M
Marge
Saw my cardio yesterday.
An echo that I had back in June was bothersome and although my cardio told me he thought it had been "over-interpreted" by the doctor who initially analyzed and he (my cardio) didn't think it accurately reflected my condition, I badgered him into doing some additional tests: a MUGA and (about a week ago) a TEE.
Based on those tests, I am doing REALLY WELL.
The MUGA showed an EF of 53 -- which is in normal range. Low normal, but normal, and it may get even better. (My EF before the surgery was between 30 and 40 and the echo in June said 30.) My left and right ventricles are both normal according to the MUGA. Since my LV was enlarged prior to the surgery, it appears to have reshaped.
The TEE shows I now have "mild" mitral regurgitation and "mild" stenosis. My cardio consulted with my surgeon who reviewed the TEE and my surgeon said the stenosis is actually something that was caused by the nature of the repair & nothing to be concerned about; the level of regurgitation is also apparently not serious.
So there is nothing for me to do except keep taking my meds (coreg and cozaar), see my cardio in six months, and live a normal life: exercice and a reasonable diet (not too much sodium but I don't have to be "fanatical" about it, and I can drink wine -- which my old cardio said for me not to do). According to my current cardio I do not have heart failure any more.
Which is all pretty cool, I think.
I am very grateful to everybody who helped me through this: my doctors, my surgeon, and of course everybody at this site.
May you all be blessed with similar outcomes!
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btw ... My cardio says it usually takes at least 18 months for things to "settle down" after heart surgery -- so to be aware of your body, talk to your doctor about anything that seems a bit "off," but not to fret unceasingly about every anomaly that crops up after your surgery.
An echo that I had back in June was bothersome and although my cardio told me he thought it had been "over-interpreted" by the doctor who initially analyzed and he (my cardio) didn't think it accurately reflected my condition, I badgered him into doing some additional tests: a MUGA and (about a week ago) a TEE.
Based on those tests, I am doing REALLY WELL.
The MUGA showed an EF of 53 -- which is in normal range. Low normal, but normal, and it may get even better. (My EF before the surgery was between 30 and 40 and the echo in June said 30.) My left and right ventricles are both normal according to the MUGA. Since my LV was enlarged prior to the surgery, it appears to have reshaped.
The TEE shows I now have "mild" mitral regurgitation and "mild" stenosis. My cardio consulted with my surgeon who reviewed the TEE and my surgeon said the stenosis is actually something that was caused by the nature of the repair & nothing to be concerned about; the level of regurgitation is also apparently not serious.
So there is nothing for me to do except keep taking my meds (coreg and cozaar), see my cardio in six months, and live a normal life: exercice and a reasonable diet (not too much sodium but I don't have to be "fanatical" about it, and I can drink wine -- which my old cardio said for me not to do). According to my current cardio I do not have heart failure any more.
Which is all pretty cool, I think.
I am very grateful to everybody who helped me through this: my doctors, my surgeon, and of course everybody at this site.
May you all be blessed with similar outcomes!
------
btw ... My cardio says it usually takes at least 18 months for things to "settle down" after heart surgery -- so to be aware of your body, talk to your doctor about anything that seems a bit "off," but not to fret unceasingly about every anomaly that crops up after your surgery.
