New to the forum

[jancb]

Hi all. I've been reading many of the posts on many of the forums and have picked up lots of information.
I feel that surgery may be in my future, since I lost my DD to heart disease in 1990 and my DM to heart problems in May 2003. I hadn't been to a doctor in about 15 years (at that time for bronchitis...suggested I see his wife re: high blood pressure) never did follow-up. When my Mother died in May I told her doctor that I would like to come in to see her when I had taken care of Mom's funeral, etc. I did go in July and after a complete physical, the doctor who was going to do my colonoscopy picked up on a murmur and extra heartbeats. He informed my pcp and she arranged for an echocardiogram, which found that I had MVP with minimal regurgitation, an EF of 75%, mildly dilated left atrium The anterior leaflet at the MV reveals minmal prolapseand well preserved Aortic Valve Leaflets. No thrombus in the left atrium noted and no pericarial effusion noted. M-mode left atrium is 4 cm. Aortic root diameter is 3.5 cm. LV diameter is 5.9 (Sorry to be so long.)
I don't feel any different than I did before I was diagnosed, except that I've become more prepared...drew up a will, living will , etc.
My only anxiety is not having close family who might be helpful, should the need for surgery arise. How do patients deal with pre/and post op who have no one on whom to rely?

 

[fisher6476]

Welcome Jan,
Sounds like you are getting educated and that is a great benefit.
Other will be along soon to greet you but I wanted to let you know that part of my "going home" from the hospital was a visist from a social services person, who wanted to know if I had people to help me at home, to help set up home health care visits etc. You might try calling some hospitals and ask them the same question you just asked here! It is a good question. Please ask as many questions as you want and we will be glad to try to help!
Steve

 

[Kathy]

My mother-in-law lives had a mitral valve repair 11 years ago. I am a teacher and have the summer off, so I was able to stay with her for three weeks. After that she had a daily home healthcare aide for several weeks. It was aranged by the hospital social worker.

 

[Ross]

Hello Jan and welcome to our home

You need to network with some friends if there are no close by family members. Create new friends if you must. I would not recommend going through this surgery without some outside support.

From what you have posted, it could be a very long time to never until you need surgery, so I wouldn't start over worrying about it. Yes there is a chance that things could go South quickly, but the odds aren't that great. Keep an eye on it and in the meantime, make as many friends as possible.

 

[ALCapshaw2]

Jancb wrote:

"found that I had MVP with minimal regurgitation, an EF of 75%, mildly dilated left atrium "

You may want to get a second opinion or the opinion of a SURGEON in regard to the 'dilated left atrium'.

Many cardiologists like to postpone surgery until the valve(s) are showing severe stenosis or the patient is having noticable symptoms. In the early stages of valve disease, the heart can compensate for valve problems by pumping harder. The problem with this is that by pumping harder, the heart MUSCLES work harder, the heart ENLARGES and this enlargement *may* become PERMANENT if you wait TOO LONG before having surgery. Surgeons typically like to operate "SOONER rather than LATER", before permanent damage is done to the heart muscles and walls.

'AL'

 

[jancb]

Many thanks

Many thanks

Thank you all so much for your welcome and helpful replies. As to networking and making new friends--I have a number of friends who I know would be there for me if I asked. The hard part is asking. One friend was there to take me to and from my colonoscopy and for the follow up to my cataract surgeries. She was wonderful, but I felt so bad asking her to do this, as she was caring for her dear husband who has had quadruple bypass and was going through chemo for colon / lung cancer. Another dear friend would also help, but doesn't drive and would have her husband drive, but he is no spring chicken...and has his own health concerns. And so on.

Al, you made a special mention about the dilated left atrium...it never occured to me that this was something to be concerned about. Can you tell me more? What should I ask my pcp, who I'm scheduled to see Feb. 10?
TIA

 

[hensylee]

welcome, Jan. I am in Florida, too - NW fl panhandle. Where are you?

Most towns/cities in Florida have community help available. Perhaps you can look into one of these in your area. Home Health is also available where they come to your home to help out and even send RN to check on you.

 

[jancb]

In Florida, Too

In Florida, Too

Hi, Hensley.

Thank you for the information.

I'm in Citrus County...little town called Lecanto just east of Crystal River.

 

[hensylee]

In my humble opinion, that is one of the best sections of Florida to be in.......

 

[McCln]

jancb

jancb

Welcome to the board. I did not to doctors much myself. But I had cardiac checks when I did get with good doctors. Always take care of yourself. And seeing loved die from heart disease is always a wake up call. Thanks for getting yourself checked and be sure to do as the doctor says. And come in when you have questions. Take care.

Caroline
09-13-01
Aortic valve replacement
St. Jude's valve

 

[jancb]

North Central FL

North Central FL

In my humble opinion, that is one of the best sections of Florida to be in.......

My message didn't appear, so I'll try again.

I agree this is a lovely part of FL. I love it here. I could really use a few more degrees on the thermometer though. I'm really feeling the cold this year.<G>

Thanks to all who welcomed me to the boards. I now know where to come when I have questions.

 

[ALCapshaw2]

jancb wrote:

"Al, you made a special mention about the dilated left atrium...it never occured to me that this was something to be concerned about. Can you tell me more? What should I ask my pcp, who I'm scheduled to see Feb. 10? "

You may want to obtain copies of your Echocardiogram reports and chart the LAD and LVD dimensions. If they are increasing, that is a sign that the heart is enlarging. Often this enlargement will return to normal IF surgery is done 'soon enough'. If the enlargement has gone on 'too long', then permanent damage can be done to the heart muscles / walls. Surgeons are pretty aware of this phenomenon but it appears that some / many cardiologists didn't seem to give it much concern until recently. More and more are recommending surgery at the first sign of enlargement. I think this is wise.

'AL'

 

[jancb]

Charting findings

Charting findings

jancb wrote:

"Al,

You may want to obtain copies of your Echocardiogram reports and chart the LAD and LVD dimensions. If they are increasing, that is a sign that the heart is enlarging.
'AL'

Thank you for the advice, Al. I do have the results of the first echo. As I have others in the future, I'll be sure to secure copies. Fortunately, my pcp doesn't seem adverse to supplying info and copies.

Thank you again.

 

[medtronic of borg]

Hypertrophy

Hypertrophy

I think you need to go to a search engine and punch up hypertrophy. Then read cardiomyopothy. Hyer. is the enlargement of and Cardiomyopothy is were the normal heart mucle cells that are parellel are now jumbled and can't alow the size to decrease, or the electrical system to function normally, and it normally is progressive. Besure your Dr. clears this up as to which exactly you have. The LVD is not going to tell you much of anything in the begining. And you best hope it never does. Pay attention to the LAD. And a EF of 75% is way good! So relax take notes from your Dr. and learn.

Med

 

[jancb]

Re: Hypertrophy

Re: Hypertrophy

I think you need to go to a search engine and punch up hypertrophy. Then read cardiomyopothy. Hyer. is the enlargement of and Cardiomyopothy is were the normal heart mucle cells that are parellel are now jumbled and can't alow the size to decrease, or the electrical system to function normally, and it normally is progressive. Besure your Dr. clears this up as to which exactly you have. The LVD is not going to tell you much of anything in the begining. And you best hope it never does. Pay attention to the LAD. And a EF of 75% is way good! So relax take notes from your Dr. and learn.

Med

Thank you, Med.

I will certainly keep track of them. LAD is Left Aortic Diameter and LVT is Left Ventricle Diameter, am I right? With all the help here and on other sites, I feel like I'm studying to be a physician.<G>

Thanks again.

 

[Christian]

Someone set me straight if I missed something...

Why are you even considering mitral valve surgery if you have minimal regurgitation? Minimal (trace) regurgitation is a "normal" finding. Even the next step on the severity chain, "mild" regurgitation, is normal. "Moderate" is next, and even that's usually ok. Surgery is rarely performed unless regurgitation is "severe."

Sounds like you're years and years away from "severe." My wife was at "mild" in 1985. She's at "moderate-to-severe" now, nineteen years later. And she has the same pathology -- "minimal" anterior leaflet prolapse.

Odds are you'll never need to have surgery on your mitral valve.

 

[jancb]

Hi, Christian.

Sorry if I wasn't clear in my original post. I'm just trying to gather as much information about my test results and diagnosis as I can. I'm not considering surgery. Simply want all the facts as I monitor my progress. It's difficult to get some doctors to explain all their "lingo" . I find that if I have some information I can then ask intelligent questions and get the doctor to "volunteer" more information.

Thanks for the info regarding your dear wife. Sounds like I have several more years ahead of me.<G>

Thanks again.

 

[Nancy]

Hi Jan-

Welcome to the site. Here's a good reference for understanding about valves and medical management of problems associated with them.

I hope you will never have to have heart valve surgery.

http://www.acc.org/clinical/guidelines/valvular/jac5929fla16.htm

 

[medtronic of borg]

Echos

Echos

your close...AoV is aortic valve. LAD is Left Atrium Diameter. LVD is left Ventricle Diameter. This is according to my teaching years ago.

Med

PS reading one of these things gets very complicated, its best to let him/her make sence of it . That is what he/she is paid for. If you must follow the numbers, ask him/her which number is the most pertient for your condition and follow that one.

 

[jancb]

Thank you

Thank you

I appreciate the good wishes. I, too, hope that surgery will not be needed....ever!

I will ask about the numbers at my next appointment...I've already designed a chart that will be helpful in tracking the numbers. Hopefully, there will be nothing to chart.<G>

I will visit the site as soon as I post this reply.

Thank you again.