Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
CHF & Tricuspid Valve Regurgitation
This forum is for questions and support regarding heart issues such as: Angina, Angioplasty, Arrhythmia, Bypass Surgery, Cardiomyopathy, Coronary Artery Disease, Defibrillator, Heart Attack, Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, Mitral Valve Prolapse, Pacemaker, PAD, Stenosis, Stress Tests.
CHF & Tricuspid Valve Regurgitation
by Carolyn__0__0, Jan 01, 1995 12:00AM
Posted By Carolyn on April 03, 1998 at 19:10:44:
I was hospitalized for 8 days in June, 1987. I entered the hospital through the emergency room where they ran an EKG and diagnosed congestive heart failure. While there, I was given an Echocardiogram (TEE). The reason listed for the echo was: Dyspnea; R/O Pericarditis, C/P. The impression states: 1.Tricuspid regurgitation, severe. 2. Right atrial enlargement, right ventricular enlargement. 3. RV/Ra gradient of 27 mmHg suggesting mild pulmonary hypertension may underestimate severity.4.Pulmonic insufficiency 5.Mitral regurgitation, trivial.6. Normal LV function and wall motion.7. No effusion. The day after I also had a Cardiac catheterization. Post-Cardiac Cath diagnosis was: No evidence for intracardiac shunt; no evidence for pulmonary hypertension; normal corocnary arteries; normal left ventricular function. After 8 days I was sent home with a prescription for Zestril. I was on very limited activity, 1000 mg. sodium per day, aspirin regimen, Zestril, and continued with meds I was taking before hospitalization: 50 mg. Trazodone at bedtime, 50 mg. Zoloft am. Since arriving in St. Louis, I have consulted with a cardiologist who is following me along with a cardiac surgeon. The surgeon suggested cardiac rehab which I began in Dec. of 1997. I went through Phase II and Phase III and then went on to join a gym and continue my exercise regimen as follows: 30 min. treadmill at 3.5 mps with a 2.0 elevation; 10 minutes on bike at 1.9 mph (these two activities every day). 3X weekly on 5 machines on weight circuit and free weights (3 lbs.) I have been doing great! On Mach 29, I awakened from a sound sleep with difficulty breathing and pain in my chest and back. I had great difficulty breathing when lying flat. I took Advil for pain- so uncomfortable! All my doctor said was to lighten up on my exercise regimen and come back in one month. I am so exhausted -- I can barely make it to the end of the driveway, let alone return to the gym! I really wish I did feel like going because I was really enjoying the feeling of control over my own body. Each physician who has seen me has told me my condition is extremely rare. The cardiologists in St. Louis have told me that the best course of action is for me to stay healthy, and they'll leave the valve alone and just take a "wait and see" attitude. I honestly was quite OK with that until this episode this week. Now I am not so sure. I really need some direction.
I was hospitalized for 8 days in June, 1987. I entered the hospital through the emergency room where they ran an EKG and diagnosed congestive heart failure. While there, I was given an Echocardiogram (TEE). The reason listed for the echo was: Dyspnea; R/O Pericarditis, C/P. The impression states: 1.Tricuspid regurgitation, severe. 2. Right atrial enlargement, right ventricular enlargement. 3. RV/Ra gradient of 27 mmHg suggesting mild pulmonary hypertension may underestimate severity.4.Pulmonic insufficiency 5.Mitral regurgitation, trivial.6. Normal LV function and wall motion.7. No effusion. The day after I also had a Cardiac catheterization. Post-Cardiac Cath diagnosis was: No evidence for intracardiac shunt; no evidence for pulmonary hypertension; normal corocnary arteries; normal left ventricular function. After 8 days I was sent home with a prescription for Zestril. I was on very limited activity, 1000 mg. sodium per day, aspirin regimen, Zestril, and continued with meds I was taking before hospitalization: 50 mg. Trazodone at bedtime, 50 mg. Zoloft am. Since arriving in St. Louis, I have consulted with a cardiologist who is following me along with a cardiac surgeon. The surgeon suggested cardiac rehab which I began in Dec. of 1997. I went through Phase II and Phase III and then went on to join a gym and continue my exercise regimen as follows: 30 min. treadmill at 3.5 mps with a 2.0 elevation; 10 minutes on bike at 1.9 mph (these two activities every day). 3X weekly on 5 machines on weight circuit and free weights (3 lbs.) I have been doing great! On Mach 29, I awakened from a sound sleep with difficulty breathing and pain in my chest and back. I had great difficulty breathing when lying flat. I took Advil for pain- so uncomfortable! All my doctor said was to lighten up on my exercise regimen and come back in one month. I am so exhausted -- I can barely make it to the end of the driveway, let alone return to the gym! I really wish I did feel like going because I was really enjoying the feeling of control over my own body. Each physician who has seen me has told me my condition is extremely rare. The cardiologists in St. Louis have told me that the best course of action is for me to stay healthy, and they'll leave the valve alone and just take a "wait and see" attitude. I honestly was quite OK with that until this episode this week. Now I am not so sure. I really need some direction.
