Severe MV Regurgitation

[Lolapolar]

Hi, I recently had an echo due to ongoing auto immune symptoms and a new murmur. I had the echo in Jan 25 and the report said ‘ Severe MR needs urgent valve clinic’ I have an appointment next week. I’m just wondering what to expect? Will I see a cardiologist or will it be specialist nurses? If anyones experience was similar do they decide on surgery at this appointment? Thank you

[Lopas]

It may depend where you are.

I'm now 9 weeks beyond an MV repair. Looking back - Step 1 was an Echocardiogram (March 2024) , then a Cardiologist (May 2024), then he set up a set of tests Transoesophageal Echo, Cardiac CT, Cardiac Angiogram and more - then decision on operation (having eliminated any other work - bypass etc - whilst "in there"!) .

Met surgeon October 2024, operation January 2025

(start cardio rehab classes on Thursday!!)

[Etruscan27 in reply to Lopas]

Hi, I wish you all the best with your ongoing recovery and physical rehab. I received a similar diagnosis this year, and am waiting to see cardiologist to find out what's next. Appointment went back a month as of yesterday, so I have tried to put it out of my mind. I'm guessing your journey started with a trip to the G.P. because of breathlessness? I was convinced I had long Covid, and compensated by avoiding extreme exercise and getting an e-bike. Please let us know how things go with the rehab sessions. I'm not one for social media, but this forum has helped me to understand what's ahead. Take care, and good luck.

Paul

[Lopas in reply to Etruscan27]

Hello Paul, for you and others I thought I would recount another little step on the way. I have suffered from arthritis in both knees for a number of years, but having been a "heart patient" for the last 15 months my physical activity was very restricted.

Now when I'm walking a lot and have now started my cardio rehab I'm finding a complete switch from being worried about my heart to being very bothered by my knees again. Just remember that some conditions mask others which can then come back to bite you!

taking a medium term backwards look I would say the heart condition was the lesser of my problems, it's been dealt with; I am finding it impossible to get into the list for any surgical solution to my knees ( "the x-ray view is that they are not bad enough…")

BTW my breathlessness was effectively instant, I woke up at 2 am not able to breathe. Until then I had no sensation of it at all. Basically my mitral valve "broke".

[Etruscan27 in reply to Lopas]

Blimey, I should have read your bio. That must have been a big shock. My onset has been gradual since Covid (hence my incorrect self-diagnosis). My partner has rheumatoid arthritis. It seems to be a poor relation in the medical world. Cancer beats all when it comes to speedy intervention. I have friends who've had hip replacements, but as you say, it's a case of waiting till things become intolerable (backed up by scans etc) before anything is done. I hope you can get some satisfaction knee-wise before too long. I guess your post MV recovery would have to be as good as possible before further surgery would be an option. All the best, Paul