Mild leaking heart valves

[execz1]

I have had symptomatic paroxysmal afib for 12 years. The first five years were episodes free after the initial episode. I have been taken Multaq and Diltiazem that minimize episodes to tolerable levels.

Now I am told that my Echo showed mild leaking aortic and tricuspid heart valves along with grade 1 left ventricle diastolic dysfunction . I am told that all I need to do is to control blood pressure with medication and exercise. I will appreciate any one in the community that may have similar diagnosis to share their symptoms and treatment. My principal symptoms is fatigue upon physical efforts though I am able to tolerate such fatigue while walking for about 45 to 60 minutes of walking - age is 83

[Ersilia2]

I have 3 leaky heart valves , enlarged aorta and enlarged atrium. Leaky valves diagnosed in 2005.Cardiologist just keeps a check on them.

[Popepaul]

I believe that mild or trace regurgition from the heart valves is often found in people with afib and advancing age, myself included.

[execz1 in reply to Popepaul]

Thank you Popepaul,

Do you have any symptoms such as fatigue, lack of stamina and faster breathing when walking? are you on any medication. I am on Multaq, Diltiazem, eliquis and Valsartan.

[Bunkular]

I have mild to moderate mitral valve prolapse which my father & grandfather both had, but I also have arrhythmias - none of which slows me down - it's the medications that give me pause every now and then. I just have to get up from a crouch more slowly or I get dizzy. You are doing really well with walking an hour! Good for you - keep that up because walking is one of the all time best excercises you can do.

[execz1 in reply to Bunkular]

Thank you Bunkular ,

I suspect you are right about the medication side effects, however, I am not sure how much of fatigue and lack of stamina is caused by the heart issues? I am tempted to stop all medications for few days and see what happens but I am afraid to fire up the afib and lose control of it.

[Bunkular in reply to execz1]

Please do not stop any meds without talking to your doctor first! That's really important because your body adapts to them so if you suddenly stop them you will suffer a reaction.

[Popepaul]

I take bisoprolol and edoxaban. I feel fine when I am in NSR. I have experienced lability of BP, discomfort around the chest/ not quite pain, some breathlessness, pre syncope and full syncope at various times when I have been in AF. I think that my AF burden is quite low at less than 1% but the episodes are becoming more frequent. The bisoprolol appears to be helpful in that I mostly avoid episodes of tachycardia. My view is that a sustained fast heart rate is damaging. The edoxaban is prophylactic and will hopefully help me avoid a stroke.Regards and good luck.

[WildIris]

You didn't mention your diet- if you're already on a Mediterranean type diet, good for you, and keep it up. If not, try to figure out which foods, such as sugar, or lack of water, or undereating, might be causing fatigue. Also, since your episodes are not symptomatic, is it possible you are having more af than you think?

[execz1 in reply to WildIris]

Thank Wildlris for your contribution.

I am on modified mediterranean diet that add a little red meat . Once in a while I go overboard with sugar but on the whole I am below average consumer of sugar.

On the contrary my afib is very symptomatic and I take Multaq and Diltiazem to help control it but still have breakthroughs that with blood pressure history contributed the valve leak issues.