New News

[Sherrylynn41]

Hello to all, long time no see. That's what happens when your computer decides to commit sucicide. My 2nd aortic valve replacement went well, I am 8 months out from that surgery. I had been feeling great until 2 months ago, the sob, chest pain, and fatigue have returned. I saw my cardiologist yesterday and he has said that my last echo showed moderate Mitral Valve Insuff. They feel this is what is causing my problem. I am scheduled for another echo on 11-11. I know all about Aortic Regurg but not a thing about Mitral Valve. Help.

 

[Curtsmum]

Hi, sorry to hear your news, good luck with your echo, all the best Paula x

 

[geebee]

Hello to all, long time no see. That's what happens when your computer decides to commit sucicide. My 2nd aortic valve replacement went well, I am 8 months out from that surgery. I had been feeling great until 2 months ago, the sob, chest pain, and fatigue have returned. I saw my cardiologist yesterday and he has said that my last echo showed moderate Mitral Valve Insuff. They feel this is what is causing my problem. I am scheduled for another echo on 11-11. I know all about Aortic Regurg but not a thing about Mitral Valve. Help.

First off, I am sorry to hear of your problems. What a major bummer. I do have a couple of questions.

Was there nothing wrong detected with your mitral valve during the testing of your aortic prior to your last surgery? It seems hard to believe that your mitral valve tanked so badly in eight months from "normal". Did you have any infections in the past eight months? Something is a bit amiss.

 

[joanne6]

I agree

I agree

It would be hard to imagine a mitral valve just up and getting that bad so fast. Mild to mod regurg is generally watched but not repaired surgically until or if it becomes severe. Most mitral valves do not progress to severe regurg. Mine did, of course, but that's me.
Sounds like this is not the "rest of the story". Keep us posted on what you find out this week.
Joanne

 

[Sherrylynn41]

Hi Joanne and Gina, thanks for your reply. When they did the last echo before my second open heart surgery the report stated moderate mitral valve regrug, however no one seemed concerned when I asked about it. I thought all was well when the 2 replacement valve worked so well this time. The report also showed leaking in the bicuspid valve, but it was very minor. The symptoms are very different now. Chest,back, arm and jaw pain, dizzy spells and sob. The fatigue is unreal. The last heart cath I had showed no blockage at all, that seems to be what the doctors focus on. The doc increased my toprol and I go Friday for the echo. Yes several months ago I had to go to the er for what I thought was pneumonia, I was told it was bronchitis and pleurisy. The pain in my left side across from my breast hurt for a long time. I keep a cold, at one time I was tested for immune disfunction, the one that protects you through your nose mouth is impaired, or very low.

 

[Ross]

I'm sorry, but for something like this, malpractice suits were made.

 

[Sherrylynn41]

Ross, please explain, I don't want to appear dim witted, however at this point I am very much in the dark. I am very concerned with what is going on with me. I have 2 very young grandchildren now, one is 16 months other the other just barely 2 months old. They are a big part of my life, especially the older one. Should there have been some sort of treatment for the Mitral valve?

 

[Ross]

I'm saying that they should have looked at the Mitral Valve and considered replacing it, if it were so bad, when they did your Aortic again. I've never heard of a Mitral going South 8 months after surgery. I just feel it's something that warrantied attention back then, so that you wouldn't be doing this again.

 

[Sherrylynn41]

I understand. My worst fear is a third open heart surgery. The first one went off wonderfully, the second however was awful. My ICU stay doubled and the effects of being on the table 8 hours are still with me. Why in the world would they not take into consideration the Mitral Valve? Could it be because my mother and brother have Mitral Prolapse with no problems, my age (which by the way was a big factor in them waiting the first time). My symptoms have never matched the tests they do, also one of the reasons why they waited until I was near death for the first surgery. I am having the echo done and then looking for another cardio.

 

[Ross]

Don't get me wrong, suing isn't going to replace anything that you've lost healthwise, but I seriously think you were grossly negligected on this deal.

 

[Sherrylynn41]

Your very right about that, my concern is the doctors are not overly concerned with their patient. It appears at this point that by not taking the time to consider the results and symptoms (to just take and extra few minutes to look and say ok, we may need to take a look (at least) while they had my chest open the last time). To get these people to listen and act takes an act of war.

 

[Sherrylynn41]

Good evening all, hope everyone is doing well. I had my echo today, while I am no expert on echos I sure did see a lot of blue on the screen. I'm hoping for this problem can be handled by medications, I know it would take me some time to get adjusted to having a third open heart surgery especially in this time period. I am doing as much research as I can and I will get a second maybe even a third opinion. If anyone knows anything about the mitral valve, please pass on the info.

 

[joanne6]

Naieve

Naieve

I guess I am too trusting but I cannot imagine that if your mitral valve showed severe regurg before your last surgery that they would not have repaired or replaced it. No doc wants to keep operating on the same patient. They know the risks and they want to look good. It does not look good for their statistics if they miss things when they are preparing or actually doing surgery on a patient. I also cannot imagine that your valve could have deteriorated that fast unless you had an infection.
I will be thinking about you and checking back. You know you have support from everyone here but you are still the one going through this.
Take care.
Joanne

 

[geebee]

Please get a copy of this echo and the one done prior to your last surgery. Take them to another doctor and see what the thoughts are. I think you got a raw deal from someone in the medical world. It sounds to me like they should have replaced (or at least repaired) your mitral valve during your last surgery.

 

[Sherrylynn41]

I'm not sure why this is happening either. I do know the echo and TEE done before my surgery in March indicated mild to moderate mitral ins. I know that 9 months after my first surgery to replace the aortic valve, the new one began to leak and 4 months later I had heart surgery number 2. I had a bought with bronchitis and pleuresey in September that lasted a while. It seems each time I get back on my feet and begin a get in shape plan, this happens. All I am sure of at this point are the test results from March and my symptoms. Too much too soon.

 

[Sherrylynn41]

Echo results

Echo results

Hope everyone is doing well today. I got the reults of my echo. Somethings look good. The aortic root is down from 3.08 to 2.6 and the 19mm St. Jude valve has normal hemodynamics and shows no regurgitation. However, my pulmonary artery pressure has increased to 43.0 from 25.5. This echo shows mild mitral valve regurgitation and mild tricuspid valve regurg. The tee from March showed mild to moderate mitral regurg and no tricuspid regurg. The stress echo from 12/04 shows both valves wnl. Other findings are as follows:

LA - 3.3
RA - NL
IVS - 1.0
LVPW - 1.0

The pulmonary pressure explains the sob (or at least I think it does) Still not sure of anything else, especially the new leaking valves. Anyone have any ideas.

 

[Sherrylynn41]

New Question

New Question

I have been reading about PAP. Is it possible for valves whose leakage is only mild cause pulmonary artery pressure to be high?