Regurgitating valves

[alice2800]

Hi there

I recently had an echocardiogram. I then went to my cardiologist appointment and he said to me ‘your results are all clear it looks good’. Today, I was at my G.P. and I asked to see my results, so he printed them for me. I have mild mitral, aortic and triscupid regurgitation. Is it normal for a cardiologist to not tell there patient they have this? Does this mean I have heart valve disease? What should I do next?

[Midgeymoo17]

Normal not to tell you I am not sure. See below. But they are pretty 'normal' findings.

It would be normal for a cardiologist to say those results are all good and give the 'all clear'. Most people have mild regurgitation on at least one of the valves. It is unusual for valves to work perfectly and I think for the tricuspid it is so common it is almost consider abnormal to have it working perfectly.

Does this mean you have valve disease? I am no expert but I would say probably not if it is labelled as mild regurgitation, as the cardiologist said "all clear". This does not mean that the regurgitation would not get worse with time but I will address this next.

Regurgitation can get worse with time, however, this is a very slow process. From Mild to severe regurgitation took me 10-15 years and that was between age 5 and 20 when I grew quite significantly. So it is unlikely there will be much follow up of the problem. I suggest from now on in:

(a) establish if you are going to see the cardiologist again or not- although probably not necessary.

(b) Speak to your GP about the symptoms that would indicate increase in regurgitation so you can act if you spot them.

(c) Even if you are not going to you GP for heart test but another problem,, ask them to perform a stetherscope test (listen to your heart with their stethoscope). This takes two seconds and is as sensitive as any imaging modality at picking up valve disease in plenty of time. The difficulty is just remembering to ask to have it done so make it part of a standard trip to your GP. The people who forget to have the stethoscope check are the ones who run in to trouble.

[Fredders]

Hi Alice

I was diagnosed with a heart murmur when I was 16. Eventually my aortic regurgitation became serious enough that I had to have the valve replaced - I was then 52. So you can see it can take a long time before anything has to be done, but it does vary from person to person. Although I had a yearly ecg, I know this isn’t done by all cardiology departments.

I would contact your cardiology department and explain your concerns and ask them what symptoms you should look out for. Having said that, I didn’t have any symptoms right up until my first op, but I only had one valve leaking.

As Midgeymoo has suggested, get your GP to check your heart each time you go, they’ll be able to hear if it’s getting worse.

Hopefully it will be a long time before you need to have any operation.

Wendy

[Kristin1812 Heart Star]

Hi, Alice. They are monitoring 2 of my valves and they have now gone from ‘mild’ to ‘moderate’. Apparently they will only take action if they become ‘severe’.

Hopefully you are not going to get to this for a v v long time, if at all.

Good luck.

[25GG]

Hi Alice

I am 25 and been told I have the exact same in all valves except aortic. I rang my aunty who is a GP and she said I have nothing to worry about and it will just be something my GP / cardiologist will monitor yearly or less. Its not an issue until moderate/severe and this can take decades - if any changes at all. Did you get any other information?

I am going on holiday soon and afraid to fly... probably silly to be afraid but I am a natural born worrier! My cardiologist appointment is after I get back so I am looking for a bit more reassurance/info.

I don't know if this is related either but my RHR is now 51. Do you experience any changes in heart rate at all?