Scared, Angry, and Anxious

[SandyLee]

I'm a healthy 48-year old woman, although I've been told for years that I have a congenital heart murmur. On 8/31 I went to the hospital with symptoms of a heart attack and spent the day in the ER. The EKG and blood tests showed that I did NOT have a major heart attack, but the cardiologist on call didn't like what he heard when he listened to my heart and scheduled a stress ECHO for me the next morning, which I had. I called his office the day after Labor Day (a week after my hospital visit) and was told that he'd been on vacation and that my test results were "in a stack" on the nurse's desk, but that she'd give them to the doctor. On Thursday, I called again and was told that he was at outlying clinics, but the nurse's assistant told me that I had severe mitral valve regurgitation and an enlarged aorta.

I have an appointment tomorrow morning with the cardiologist I wanted to see (NOT the ER cardiologist) at 9:00, but I'm scared because I don't know how "severe" severe really is, I'm angry I don't know what I should be doing or not doing (and I'm supposed to leave to go to California on Saturday for vacation) and anxious because I don't know what's ahead.

Help!

 

[hensylee]

Sandy, you have found the place where you will receive information and support. I didn't have a valve problem, so I can't help. The gang is probably on Sunday afternoon chat, but they will be along soon - unless you want to go into the chat room and check it out. Go to our home page and click on chat.

Welcome.

 

[Nancy]

Hi Sandy-

This diagnosis can sometimes take people by such surprise that they have trouble comprehending what it all means. It's totally scary. My husband is the patient here and he's had 3 valve surgeries, and countless other very, very serious things.

I would guess that tomorrow's appointment will be the beginning of some additional diagnostic testing. An echo cardiogram is not always the most definitive test, which is why others are scheduled. I urge you to try not to become unglued until all the testing results are in and they can sometimes take a while to sort out.

The very most important thing to remember is that these kinds of conditions have a "fix", which many other medical conditions do not.

Please let us all know how things go for you tomorrow, we'll all be waiting to hear.

Best wishes and God Bless.

 

[SandyLee]

Thank you,

Thank you,

Both for your good wishes and prayers. It sure helps a lot to know that there are people who are feeling and/or going through the same thing. I know that things could be a lot worse - and ARE for some people - and I'm just grateful that a friend told me about this site.

 

[Nancy]

There are many wonderful caring people here and they will help to get you through these rocky times. Almost any question you might have, someone here has been through and can help you with.

So come here often and ask away. You'll get lots of answers. Weekends are slow, which means that all those good people who have walked the path before you are out and hopefully enjoying life after their "fixes". That's a good thing, right?

 

[tobagotwo]

The severe mitral regurgitation you could go on vacation with. It will make you tired and easily short of breath. The enlarged aorta will take a cardiologist's careful consideration. If it is above a certain size, it needs immediate attention. Either way, if you do get to go, you will need to take it easy physically (no carrying/packing big suitcases, physical stress).

You must be having some symptoms, like shortness of breath or angina. Angina might show up as jaw pain or a tightness in your throat, rather than the clutching at the heart or left arm they usually write about.

Yes, it sure does make you mad when they rush you for tests, and then dally with the answers. Sometimes I swear they do tests on Thursday, just so they can make you wait over the weekend.

It's hard to take all this in suddenly. You have to think that they could have noted the mitral regurgitation before it became severe. Still, many come here in as deep a sudden shock as you, so it happens a lot. I'm not sure if it's worse that way, or when you know it's coming for a few years.

Nancy is right - the good news is that these things are mostly fixable. Not nasty drugs, experiments, and maybes. Hard fixes, for the most part.

Let us know how things go for you. We'll be thinking of you.

Best wishes,

 

[Nan]

What a shock for you! I hope that your cardio is able to give you your much needed answers. But Nancy is absolutely right, these things are fixable,unlike some other diagnoses.

It is so frustrating that you had to wait so long for the test results. And scary as well.

Take it one step at a time.

Let us know how you are doing.

My best wishes to you.

 

[Georgia]

Hi, Sandy. I'm sure you're even more than scared, angry and anxious; the one thing I can say is that if you were really really in bad shape you'd be in the hospital. I speak from experience - thought I had pneumonia and it was congestive heart failure from 2 bad valves.

Finding this stuff out is a real shock. But as Nancy said, there's more diagnostic stuff coming and the good news is that the valve problems are mechanical issues - they can be and are fixed every day. We're all living testaments to that. So hang in there and keep us informed and ask all the questions you want.

Welcome to the site.

 

[cherieo]

Doctors are only people

Doctors are only people

Hi Sandy:
It seems sometimes that the medical pros in our life just don't care, but most of them really do. But to them our problems (no matter how scary to us) are part of their job. They can't and shouldn't be as shook as we are. But many of them could be kinder and gentler.
I had polio at 2 and spent my childhood going from medical procedure to medical procedure. I developed rhuematic heart disease at 18 and underwent my first surgery then. I have continued to have a variety of medical conditions that have kept me under a doctors care. so for the last 46 years I have had hundreds of doctors. Some are incredible, some are incompetent, some are just ok.
Once you have something serious, you have to find a doctor you can deal with. One who will listen (really listen) to you and answer ALL of your questions and take the time necessary to do so. Usually if the doctor is good, his/her staff is also. And when you are scared it helps to take your spouse or a Very close friend with you, because you may not hear all the doctor tells you.
I hope you have more answers now and that you know what the next step is. I will be praying for you. cherie

 

[bvdr]

Hi Sandy and hi Cherieo. I want to welcome both of you to this forum.

Sandy, how did your appointment go with the cardiologist? I'm hoping that you are currently on vacation and really enjoying yourself.

Cherieo, you sound like you have had a very interesting medical life. I'm sure you have a great deal of experience that will be a real asset to our site.

 

[Sherry]

Hi, Sandy. Welcome to our forum. I know how scary this all can be, but remember that there are hundreds of us surgical survivors here to help you through the process. Don't hesitate to ask for our help, at least from an emotional standpoint.

BTW, where are you in Indiana? You can see from my weathertag where I'm from.