Acquired heart valve disease?

[AdamJames157]

Hello,

Has anyone any experience of acquired heart valve disease due to infection?

I have been told it is difficult with instruments to determine whether this is the case, however given symptoms and past history, it has been suggested to me that it may be the cause of my aortic regurgitation.

I was originally diagnosed with a BAV (fused R-L cusp) and severe leak.

Any experience or if anyone has heard of this please do comment.

[Classof1988]

AdamI am not sure if this fully answers your question but rheumatic fever can damage the aortic valve and cause regurgitation. It is not a common illness but does still exist and is sometimes akin to growing pains in teenage years. My bout was serious enough to be called out for what it was but that was well over 50 years ago and I am still here!

[AdamJames157 in reply to Classof1988]

Did you have any heart problems with it?

[Classof1988 in reply to AdamJames157]

Not really too bad. Rheumatic fever made me too weak to walk, penicillin plus 15 weeks in hospital sorted it apart from my aortic valve being damaged. Was monitored for 18 years, my consultant felt that as long as the heart was working well nothing more needed to be done but felt the valve should be replaced before my heart began to be affected. My valve was replaced when I was your age and I had 30 years of active living before the heart electrical systems started to fail, requiring a pacemaker 3 years ago. Artificial valve is still working well and I am back to doing whatever I want to do with no issues. Only possible drawback with artificial valve replacement is that you are on anticoagulants for life but these haven't affected me at all and just require regular blood tests.

[AdamJames157 in reply to Classof1988]

Sorry to hear that. Glad it all worked out. Did you have a BAV or tricuspid valve? I had an infection a few years ago and haven’t been able to shake it. Doctors just prescribed pain relief. No antibiotics.

How was surgery for you? I’m very Nervous about it.

[Classof1988 in reply to AdamJames157]

Adam, apologies for not responding sooner, had a busy day yesterday. I cannot offer any guarantees but I can only share my experience with you. My surgery was undertaken at the London Chest Hospital in Bethnal Green which has sadly now closed but I have nothing but praise for the way it was handled. I had a procedure under local anaesthetic to measure the defective heart valve to ensure the replacement would fit and this involved a cut in the arm for the measuring tube to gain access. The cut healed quickly and the only sensation I had was a mild sctatching feeling. The actual surgery was pretty well painless, obviously you feel a bit groggy for a day or two after all the anaesthetic but the pain management was excellent and although I was fortunate to have been in otherwise good health pre op I had more energy as the blood supply to my body was improved. I did have a little set back after about a month, possibly doing too much, but overall I would say my open heart surgery was less painfully than having a tooth filled! Hope this encourages you and sets you at ease. There is no guarantee but you should not worry. I thought of myself like a car going into a garage for replacement of a defective part. To be honest, I have a strong faith in God, and He kept me peaceful, I wholeheartedly recommend Him to you. Be assured, and let me know how the surgery goes or if you would like prayer to reassure you

[AdamJames157 in reply to Classof1988]

Thanks for this. Did you feel poorly before surgery?

[Classof1988 in reply to AdamJames157]

Adam

I felt fine before surgery, perhaps notice a very subtle change on my last long journey out but that could have been psychological. Thankfully the surgery was scheduled before I had any problems, my heart coped well for 19 years with a damaged valve. Even so, as you are still young you may recover well.

[Alisbabas]

Hi

I have BAV which is congenital so your will. All my siblings have had a scan to see if they have inherited it.

Regards

Alison