BAV, coarctation, AND Ventricular septal defect? And nausea...

[Karen]

Last week I had a cardiac MR as requested by my new ACHD cardiologist. I was a bit surprised to be called back to have more pictures taken of my heart. The cardiologist who heads the imaging department here in the region was not sure if he could see a bit of fatty tissue in the septum between the ventricals OR if I had a hole in my heart! Since they had already injected the contrast medium before that suspicious area was noticed, they couldn't determine if there was "communication" between the two ventricals or not. When he consulted with my cardio, the cardio said he wanted to know for sure what it was. Thus the need to do the same study again without the contrast stuff.

Since I was a little freaked out by another "surprise," the doctor showed me the pictures before I left, and was very reassuring that although there WAS a hole between the two ventricals, it had closed up enough on one side to prevent any communication between the two sides. There was a cleft evident there, but no hole. He said ventricular septal defects are a common part of the BAV/coarctation package. 'Should have closed up by about 3 months in fetal development. There's no way to know when it closed by itself...

Maybe I've missed it, but have others of you been informed of this additional little defect? 'Tell you what, after 54 years and 8 children, I'm just glad I didn't know all of this before now!

I had my gallbladder removed on Thursday. I thought I would be so ahead of the anesthesia/nausea game. I told the anesthesiologist how sick I got with morphine with my heart cath a year ago. I was assured that there were lots of other good stuff that they could use. This time I believe they used fentanyl. Maybe it was the percocet later that was the culprit? But I had serious nausea issues for several hours. I was finally sent home with Tylenol 3 with codeine and Phenargan. As painful as it was after gallbladder surgery to be throwing up, if I ever have to have open heart surgery, I sure hope we can get the recipe right!!!

 

[Lynlw]

Karen, I'm sorry they found that out after so many years. but was wonderring if your docs specialize in adults with CHD, and if not maybe you could go to one for a second opinion, Lyn
ps i had my gallbladder out the day before valentines day and for some stupid reason I thought since the holes were small they wouldnt hurt much lol, wrong, actually the worse one was the one in my belly button

 

[Karen]

Lyn, actually this new cardio IS my second opinion. And yes, he is an ACHD cardiologist. He knew well the cardiologist that diagnosed my coarctation in 1967. He was the director of the ACHD Clinic at University of Utah 2 years prior to my current cardio taking over. He said it would be very unusual for Dr. Veasy to have missed the BAV when the coarctation was diagnosed. But before the days of echocardiograms, I think this was the best they knew. Fortunately, for most, it won't matter that some of these things will never be known. But it's interesting to me that, so many years later, we are learning about some interesting stuff that has NOT been a problem, and hopefully won't be in the future. Well, with the exception of the bicuspid valve that is being watched. And I believe it is also good to know the whole picture, because you never know what will be significant down the road.

The really good news about the MRI is that they got a really good look at the entire aorta AND the repair site of the coarctation and everything looks really good. It has given me a lot of peace of mind to have a cardiologist that is very proactive in these details...

Thanks for your interest. (And you're right about the incision in the belly button!)

 

[Lynlw]

I know i actually took a pic of that one a few days in a row to see if it was getting better or worse, and let me tell you it is tricky to take a pic of your own belly button lol

I'm glad you are seeing an ACHD specialist.(it makes me feel better and I guess THATS what is important lol.) and it's good that if you have to have a VSD at least it is closed and won't cause problems. Lyn
ps silly me you said in the first sentence it was a ACHd doc

 

[wxman]

I had coarctation repair in 1963 at age 10. I was thrilled when it was over only to find out that I had a bad aortic valve too. But...I made it 40 years...and had the valve replaced in 2003. Even with the echo...the surgeon was somewhat surprised to find a small ASD...and repaired it as well. So...far so good.