Continuing post surgery echocardiogram

[Paleowoman]

I saw my cardiologist today to discuss my echocardiogram results which I had last week. My echo was done by another cardiologist who is a particular specialist and lead in echocardiography - this was because my cardiologist wants me to have echos that are very accurate and have continuity on the same machine by the same person. Seeing as the echocardiographer is a cardiologist too gives me a bonus.

The results are that the pressure gradient has again risen, risen to 46 mmHg from 42 last May and from 38 last February. Baseline after surgery 2 years and nine months ago was 33 mmHg. My cardiologist has no explanation for the rising pressure gradient, there is nothing to suggest problems with the leaflets and the measurements in my left ventricle remain the same, mild hypertrophy, but no increase in thickening. So I am to have another echo in six months time.

My cardiologist also did an ECG which was fine. I mentioned the soreness along the right side of my sternum and he said it was probably the wires - I will do another thread about that as what he said seemed pretty important for those getting problems with wires !

 

[honeybunny]

Are you concerned about these results? Your post doesn't hint at any particular emotions.

 

[Paleowoman]

Are you concerned about these results? Your post doesn't hint at any particular emotions.

I was very concerned before today, mostly because there seems to be no explanation and I’ve been asking for an explanation since earlier this year in February when I could see from the echo then that the pressure gradient was steadily rising, that’s why my cardiologist wanted further echos in May and then last week. He has been very reassuring today since the other measurements haven’t changed and says we must just keep an eye on it with repeat echos. I’m also not really happy about the left ventricular hypertrophy, albeit that it’s mild, since I never had any hypertrophy of any sort before surgery nor at the baseline echo four days out - it all appeared at the six week one. But since my cardiologist said today that he doesn’t know why the pressure gradient is rising but that everything else is unchanged and will write that in his report I do feel somewhat better about the situation. What’s awful for me personally is when something is happening and it seems to be ignored that I get get stressed. I know from speaking to my endocrinologist (who is the most wonderful doctor) that doctors don’t always know why something is happening, and it’s much better for me for that to be said with the proviso that the situation is being monitored. So now I’m not so concerned as I was before this appointment, feeling much better than I was.

 

[Seaton]

Glad your concern has lessened Anne. I like the idea of a cardiologist doing the echo! And good you're booked for another echo.
Did your cardiologist say how high the pressure gradient had to be before any kind of intervention?

 

[Paleowoman]

Hi Seaton - my cardiologist didn't give any indication of how high the gradient had to be before there's intervention, but he was happy that there is no indication that the valve leaflets are "damaged" and that nothing else has changed within my heart to indicate that the valve is causing a problem.

 

[Paleowoman]

PS - I suppose I could say I'm in a comfy chair too Seaton ! Mind you, I am doing a lot of exercise in and out that chair. Yesterday after the cardiologist appointment I decided to see how long it would take for me to walk from the hospital into town, and then once I was in town I decided to walk across Hampton Court deer park because it was such a lovely day, and then I decided I might as well carry on walking to my home. It was at least a seven mile walk I had a break for coffee in town, that was the only stop so pretty pleased about that. I love walking.

 

[epstns]

Anne - I'm with you in that one of the most annoying things a doctor can do to me is to try to baffle me with BS. I make it clearly known early on that I do a lot of my own research, read research papers and professional journals, etc. In a recent episode (not heart-related) I saw one doc and when confronted with a situation he advised a treatment plan for me that was, to me, totally unacceptable. When I pushed back, he simply said "This is what we do." End of story. He obviously did not know all of the current research on the topic and was trying to cover the fact that I knew more about it than he did. The second doc I consulted about the same set of issues said something like "I'm not comfortable dealing with this on my own. Let me reach out to some of my colleagues for advice and we will work with what the experts tell us." Guess whose patient I am now. . .

On the valve topic, I will be following your journey closely, as I have a similar valve. Mine has, so far, continued to show echo results much the same as when it was implanted 5 1/2 years ago.

 

[Paleowoman]

AOn the valve topic, I will be following your journey closely, as I have a similar valve. Mine has, so far, continued to show echo results much the same as when it was implanted 5 1/2 years ago.

Hi Steve - I have to confess that I had printed off what you’d written in another post about your valve/echo measurements being much the same at 5 1/2 years as when your valve was implanted, and showed that to my cardiologist Of course I acknowledged that we're all different but still.......