Echo results

[RunMartin]

Hi,

I have just been to the hospital to have another echo done by the main cardiologist (not a technician). She said one of the dimensions was still 6.4 cm (as two months ago). She also mentioned another dimension that they check which was much less than 4 cm (I am not sure what that means?). After many other test, including having to hold ny breath for a long time, she said that there was no need for surgery just yet as far as she was concerned. They want to monitor it every six months or so. She definitely did not want to operate at the present time and said that it is better to have your own valve at the moment. I must say I feel much relief even though an AVR is on the cards in the not too distant future. It has taken two months to get this decision. Her final remarks were "carry on as normal" which (assuming she knows what is normal for me ) means I can still run/swim and still compete in races!.

Over the last two months I have had the thought of imminent surgery on my mind and have now come to accept that I will most probably need an AVR in the not too distant future (possibly six months or a year).

I am really glad I found vr.com. It certainly helps me to accept and understand my present condition.

Thanks to everyone

Martin

 

[ALCapshaw2]

Hello Martin,

Maintain your 'self vigilence' Martin, and if you start showing ANY symtoms such as increased Shortness of Breath or Chest pain on exertion, ask for another Echo ASAP. When the aortic valve begins to shut down, it can change FAST. When the heart (muscles) compensate for a nearly closed valve, the heart may enlarge and / or the walls may thicken. If this goes on too long (which may only be a matter of WEEKS), PERMANENG DAMAGE may result to the heart walls and muscles. Best to be ready to go into surgery ASAP once the heart is compensating for a closing valve.

Several of us got into surgery 'just in time', and a few have had complications that may or may not be permanent. Don't wait TOO Long.

'AL'

 

[RunMartin]

Hi Al,

Thanks for the comments - I do think I need to keep this in the front of my mind. I did not know that the aortic valve shuts down or closes, I just thought it would leak more and more and the heart enlarges. The doctors never talked about what is likely to happen. They just say that if I start to feel that I cannot keep doing what I usually do then contact them.

Martin

 

[Ross]

I can't stress it enough. Heed Al's advice and you should be fine. Discount that advice and you could be in big trouble very quickly.

 

[Enudely]

Hi
I'm having my surgery next month and I don't have shortness of breath or anything. My only symptom is a STRONG heart beat that I can hear. It pounds in my stomach, neck and chest almost all the time.
Make sure you have regular echocardiograms, because sometimes the leak gets bigger without any real obvoius symptoms. I went through what you're going through now!
It was always, "you might need it in two years, or ten years, or six months, we don't really know" . I'm actually SO relieved that I'm finally going to just do it (put on some nike's as Ken says). Can't wait to get it over with. I feel for you and the anxiety that you must carry around!!!

 

[Mark Wagner]

Hi Martin,
Everyone's cases are different, but in my case, they watched how quickly my heart was enlarging. By the surgeon not waiting too long, my heart actually returned to a very close to normal size heart, within a year of my surgery.
Before surgery, I felt extreme burnout fatigue within a few hours after I got up, and also the choking from the regurgitation was very scary at night. I would sit up in bed thinking my heart stopped.
I found cardilogists really lean on the side a 'caution, and wait and see.' My surgeon said the problem with that, is if you wait too long, the damage is done. When it starts to go downhill, it really picks up speed. I had 5 months in his estimation to have the surgery, or he felt I would have a hard time getting a valve to fit properly; and my heart also would not return to a more normal size. I got a second opinion with another cardiologist ... my second sent me to a surgeon for consultation. I'm quite certain I have the quality of life I have because of seeking that second opinion.

Good luck my friend and keep us posted on your races. Each one of us will be here for you when the time comes.

Mark

 

[dwfreck]

Martin,

While I'm sure the extended waiting is not fun, the "carry on as normal" diagnosis sounds great. Congratulations.

Ditto what everyone else said about vigilance. I personally went from "you'll need surgery in 3 to 5 years" to "you should have surgery in the next 3 months, here's the name of a surgeon" in six short months, well before any permanent damage could be done to my heart, all because I monitored and reported my symptoms. You're your cardiologist's eyes and ears when you're not in her office.

 

[RunMartin]

Thanks again for the reponses,

I have just got back from a weekend running with members of my Club. It is the first time I have been in the hills for a few weeks and it was good to be back. I found myself running with a slower group - and it was much more enjoyable than racing each other in the faster group!!. I also realised how much the heart needs to work. I think your comments are making me "more aware" of myself. I have a few races comming up over the next week. They are all fairly short (between 3 and 6 miles). The one on Boxing day is a fell race done in fancy dress. It is my chance to be infront of some of the top runners !!!. I am really looking forward to them - they are my Christmas present this year!.

Mark - will you get involved in any festive races or is it too close to your marathon?

All The Best

Martin

 

[fisher6476]

MY TWO CENTS

MY TWO CENTS

For what it is worth I went for an echo and some some routine work two years ago. This was precipitated by a first time visit to a family doctor. I have been real "healthy and had not bee to a doctor in 15 years). The reason for this visit was the result of a kidney stone attack that took me to the ER. At that first meeting this physician listnened to my heart and said "you have a very loud murmur"! I told him I had a heart murmur since birth but it had never caused me any problems.( I did not know what it was, i was just always told I had a heart murmur). He sent me to the hospital for an echo and EKG. After the test I was pronounced "fit as a fiddle". Two years later because of some mild symptoms my Boss made me go to the Dr. I told him of my symtoms, he did an EKG in his office and said to me "I think you have heart problems."
Off to the cardiologist who did stress test. This was followed by echocardigram, then followed by nuclear eho testing. Cardiologist said he wanted to do heart catheterization. After Cath, cardiologist said " I thought maybe you had 2 problems, one being a bad aortic valve, and the other being possible blockage. The good news is you have no blockage. That leaves the aortic vavle and I want to do a TEE to get a clearer picture. A different Dr. did the Tee and then told me, you not only have a very bad valve, but you also have an anyuerism that needs to be fixed. Next step off to see surgeon. I went to who a Surgeon that I think is FANTASTIC, and he told me that although he did not think I was going to keel over dead from what he could tell from all the tests, he also said that it was a very serious condition and should be talen care of ASAP. It took about 30 days for me to get to surgery and the day after the surgeon came in to me and said that everything went very well and he wqas very glad we got it done right away because the sitution was much worse than al those test showed. My heart was twice as thick as it should have been and the vavle was the worst he had ever seen. The man that said to me before the surgery that he did not think my life was in immediate danger, said to me after the surgey that it was worse tha he thought. My hat is off to that man because he told me he could see no sense in putting off something that had to be done. He could have said "Well, the tests show a small anyuerism and a valve that we should monitor. Let's check again in 6 months.
The fact is I probably would have been dead in 6 months. All the well trained Drs, Cardios, all the tests, all the high tech machines, and the fact was we did not know how bad it was till we got in there. The point of this too long speech is this is NOT something you want to take lightly. It can kill you. Maybe you would consider a second opinion? My point is i am not a Doctor, but I went through several DRs, all of whom were very well trained I believe, but who are only human. In the end It is up to each one of us to be responsible for our own healthcare. Hope this wasn't too much of a " Soap Box" speech. Just wanted to say what I really feell.
Steve