echo said i have slight leak in valve

[tripletx]

I have posted a few days ago but my anxiety is now really bad, i can’t sleep and day to day enjoying life is being affected! haven’t heard from cardiologist despite phoning twice last week, was just left with slight leak in valve and to monitor in a year or two - going out my mind 🥲🥲🥲😩😩😩😩

[Flutey78]

I know it’s really difficult but I think that if they’re just monitoring it it’s probably good news and not too bad. I’ve just had a valve replacement and you can survive them. Stay in touch with your GP and if you think you’re deteriorating bang on their door loudly.

[tripletx]

yes a bit harsh for you to say all that! Mental health plays a huge part in people’s lives and up until March of last year when i had a health scare which was operated on i didn’t give my health a single thought but nevertheless it is a serious condition which shouldn’t be down played and yes i appreciate that compared to a lot of people out there I don’t even compare on the bad health scale, unfortunately i do catastrophise and i DO need reassurance from folk who have and are experiencing the same in the hope to alleviate my anxiety

[Peony4575 in reply to tripletx]

Try a book called “Needing to know for sure “ by Dr Sally Winston which might help you with your health anxiety . She explains that constantly asking for reassurance creates an insatiable need for reassurance none of which will alleviate your anxiety . I had an echo on Saturday following an episode of AF and was told I have trivial leaks on my mitral and tricuspid valves, and a mild leak on my aortic valve. But nothing to worry about they will just repeat the echo every so often . So rejoice ! Things could be a lot worse and it’s a reminder to look after myself. Your leaky heart valve is not a problem your head is . And that is why your consultant has not rushed to get back to you . You don’t have an urgent problem. And you pay for an appointment when you go privately .Not endless follow up. A fifteen minute chat on the phone is asking for a free follow up appointment in effect . If you want to talk to your cardiologist make another appointment

[Hidden]

Hello

Sorry to hear you are still suffering really bad feeling worried and anxious I know the feeling very well

After having 3 heart attacks Bypass surgery which was 18 months ago I still get in a state and not a pleasant place to be worrying all the time

Some of us do not have a laid back attitude if only we all did because for those that do they do not know how lucky they are as when you are more of a worrier it is just as debilitating as so many other things people suffer from so much so that people have taken their own life's because they cannot cope so we should be careful we don't add to those of us that do not cope as well and if we cannot find words of comfort pass by the post and let those that have an open mind and compassion try and help

As I said I had Bypasses done and I have a slight leaky valve but because it was slight they did not feel any need to do anything as lot's have a slight leaky valve that never gets any worse or causes any harm , that is why they will have decided to monitor yours as it is not bad enough to do anything with but they are going to keep an eye on it to make sure you which you no doubt will be that you are one of those with a little leaking valve that never changes

If you have a good relationship with your Doctor see if you can make an appointment and have a talk with them I hope they will be able to make you feel more confident about all this

If it all feels to much you could talk about some Counselling or medication which could help

As this sinks in and you get more positive feedback I really hope you will be more able to see it is not as bad as your anxiety is making it feel at this moment

It will all turn out to be ok x

[tripletx in reply to Hidden]

Thank you BeKind28, those are lovely words, I have taken in what everyone has said and am trying g to act on it, and i am trying to get help with my anxiety but waiting lists unless you go private! I am probably my own worst enemy in fact I know i am but the pessimism takes over and gets out of control! hopefully also once this cardiologist decides to get back to me he can explain everything in full and alleviate my fears! he was in so much of a hurry to get out that hospital and to the NHS hospital he also works in xx

[Hidden in reply to tripletx]

Hello

It is nice to see your reply I was worried you might not come back and talk with us

I read your bio and you have already been ill with something I think it says and I think you may have health anxiety to ?

I have really bad anxiety and one of mine is health anxiety so 3 heart attacks and a triple Bypass later you can imagine where my head is at and I have had to post more than once because I am not coping and when you have anxiety people answer but it is like you read the replies the anxiety takes over and you forget all the positives and need reminding again until you find it easier to come to terms with what you are been told

But my Surgeon she knows her stuff and she was there with my heart doing the Bypasses and she left the valve alone as it was only slight and she told me when they are like that it is better to leave them at that stage as they may never change and yours is slight and they are leaving yours but checking it stays that way and the odds are it will

As for getting some kind of Counselling if only it were that easy they are in big demand Counsellors and waiting lists can be as much as a year or more depending where you live and then it is usually about 12 sessions which equals 12 hours which for so many is just not enough

The private route again can be a bit of a pot luck everyone that does it private says they are the best I tried that and a thousand pounds later I realised I was Counselling her as she talked about herself all the time so I have been put of slightly as you can imagine

Make that list so you get out what you want to ask as I hope he will get in touch and I hope you get the answers and it will ease your anxieties

Let us know how you get on x

[tripletx in reply to Hidden]

H BeKind, I went to a counsellor for health anxiety too and she spent the whole time talking about people she knew who had died of cancer, had cancer, the next door neighbour who threw himself in front of a train and other people with health issues, by the end of it i was a quivering wreck in tears, i never went back

[Hidden in reply to tripletx]

Hello

O dear I can only imagine what that must have been like to sit and listen to that

I would not have gone back either

There are some good Counsellors out there it is finding them

The one I have at the moment she is really good but NHS so you get 12 sessions I need more I asked if she did private but she doesn't

Hopefully the next one you get will know what they are doing x

[Hidden in reply to tripletx]

You are right. Counselling is sort of OK but they do not have answers. I get similar. Well you could get run over by a bus. You don't know what is around the next corner. Put your big boy pants on and move forward. Seems simple doesn't it. But I tell you it is awful, anxiety. Especially once you know you have a problem with, I suppose, one of the main organs that, is there to keep you going. I suppose iam slowly moving forward but in the early days I would call the heart nurse. The bhf nurses, but they don't have the answer's. Yes it nice to talk to someone but, all I end up doing is going around in circles. I have good days, well good hours. Then bang something like a song comes on the radio.. and bang iam back thinking why me, wish I was back in that place a knew nothing.

[Rhinos67]

Oh bless you, I struggled terribly with anxiety when I received my diagnosis 18 months ago.I started having counselling sessions, which helped and then my GP referred me to a Clinical Psychologist to help me go through with the surgery that I needed.

I'm in a Facebook group, UK Aortic and Heart Defects Pre and Post surgery. They were a huge support also and not so dismissive if mental health issues as some in this forum seem to be

Sending you a hug as it seems like you need one 🤗

Joanne

😊

[Hidden]

Hello

We can agree partly where she should look for help but still disagree that she is doing anything wrong by posting on here to as she has a heart condition and finding it hard to come to terms with her very early diagnosis

I to have anxiety I have sought help it is not aways as easy as it sounds getting it

I have done many a post panicking over very similar things and had lots of wonderful support yet still have had to post again but I can assure you that the replies I got did help unlike you think they make people more anxious

So maybe I do not belong on here either if the view is that reassuring people that need it is not the correct way to help them when they have a heart issue and anxiety to and therefore struggle more to cope and if this is correct I shall consider leaving the Community explaining my reasons why I obviously to do not belong here either

I think now we should not continue to be disrespectful to the poster by taking over her post with a difference of opinions it does not make for a very warm welcome so if you choose to come back at me again I shall with no disrespect ignore your response

[bridgeit]

I was once told by a surgeon that lots of people have heart conditions and never know it - they never have a heart attack. I think it's not so much about whether or not we have a heart condition, it's the scale of it. A slightly leaky valve or small hole isn't anything to get worked up about if the cardiologist has said no intervention is needed, just monitoring. This is my situation too. I've got two leaks from a dodgy valve and a little hole that I've apparently had since birth. I'm advised that my heart is currently managing well despite both anomalies.

If the specialist says don't worry, your heart is coping well, they really do mean it. Many hearts are not perfect, but they still function perfectly well. Sounds like yours and mine are off the same shelf!

Try not to let fear ruin your day to day life - quite apart from anything else stress is really, really bad for the system generally. Try some meditation and gentle exercise; walking or swimming is good. Your heart will thank you for it.

I know it's scary when we've always had good health then we have surgery for something unexpectedly and suddenly we've been "ill". The thing to try and remember is that surgery, and any kind of medical intervention, is carried out with the aim of getting us back to our particular normal as soon as possible, so that we can carry on with our lives. Medical intervention is not intended to cause us to worry endlessly about what went wrong, what is wrong and what might go wrong, bringing our life to a standstill as a result. That's not recovery, it's purgatory.

Try not to torment yourself with anxiety and worry. There are much nicer things to do!

Here's a reference for some quiet reading. There's no need to buy anything, just read the advice, which I think is good, and head for the "health anxiety" link for more focused information. bacp.co.uk/about-therapy/wh...

[tripletx in reply to bridgeit]

Thank you bridgeit, those are lovely words and i will try and act in them, talking to people in similar situations does help a lot, for which i am grateful xx

[tripletx]

Support from those in similar situations and hsve coped is all i needed, friends and family who aren’t going through the same cannot give the same level as they don’t understand fully! I read and cherish every reply and do take it on board! The reassurance from you guys does and will help me greatly along with hopefully getting some counselling, i thank each one of you who have given me hope - heslth anxiety is a horrible world and a frightening one and support and reassurance essential to try and get out