General help and info please

[Heart27977]

I got Covid quite bad back in May 2019 and after that my health just seemed to never get back on track.

Last year I had been getting increasing pain in my chest, breathing issues, numbness and tingling in my arm and fingertips, and swollen fingers.

I have spent 2023 getting various test, and procedures done and whilst being checked for suspected angina it was found that I have a Bi-Cuspid Aortic Valve with mild eccentric AR.

I was given this news over the phone just before Christmas and have had no follow-up or info since.

I understand that at the moment this does not seem to be an issue but I have also been diagnosed with COPD and have been getting a pain that I can only describe as when you have run fast and that feeling of burning and difficulty taking air in. I also feel constantly tired and my fingers are sometimes swollen and difficult to move in the morning.

TBH I hate going to bed as waking up is when I am in the most pain and lately, that's all I seem to be in.

I suppose I am asking for a bit of general feedback as the medical info has been so lacking!

Should I be getting pain every day? Why am I so tired (physically exhausted) when I have done nothing?

As I suffer from several mental health disorders knowing information fully and precisely helps me to deal better with situations and not let them become a trigger. I work very hard to keep on top of my mental health taking anti-psychotics and mood stabilizers but these only help so much and Having info and proper research from people who may know about my Bicuspid valve and COPD and how these may act, affect me will help me not become paranoid or panicky about what is happening

Thank you for any help you can offer 🧡❤️💙

[Lowerfield_no_more]

I suggest you delete any reference to C**** and substitute it with 'the pandemic' or similar since posts with the virus reference have been taken down in the past although the rules might have softened over the months.

[Alison_L in reply to Lowerfield_no_more]

It looks as though the algorithms have been changed at last!

[Heart27977 in reply to Alison_L]

Thank you for letting me know

[Happyrosie]

the cardiac nurses on 0808 802 1234. - British heart Foundation could help.

[Plum53]

Good morning I’m sorry I can’t help with any info on your problem but hopefully someone will come on who has some experience of what your dealing with. Just to add your post is the first one to not be removed that has the c——d word mentioned .

[MoretonCross]

Hello, I know exactly what you mean about knowing information fully and precisely, I'm the same and I don't have mental health issues. I think you should be and need to be referred to a cardiologist. Your symptoms sound pretty much like mine, and I have been diagnosed as suffering from aortic stenosis. You need to see your gp and place the ball firmly in his or her court. You don't seem to be getting the care and attention you deserve at the moment... Good luck with it all, and keep us informed won't you?

[fishonabike]

i don't know much about how the Bicuspid issue would affect things, exept that anything which reduces the efficiency of the heart would lead to it having to work harder to compensate

COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease/Disorder - formerly know as chronic bronchitis) affects the lungs ability to do it's job of getting oxygen into your blood and getting rid of the carbon dioxide waste product

if you blood oxygen levels drop your heart has to work harder to supply the oxygen needed by its own muscle and the rest of your body - so the result is breathing problems, shortness of breath, muscles running out of fuel and oxygen and tirung faster - it can also cause angina which is heart pain due to shortage of oxygen

so it is important to maintain good lung function because without this the heart can't work properly

ongoing heart muscle and lung issues have been noticed as a late consequence of the nasty C virus

your GP should be able help wih treatment for the COPD and/or arrange for you to be seen by a chest specialist

[Heart27977 in reply to fishonabike]

Thank you for the above advice

[Judithdalston]

Writing more to offer moral support as I too have had problems re Long Covid with breathlessness, a stitch-like pain around lower abdomen, and odd circulation and had lots of tests from echocardiogram, ecgs, X-rays, breathing tests etc with nothing of significance found and next to no interaction with a cardio or respiratory dr. Got put on 5 BP meds by my GP over the last 4 years, which did very little. Only this year, with my research and insistence, did I get a referral out of my NHS Trust and got a tilt table test showing that on standing my hypertension in fact plummets to very low postural hypotension ( 60/40) , and falls/ syncope consultant thinks it’s the low BP that is driving the heart to pump high (130+ on standing or minor household tasks…notably cooking at stove). I have been removed from Bisoprolol, but still waiting other treatment. Just my experience is that some drs. just don’t want to know about LC complications, and some symptoms you have to ignore (my Gp has a sign saying one appointment one symptom: I lost my sense of smell 4 years ago, still get ‘stitch’ and fatigue is just lumped with existing fibromyalgia)… hope you find sympathetic help Heart.