leaking tricuspid valve

[Bronte23]

I have been diagnosed with a severely leaking tricuspid valve. Does any one else have this problem and how do they manage this?

[Butterfly65]

Hello Bronte23, I'm female aged 59 & also had a severely regurgitating tricuspid valve along with other heart damage that was discovered last September after an echocardiogram whilst in hospital.

My cardiologist thinks damage may have been caused by my Atrial Fibrillation but also said that heart damage can cause Afib so it's the chicken & egg scenario.

After being on meds & around 8 to 10 weeks later I was told that a cardiac MRI scan had showed that my tricuspid valve regurgitation had slightly improved & was now classed as moderate, I was relieved because I was expecting to need surgery so as difficult as it seems, please try not to panic.

I also have a leaky mitral valve & both my left & right ventricles are damaged. I'm currently taking seven different meds for heart failure & A trial Fibrillation.

How did you discover that your tricuspid valve was leaking severely? Have you spoken with a Cardiologists or GP yet?

[Bronte23 in reply to Butterfly65]

Thanks for your reply Butterfly. Yes, I have seen a cardiologist because of increasing breathlessness and chest discomfort. I have a pacemaker which relieves the symptoms of Afib. An echocardiogram revealed that the valve was leaking and the severity of the leaking is increasing.

Thanks for reminding me not to panic. I try to control this kind of reaction but am nevertheless worried that I shall end up housebound. However I am elderly and lots of old folk have to come to terms with bad deterioration in health.

I am so sorry about your own heart problems and am very glad that your triscupid valve has responded to medication and is now less severe. I do hope you get all the help you need with the other problems.

Thank you again.

[Butterfly65 in reply to Bronte23]

Aw bless you, of course you are worried but please try not to worry too much. Do you have more appointments with cardiologist or GP coming up?

Have neither of them given you any advice on what they intend to do for your leaky valve?

[Cremee in reply to Bronte23]

Hi Bronte23. I live in the USA, but there is a website you might want to check out. It’s called HeartValveSurgery.com. a place to ask questions and so forth. A nice group of people. Patients from all over the world, not just USA. Recently there was an update about what can be done for Tricuspid regurgitation. Repair, surgery, etc. Hope this will help you in some way. Take care. Jane

[Bronte23 in reply to Cremee]

Thanks for taking the trouble to supply this very helpful information. I’m very grateful.

[Cremee in reply to Bronte23]

You are very welcome. Wishing you the best.

[DaphnesMum in reply to Butterfly65]

Wow butterfly , I have a very similar experience.. diagnosed December 24 , HF , with reduced EF of 21% and the same 2 dodgy valves …I’ll follow your journey with interest ❤️

[Ticktick]

Sending prayers and love dear Bronte 23Sailing in the same boat

[Reggaelover]

Hi Bronte23. I’m 65 and last April had surgery to repair a severe mitral valve leak and a mild tricuspid valve leak. I’ve always been fit and active and had only mild symptoms before my surgery - my recovery has been good.

The mitral valve leak was discovered by chance on an echocardiogram back in 2014. I had an episode of atrial fibrillation after competing in a 10k race, which was corrected by cardioversion. Follow up tests revealed a mild leak and I was monitored annually by a cardiologist after that. Then in 2022, the atrial fibrillation returned, again corrected by cardioversion, but I was told that my leak had become severe. I was referred for surgery to repair the leak, which I had 18 months later in April 2024 at the Freeman Hospital in my home city of Newcastle. During surgery, the surgeon also repaired a mild leak on my tricuspid valve and also performed a maze procedure and left atrial appendage occlusion. As they say, the rest is history - the surgery went well and I made a good recovery.

Best wishes for your own treatment.

[Bronte23 in reply to Reggaelover]

I’m so glad you’ve had a good recovery, Reggaelover. Did you have open heart surgery?

Bronte23

[Reggaelover in reply to Bronte23]

Thanks Bronte23. Yes my surgery was via sternotomy but I had very little discomfort from it and the scar has healed very well. That said, I did have some nerve pain and weakness in my left shoulder and arm, which took 6-8 weeks to resolve. Apparently, it’s not uncommon for nerves to be pinched and stretched during heart surgery.

[Bronte23 in reply to Reggaelover]

Thanks Reggae lover. That’s good to know. So pleased surgery worked out well for you.