Echo says 3 valves have regurgitation and low probability of pulmonary hypertension

[GranofH]

Hi all I'm new here and feeling a bit anxious as I have surgery for hiatus hernia and prolapsed stomach rapidly approaching. I was at a routine pre op appointment and the nurse said my blood pressure was really high and I had to monitor it for a week, I was really shocked as I'd always been told I had low blood pressure. So I kept a BP diary and it was high both morning and evening, I dropped the results into my GP and was prescribed Ramipril 2.5 mg, sent for an ECG and bloods taken.

The ECG came back abnormal and as there is family history of heart problems and a heart murmur has been mentioned as a child and during pregnancies I was sent for an echocardiogram. The results said no further action as it was satisfactory but reading them it said I had trace regurgitation on aortic, mitral and tricuspid valves with reduced AT on pulmonary valve, low probability of pulmonary hypertension?

The ramipril was put up to 5mg and seems to be working, the nurse is happy with the new readings but my head is spinning a bit I've spoke to the aneathetist and he seems confident that surgery will be fine with the echo reading. My GP practice isn't concerned either, am I worrying about nothing? Just looking for a bit of advice really 😊

[Mitchum]

Hello Granof,

I had mitral valve regurgitation for many years before I needed re-placement but, numerous people have leaky valves which never need treatment! Whilst I had that leaking valve I had three different abdominal surgeries under general anesthetic. These were at a time when anesthetic drugs were relatively crude but technical advances have made them much safer.

Try to feel confident. Your medical team appear to be. Good luck.

[GranofH in reply to Mitchum]

That is reassuring, I do feel like the medical team know the risks much better than me, I think it's all happened so fast I'm in a bit of a whirl with it all.

[polenta]

I have mild regurgitation in my mitral and tricuspid valves and was told by my Cardiologist that nothing is done until they become moderate to severe, which might never happen. I have echos done every couple years to keep an eye on them and my EF. Take care

[GranofH in reply to polenta]

Thanks, I don't have a cardiologist, should I have been referred, is this the only issue with you polenta? There has been no mention of any follow up checks, echos or anything I was told the results and that was it really, maybe that's why I'm so anxious about it all.

[polenta in reply to GranofH]

I do have Cardiomyopathy and a slightly low EF which might be the reason for my 2 valves regurgitation. When I was in cogestive heart failure years ago the valves were severe, but since being on medication and a CRT-D inplant , my heart became stronger and the regurgitation became milder. I would hope that they would atleast keep an eye on your valves from time to time or every few years, but I am not sure how the system works where you are. I am in the US and our healthcare system seems to be different here. Talk to your GP about your concerns and I am sure he can give you reassurance so you don't stress about it. Take care.

[GranofH in reply to polenta]

Thank you, it's good to hear about your improvements. I feel like my GP doesn't care, I'm moving to a new surgery next week in the hope of better care so I will talk about my worries to my new doctor and hopefully this new GP will be able to explain and reassure me

[GranofH]

An update on worrying symptoms.. I had just started my holiday in out motorhome, the first night I got up to pee and the next thing I knew my husband was holding me up asking if I'd banged my head. Apparently I had fallen from the bed which is up 2 steps, he heard 2 bangs and found me slumped on the floor, as he helped me up I collapsed again in his arm, became unresponsive and shook for what he guessed was 20 seconds. I don't remember any of this at all, I remember feeling the urge to pee then hubby asking if I'd banged my head, everything in between is a mystery to me, I'm bruised from my shoulders down to my toes, no bumps or bruising above shoulder so I definitely didn't bump my head thankfully, I must have fell like a sack of spuds.I went for a check up the next day at the hospital, CT scans on my head showed no damage, no fractures in my pelvis, shoulder or feet which is great despite the agony I'm feeling.

They have changed my medication from Ramipril to Amlodipine as they thought it might have dropped my blood pressure too low but my readings at the hospital were perfect.

I feel they are missing something 🤔