Afternoon community,
Could anyone specialists assist in giving me some feedback on some echo results? They have come back normal but I’m still feeling terrible. I’ve read about HFPEF and am concerned this could’ve been missed. Not great to question results I know but my symptoms are telling me something isn’t right. Any feedback would be good. See attached…..
Steve (Forest’s bigger fan)
Hi Steve_Notts
I hope you’re well today.
There are two things in your echo which stood out to me.
1. Mildly dilated aortic root
2. Regurgitation
I don’t have much knowledge about the former, however, I did find the below information on the BHF site which might be a starting point for you.
bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...
In terms of the latter, I can see you have regurgitation in the aortic valve, mitral valve, and possibly some pulmonary regurgitation too. My understanding of regurgitation is where the valves are leaky. Please see the link below for more info.
bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...
Another user springs to mind when talking about leaky valves. I will tag Yumz199725 and I hope she can give you a deeper insight into this based on her experience.
I believe the above might be what is causing your symptoms however, it is important to speak with your cardiologist about this as they are experts in this field.
Have you started any treatment yet and do you have any follow up investigations?
All the best.
Tos
Thanks Tos92. In terms of meds I’ve been on bisoprolol since 2019 after having AF cardioverted. No AF since then.
Is there a follow up appointment to your echo results?
Hi Steve and thanks Tos92 for thinking of me! Hopefully I can offer some incite, great advice by the way tos. So as tos says I do have alot of experience with the leaky valve I have bicuspid aortic valve and it's severly leaky and moderately narrow so, what are your symptoms?? How long have you been feeling this way. I noticed I get palpitations, fatigued, short of breathe ( they feel the breathlessness is not heart related but I still think it is). Always feeling tired. You have quite alot of valves that are leaky aswell. And there not concerned and consider normal?? Seriously?? Wow. Hope this helped.
Thanks Yumz199725, my GP gave me the initial results and the cardiologists cover letter stated ok. I’ve been experiencing breathlessness, fatigue and lightheadedness for a few weeks now and am concerned.
forgot to say the Dr said not to look into these too much as TRIVIAL is so minimal and also said the echo is a very precise test.
That's good that it's not too much leakage but given that you have symptoms they should look in to it for you surely. I need surgery eventually for my valve because of damaged it is and if it progresses any more the surgery will be soon I expect. That's good that there not concerned that's reassuring. I'm on verapamil for the palpitations and because of how lightheaded they make me feel. Did you mention your symptoms to your cardiologist???
yeah mentioned all symptoms multiple times but they’re putting it down to anxiety. 😔
Aw that's awful it's annoying cause anxiety can cause all of those symptoms as I suffer with anxiety aswell but dosent rule out all the other symptoms I would get it checked at gp just to be safe. 😉 It is horrible being dismissed like it's all in your head I felt like that when I was first getting my palpitations I was convinced it was phycological until it was picked up on a heart monitor that I had ventricular Tachycardia. Have they run any tests other then the echo?? I would thought they would run more test because of the symptoms you having. I am still waiting for an MRI and I have my yearly check up in 6 months. Hope you able to find out what's causing your symptoms.
yeah feel at the end of my tether to be honest. I’ve had multiple ecg’s, X-rays, bloods including trip and BNP and have also had a 24 hr monitor which awaiting results. Did have a cardiac MRI two years ago which was fine. Keeping fingers crossed tbh. Thanks again, nice to talk to people going through similar situations
Glad they have done all the tests mate. Hope you get your results soon and hopefully that will help put your mind at rest aswell. Your welcome,im always here if you wanna chat some more. Yeah I love having this forum and talking to other people who can relate to what im going through! Take care and have a good evening. 😉
thanks Yums 👍
It seems to me what worries us doesn't worry our cardiologists at times. I have moderate (2/4) mitral regurgitation, plus mild tricuspid and aortic regurgitation, and it seems no cardiologist is worried about it. I also have a PFO, 1st degree AV block, LBBB and left axis deviation, Gr 1 diastolic dysfunction, microvascular angina and 50% LAD blockage. Last visit she said to me that my takotsubo had resolved and my EF was 57, and she'd see me in a year. Oh....and keep taking the meds. 🙄🤗
That's alot! And there not concerned! Your right there mate what worrys us dosent bother them at all not fair 😔
You are so right what worry us does not worry them. But they don't have to live with the constant nagging that's in your head.
Yeah your right there 😆😂. If they lived in my head with how anxious I get bout anything they wouldn't be able to put up with it 😬😅😂😆
I have palpitations,intermittent breathlessness and tiredness which have gradually got worse.They wouldn’t admit these were caused by the aortic valve disease until it could be seen to be severe.Talking to lots of people who have aortic regurgitation and stenosis,they all have these symptoms.I was told early on that no medicines work for this and eventually I would need surgery.That was seven years ago and I’m now on the waiting list.I’m on bisoprolol snd lisinopril now to stop my heart getting too tired.
Aw cant belive you been waiting 7 years! Yeah all those symptoms are to do with valve regurgitation and stenosis or its just a crazy coincidence! 😆. I think all my symptoms are to do with worsening valve disease and mine is classed as severe well my regurgitation is and my stenosis is moderate took about 6 years to progress to that. So I wonder how my next echo will look in January! Aw im so glad your on the waiting list though and your on medication to help it. Still can't belive you been waiting so long!! 😔💔
Just to add I have been told exactly the same thing that eventually I will need surgery and it will be major operation and when I do need it they will sort it out very quickly 😬.
They always told me it would take a while before I would need surgery.The waiting lists are long now and normally I would have had the operation by now.I was told it was severe in August last year.
I hope you don't mind me asking how do you get on with lisinopril? I just wonder how this medication effects you. I know it is used to help the pumping of the heart and to reduce blood pressure but all medication can cause side effects some worse than others.
I think I’m not feeling so tired and I walk further but slowly.I do have a tickly cough and I don’t know if it’s the lisinopril or hay fever or both.
I have not had the cough. But I am trying the lisinopril twice a day so I cut them in half and one 12.5mg in the morning and 12.5mg in the evening. I did discuss with doctor. He just said give it a try. It is a difficult one because it is all trial and error. Then there is the anxiety on top of that which then causes similar aches and pains. A pain really. Take care.
They checked my bloods to make sure it wasn’t affecting my kidneys,hope you are ok .
Yes I get my bloods checked every 3 months. Mainly due to the spironolactone. But the trouble with lisinopril and spironolactone the potassium can go up. Mine went to 5.9. Now take half a tablet of spironolactone and within a week it went down to 4.5. I find you have to chase alot up for yourself. But then it is your health your body so you have to care for yourself. Yes iam OK but it's just the mental side to it all. I am having therapy with the Somerville heart foundation, which is a foundation for congenital heart patients. Carnt keep waiting for the nhs.
I feel like I’m not being so spontaneous,counselling would definitely help.The GP mentioned that the potassium could go up.She wanted to see me again after 4weeks but the receptionist said I had to wait until 6 weeks.
yeah there will be at some point. Hopefully in the next weeks.
Hi, I appreciate you have concerns, which can't be helpful, given the ongoing symptoms.
Your GP will only have read the script as such, so, until you speak directly to a Cardiologist, those concerns will probably remain. The sooner an appoinment the better. At that point, be clear with your questions and ideally take someone in with you.
For someone like me, whose first Two Valve Surgeries were as a result of Severe Regurgitation, and currently with Mild Regurgitation on both Mech Aortic and Mitral Valves, and a HFrEF of 30%, the Echo results actually look quite good. However, I'm no expert, which is why I leave it to the professionals.
With regards to the Echo, it's not as precise as the GP has indicated, in relation to the EF, so, it may be worth pursuing questioning on HFpEF. The other thing I would mention is surgical intervention to the valves would be unlikely if regurgitation remains mild, which can go on for many many years.
Finally, try not to panic, there could be a straightforward reason for the symptoms.
Best Wishes
Heed
thanks for the response Heed. 👍
Have you had a stress test with ultrasound? Maybe it’s not your valves but blocked arteries that are making you feel lousy?
I haven’t had this test Leach234.
blocked arteries would usually disrupt the action of the heart muscle, due to reduced or loss of blood supply - showing up on an echo as " abnormal wall motion", or on an ecg
hello Steve
I am sorry you feel so unwell ! Do you know what your BNP bloods result were ?
the BNP bloods were below lower threshold.
had another today in A&E and it was 56. Also had chest X-ray, ecg and full blood count and all normal
I have asymptomatic, moderate mitral regurgitation, diagnosed about 12 years ago and get an annual echo. From a quick look, all your valves show mild or trivial regurgitation, so there really is no need to worry. Many people have mild regurgitation and never even know about - it is very common.
But if you still have symptoms, then do keep asking questions.
Thanks marypw
echo results 
Results of echo
Echo test results. 
Echo results help needed.
Finally got my echo results…
