Questionable shadow on 2d echo?

[chazzcage]

Hi! Hoping a question can be answered for me! My mother who is 53 had a valve replacement last August and all went great. She was up and walking the halls in 2 days. She just had an echo done last Tuesday and it showed a questionable shadow on the 2d echo on the valve. I for the life of me cannot find out the possibilities of what it could be and the nurse did not want to speculate. One change has been her coumadine level dipped to 1.7 during this time because she was given the generic brand by mistake instead of the brand name of coumadine and evidently they do not work the same in some patients. Can someone fill me in on the possibilities as she is scheduled or a TEE this Wednesday.
Thanks!

 

[Ross]

Hi Chazzcage and welcome to our forums.

It really is hard to speculate what it may be. It's possible that there is a clot formation on the valve or some other type of vegetation. That's only speculations though. It would most likely take being below target range INR for quite awhile for a clot to form. I don't think that's the case here. It could even be some scar tissue forming around the valve. It could also be absolutely nothing.

Whether she was on generic or brand name coumadin really doesn't matter. They both meet FDA approval standards, so one should work just as well as the other. The only real difference is how much you pay for the drug.

While I know this doesn't exactly help you much, hopefully it allows you to understand a little more and give you some peace of mind.

Welcome again. Others should be along sometime soon to offer their thoughts also. Give em time to wake up.

 

[JimL]

It is definitely frustrating to know some information, but not know what it means!
When I had an echo a year ago, the technician was very upfront with information and explanations. But this year the technician wouldn't tell me anything. So I'm in that inbetween stage, I know I've had the echo, but I don't know what it shows until I see the cardiologist in a week, and perhaps he'll tell me.
To return to your question, you can ask the technician, or wait until you talk to the cardiologist, or perhaps the physician's assistant.

 

[Nancy]

Hi-

Welcome to the site. You'll find the best information on valve things here from folks and their loved ones who have been there, done that.

I urge you not to read anything into what has shown up in the echo and wait until the TEE is done. That is the more definitive form of echo, and will tell what is going on.

Last January, my husband had an echo, while in the hospital. His cardiologist came in that afternoon, and said there was something suspicious appearing in the echo and it looks like it's your husband valve, and I asked him, which one (my husband has 2 mechanical valve replacements), and he said it appears to be both mechanical valves. We were in shock. He then scheduled a TEE to look further.

But throughout the day we were all speculating on what this meant, doctors included. We were worried that there was vegetation on both valves, and possibly even involving his pacemaker. My husband is very high risk for surgery, so this was a terribly tense time.

When the TEE was finally done, and they did a very, very thorough one, it all turned out OK. There was no vegetation, everything was working out well, nothing on the pacemaker. I never asked what the suspicious findings were, but maybe scar tissue, since he's had multiple heart surgeries.

So, please adopt my motto, and "Don't worry until it's absolutely necessary, it does a lot of harm, ruins your day, and doesn't change a thing. Wait until you get more information."

Hoping that all will be OK.

 

[sylviayasgur]

hi chazzcage!
welcome to this site. as you can see, everyone here is so supportive, knowledgeable, and nice.
i am in total agreement with nancy.
joey had an echo done 6 months post op. this echo showed a moderate to severe leakage around his valve.
we got very upset and nervous, assuming that his valve was not doing well and that he might need further surgery to correct this.
fortunately, the TEE showed exactly what was going on. it seems there were two trivial leaks, each squirting in the opposite direction, creating the illusion of a severe leak. we were so happy with these results.
so, the TEE will tell you much more. wait until wednesday before driving yourself nuts with worry.
please let us know how it goes and what they find.
hope you and your mom are ok for now.
all the best, sylvia

 

[chazzcage]

Thanks!

Thanks!

Thank you all for the wisdom and insight. I have to say it has been a trying 14 months! Mom had the surgery in August 2002 and I was not worried in the least. I had a very calm peace before, during, and after the surgery. There were about 10 people at the hospital all day and I was the only one that was sane. My dad who was retired nursed her back to health. He even built a beautiful bird house for her in the shape of a big church and even names it after her. Unfortunately in January he passed away suddenly so 2003 did not start off well. Then we got hit with the blizzard of 2003 and now the hurricane. Mom lives on the Chesapeake Bay so of course her pier was 4 feet under water. I just made the comment of how our higher power was really trying us in the past 14 months and what else could go wrong when she told me this news and since I could not find the answers easily on the web I was starting to feel uninformed and uneasy about this "shadow" but after reading the responses feel much better.
Thanks!
Chazz

 

[Ross]

Stick around and have some fun as well as get even more educated. No need to hit and run. By all means, please let us know what they do find when the tests are done.

 

[hensylee]

Hey Chazz - doesn't it make your underwear wad when you have only an iota of information and have to WAIT! You want to just yell - tell me, tell me, tell me NOW. Maybe tomorrow you will have some answers. My prayers are with you. Love Ann

 

[chazzcage]

Good news!

Good news!

Well great news!
The shadow turned out to be a suture from her valve. At least they have a base now to go from. Her doctor has one of the best bed side manners I have ever seen from a doctor. Truly an inspirational human being! He is more worried about my mom during the holidays since my Dad recently passed away.
I hope mom stays on the board here and meets some more friends!
Chazz

 

[Ross]

That's great news! Your more then welcome to stick around too ya know. We can use all the help we can get.

 

[Nancy]

What a relief, Chazz!!

I'm so happy that you shared the good news. Good news is always nice to hear.

Take care,