Cause of my afib

[belindalore]

I think I may finally know the cause of my afib which I actually found out on my own. My cardio Drs didn't send complete results of the heart tests they did on me when I was in the hospital in June and told I had afib. I had chest x-rays before all that that had shown I had haziness in a lung. And first visit I has with the cardio Dr I asked him if it was possible my afib was caused by my lung (I still don't have results from a pulmonary Dr about my lung cause she did sputum tests to see if anything would grow and won't see her til Sept. I was back in the ER end of June thinking I had a UTI and they checked out my lung again and said it was clear-who knows what to believe) and he said maybe. I'd been to see my primary for follow up after the last ER visit and I asked her about results of my echocardiogram and what she was sent just said I had the test and no results. So I went to the hospital and filled out their form and asked ALL of the results to be sent to my primary and I also got copies. Well cardio Dr didn't tell me I have a stiff mitral valve on the left side which causes the blood to back up a little and not completely emptying as it should. It's mild. I had a call with my primary about it. She explained more to me and said it comes with age a lot and nothing is done but watching it as long as it stays mild. Lots of people have it. Then she said if it becomes severe then Drs can replace that valve but if you were quite a bit older and it became severe they probably wouldn't treat it. What she should have said to me is-if you have the same insurance you have now they aren't going to pay for the surgery. And that's exactly what she meant.

Anyhow any thoughts on anyone who has a stiff mitral valve. I'm reading Dr Jack Wolfson's book "The Paleo Cardiologist" but haven't seen any specific thoughts about mitral valve. He delves into Afib a lot. Natural treatments. I'm thinking his advice would certainly help with my valve. Thanks to you all for this forum.i think

[BobD Volunteer]

I think the problem here is that echocardiogram results tend to be highly subjective and dependent on each operator's version of what is normal.

A leading doctor here in UK once told us that these results need to be taken very much in context as what is mild to one may be "trace" to another etc. Mitral regurgitation is extremely common and not normally a problem unless it is extreme in which case the back pressure can cause the left atrium to become enlarged leading to the risk of pathways being stretched and breaking down resulting in AF. This would normally be known as Valvular AF.

You have AF. Whilst the mechanics are understood what causes AF (unless alcohol abuse or over excerise induced) will always be a nagging question to which there is likely no sensible answer. I spent many fruitless years on that waste of time. lol 😁

[belindalore in reply to BobD]

Thanks for your input. I'm just sort of angry for not being told the results of my tests. Some Drs especially here in Florida are not very good at sharing info with other Drs. Don't know why they have to be that way. My neighbor's in-law came here from Wisconsin years ago to practice medicine and went back to Wisconsin because of the Drs not sharing or communicating with each other when they shared same patients. He said it was terrible atmosphere to try to practice in.

[CCW66 in reply to belindalore]

I am in Fl too. I have not found any electrophysiologist that I trust. Been to three as thought there had to be someone but no.Have a great dr at Penn now. Realized I have to travel. Also absolutely wonderful guy at MUSC in Charleston, SC.

[belindalore in reply to CCW66]

Thanks for your input. My problem is low income. By myself. HMO insurance that limits me. So I plug along. Take care.

[CCW66 in reply to belindalore]

Understand....hard to find a good dr that takes our insurance too.. dr Rykovik in Atlantis ( by Delray) is good if you can get there. Liked him the best. His associate Dr Fishchel. Is thought to be one of the best ablation guys here. Best of luck .warmest wishes to you.

[CDreamer]

My husband was diagnosed with a ‘heart murmour’ which is what mitral valve regurgitation or leaky mitral valve used to be called because you could hear it through a stethoscope - in 1942 - after recovering from Diptheria. He developed AF in 2006/7 so I very much doubt the 2 were connected.

The mitral valve was not a problem, he was strong, athletic and ran several marathons. At 86 he is still quite active.

[belindalore in reply to CDreamer]

Thanks for the input. And support m