately be making appointments to have everything checked...the valve, heart, blood levels, etc.

Thank you all again for your responses. and anyone wanting to add anything else I am still interested.

J