A couple of really stupid questions for you

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R

runningscared

First, a brief history, found out about 3 years ago I had a heart murmur, mild reguritation at the time. Last year after my echo found out it was now moderately severe, I go in for this years echo this coming Wednesday. I'm scared already yet at the same time looking forward to it to see if there is any change.

Okay, now, for my stupid questions.

1. Can your reguritation ever improve on it's own???

2. Can a moderately severe leak in my aortic valve cause weight gain?

The reason I ask Number 2 is because I am really active, I run or walk a minimum of 4.5 to 5.0 miles everyday! I eat an extremely healthy diet with the occasional chocolate treat hear and there, (okay, truth be told I do have probably a few bite size pieces of chocolate everyday), yet I still have this unsightly spare tire around my middle. I'm 5'9 and weigh about 150. My next thought is maybe it's just middle age? I am 47 yrs old...

So, if any of you lovely valve people get a chance and would like to respond to my silly questions I would appreciate it.

Thanks in Advance!

Mary
 
There are NO stupid questions on vr.com! :)

I am going to answer your questions with my impressions/understandings. If someone else has more definitive information to the contrary, I am sure they will come along.

First, it is my understanding that aortic regurgitation does not go away on its own. At least that was my personal experience. I had it as a congenital condition and eventually had to deal with it.

Second, I do not think a leaky valve contributes to weight gain (never heard of such a thing anyway). However, it can contribute to something more serious -- enlargement of the heart. That is something that has to be watched very closely. My valve was leaking "catastrophic amounts" of blood, in the words of my surgeon, and had contributed to significant enlargement. Now that's all fixed, thank God, and I feel good.

Hope this helps as a start on answering your questions.
 
I agree with Rob, there are no stupid questions here. I have never heard of regurgitation improving, however, if you have very high blood pressure now I could see how a reduction of your BP might lessen it. But I might be off on that. I have never heard of weight gain being associated with valve issues.
 
Thanks for such quick replies.

My Dr. did mention my heart was slightly enlarged although he thought that is from being a runner for so long and that runners have slightly larger hearts. Have you ever heard of that?

Mary
 
Mary,
I have to agree with the others, but I think you are a little young for that middle age spread.
I would also like to welcome another 'local' to this site.
I'm up here in Shelby Twp which is about 25 miles north of Detroit.

Rich
 
runningscared said:
Thanks for such quick replies.

My Dr. did mention my heart was slightly enlarged although he thought that is from being a runner for so long and that runners have slightly larger hearts. Have you ever heard of that?

Mary
Click to expand...
I have heard of runners having enlarged hearts. My son had one while he ran X-country, but since his college running career has ended, the latest echo showed a decrease in size.

How far are you from Coldwater, MI?
I've got a good friend who lives there.
Mary
 
I'm not sure where Coldwater is. I'm about 20 minutes south of Detroit, although I work in Southfield.

If and when I do ever need surgery I would most likely have it done at Beaumont.

Mary

(ps. I was really hoping someone could tell me the stomach tire is from my leaky valve - - now I guess I have to face the fact that it's one or two bitesize candies too many!)
 
runningscared said:
Thanks for such quick replies.

My Dr. did mention my heart was slightly enlarged although he thought that is from being a runner for so long and that runners have slightly larger hearts. Have you ever heard of that?

Mary
Click to expand...


I have heard of the "athletic heart" -- that is, a slightly enlarged heart in athletes. I used to be a runner (ran a few marathons even) and read stuff about this. However, if there is enlargement from a leaky valve, being athletic doesn't trump that. If dilation gets close to the severe stage, it will need to be dealt with surgically.
 
Endurance athletes do have larger hearts.

Could your weight gain be because you are subconsciously running less or not as hard as a result of your heart not working as effeciently as it used to? Are your training runs about the same length and time?

If your times and distances haven't changed, you're eating more than you used to.
 
If you have congestive heart failure as a consequence of your leaky valves, then yes, you could gain weight in the form of fluid weight. It can manifest itself with fluid edema in your feet, ankles and legs, sometimes the hands and face too. And you can also have fluid accumulation around the stomach area called ascites and that will make your stomach area look large.

There were times that my husband had 40 or 50 pounds of extra fluid in his body. He had a VERY compromised heart though. He was normally a slim and fit man.

Your doctor can examine your ankles, lungs, stomach and other areas to check for fluid overload and there is also a blood test for congestive heart failure called a BNP bloodtest.

Congestive heart failure can be treated with medication.
 
Early hypertrophic cardiomyopathy can be misdiagnosed as an athletic heart.

And there are no stupid questions here. Sometimes the answers could use a little work though;).
 
I'm glad Nancy mentioned fluid retention as a possibility.
Beaumont was second on my list of hospitals, second only because it's hard to get to from here, a little over an hour's drive.
 
Improvement in Rate of Enlargement

Improvement in Rate of Enlargement

I have never heard of aortic regurgitation improving, but I'd like to put in a plug for ACE Inhibitors taken for the purpose slowing the enlargement of the heart as a result of the regurgitation. My growing son (almost 15 now) has had three chest xrays in the three years he has been monitored. In the first two, his heart almost fills his chest cavity. But in the third (all three lined up by the cardio. to show us at his last appointment) the heart stayed the same size while the surrounding chest walls grew outwards. Although the cause and effect cannot be conclusively shown, the cardio. credits the Lisinopril (ACE Inhibitor) for stopping, this year at least, the progressive enlargement of the heart.
 
Hello fellow runner

Hello fellow runner

Again, let me echo no dumb questions on this site! First, like everyone else, I never heard of reguritation getting better on it's own....if only that were true!;)
Weight gain...are you taking any medications? My first cardio put me right on Toprol XL and I gained 10 pounds in 2 months, and I was still running, training for a half marathon. There are drugs that slow down your heart rate, so your metabolism is much slower, hence the weight gain.
 
I agree with Nancy about fluid retention. At 5'9" and 150 lbs., you are definitely not overweight, so I would look for another reason for the "spare tire". If it's not fluid, have you tried sit-ups or something that works your stomach and abs? At 45, I am at a good weight, but i'm not in shape, so I have some body parts that would definitely benefit from focused workouts.
 
You may have bicuspid aortic valve disease which can also result in ascending aortic aneurysms. Hemodynamic effects from aortic regurgitation increase pressure on the aortic wall (connective tissue weakened from bicuspid aortic disease). See
www.bicuspidfoundation.com for more information.
Please ask for a CT scan in addition to an echo test, as an echo will not provide complete visibility of your ascending aorta. At a minimum, a CT scan will provide you with a baseline measurement of your ascending aorta.
All my best,
MrP.
 
Hi Everybody,

Well, I had my yearly echo yesterday and lo and behold it would appear now that I have a "moderaly leaking aortic valve" in stead of a "moderately severe" one.

My Dr. said they were able to get a better look at it on this echo than they did last year and he believes while I wasn't born with a bicuspid valve that I was born with a trileaflet valve although one of the leaflets is not fully developed therefore I am having some leaking issues. He also ran an EKG since I have never had one and that was perfect.

At this point he said the best thing for me to do is to keep my blood pressure and cholesterol down. He also mentioned the fantastic progress that is being made in the replacement/repair of bad valves and that knock on wood, by the time I ever need anything done with mine I should be able to have it corrected thru a catherization.

I feel so much better, I do still need to monitor it yearly and should I notice any shortness of breath or dizziness to let him know.


Well, that's all for now, other than my saying "THANK YOU" for being the great group of people that you are and I will continue to drop in and visit.

Talk to you later,

Runningscared, (aka: Mary)
 
Happy news, Mary, and thanks for the update. Now - go and enjoy your summer.
 
Well then, get back out there, enjoy the running and stop worrying so much.

Before I had VR surgery, the doctors monitored my leakage for many years. When I would ask how I would know when it was time to have it fixed, the reply was "When it gets too difficult to do those 10 milers." They were right, when the time came, I knew.
 
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