Sheila, welcome to the VR community. I think it is only normal to worry that every possible symptom is related to ones heart valve but we are complex creatures and there can be other causes for any given symptom. Bob makes an excellent point that you need to talk with your cardiologist to find out what he is looking for before he recommends surgery. You need to have a voice in that decision making process. As my valve began to really deteriorate, my Cardio said that he would expect to see several symptoms normally but that tests to measure valve area and pressure gradient were equally important. There are after all some people who never really display overt symptoms. When he discussed a priority of symptoms with me a couple of years before surgery, he explained that dizziness could possibly be an indicator but that it is usually a minor issue unless one actually passes out. More serious is swelling of the legs as it can indicate congestive heart failure. Chest pain can be an indicator that one’s condition is becoming even more severe.
My cardio emphasized that it was really important that I be aware of what to expect and to report any changes promptly. Shortly after an echocardiogram measured my
- valve area at .74 cm2
- Peak gradient 127.5 mmHg
- Mean gradient 61.4 mmHg
I began experiencing chest pain. My Cardio immediately scheduled me for a heart cath and referred me to a surgeon on the same day.
A simplified view of how this diagnosis business works is that cardiologists tend to be conservative and look for a definitive combination of multiple symptoms along with the measurements. Surgeons, on the other hand, seem to rely more on the measurements and are focused on operating while the patient is still healthy and can realize the maximum benefit from surgery. By becoming well informed about your condition and what the different test mean, you can become an active part of the decision making process.
My cardio emphasized that it was really important that I be aware of what to expect and to report any changes promptly. Shortly after an echocardiogram measured my
- valve area at .74 cm2
- Peak gradient 127.5 mmHg
- Mean gradient 61.4 mmHg
I began experiencing chest pain. My Cardio immediately scheduled me for a heart cath and referred me to a surgeon on the same day.
A simplified view of how this diagnosis business works is that cardiologists tend to be conservative and look for a definitive combination of multiple symptoms along with the measurements. Surgeons, on the other hand, seem to rely more on the measurements and are focused on operating while the patient is still healthy and can realize the maximum benefit from surgery. By becoming well informed about your condition and what the different test mean, you can become an active part of the decision making process.
