introduction

[Thriell]

I guess I'm the new guy here, so here's a brief (??) summary of what's up with me...

About 2 months ago I was in the hospital with pneumonia and while I was there the doctor discovered a heart murmer. A cardiologist was called and he ordered an ultrasound (echocardiogram? not sure) and a heart catheterization. I was informed that I had three valves leaking. By listening to the cardiologist talk to other members of his staff, I was able to determine that the valves in question were my aortic valve, my mitral valve and one other whose name escapes me. Nobody has ever come out and told me "this valve is leaking this badly, that valve is leaking that badly".

The cardiologist put me on Lasix, Toprol, and Digoxin. A month after leaving the hospital I still wasn't able to walk for more than a couple of minutes without getting winded, so he increased the Toprol to 100 mg 2x/day. He also told me point blank that he didn't give more than about a 20% chance of controlling the problem with just medication. He's very sure that I'm going to need surgery and that the medication is just an attempt to delay it.

The cardiologist is supposed to call tomorrow (6/28) with info on when and with whom our surgery consoltation appt is. Either during the doc's phone call tomorrow, or during the consoltation appt., I plan on getting SOMEONE to give me some definite names and numbers as to what exactly is wrong. "Three leaking valves" is a little too vague for my taste.

I'm a little curious about the fact that I have =3= problem valves, and, after spending most of yesterday wandering this site and have yet to read about anyone with more then =2= problem valves.

 

[Ross]

Hello and welcome aboard.

Most likely it's Aortic, Mitral, and Pulmonary valves. Basically all of them. Best advice, get a copy of your medical records for yourself. It will be specific where the Doctors aren't.

The amazing thing about the heart is that if the Aortic and Mitral leak badly, generally, replacing those two solves the problem of the pulmonary leak. I'm just stabbing into the wind without some down home hard facts off the records. See about getting them when you can.

 

[Thriell]

Hello and welcome aboard.

Most likely it's Aortic, Mitral, and Pulmonary valves. Basically all of them.

I know the heart has 4 valves. If the Aortic, Mitral, and Pulmonary are 3 of them, then what is the 4th one?

Best advice, get a copy of your medical records for yourself. It will be specific where the Doctors aren't.

I'll be asking him about that the next time I see him. Thanks for the tip.

The amazing thing about the heart is that if the Aortic and Mitral leak badly, generally, replacing those two solves the problem of the pulmonary leak.

That would explain why I don't see a lot of people with 3 valves done, if doing the first two will somehow fix the third! I know better than to get my hopes all up about what I may or may not have to deal with, but still... wouldn't it be nice? Realistically, though, I'm 41 and have had Rheumatiod Arthritis for 9 years already. About 4 years ago, I had to have my gall bladder removed with about 2 hours' notice because it was ready to burst. Two years later, I managed to fall and tear the tendon for my right tricep loose, then, two days after surgery, I had to have that arm opened back up because something inside it was bleeding all over everything. I needed 4 pints of plasma and 2 pints of whole blood when it was all said and done. I haven't been exactly the most fortunate person, medically.

 

[Nancy]

Hi and welcome-

My husband has had an aortic and mitral mechanical put in. He also has a severely leaking tricuspid valve, but that is non-surgical at this point. We are pretty much able to control the symptoms of the tricuspid valve leak with diuretics and strict vigilance with a sodium free diet for him. But his mitral and aortic had to go. He also had a repair on the mitral. So he's had three valve surgeries. And he has had two lung surgeries, and has pulmonary hypertension which is a rare disease.

If the third valve is the tricuspid valve, sometimes when they fix the mitral valve, the tricuspid gets better. There aren't too many folks here with a pulmonary valve prosthesis.

It is very important for you to have all your information. Get copies of your echocardiograms. And ask for them whenever you have another one done. We all agree here that the number one best thing you can do for yourself is to learn all you can about your condition. Never be in the dark about what is going on with your health. Read, read, and read some more. Find out just how serious those leaks are and pin your docs down with lots of questions.

http://www.tmc.edu/thi/valvedis.html

Above is a site which discusses the various valves and their symptoms.

 

[strawberry]

Hi! I have three leaky valves but the pulmonary is just trace so that may not count. The aortic and tricuspid (that's the fourth you were looking for) is mild. My mitral isn't leaking but it's myxomatous (stretchy). See if you can get copies of your reports from your cardio. No wait, don't "see if you can", do it. It's your right to have them. I know murmurs are loudest when your sick...my aortic one was very clear when I had appendicitis; otherwise it's hard to catch.

 

[char2mar]

All four of my valves leak but the docs are not too concerned about the tricuspid and plumonary valve becase right now there is only trace regurgitation. I have moderately severe regurgitation of the aortic valve and mild regurgitation of the mitral valve. The aortic and mitral are on the left side and the tricuspid and plumonary are on the right side of the heart. Good luck with your leaky valves and I hope that they find out all the info they need to treat you properly.

Char