Tuesday Dec 02, 2008

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2 blog posts in 2 days... you must know something isnt right.

all is not well.

I saw my cardiologist today (which by the way he is a awesome doctor) I had a EKG and I he listened to my heart and stuff. I have a few people in the family line with some heart defects and such - so I am taking everything seriously. He said my murmur sounded beaufitul, whatever that means - perhaps that means its "textbook" you know. Anyway I have to go back for more testing on Thursday... I will get an Echo (ultrasound of the heart) and a treadmill stress test.

He thinks from hearing my heart that I have Mitral Regurgitation...

I came home and googled and found this explanation...

SPOILERS! (Click to view)


Mitral valve regurgitation (MR) is the leaking or backflow of blood through the valve between the left upper heart chamber (atrium) and the left lower heart chamber (ventricle). If serious, this condition can lead to a backup of blood in the left atrium and the lungs, cause enlargement of and damage to the left ventricle, and lead to heart failure.

Mitral valve regurgitation can either be ongoing (chronic) or sudden (acute). Chronic MR develops slowly, possibly over decades, and symptoms, such as shortness of breath, fatigue, and swelling in the feet and ankles, may never appear. Acute MR is a medical emergency that requires urgent treatment to repair or replace the mitral valve.

Treatment for MR includes medicines for symptoms and eventually surgery to repair or replace the valve.

People who have mitral valve regurgitation may be at higher risk of heart valve infection (endocarditis) especially if they have an artificial heart valve.



and with that... I am officially NOT googling that term anymore... and waiting until Thursday will be horrid.

VIEW 6 of 6 COMMENTS
tubaart:
MR (which is flow result of the physical MVP, for toothpickmoe) is VERY common, especially in women - some estimates say as high as 10%. It is usually the "chronic" variety, and ranges from completely asymptomatic (which is why the actual occurence rate is unknown - most people with it don't even know they have it) to mildly symptomatic (shortness of breath when exercising, for example) in the large majority of cases. Usually it's not treated at all, except for taking a course of prophylactic antibiotics prior to surgery or dental work. Sometimes it involves taking a beta blocker like Inderal, but that's only if the symptomps are causing you problems. Surgery is sometimes called for, but you'd know it if that were the case, believe me.

All in all, I'd say don't worry about it. DO get it checked out, and listen to your doc, but unless it turns out to be something more than it sounds like, it's not a very big deal, and something you can live with for many many years, and you're probably more likely to die by being hit by a bus. smile
rabidus:
what tubaart said and, the surgery while not trivial isn't horrible. you could have a complete valve replacement and be home in 3 days because you're young and otherwise healthy.

so.. follow the docs instructions and try not to worry too much. you can always get it replaced.

take care --> kiss

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