Heart valve problems.

[Christo4]

Does anyone have heart valve problems if so what kind of treatment please, I am waiting to have a scan to find out what my problem is, I had an ECG I do know I have two problems AF being one and valve the other.

Christo.

[Ang3lc4ts]

Morning Christo, I have a Mitral Valve regurgitation combined with Paroxysmal AF and I am told that this valve problem is probably due to having AF episodes over very many years. All they are doing with me is keeping an eye on it as it is not serious enough yet to consider an op. I had no idea I had this problem until a couple of years ago when I was admitted to hospital after an AF episode and TIA and the cardiologist just said "you do know you have a heart murmur"! Whether this causes my breathlessness, along with the medication and AF, or whether it is a combination of them all, I do not know.

I wish you well with any further tests you have and hope you will get it sorted soon.

All the best from sunny Cornwall and try and enjoy the rest of the day, I will.

Ang

[janenenis in reply to Ang3lc4ts]

Hi Ang. Have same things going on myself at moment and after tia 4 weeks ago am hoping my doc says ok to drive again

Have you been able to resume after all your similar episodes to mine ? Thanks

[Ang3lc4ts in reply to janenenis]

Hi janenenis, I did not drive for 6 weeks after my TIA. After my episodes and only if I feel ok, I just drive short distances. The trouble is AF can start at any time so this is why I do not drive far now.

So, if you feel well drive, if not don't. Hope this helps.

[Christo4 in reply to Ang3lc4ts]

Ang.

Thank you for your posting,I have enjoyed my day all we need is the sun.

Christo.

[Dadog]

I'm in the same position, Christo. Situation is described as a "moderate to severe mitral regurgitation." I was told, last year that it may need attention in 2 or 3 years time, whatever that means. Just had an annual monitoring scan and I see the cardio in April, so hopefully, I will get some more detail and a prognosis as to what the plan is.

[Christo4 in reply to Dadog]

Thank you for your posting hope all works out well for you in April when you see your cardio

[abihel]

When I was diagnosed as have AF and flutter they also found a leaky valve (whatever that means). They said they will just keep an eye on it...with a scan yearly. x

[Christo4 in reply to abihel]

I Hope you receive all the care you may need.

Thank you for your posting.

[ramsfan]

hi same problem.I am having a mitral valve replacement..mechanical.Hopefully by the less evasive method thru the left rib virtually no scarring as opposed to op involving sternum .quicker recovery from too. driving after 2 wks if all goes well after. It is well worth researching what hospitals offer as client choice available. good luck

va

[Christo4 in reply to ramsfan]

I wish you well when you have your operation keep in touch, let us know how you get on.

Thank you for your posting

[stanreader in reply to ramsfan]

A good surgen for key hole is Mr Birde at Bazaldon Essex he done key hole on me last July all went well very god place in and out in 8 days

[Luvpets]

Hi, I was diagnosed with mitral valve stenosis in 2011 after having an echocardiogram (had high blood pressure, getting short of breath & had a heart murmur) & was told I would need open heart surgery sometime. A year later I was told I needed valve replacement urgently otherwise my lungs wouldn't cope with the surgery although I was feeling ok. I had a mechanical valve put in a year ago & have to stay on warfarin permanently. On discharge I was told I had A fib/flutter & was put on Amiodarone for several weeks but that didn't do anything so was told not to take anymore.

Cardioversion was mentioned but I was told that would probably only work temporarily. I have been taking Metoprolol since 2011 - now 190mg daily as my dosage was doubled twice last year to try to get my heart rate down. It seems that I would have been able to stop taking Metoprolol soon after the surgery but then I got AF.

The surgeon did say before the op that my heart might not go back to normal because the damage has been going on for so long & pressure in the R side was very high. Seeing cardiologist in a couple of weeks & trying to learn more about AF as I don't think they have been doing much to control my erratic heart rate apart from upping my medication? I'm 56yr NZer & this is my first post. I hope this info is helpful.

[Christo4 in reply to Luvpets]

Thank you for your posting nice to her from you,I hope you keep well.

[daithelife]

Hi Christo,

As responses so far relate to Mitral valve problems you may like to know about the other possibility which is problems with the Aortic Valve. I like many here have had AF for quite a while, and according to my EP possibly for many years prior to diagnosis as I do not suffer any symptoms. This led to long term damage and diagnosis of heart failure approximately three years ago with severe damage to the atrial valve and both enlargement of the Atria and overgrowth of tissue around valve. As a result I had a mechanical valve replacement and Myomectomy (reshaping surgery of tissue around valve) last year and also had a pacemaker installed to help regulate rhythm. This was done in the traditional way by open heart surgery through chest and whilst not exactly a 'cake walk' is certainly nothing like as terrible as it sounds. I was out of bed within 24 hours of the operation and discharged from hospital within 10 days. I followed the advice on dealing with the pain and gradually recovering and had no real problems. Bearing in mind that effectively all your ribs are effectively either broken or strained during the operation the main problem is pain on movement similar yo that you may experience after a bad car accident. However if you follow the medical advice the best pain relief is regular dose of paracetemol. It sounds sill to me as a layman too but 2 tablets 4 times a day kept me if not exactly pain free but certainly comfortable during that recovery period.

Now more than a year later I can assure you I feel like a new man and are doing things I couldn't do 20 years ago and despite my age can run ring rounds many of half my age!

[Christo4 in reply to daithelife]

Thank you for your posting well done, you did so well after your operation,I'm still waiting for a scan will let you know the outcome.

[stanreader]

Hi I had two problems first my aortic valve replaced in 2004 open hart surgery in 2013 I had a mitral valve repair key hole surgery all sorted now

[Christo4 in reply to stanreader]

Standreader.

Thank you for your posting pleased your all sorted now !

Take care enjoy this lovely day.

Christo.

[keeponticking]

Hello! Have had a valve problem since I was a baby. Am now 36. was pregnant at 26 and went in to severe congestive heart failure - loads of drama but just about got through it. my heart wasn't able to pump the extra volume of blood. was then told that my valve was leaking, had moderate to severe mitral regurge and also pulmonary regurge, an enlarged heart and very low blood pressure. In dec 2012 ended up at my gp complaining with palpatations, breathlessness and all that is familiar to everyone here! was diagnosed with persistant AFib and had cardioversion etc. My cardiologist suggested that my heart had stretched too much and cant hold its rhythm so he suggested a mitral valve repair as I was too young for replacement and this would help the AFib. Had the repair in feb13 with a maze procedure by open heart surgery (bang goes the clevage!!!) have reverted back to AFib twice since. had 5 more cardioversions and 2 more ablations, the last in feb this year but doing great since! recovery is slow after the op. paracetamol will be your new best friend, but you must have patience. have little naps during the day and dont let anyone in who has cold or flu - it hurts to sneeze!! you will be fine and wonder afterwards what it was all about as you run up the stairs!! take care and keep us posted xxx

[Christo4]

Keeponticking

Thank you for your posting you sound so much better I'm still waiting to have this heart scan and wonder what they are going to find,all this worry after my stroke last June !

Take care.

Christo.

[1931]

I had a heart valve replaced 45 years ago l was in hospital for six weeks and now they do it. In a few days all the best Gordon