Heart Valve Regurgation Anyone?

[Forseegood]

well, turns out I have a slightly leaky aortic valve, called mild aortic valve regurgitation...was freaked out at first, but the cardiologist told me not to worry about it, I could treat, whatever, it's mild..on the low scale...course I looked it up and the whole thing freaked me out, but there is many gradations of it, and I was told not to worry...by the time it does really do me any harm, IF it ever does, they'll have much better ways to treat it then valve replacement, etc...anyway....

I might not get any takers, but have any of you been diagnosed with this?

[Forseegood]

oh yeaaaaaah! I was acting like I wasn't that concerened as to not worry you, but I was a little, thought about you! But this is great news! you know me, obnoxious health freak that I am, maybe it's time to up the exercise though! (hey, I'm stooped with my hands over my head, don't hit me!lol) just really, really happy to hear this....

Alagirl: thanks so much for this, I'm really glad we're all mild huh? I just hope that you do have a cardio guy monitoring things for you as well, just want to keep you well as can be, youre a real fighter I can see...my hat's off to ya....

[alagirl]

I saw your topic: Heart Valve Regurgation Anyone?, and I was going to say, "No thanks, I gave at the office." ;)  But actually, I DO understand how scary it is when someone tells you something is wrong with your heart.  I've had MVP for years.  I had a bad scare with my heart when I went to have gall bladder surgery and the anesthesiologist told me, in front of my grandmother (herself recovering from a triple bypass but insisting on being there), that I had a serious heart issue with my EKG.

As it turns out, they did any number of tests on, Echo, Stress Test, even a cardiac cath since my dad and grandmother have both had heart attacks.  Turns out that A) my MVP is mild and no action is needed and B) Although I have PERMANENT changes to my EKG due to twenty years of chronic anemia which has caused tachycardia and strained my heart, my heart is still strong and the changes in my EKG and not serious - It's just that especially when my red blood cell count is low my heart is staved for oxygen and C) I have no blockages in ANY of my arteries (probably due to that yucky yet healthy practically macrobiotic hybrid diet my mom forced on us growing up).  The anesthesiologist was just an alarmist (who scared the bejesus out of my grandma - which I could just kill the putz for) AND made me cry as I was being wheeled into my surgery).  

Cardiologists usually err on the safe side so if yours tells you that you can wait for new advancements he really does believe you are ok.  (Because they do like their money, he'd want to replace your valve if he could I'll bet).  So try not to worry!  If you are really concerned get a second opinion or just ask for the gamut of tests, echo, stress test, EKG and cardiac cath.

[PRINCESS512]

i meant genotype 2  !!

[PRINCESS512]

i have no blockages or artifical heart valves.......but i plan on callin my cardioligst monday.hes the one that found i have hep c genotype c during routine bloodwork.....thanks guys !

[frijole]

The angiogram was yesterday and it showed NO BLOCKAGE!   Boy do I feel better.  It has been a stressful four weeks since I flunked the first stress test.  I am glad that is over. There was none - not even 20%.  None.  I still am somewhat confused on why I would have signs of blockage on two tests at peak excercise (when the heart is at 100%) and none on a angiogram (when the heart is at rest).  But the angiogram is the gold standard, I believe, and they tell me any blockage would show up there.

Princess -- treatment causes hemolytic anemia in a great many people who tx.  I don't know how that impacts arrhythmia or rapid heart beats but you should tell your doctor you are starting treatment.  Good luck
frijole

[merryBe]

there are several diseases that need close monitoring at the very least when going on tx...and some that even preclude treatment from being a viable option. with heart and diebetes, renal insufficiency, etc. although Foreseegood's minor murmur may not require consternation,

you will need to not just be seeing a good hepatologist but a good cardio guy as well to monitor
how you respond to tx. and also how your current drugs will effect that tx and how the liver is doing with them on board.....Also, do you have a valves that have been replaced?

[Forseegood]

Hi! It's standard (or should be) if you are thinking of treating, to rule out any other problems you might be experiencing...think we have the same doc now.... he would if you were going to...he prob thinks you can just go off and enjoy the beach for now:) I think this whole thing will work out for the vast majority of us...now go off and hike Mt. Hollywood, I know you've been there!...(that must sound weird to people not from here, like it's a hike with drag queens or something, ha ha ha!)

[Verdugo]

I just saw this thread.  Unfortunately I can't add anything relevant as I don't know a thing about cardio problems.  I don't blame you for being freaked out but it sounds totally manageable.  Your doctor seems really smart to have you so fully checked out.  Is that standard?  As you know, I haven't TXed but my HEP doctor never discussed a cardio test before I begin.  Sounds like you're in good hands. I have a good feeling this will get worked out.

[PRINCESS512]

ive wrote to you in other roooms with some other questions,just today.im new here. i have MVP and i get rapid heart beats controlled by medication called tenormin and irregular heart beats and take an anti-arrymthic drug for that.does treatment with pegasus injections and ribavivar pills that im suppose to start worsen the MVP or give you any heart rhymth problems ?anone else know ? im genotype 2.

[Forseegood]

sorry, I don't have your background so I'm unfamiliar with such a broad spectrum of circumstances and outcomes here, I didn't give it a lot of thought...many thanks for you input though...have a great week!

[Hepatitis Researcher]

You are opening a whole chapter of Cardiology here. Trust me, you have to be deep in Cardiuology to have a decent and realistic judgement of those minimal to minor to not so minor diagnostic heaart findings that fly back and forth in this thread.

Frioles seem to be the most serious, a stress test is not easy to flunk and normally indicates serious coronary blockage.
The valve regurgitations (backflow after supposed closure, as seen in an echocardiogram)  are frequently "trivial" and that means the majority of healthy people have it to some minor degree and only when someone gets an echo, it is brougt to full light. Palpitaitons/rhytm disturbances are also fairly frequent and can have numerous reasons, they are not necessarily by caused what was then "found" in the echo.

This is not to say that some regurgitations are not of a more serious nature, they are then called "valve insufficiencies" , and when the backflow is substantial,the heart has to work useless, burdening overtime to pump the blood it has just pumped out again, because it flows back to a certain degree. This is only the case with serious backflow grades, that are not present in 4cs case. Is there a diastolic murmur to be heard by your cardio? Read the written Echo report: If it states "trivial aortic valve regurgitation" then you are fine indeed with respect to the valve. You could of course have beginning cardiovascular disease (coronary atherosclerosis) like over 50% of all people. But that is another , huge, topic.

[kittyface]

Oh boy, it's always something, isn't it?  We can only hope it won't get worse.  Did you pick up on what Lady Lauri said?  "anxiety and panic attacks are more common if you have this."  Are you still having anxiety?

Did you a set date for starting tx yet?  I haven't as yet -- am waiting on meds from Roche and for the Alinia to be shipped.   In addition to the SOC plus Alinia I think I'll also add PPC as recommended by HR.

Best to all, forward onto the light,

Kittyface

[frijole]

We are probably both in pretty good shape considering living through the sixties and seventies - ha ha.  You maybe more than I because you are SO good with your diet and vitamins.  Me - I eat okay but definitely could do better.  I have had discussions along this line with our friend 2irish too.  Many similarities.
frjiole

[Forseegood]

good post, seems we're all in pretty good shape heart wise, considerin....

HR: where are you???? lol....

[frijole]

Hey, gal, don't break your heart!.  I really think my deal is mild and will turn out fine -- I will post on here after the angio.  It sounds like your regurgitation (couldn't they use another word?) may be in the same category.  I can't tie mine into hep C -- tried to, but don't see a connection.  I think we all have a lot of genetic conditions that may or may not surface depending on environment (life style).  We have both -- and many others here-- made changes in lifestyle as we age.  I think we can look around and see hundreds - maybe more - that have not made changes.  And look at the number who have posted here with similar issues.  My (adopted) daughter has mitral valve prolapse.  It impacts her life because she is sedentary and way overweight -- life choices she has made.  We will be fine.  

And, no, i don't think the heart "issue" was easier to digest than the hep C.  Maybe because, for me, it was such a shocker.  The hep C -- well from the beginning when they spoke of non-A,nonB and the method of transmission, it was always in the back of my mind that I could have it.  So, the diagnosis was not a shock.  And mine is mild too - my immune system seems to keep it in check.

Keep on trucking, 4c
frijole

[Forseegood]

you know, my cardio said, in my case, the menopause prob brought it on...because I had some tests done before I went into this gald darn menopausal condition, and nada...He says that he doesn't see a big connection with hep c.....the estrogen is supposed to offer us protection from so much of this stuff, and when estrogen levels go down as much as mine have, whatever...Many women come down with these kinds of issues post-menopause, (though many don't as well) unfortunately, estrogen replacement doesn't absorb as well for me, whatever...it's supposed to end sometime? right? lol...

[dlr2007]

I have what is called trace valve regurgitation, which is very mild. The cardio doc said there's nothing really to be done and it doesn't bother me. I was referred to the cardio cuz my PCP and my gastro both noticed my rather odd heartbeat. It took about a year from them noticing that my heart was sounding strange to getting dx'ed with the trace regurgitation. Of course that's my fault because after the nonstress test and ultrasound of my heart, I got nervous and blew off my follow-up appointment, figuring if it was "that bad" they'd track me down. My coping skills are exceptional, I know ;). Anyway, I do find it odd to have suddenly developed this heart issue. I'm not sure if the narcotic I'm on daily could be causing it, or perhaps this is somehow related to Hep C...?
  It is hard to deal with health stuff, cuz no matter how badly you want it to just go away or be "nothing", it's still there... but at least here we know we're not alone. There's always somebody with the same (or almost the same) thing going on. It sounds like you'll be fine, especially if the doc isn't recomending anything be done and you still have the green light to do tx. I  know, it sux having to deal with though- just the Hep would be plenty for me, thank you! I'm a big worrier about everything, although I know it's pretty much a useless emotion. If I ever find the "cure" for worrying, I'll let you know immediately ;)- til then we've just gotta hang in there!
  Huga and prayers,
Dee
  

[Forseegood]

I just wanted to ask you to make some distinctions here? as far as these various heart maladies? Sorry to bug you, but you can do it soooo much better then I....also, I thought Merrybe's post was interesting, about certain drugs exacerbating the heart problems, also stress...

all the people posting on here, thanks so much. Lady Lauri, want to ask you about some things when my mom sends me my glasses (I left them over there on Sunday) so I'm flying blind right now and find it hard to type and read.

Frijole: your post broke my heart. You've been through so much already, but youre one brave warrior that I have always looked to. Let's keep each other posted on our respective progress.

Do you guys feel that the heart news was easier to take in some ways? Since we'd already been dealing with the hep c diagnosis? I've already come to terms with the fact that I wasn't the female Mighty Mouse, like I used to think of myself....and I've been trying hard to just be as positive as I can about these other issues. I'll do whatever I can to remain as healthy as I can be under the circumstances. All we can do huh? Trying hard to let go of the worrying, God knows it sure doesn't do any of these organs any good, lol...

[Forseegood]

and thanks for all the replies, I just posted a big long post addressing people's posts here, and my finger went wonky or something, and the post BLIPPED OFF, don't you HATE THAT! ha ha! I'll come back to this though. Thanks so much everyone. I'll come back to it once I get over the shhhhhiiiiittttttt factor, lol....

[frijole]

Well, that's a shocker.  Anything to do with the heart is scary to me.  What happens next?

I flunked a stress test, then flunked a cardiolight stress test, and will be doing an angiogram next Friday myself.  I am not too worried as my internist thinks the blockage is "mild" and will not mean much more than he will want me to get my LDL under 70. Probably (I hope) no Statins.   Since I will then be over my deductible, I went to see my surgeon (who is a vascular surgeon) to see if he can do my biopsy next month (supposed to be next May).  He just laughed at me and said I was OCD!  Of course, he will do it, and he is going to look at the results from the angiogram (never hurts to have a second opinion) but he said my cholestral is better than his and we probably all have some blockage at this age.

Glad you posted here, 4c -- I have checked out the heart forums here and they are a tad boring.  -- question and answer but no interaction.  I will be anxious to see what you do from this point.
frijole

[Lady Lauri]

  On your way back from Vegas could you stop by Fla. and give me some online research lessons, LOL.
  Thanks for that post, ease's my mind also. Your so good!

    Have a great time in Vegas!

                                                                                             LL

[pigeonca]

I looked up atrial insufficiency, which is what atrial regurgitation is sometimes called, just to see what's the worst thing that could happen.  That would be surgery, of which there are two kinds: invasive and non-invasive.  The non-invasive procedure is really cool; it's done somehow by remote control using miniaturized robots.  By the time you'll need to do anything like that, however - many, many years in the far, far future - the cure will probably be something simple like a glue pill.

I wouldn't give it too much worry.  Just make sure they stay on top of it.  A second opinion, if you're still troubled, is never a bad idea - unless you're like my stepmother, who kept going from doctor to doctor to doctor without doing anything at all.  I'm going to Vegas in the AM - talk to you next week.

[meki]

NononoBaby.... Oh shoot - sending you hugs and lots of quickly created future helping surgeries or treatments.

Meki

[Lady Lauri]

  Many women have MVP, many don't know it. Considered 'common' these days.

Forseegood, I'll dig out my reports tomorrow to compare. I had a GP, a cardiologist and my Hep Dr. all say...'don't worry about it', and I have 2 so called 'leaky/regurgitation' valves! Unless it get's serious, worse the surgical ways to fix are more dangerous than the problem....I was TOLD!
AKA....not positive there!

                                                                                     LL