"Mild" Aortic Regurg

[dmoses1]

After reading many of your posts and replies I feel a little silly even being concerned about this . . . but here goes.

I complained of facial, hands and feet swelling, shortness of breath (sleeping on 3 pillows at night), fatigue, and ZERO tolerance to heat (exacerbated all of the other symptoms).

My primary care sent me to a cardiologist to did an ECHO. She said I had a slight leaky valve. When I asked her about it, she became a little short with me and told me there was nothing to worry about.

Then she scheduled me for an ECHO STRESS TEST, the next week. After the test she said I had some PVC's, a mild leaky valve, and my blood pressure had been 178/115 (It averaged about 150/90 between the four visits--2 for her and 2 for my PCP).

She put me on NORVASC, and said she wanted to see me in 30 days. I did feel better after consistently taking the NORVASC, until it ran out. I returned about 3 months later (same symptoms as before). I explained that I wanted to try modifying my diet and weight loss (5'4", 146 lbs.) to regulate my blood pressure (it was only 138/92 in the office that day). She told me to get back on it.

I also told her that I had read up on aortic regurgitation and that I had learned that it could be caused by high blood pressure. I told her I wanted to try to control my blood pressure through lifestyle changes, which would reverse the regurgitation.

She looked at me like I was nuts and said, "That's not what is causing it."

She's kind of short and abrupt with me, during my visits; and she has me taking medication for Hypertension, when my BP's not really that high.

She has a reputation for being one of the top physician's in her field (in the US). Why won't she explain things to me. I don't mean to be a hypochondriac--I just want to understand what she understands. Somehow knowledge and understanding always make me feel better.

WHEW!!! Sorry, I know that was a lot.

Did any of you start with mild regurgitation? Can it be reversed? Isn't there a chance it may never progress?

Any information you give will be helpful.

Thanks

 

[BAV Pt's daughter]

Your doctor is not communicating effectively with you, you may need another opinion, or at least try to communicate with the nurse. I know its hard to want to leave one with such a wonderful reputation. Sometimes blood pressure/heart rate can be modified throught diet and exercise, but that may not be enough. I would seek a second opinion just to be sure anyway. Plus you NEED to have someone that will take the time to sit down with you and thoroughly explain to you exactly what's going on in your body and what steps need to be taken to rectify the situation. No doctor that refuses this step is going to be effective. Please be careful though. If she told you "thats not what's causing it" then what did she explain the cause to be? Is there only one solution for you from her point of view?

 

[Karlynn]

Dawn - welcome!
First of all, we all started out "mild", it's just that some of us didn't know it at the time.

I'm a "mitral valver" so not too knowledgable about aortic stuff. But my thought is that you need to find a doctor who will listen to you and explain things well. It doesn't matter how good a doctor is, if they aren't answering your questions - they should get fired. Many of us have fired many doctors before we found the good ones we can work with. There are too many good doctors out there to put up with attitude.

 

[BAV Pt's daughter]

You need to find a doctor who will listen to you and explain things well. . . . There are too many good doctors out there to put up with attitude.

AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[dmoses1]

Thanks!!

Thanks!!

Thanks, you guys for responding.

 

[JohnnyV_46]

Want to get one of them real Nutz? Take them an article you found, printed off the internet!! Ask me how I know.....

 

[dmoses1]

Want to get one of them real Nutz? Take them an article you found, printed off the internet!! Ask me how I know.....

How do you know . . .!

 

[Rebecca]

I have moderate aortic regurgitation and I have never heard of reversing regurgitation. About six years ago I lost 35 pounds because I didn?t want to be put on blood pressure meds. My weight loss did not bring down my blood pressure. About four years ago I was having chest pains, tightness of chest, totally exhausted and top blood pressure number was always 140 to 170. After taking my blood pressure meds my top blood pressure number is now in the teens and I feel fine.

 

[dmoses1]

I have moderate aortic regurgitation and I have never heard of reversing regurgitation. About six years ago I lost 35 pounds because I didn?t want to be put on blood pressure meds. My weight loss did not bring down my blood pressure. About four years ago I was having chest pains, tightness of chest, totally exhausted and top blood pressure number was always 140 to 170. After taking my blood pressure meds my top blood pressure number is now in the teens and I feel fine.

Thanks a lot, for the info. If I understand correctly, if you're on medication for BP, you have to continue taking it for the rest of your life--I'm not really a pill person. It's hard for me to remember to take a five day course of antibiotics.

Were the other symptoms you mentioned a result of your BP or the AR.

 

[Ross]

Fire that fool and find another Doctor! If left alone as you are now, your going to end up with an aneurysm if you don't already have one. I think you need to find a competent, communicative Cardiologist and have a real thorough examination.

 

[LLJ]

Here I go: as I have said before : Screw the doctor! Get a new one you can talk to. PLEASE remember no matter what anyone thinks, medicine is still a service business. You got lousy service. There are lots and lots of cardiologist. Just cause they're "listed" as one of the best doesn't mean diddly if you can't get the help you need. My guy was never listed anywhere,but has a diplomate in cardiology,listens to me,gives me great information,has always been acurate in diagnosis and is highly regarded by the surgeons who did my surgery and more importantly, loved by the nurses in the hospital.(they know the real deal)
Lose weight,it an only help you. If lifestyle changes decrease your BP,great then you can go off the meds. Address the regurg by getting a second opinion and keep asking questions.
Laura

 

[Mary]

Thanks a lot, for the info. If I understand correctly, if you're on medication for BP, you have to continue taking it for the rest of your life--I'm not really a pill person. It's hard for me to remember to take a five day course of antibiotics.

Were the other symptoms you mentioned a result of your BP or the AR.

No, that's not necessasrily true.
My husband started on BP meds in his early 20's, but got with the program in terms of losing weight and exercising and hasn't been on any for more than 10 years.
Losing weight often helps significantly in lowering cholesterol levels and blood pressure.

 

[OldManEmu]

Dawn lifestyle changes such as weight loss, moderate exercise and giving up smoking if you are a smoker are all a good start for anyone with heart issues. Karlynn is spot on when she says all leaking valves started as mild, it is just a matter of how bad it has become before it is discovered. Angela is correct when she says there is a communication problem with this doctor. It is not normal to have facial, hands, feet swelling and shortness of breath. Just a question what is your pulse rate like? If the doctor says it isn't your heart then what does she suggest it is? Saying it isn't your heart and offering no other suggestions wouldn't sit well with me.

 

[Rebecca]

My mom is slowly losing some weight and her doctor will have to lower her bp meds if she continues to lose weight. She has problem with her bottom bp number. I loss weight my going to a nutritionist. I second it that you should get another cardiologist opinion. At the time when I was having chest pains and my heart was beating so hard it would awake me at night I had to find a new cardiologist because the one I had been seeing for years drop my insurance. I went to a doctor that every year makes the list for top cardiologist in Atlanta and he had me visit a surgeon with moderate aortic regurgitation. I then went to different cardiologist who told me my bp (the top number 140 to 170) was too high. I still go to him and if I don?t make my six months visits his office calls for me to make a appointment and also his office has call me at home when they have change my bp meds. This month my echo put me back in the moderate range. The six months before echo was the first time that my echoes put me into the moderate to severe rate.

 

[dmoses1]

Thanks so much, guys. I want to make sure I understand correctly.

I should still make the lifestyle changes because lowering the blood pressure; and, I should find a doctor that will communicate with me.

For some reason, when I step into the doctor's office I turn to mush. I had a doctor tell me there was a problem with my valve over 3 years ago. He was the first doctor to ever take my symptoms seriously. All the others said I was just out of shape and needed to exercise.

Wouldn't you know, he retired before he finished all of my testing. When I mentioned everything to the next doctor he said what all the others said, and added that the palpitation were probably from anxiety or panic attacks. So, I started anxiety meds. It didn't help with the symptoms, but I was okay with that (I was ok with everything as long as I was on that stuff--LOL).

I am afraid to start out again with a new doctor because of the awful history I have. My husband says I am not assertive enough. If he goes in with a cold, they give him the full work-up (LOL).

Well, guys, thanks for your help; and I'll try to get up enough nerve to go somewhere else.

BTW--how do you get copies of your medical info. (everyone here seems to have test results).

 

[Curtsmum]

I find doctors don't like it, if you know everything whats going on, they dont think we should know anything and dont like it if you know more than them. Good luck with finding somewhere else.

 

[Mary]

Dawn,

They have to give you your test results if you request them. They might (but I've never encountered it) charge a very small amount to cover the cost of making the copies. I was hesitant the first time I asked for results, but no one has even blinked when I ask them for my echo's or cath procedures. I also asked my surgeon for my surgery report and they handed it to me in about a minute.

If you have trouble talking to your doctor, write everything down before you go in and let someone else look over it too. Then hand it to him, and say you would like some answers to your questions. I would not volunteer too much information about being anxious; doctors typically love to label women patients as emotional and overanxious.

And yes, I would try to reduce my blood pressure by losing some weight if you need to take off a few pounds.
Hope this helps.
Mary

 

[dmoses1]

Dawn,

. . . And yes, I would try to reduce my blood pressure by losing some weight if you need to take off a few pounds.
Hope this helps.
Mary

How much weight do I need to lose? I am 5'4" and weigh 146 lbs. My weight is evenly distributed (no big hips, legs or stomach). For some reason, I don't appear to weigh but about 130 lbs. My ribs are already showing and when the guy did my echo my cardiologist said I was very skinny (she could see my ribs under the paper gown).

However, according to the BMI chart, I am overweight.

 

[PJmomrunner]

The BMI calculator I plugged your stats into (http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/bmi/calc-bmi.htm ) says you need to lose a whole pound! You'd better get right on it!

 

[Der Biermeister]

Then she scheduled me for an ECHO STRESS TEST, the next week. After the test she said I had some PVC's, a mild leaky valve, and my blood pressure had been 178/115 (It averaged about 150/90 between the four visits--2 for her and 2 for my PCP).

She put me on NORVASC, and said she wanted to see me in 30 days. I did feel better after consistently taking the NORVASC, until it ran out. I returned about 3 months later (same symptoms as before). I explained that I wanted to try modifying my diet and weight loss (5'4", 146 lbs.) to regulate my blood pressure (it was only 138/92 in the office that day). She told me to get back on it.

I an confused - you stated she wanted to see you in 30 days after beginning Novasc, but you waited 3 months?? -- and had run out of the medication?

I think you DO have some high BP and I think you need to get it well under control and then have another echo done and see if it is changing. Your bp numbers should be 120/80 -- no higher.
DB