New to forum

[bb81]

Good morning I am new to the forum and new to having issues with my heart. I am a 41 year old man and just recently got results back from an echo that my aortic valve is leaking and that the leak is eccentric. I've been experiencing tightness in my chest lately and weird itch in my chest region but not on the surface. A bit lethargic as well and a cough radomly. I did the heart monitor, ekg and stress test and all were normal so they say just the echo showed the leaky valve. The cardiologist I'm seeing seems to not really care too much of my chest pressure and other symtoms so I was going to reach out and see if anyone had recommendations for the Houston/South Houston area for a great catdiologist/cardiac surgeon.

 

[Chuck C]

Welcome to the forum bb81!

Sorry to hear about your recent echo results. Welcome to the club of valve disease, the club which no one wants to join, but nevertheless you are always welcome here. This forum was of great help to me and I hope that you find it helpful to you as well.

I've been experiencing tightness in my chest lately and weird itch in my chest region but not on the surface. A bit lethargic as well and a cough radomly.

The cardiologist I'm seeing seems to not really care too much of my chest pressure and other symtoms

What you are describing sounds like symptomatic regurgitation. If your current cardiologist is not concerned, get at least one more opinion from a top clinic. It is always a good idea to get a second opinion on these matters. You are young. If it is time for surgery, the very last thing that you want to do is to wait too long before getting surgery.

Sorry that I can't help you out with respect to someone in the Houston area, but there likely will be other members who can.

 

[bb81]

Thank you for the information, much appreciated. I am about to request my test results to have and plan on going through them in detail on my own and with another cardiologist that has some sense of urgency not scheduling me a month out for tests. I have pulmonary ct with contrast scheduled for next Wednesday. Not sure what that will show besides any blockage I may have.

 

[pellicle]

Welcome to the good ship VR

. I am a 41 year old man and just recently got results back from an echo that my aortic valve is leaking and that the leak is eccentric.

at 41 there may be some time before intervention is needed. My advice is to put as much as you feel comfortable with in your "about" section, use mine or someone elses as a guide.

I think that in all likelihood your valve will need replacement. Thats not the end of the world and there are many options. I recommend you take a coffee and think about things. Be prepared to change your mind, but follow the data and follow the facts (not the feelings of what others tell you to do).

I've had 3 surgeries starting from 10 years old, and the last one was back in 2011 when I was about your age. So having a surgery isn't as big a deal as you may think, but equally nor is it something to enter into recklessly.

I have a mechanical valve now, take warfarin and self manage. To be honest its in the main a simple process and the only thing I have to concern myself with is managing my INR. I don't have a realistic concern about the valve needing replacement in (probably under) 20 years post surgery (and I've already done 12 of those years).

Some blog posts from 2014

http://cjeastwd.blogspot.com/2014/01/heart-valve-information-for-choices.html
http://cjeastwd.blogspot.com/2014/09/managing-my-inr.html
Best Wishes.

 

[bb81]

I appreciate the information and your real life experiences. I will do these further tests and see what recommendations I get and then do some research and get a second opinion. Do you feel better since having the mechanical valve put in and what restrictions do you have besides drinking a ton of alcohol?

 

[Croooser]

I am not sure, but I believe that Baylor is very highly regarded. Might be worth the trip?

 

[carolinemc]

Good morning I am new to the forum and new to having issues with my heart. I am a 41 year old man and just recently got results back from an echo that my aortic valve is leaking and that the leak is eccentric. I've been experiencing tightness in my chest lately and weird itch in my chest region but not on the surface. A bit lethargic as well and a cough radomly. I did the heart monitor, ekg and stress test and all were normal so they say just the echo showed the leaky valve. The cardiologist I'm seeing seems to not really care too much of my chest pressure and other symtoms so I was going to reach out and see if anyone had recommendations for the Houston/South Houston area for a great catdiologist/cardiac surgeon.

Good that you are reaching out for a better Cardio for your heart care. Many in the field are only in it for the money and not much for the patient. I hope you find a better one soon. One that will inform you of your present condition and will listen to what you learn. Good luck and welcome to the club.

 

[Survived03]

Houston Methodist is probably the place you want to check out for Cardiothoracic care. Good luck.

https://health.usnews.com/best-hosp...diology & heart surgery_see_full_ranking_list

 

[bb81]

Thank you

 

[dornole]

How bad was the regurgitation? Mild, moderate, severe?

 

[bb81]

Here you go

 

[pellicle]

Do you feel better since having the mechanical valve put in and what restrictions do you have besides drinking a ton of alcohol?

yes indeed I do feel better, but I was fortunate this 3rd time that it wasn't left too long before surgery, because the aneurysm drove the bus to surgery.
(btw, I didn't see you'd asked me a question because you didn't reply thus I didn't get any notification).

I also actually don't have restrictions, indeed I did drink in a "normal way" for the first 10 years after my mechanical valve but have had to cease because (and I suspect a dose of COVID here) I developed a tachycardia arrythmia (soon after getting a mild covid experience) which is now fully triggered by a standard drink. The most I can hope for now is to have 10ml (its pathetic isn't it) of a good Whiskey (Lagavulin 16yo) once a week.

Well I've lost more valuable things from my life than the ability to enjoy red wines and whiskey ...

The "you can't do it" list is composed by people who don't actually have experience and in many cases is demonstrably wrong. Such as eating greens.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC4998867/

The available evidence does not support current advice to modify dietary habits when starting therapy with VKAs. Restriction of dietary vitamin K intake does not seem to be a valid strategy to improve anticoagulation quality with VKAs. It would be, perhaps, more relevant to maintain stable dietary habit, avoiding wide changes in the intake of vitamin K.​

so my advice is to make sure you restrict your readings on the matter to actual science ... while not perfect its far better than 99% of the fluff on the web.

Best Wishes

 

[dornole]

Moderate, and left ventricle hypertrophy too. What did the current cardiologist recommend for treatment plan?

 

[MIB]

Thank you for the information, much appreciated. I am about to request my test results to have and plan on going through them in detail on my own and with another cardiologist that has some sense of urgency not scheduling me a month out for tests. I have pulmonary ct with contrast scheduled for next Wednesday. Not sure what that will show besides any blockage I may have.

Welcome. True nobody wants to be here. The peeps here have been awesome with info.
I'd go for a 2nd opinion. I get upset when a doctor dismisses my concerns. I hope you find a doc that takes your feelings into consideration.

 

[bb81]

Moderate, and left ventricle hypertrophy too. What did the current cardiologist recommend for treatment plan?



Nothing Yet just further testing

 

[dornole]

Good luck with your tests. I wouldn’t dismiss persistent chest pain for sure.

 

[bb81]

Good luck with your tests. I wouldn’t dismiss persistent chest pain for sure.

Thank you