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Thanks Bob for your

Thanks Bob for your

always insightful way of looking at things - you are so knowledgeable about the heart also and rational in a positive way!

I don't want people to think I am obsessing by sitting at my computer 24/7 - I am supposed to be working at my job but keep checking the board. Guess I am obsessing, but I'm supposed to be sitting here. ;)

Bob, your statement about Sir Paul and not many Beatles being left - too funny. Made me laugh.

AND I did enjoy Paul a little bit last night - I found myself laughing at one of his jokes late in the concert which was a nice moment for me - to hear myself laugh after spending most of the day on the brink of tears.

Paul definitely has a strong heart - getting around that stage like a 25-year-old - albeit he is 63. He looks old in the face but is obviously fit as a fiddle.

Thanks again - I am holding on to all these positive words from each one of you!!

Christina L
 
Oh my goodness, what a roller coaster ride you're on. I can certainly understand your being upset but you're definitely jumping to conclusions that may not exist.

Now that you've had time to reflect on the situation and heard the wonderful comments from the folks here, you can approach this a bit more rationally with the doctor - find out what's really going on & what other methods of dealing with it might be best - if anything is really necessary.

As far as the adoption... go for it. If we all sat around and argued with ourselves about the 'what ifs" nothing would get done. You obviously have a lot of love to give to a little one - if your doctor is not worried, why should you be?

Have faith.

Cris
 
Christina, here are some cyberhugs coming your way <<< :) >>> I'm sure you will do just fine, and please continue in your quest for adoption. I'll be looking foward to hearing and seeing pics of your little kiddo. You and Wayne will be terrific parents.

BTW, several years after my MVR, I turned up with a L.A. reading over 4. The next year it was 3. something. I really feel like these measurements are so dependent on the skill of the technician. Just my thoughts...
 
I'm right there with you about wanting to be able to "worry" about the silly & frivilous things of life ... I've been thinking about that very thing for a few weeks now ... but, I won't get into why at this point...heh.

Sounds like, with the help of others here, you now have a better grasp of how you should/need to be putting this news into perspective.... Even so, thoughts/prayers coming your way....


Cort, "Mr MC" / "Mr Road Trip", 32swm/pig valve/pacemaker
MC:family.IL.guide.future = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort/
chdQB = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort/quilt.html
"What kind of love keeps breaking a heart?" ... Brooks & Dunn ... 'Long Goodbye'
 
Well, I'm late, too............

Well, I'm late, too............

but just wanted to send my hugs, and to remind you as everyone else has already, that many people on here have lived a very long, productive, happy life with a-fib, so please don't let that deter you from adopting a child. You will make a wonderful mother, and not one of us knows what the future holds and no one is immortal. Even if the very worst case scenario should unfold (but it won't), you will save a child from growing up in an orphanage, give her a much better quality of life, and give your new hubby a reason to carry on without you (but again, that is NOt going to happen.) Much love. J.
 
Ross said:
Adopt children, be fruitful and mulitply! Enjoy your life and don't sweat the small stuff. :p


Thats the spirit Ross!.....
now when are we gonna get pics of these beautiful CHILDREN? :D
 
Hi Christina!

Hi Christina!

I am sending you many many cyberhugs to help you get through this. I really don't have much more to add to what everyone else has said but I wanted to let you know that I am thinking about you. Try not to jump right into thinking the worst. This is probably just a little bump in the road. I am alot like you and I would probably be reacting just like you are if it were happening to me. It's always easier to rationalize these things when it is someone else. When it is you you always seem to jump to the worst possible scenerio. Take a deep breath and try to hang in there. Once you start getting the echo results to view and talk to another cardio you will start to feel better. I need to have every detailed explained to me when things like this pop up. I am able to absorb it better and think more clearly when I have all of the information.

Many Hugs Coming Your Way!
Take Care!
Gail
 
Thank you Creed and others

Thank you Creed and others

who have posted since my last post. I am not doing so good this morning. Have been on the internet and reading too many scary things - woke up in the night and the first thing on my mind was my heart. I am having PACs right and left and just feel "spent" because of my overwhelming fear of what may be going on with my heart.

I covet your prayers and good thoughts being sent my way.

Christina L
 
Christina L said:
who have posted since my last post. I am not doing so good this morning. Have been on the internet and reading too many scary things - woke up in the night and the first thing on my mind was my heart. I am having PACs right and left and just feel "spent" because of my overwhelming fear of what may be going on with my heart.

I covet your prayers and good thoughts being sent my way.

Christina L

Christine - as Gail said - it's so easy to give advice when you're not the one going through it. That being said - you really need to try and put it into perspective and not stress out. If the doctor was ordering tests right now and redoing tests etc, maybe you would have cause for more concern. But he seemed, from your description, rather matter-of-fact about it.

Your stress is going to hurt you right now more than your "possibly" enlarged atria. A few weeks ago when I tested 1.4 on my INR - I freaked, and I stressed. I went to work (on my feet doing makeup) and had a 5 minute or so sustained period of what I think must have been a-fib. I finally stopped it by squatting and bearing down. I know it was stress and I just had to get a grip.

Stay away from internet research until you get more concrete answers from your doctor. The internet can be a wonderful medical tool....and it can be the devil! It's like reading the warnings on prescription drug info packets. No one would take them if they truly took those warnings to heart.

If you are stressing this much you need to get that doctor on the phone today and clarify his information and let him know how your mind has been playing this out. Stop letting your mind run wild. Most often these things end up being much less than what we make of them.
 
I agree with you totally

I agree with you totally

Karlynn. I am over-the-top right now in jumping to conclusions. I have a call in to talk with my cardio's nurse. My cardio does not make personal phone calls to his patients that I know of, but I will ask his nurse if he will call me.

However, I do need to look at my records and see what the measurements are. I am freaking out most not about the left atrium - if it has stayed the same in size, I would be okay - it was his comment about my right atrium being enlarged. Yes, he did a "hit and run" for sure.

I know for a fact that sadness and stress play a huge role in heart function - that is a proven fact from many studies that have been done. I am only harming myself more with all this worry.

I feel right now just like I did when I found out I needed heart surgery. So very scared and hopeless. :(

I will hopefully get some reassurance today of one sort or another.

I truly appreciate your help and concern, Karlynn, and everyone.

Christina L
 
Fyi -

Fyi -

I just got off the phone with my cardio's nurse. She read the results of my echo - normal left ventricular function, normal thickness of ventricular wall, EF 50-60%, left atrial size 3.7. Mitral valve thickened and fixed due to annular ring around orifice (normal), and no leakage. No tricuspid leakage. Aortic valve normal.

There was nothing said at all about the right atrial size and Dr. Larson didn't say anything about the right atrium. Get this, he said, "The left atrial size has not changed appreciably since 2003." SO, is this why he seemed concerned? Personally, I am thrilled with that news, but evidently he seems to think that my left atrium should have shrunk a bit by now.

From all I have read, if a person has had severe mitral regurgitation for several years and an enlarged left atrium, the left atrial size will probably stay the same or shrink a tiny bit - if you are lucky, it will shrink back down a lot.

I was thinking that my left atrial size was 4.2 around the time of my surgery, so if that is true, it HAS shrunk. But I do not know if those measurements are accurate.

The nurse told me that the cardios in the group do not usually call patients, but she has a message in to Dr. Larson to call me. She said if I don't hear from him or another cardio before mid next week, to call them back if I have more questions.

I would like to know more about my right atrium and what that means - also more about my left atrial size.

This nurse said another patient of Dr. Larson's calls him "Mr. Bedside Manner" if that tells you anything. The nurse said it depends on the "day" with Dr. Larson - how he communicates.

Wayne told me that even when Dr. Larson only has good news for me, that
I leave the office still questioning things.

Maybe it is time for a new cardiologist?? What do you think. Dr. Larson is brilliant, but maybe I need a more touchy-feely type of cardio (?).

I am greatly relieved. The crying has stopped at least. :) Karlynn, I have been told many times to stay off the internet, but I get so sucked in by it. You know, Linda Ronstadt has called the internet the "devil" and did not let her children use a computer (at least when they were younger).

Another major crisis has passed and you were ALL right (even though you could have been wrong!). Not to say I am not still obsessing about things, but this has been another wake-up call to me, to stop going about my business thinking that all is well just because I had this repair - I still need to take care of my heart with exercise and diet and the main thing is to get a grip emotionally and psychologically with yoga and meditation. It will be a LOT of work, but it has to be done.

Again, you are all the best - I will keep you updated if/when the cardio calls me.

Christina L
 
P.s.

P.s.

Just found my paperwork from Cleveland - before surgery my left atrial size was 3.3 (saying it was slightly enlarged) and there was NO right atrial enlargement. Post surgery my left atrial size was 4.4 - yikes - suppose that was from swelling?

So, I know from what everyone says that echos vary quite a bit in measurements, but now my left atrium is 3.7 and was that in December (one month after surgery) of 2003.

P.S. The nurse this morning said that the echo said my left atrium is "slightly enlarged."

Any thoughts? Should I be worried (ha) that my left atrium has not reduced drastically in size after repair of my mitral valve?

Thanks.

Christina L
 
I would not worry Christine. After you get some more years under your belt of happy living, you'll stop worrying less about all the measurement issues and what they mean. It took me a while to not look for any little sign that I might be heading backwards. It's life inhibiting. Just to prove that I DO know how you feel, I had my husband read your posts and he simply said "Sounds like you!" :rolleyes:

For what it's worth, I won't go to a doctor who won't talk on the phone with me. The cardiologist I went to at the time of my surgery and up until his retirement was a heavy hitter at Northwestern Memorial in Chicago and was widely respected throughout the cardiology field. (He was actually recommended by my uncle's partner in Pheonix) I had my surgery done a week after he said I needed it, and I found that the surgeon's waiting list was 4 months long. I was not in an emergency condition - that's just how big a stick my beloved cardio swung. He always made his own phone calls to patients. Sometimes it was a day or two later, or later at night, but he always returned calls personally. When he died I wrote a letter to his wife and kids telling them how much he meant to me. They actually sent me a letter back saying that they knew who I was, that he had spent a few sleepless nights over the years, worrying about me and that they were so glad I was doing well.

I realize that you don't have to make calls yourself to be a good doctor, but I don't like the wall it puts up between doctor and patient when they have that type of office rule. I'm happy enough to talk with a nurse or a PA most of the time, but if I request to speak to the doctor, I require that I be allowed to do so. I think it's really important that people choose doctors that make them feel comfortable, not only in their knowledge, but in their demeanor. It's too bad that you come away from your visits feeling disconcerted, even if the news is good. The problem is - how the heck do you go about finding a doctor that's a good fit? Trial and error is simply no fun. Recommendations from others is probably good, but then how many people do you know in your area with valve issues?

Well anyway, I blah blah blahed on didn't I? I'm very glad you are feeling better about the situation.
 
Christine,
I looked at my echo results (July, 2005) taken 7 weeks after surgery to check my values.
Quote: The left atrial size was felt to be normal at 3.8 centimeters. The right atrium appeared to be normal.

Then I looked back at last year's echo.

Previous echo (last November before surgery) showed the left atrium to be 3.3 and that was in the predicted range of 1.9-4.0cm

My numbers are very similar to yours; however, my cardiologist considers mine to be normal. I agree that 3.8 is near the upper limits, but as long as he considers it normal, I'm not arguing with it.:)
Obviously, different cardiologists feel differently about what constitutes normal values.
I hope this helps you.
Mary
 
Christine,
I am sure you will feel better after you talk directly with the cardiologist (I agree, all cardiologists should be willing to return phone calls directly), but your results sure sound "normal" to me- time to get on with living, start thinking about adopting and enjoy life and stay away from unreliable internet sites. I make a practice of only going to top hospital medical sites, Cleveland Clinic, Mayo etc. and of course VR.com. Hope your are feeling better today!:)
 
Christine. hugs and prayers are coming your way. I agree with all the things everyone else has already said. Don't worry and attitude mean so much during critical times. Keep looking upward, God is still in control. By the way, I think you would make a wonderful mom. Go for it!
 
Hi Christina,

I don't have too much to add here except that your left atrium is within the limits of normal. At the time I was diagnosed my left atrium was 5.3 and at the time of surgery the surgeon said it was closer to 6.0 and said at that size problems with atrial fib would pretty much be expected. Heart chambers as a rule enlarge when their work load increases to adequately furnish the body with enough fresh blood. When a valve leaks or is narrowed (stenotic) then the chamber has to work harder to keep up. This enlargement gradually occurs. Your mitral valve was the problem so your left atrium had to work harder to pump through it so the result was it adapted by enlarging.

Within the walls of the atria are very sensitive cells that send off the signals to the heart to contract. When the walls of the atria are stretched by an enlarging chamber that those cells are stressed and begin to malfunction. Atrial fib, atrial flutter and SVT are all common occurances when the left atrium in particular is enlarged. PACs too.

I think your echo sounds good and I'm wondering what your cardiologist was thinking about. Maybe he wasn't comparing to your LA measurement of 4.3 which was mildly enlarged.

Anyway, I hope you are feeling better about this and that you will avoid having to be on lifetime coumadin for a-fib.

A-fib is how my rheumatic heart disease was discovered. I go back and forth between sinus rhythm and atrial fib and I feel much better when in sinus rhythm and less problems with shortness of breath.

Now, go back to being a giddy newlywed for a while longer and enjoy yourself. You are always in my thoughts.
 
I dont know about the results but everyone seems to say they are good. So have a wonderful time and enjoy the children when they come.:) all the best
 
Hello everyone -

Hello everyone -

I was out and about this afternoon but I feel just totally wiped out - from all the feelings of terror and hopelessness and crying....I could use a good nap, but will get on my treadmill instead as soon as I send this post. :)

Where do I start...

Karlynn, I appreciate you so much. You always have such wisdom to share, yet you are humble about it and gentle with your chastising. So your husband thinks we are alike? That is scary!! I am so emotional - I fly off the handle when I am happy, sad, scared, mad - I wear my heart on my sleeve (bad pun for right now, huh?). :eek: I know that all will be 100% A-OK with your latest echo. You can't be like me as I aspire to be like you!!! :) I feel that is why you are so healthy - your wonderful attitude and your faith. A friend told me just today, it is ALL about a positive attitude, no matter what situation a person is in and many of you here on VR.com have told me that over and over.

Pam, please send me a PM with the doctor's name. As for the China adoption, it may be a "go" now, although this little scare set me back a bit with the "what if's" going again. My mind can fly down the "what if road" and take many side streets...and I get totally lost. :(

I appreciate so much everyone's encouragement regarding the adoption. I am still a bit leery about the prospect of it after what has happened the last few days, but I do know that I should live each day and not worry about tomorrow.

Mary, thanks for checking your numbers for comparison. I am not sure what my cardiologist is saying - why he seems concerned. I would like to know more about the right atrium situation. I think he just thinks that the size of my left atrium should have come down by now, I don't know. Should it have?? That is what I am worried about also. I have PACs pretty frequently. Should I be on medication for that PACs to lighten the work load of my heart. I know PACs are supposedly harmless but yet read something on the internet about frequent PACs causing heart enlargement.

Betty, you are another knowledgeable one on the board - I appreciate your insight so much. I am not so concerned about having to go on Coumadin if I go into a-fib, I am more concerned about my heart enlarging and wondering what that is all about. Of course, I don't want to go into a-fib either any time soon. :( I do know that the tech mentioned something to the other tech about my mitral valve being smaller with the repair and the ring (she said that is how it is supposed to be). Could my valve area be too small?? Could that be contributing to the left atrium continuing to dilate or not shrink?? What do you think? I know the mitral valve is not stenosed, just smaller because of the ring.

Just so many of you to thank for all your words of wisdom and kindness to me through this latest trial. I don't know what I would do without this board. If we go ahead and adopt, which we probably will :), you all will be our child's aunties and uncles. I can think of no better family for her to have.

I will be setting up an appointment with another cardiologist in the next week - to speak with him/her about being on a heart med that will maybe help with the PACs, although I have tried many meds already and none helped in the least - really slowed my heart rate and made me so tired, while the PACs continued. :(

Meanwhile, I will read these posts again and again and try to get back into life a little and try to stop worrying!!! Like you said, Karlynn, I am known for being the resident worrier around here. :) What will I do with a child??? Scary!! I won't ever sleep again. Hee.

Have a wonderful evening everyone.

Christina L
 
Christina, just wanted to say i really hope it all turns out to be ok for you.I am such a worrier and i get worked up really easy but here iam bringing up a heart child. You and Wayne look like you will make wonderful parents despite your problems. So let it be when not if, as i'am looking forward to being a auntie now:D all the best:)
 

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