First Ech post surgery 5 1/2 months

[roundsgirl]

Hey gang,
I hope all is well. I haven't been on for a while as my computer crashed, and I'm just now back on line.
I'm almost 6 months post op now. Things have been slow going for me. I've just got some cream from the doc. for my scar, as the top half is keloid and still very painful. The bottom half of the scar is fine, but man the top half has been ROUGH. Hopefully the cream will help, if not he said he will inject it next, but that is quite painful, so I'm hoping the cream does the trick.

I've got a question for you guys. I had my first echo done a last week, I'm hoping you can help me with some questions as far as if this is normal for anyone else or not.
My surgery was aortic valve replacement with a bovine valve.

1. The last echo before my surgery said that I had aortic sclerosis without evidence of stenosis, the echo last week said I have moderate aortic stenosis. Now I have still been very tired, short of breath etc., but I'm wondering why has this just now shown up??? My first thought was why didn't they fix the stenosis while they were in there? The surgeon said let's wait 6 months and see what that echo shows. Does this sound familar to anyone?

2. I still have grade 2 diastolic dysfunction with pseudonormalized inflow pattern.

3. Normal function of aortic bioprosthesis. Mild to moderate residual gradient.
What does that mean?

Thanks of advance for any replies. I hope all is well with everyone. I missed the web site while I my computer was down and out.

Sincerely,
Roundsgirl
Lisa

 

[Curtsmum]

Sorry i can't answer your questions, just wanted to wish you the best of luck and hope things go well with your scar, take care.

 

[Guest]

Roundsgirl(Lisa)!!! I was thinking about you too, wondering where did she go? I'm glad you are back, sorry I can't help with your questions.

 

[roundsgirl]

Thanks to all of you. I missed the warm understanding people here. You are great. I hope all of you are doing well. I guess it's something that we are here to keep up the good fight.

From the bottom of my heart thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Roundsgirl,
Lisa

 

[roundsgirl]

It's me again

It's me again

Hey gang. I spent over 9 hours in the ER yesterday with chest pain that radiates to my back. After all kinds of test which all came back good; except the echo. They were trying to get my blood pressure down it was 160/120 when I got there and stayed pretty much the same until after all kinds of med.s including nitro and lots of pain med's; it finally came down. Once again they said I have moderate aortic stenosis, how is this possible, the ER doctor didn't have any answers for that and seemed quite suprised about it. He said maybe that is causing my chest pain, I sure don't know as my problem before was never stenosis only regurg.

Has any one here had moderate stenosis show up on their first echo and now second echo after surgery, I have a bovine valve, can my body be attacking it that hard as to cause it to show moderate stenosis so soon, I had my surgery in Jan. 08.

To tell the truth with this moderate stenosis and now chest pains I'm getting scared all over again. My energy level never got any better, still have the shortness of breath, tightnees in chest and now chest pains with high blood pressure, but my heart rate was slowwwwwww like 45 to 52 most of the time at the ER. To which the nurses said was low, but was probably my heart med's causing it to be low. I don't know, I'm suppose to follow up with Cardio. I thought I would give him time to get my test results from the hospital, but really don't want to see him. It's more than likely going to be a let's wait and see situation, what scares me is how bad can this progress if it's already moderate only 5 1/2 now 8 months out. If anyone has any experience with this after surgery I sure would love to hear from you. I'm trying not to freak out right now.

 

[ALCapshaw2]

I'm confused by your stenosis also.

Hopefully your Cardiologist will be able to explain it.

If not, you may want to get a second opinion from someone at Duke Univ. / Hosp. (or Emory in ATL).

 

[WayneGM]

Sorry, I don't have answers for you. I hope your Cardio can explain it. From my own experience with ER doctors, I've found they can't explain a lot of things. Until you see the Cardio, try to stay positive as I'd trust findings of my Cardio over the ER doctor. Best wishes and good luck.

 

[netmiff]

..."I thought I would give him time to get my test results from the hospital, but really don't want to see him. It's more than likely going to be a let's wait and see situation, what scares me is ..."

time for a new cardio ?? Why don't you want to go and see him? any chance you could make an appt. with the surgeon instead??

BTW, good to hear from you, but I am sorry about the circumstances.

 

[SHEEPDOG]

I agree...

I agree...

... with the idea of getting in ASAP. I would trust the Cardio more too. Did they get a Cardio consult in the ER? You need some real answers! Sooner rather than later! Being scared of what Cardio may say is understandable but things could be worseor much much better than you are thinking. ER's are there to deal with immediate problems. They did that! Now get to a Surg. or Cardio to get to the root cause of things. Knowing FOR SURE is better than guessing !

 

[marie]

Lisa I'm so sorry to hear this but try not to worry about it until you have to. (I know that's easier said than done) I too had surgery in Jan. 08 and can not imagine going through another surgery at all let along 7 months but we do what we have to. Maybe the ER doctor was mistaken. Get to your cardio or surgeon ASAP so you can deal with whatever it is.

You're in my prayers.

 

[roundsgirl]

Yes the ER doctor did do a Cardio. consult with the Cardio who was on call for my doctor, he was actually the one who told the ER doctor to do the Echo before he let me go home.

As far as the Cardio goes, it's not him or anything about him that I don't like or not want to see him because of, I guess it's more the whole situation. He has been good to me, he's the one who sent me for the Work Performance Elvaluation Test and then deemed me 100% disabled. Now I'm thinking his decision has something to do with the stenosis and how the activities affected my heart rate as well as my B/P readings.

I do appreciate all the responses, so far. I'm taking it that none of you have heard of or had to deal with this whole stenosis after valve replacement surgery? I guess it's not all that common???? I'm trying to stay positive, although I'm always one of those glass half empty kind of people.

I do appreciate the support.

 

[DebbyA]

Sorry to read that you're not improving. I agree that you need answers. This is from the Guideline for Management of Patients with Valvular Heart Disease:

"Any patient with a prosthetic heart valve who does not improve after surgery or who later shows deterioration of functional capacity should undergo appropriate testing, including 2D and Doppler echocardiography and, if necessary, transesophageal echocardiography and cardiac catheterization with angiography to determine the cause."

If your surgeon wants to wait 6 months, you need an explanation why he thinks that is the best course for you, and he and/or your cardiologist need to help manage your symptoms.

From the same document, this may be the answer to your question 3 above:
"Every prosthetic heart valve has an intrinsic degree of obstruction ... The gradient varies among different types of prosthetic valves."

I'm only a few weeks ahead of you, and I don't think I felt as bad as your description even in the early weeks. I hope you get back on the road to improvement soon.