What is done for atrium enlargement..

[gary]

In my case I would be very surprised

In my case I would be very surprised

to find in 5 months that LA has narrowed or not changed at all.

Could happen, hasn't been ruled out.

My guess is it will have dilated even more.

There are anomalies in testing that make accuracy in measurements somewhat suspect. There appears to be a variation of + or - 10% in the numbers we are given.

My CCF cardiologist did not accept my Pittsburgh Cardiologist's numbers at face value. The CCF Sonographer came in under 4.0
while the Pgh one came in at slightly over 4.0.

With Rain's shrinking and mine dilating, there appears to be no fixed result.

 

[Rain]

I know I shouldn't ask....

I know I shouldn't ask....

Whoa!

Hold on, Gary!! So you are telling me that is a bad thing? Hmmm.... sounds like I need to quiz my cardio. He didn?t even mention this part of the echo when we went over it together.

Crazy, for sure.

HEY, I know I shouldn?t ask.... but how can you be born in 1972 and have a 50 year history of heart disease? And what day was you surgery? Mine was the 6th. You may be related to me and cousin Bill! We decided since our surgeries were so close to the same day we must be related! lol I think his was 4-10-00 mine was 4-6-00.

Sonya, my heart problems started with a faulty mitral valve. The problem wasn?t fixed when it should have been. This resulted in my having ?global? problems with my heart. My cardio told me if I?d had the surgery sooner my heart would have returned to (or close to) its normal size. I really think you need to quiz your cardio too. This is scary stuff, we really need professional answers sometimes.

Rain

 

[gary]

This is beginning to look like a virtual

This is beginning to look like a virtual

version of the Keystone cops.

No, I'm not saying it's bad thing for you. Shrinkage is good.

The dilation of mine is not.

Surgery was on a Tuesday, 4/11/00 7:00 a.m. I always liked Tuesdays among all the weekdays. Don't ask why.

I have been reminded before about the mistake in my profile and have yet to fix it. Sooner or later I'll need though to get a round tuit. Should be 1942.

 

[Rain]

But Gaarrryy!!

But Gaarrryy!!

Gary,

Now you have us curious....... You just HAVE to tell....... Why do you like Tuesdays?? Come on....

You know.. the mistake doesn?t really bother me... but you?re probably REALLY stressing out ?DaveCv67'

... sorry Dave, I couldn?t resist. I hope you are having a great day.

Rain

 

[sonya489]

Hi,
Yall have really got me going now I'm so confused as if I wasn't already. I have to research stuff I'm the type of person that has to know things I just have to. I go to primary care tomorrow and I will have a lot of questions even for him. Then I will ask for the 1st cardio referal and then I'm sure I will get a 2nd. opinion then I guess if they differ in opinion I will get a 3rd. (lol).
Sometimes I think I'm more informed than primary care we will see tomorrow!
C-YA
Sonya

 

[LUVMyBirman]

Good luck Sonya. We will we thinking of you.

You wrote
"Sometimes I think I'm more informed than primary care we will see tomorrow"!

I am battling that exact scenario right now. Just relocated, back home. My new GP said "well, seems like you know more about these heart issues that I".

Yikes, time to find a new doctor! Had a great one in Memphis of all places. He was very well informed. All my life in this city, I have been messed up by these doctors. Had a close call out of state too. Sometimes I wonder about all around competency.

My new cardiologist here rattled off a name of another practice. Will get on board before the cold season really sets in. Already have my first one of the year.

 

[ALCapshaw]

Interesting discussion about PCP's.

I've wondered if an Internist might be a better choice for PCP for Heart Patients, especially one who specializes in Cardiology.

'AL'

 

[NancyMVP]

Hi Sorry I didn't get back to you. I have HOUSE GUESTS. Its my understanding that the left atrium enlarges because of the regurgitation. Hopefully we will get our valves repaired or replaced it should decrease in size. I've read some posts on the medhelp.org site where they have cardiogists answer questions. You can do a search on mitral valve regurgitation and you might find some answers there.
When I have some time I'll scroll through them.
I also have some good websites in my favorities.
Here is one I picked up off a post on this site:
Referring to timing of mitral valve surgery.
http://heart.bmjjournals.com/cgi/co...0&volume=87&firstpage=79&journalcode=heartjnl
Did your doctors say if you will be needing surgery in the near future? I'm still on medication and go back to see my doctor in January.
Talk to you tomorrow ok bye.

 

[sonya489]

I will not see the cardiologist until next Thursday.
See my new message How to read and EKG! It has my latest results.
Thanks,
C-YA
Sonya

 

[JimL]

Sonya,
Last Saturday you wrote, "I am anxious to see what your echo show make sure to post it...." So here it is.

I wanted to know especially two things: (1) My ejection fraction is now 69% -- it was in the 30s when I had a-fib after surgery. As my kids would say, Not too shabby.
(2) Has my heart returned to normal size? Here the answer the technician gave me is that my heart walls had thickened from the extra effort required for pumping before surgery, but the heart itself hadn't enlarged. Most of the walls look the normal thickness, although there is still one area that is thicker than normal.
Like Bonny, I see my cardiologist on October 1st, so I'll learn more then.

 

[sylviayasgur]

hi sonya!
as mara mentioned, joey at his 6 month echo found out that his heart had shrunk back to practically it's normal size after his surgery.
i do agree, you should call your cardio with all these questions. if the nurse or assistant can't answer them, please ask him to call you after he is done seeing patients.
please let us know...
stay well, sylvia

 

[sonya489]

Hi,
I'm glad to know there might be some hope in that happening to me!
Thanks,
C-YA
Sonya