Dr visit anexiety......

[kevin21]

Well, it is that time of the year. The whole echo and cardio visit.

Is it just me or do you feel 100% worse and notice every missed beat, every time you get winded, just every little freaking little detail.

We'll see if I am still holding steady with severe regurg and hopefully no extra lv dialation.

I have been on Coreg and Accupril for about 2 years from the Cardio's direction. I guess it has helped put off the inevitable for even more years. I believe he's walking the line between too soon and not soon enough.

I believe my AV probs are from congenital heart problems that I've had fixed at age 6 (hole in heart patched) and at 10 when stenosis was removed, probably why the valve is jacked up.

We'll see what the verdict is tomorrow.

I've really got about 4-5 months of stuff to finish before I can really get surgery so I am hoping it can wait another 6 months. I've gone 21 years so we'll see what we come up with.

I've got my question book with me for tomorrow. Just hope there's no 2 hour wait involved like usuall.... I got 9:15 which is the 1st appointment.

I haven't been here in about a year or so so it is nice to see some familiar faces.

 

[Karlynn]

Hi Kevin,
I still get a little nervous prior to my cardio visits. Comes from the early years pre-MVR where something new was always turning up at each visit.

Have you had a surgical consult? The reason I ask this is that cardios tend to be conservative about when to operate. They do seem to want signs that damage is being done before they refer to a surgeon. Surgeons like to get in there before damage.

If you can schedule a surgery to fit into your time table, doing it before it reaches a point when something absolutely has to be done is wise. With a severe regurg you don't have much fudge room before damage starts accumulating. Someone here used to quote the saying "The worse it gets, the faster it gets worse."

 

[Lynlw]

Kevin, Good Luck tomorrow. I was woderring if you are seeing a dctor that specializes in adults w/ Congenital heart defects, if not i would really suggest you see one if just for a 2nd opinion if it is possible.Please let us know how everything goes Lyn

 

[susieq14]

Kevin,

I hear you loud and clear. I know exactly how you feel and not to make it sound trivial "have been there,done that". I think that it is perfectly normal to feel worried right before our cardio visits.

I hope that all goes well for you and look forward to hearing an update.

Peace!
Susie

 

[Aussie Chris]

Hi Kevin,

I would have to agree with Karlynn. My cardio wanted to hold off till he saw some sign that the heart was enlarging before recommending surgery. I ended up having surgery before the cardio would have anticipated due to the rapid deterioration of my prolapse. Now having had the surgery I would recommend going sooner rather than later and removing the on going worry about the echo results.

All the best.

Chris

 

[WayneGM]

I was alway anxious before my Card visit, mostly because I didn't know what to expect. To be honest, I was kind of relieved when I finally got the verdict that surgery was necessary. At least I then knew what I faced and could plan for it. Even after the verdict, the earliest surgery date I could get was 6month out so I had time to finish those things I wanted to do first, and no longer had any execuses to procastinate.

Good luck.

 

[epstns]

Kevin,

As I, too, am still in the waiting phase, I can tell you that we all go through the pre-visit anxiety. I've gone through it for several years, and I've lately come to the conclusion that getting all worried has no value, as there really is nothing I can do to affect the progression of my condition. I've been holding at the "moderate to severe" stage of aortic stenosis for a number of years. I know that at some time in the not too distant future, I will be told that it is time to start meeting the surgeons. Until then, I try to let by body tell me if I should worry -- and as long as I note no significant changes, I will not worry unless the cardio finds something of concern.

Hang in there. Anxiety is natural. It is "required." But letting it control you is optional, and you can choose to hold the anxiety for that "some time in the future" part of your mind.

Good luck. I go to my annual echo in a couple of months, too. . .

 

[Phyllis]

Best wishes tomorrow, Kevin. Be sure to let us know how you make out.

 

[CathyK.]

What Phyllis said. Be sure to let us know how your appointment went. Good luck!!

 

[kevin21]

It is funny that the cardios do tend to be conservative and not the surgeons.
Guess that is because the surgeons think cutting is always the answer and so their solution is always to get in and cut.

I met with a surgeon in 2005 and we did a tee and a MRA (MRI on the heart) and he concluded that it could be 2 years, could be 5 and that is what the cardio says.

Supposedly the cardio says the echo is in line with the previous ones and there was no change. I think he means no change in LV size, amount of regurg and other valve functions.

I will probably call the Surgeon I talked to back in 2005 and see what he thinks of the new echo and the one I had 8 mo's ago.

That TEE and MRA were a real blast but I'd gladly do another if need be.


I guess everyone says that sooner than later is the key but isn't it really about opinion? There are no real stats or triggers to actually say "it's time" right?

I've lived with it for all my life and so far it hasn't been a real issue (no swelling or SOB or real noticeable change in the amount of things I can do. Granted I can't run 3 miles but I could still probably do 1. I was benchpressing 250 lbs just 3 years ago, knowing that I was in moderate/ severe regurg.

I have gained some fat and have probably lost some "shape" as far as cardio stamina but a lot of that is due to inactivity and lazyness.

Meeting with the surgeon again would probably be a good idea just to get his opinion don't you think?

 

[kevin21]

Oh,

the cardio said no real change (worse or better) and he wants me back in 8 months for another Echo and visit.

That was the jist of it.

I am going to try and see that surgeon in the next couple of weeks for opinion number 2.

 

[Karlynn]

Checking in with the surgeon wouldn't be a bad idea. Keep us posted.

 

[debster913]

The sooner you see a surgeon, the better. Like some of the other posters on your thread stated, nerves aren't all uncommon with cardio visits. I just saw mine Wednesday for my latest check-up, and although everything is OK, I was still nervous. I even had my "mommy" with me, even though I'm 31 years old!

But, the more you wait, the more risk you put your heart. I went downhill pretty fast after my cardio diagnosed my valve in April 2006--by June I could barely do any activity without getting winded. Thankfully my valve was still salvageable.

Take care and keep us posted--
Debi

 

[debster913]

Oh, and another thing--forget about timelines cardios give you. After a TEE in April 2005, my cardio said I wouldn't need surgery until "robots do it"--within the year, my valve was failing. Twelve months after that TEE, I was back in my cardio's office being diagnosed with severe MR.

 

[Phyllis]

There are no real stats or triggers to actually say "it's time" right?

It's a good idea to check back with the surgeon. So many on this forum have said that they felt no symptoms before surgery, but upon recovery realize all the little things they ignored that were symptoms.