So so check up

[jrocco]

I had a mitral valve repair in January 2005 and the Cardo said this is very fixable. Well after the surgery everything has been going fine, even at my last check up and echo in May he said how good every sounded and looked. I went today for another check up and now he says he can hear a murmur, and wants another echo. I thought I was out of the woods as far as worrying about the valve ever leaking, but I guess that's aways a possibilty with a valve repair. I just thought when they say it can be fixed, it will be fixed.

Hopefully it is nothing, but I can't help but wonder,,,,do we ever get cleared from the worry of things leaking again? The Dr said they fixed the bad spots but that maybe the valve chords were also bad and that's what is leaking. Will an echo show that? I sure don't want to go back and jump on the testing treadmill again, (Cath, Tee). :

[Curtsmum]

Not sure you can be 100% fixed with any surgery, some people go without problems others dont. I hope it turns out to be just a innocent murmer, best of luck with your next echo, let us know how you get on. Cant help with the echo or cath thing, maybe somebody else can. Take care Paula x

[Ross]

A friend of mine just had his fixed not long ago and it has completely failed and he's looking at surgery all over again. Needless to say, he is a bit distraught over the whole thing and rightfully so, so they do go bad.

[Curtsmum]

Just to add my son had his mitral valve repared at 18months old and it was to tight after surgery, they was going to re operate because his lung collapsed but then decided to wait.

[Christina L]

having my recent echo and them saying my repaired mitral valve was failing. I didn't count on being told my heart MAY have slightly enlarged (which I refuse to believe it has - just tech error or cardio interpretation differences). My valve repair is still holding very well.

Just know that a leak is just that, a leak!! Think how long we had our leaks - how many years!! If it is a small leak, you may be able to live with it for many more years or indefinitely!

I know how you are feeling - believe me - I hope that all turns out well for you, but just have a feeling it will.

Christina L

[jrocco]

Thanks for all the replies and encouragement. And now for the update. They did a blood test, I forgot what it was called, but I think they were looking for an infection since I had mentioned that sometimes I feel a short stabbing pain once in a while in my heart. The blood tests were just fine, everything normal. Next the echo. Dr. was out that day but the next morning his nurse calls and says he looked it over and the valve is holding and to watch my blood preasure and come back in six months for another echo. So,,,I guess I'm OK.

Do others have the six month check, in other words, is that part of having valve surgery, always having the heart checked. I don't mind going in for the echo, that's easy enough, I just don't want to have to pay the bill since my insurence deductable will not be met next year!! LOL

Thanks again for the feedback.

[Curtsmum]

My son goes every six months for check ups, there may still be a slight problem because he used to go once a year but it sounds like good news, congratulation keep it up and all the best for the future:)

[Karlynn]

I go every six months too. Have for 14 years - so that makes at least 28 visits to the doctor. And I HATE doctors - even the nice ones.:D

I have an echo yearly.

[liza]

I think the six months is pretty standard at first. I too had a mitral valve repair. At my check-up last week they said they were a little worried that although I have no regurgitation, it might be a little too stenotic (too tight basically). I hope that I won't need to fix that. I was excited when I found out they were able to repair it after my OHS, but mitral valve stenosis isn't a good thing to have either. So, we'll see what happens with that.

It seems like valve problems never REALLY go away, it's always something! But maybe I'm just being pessimistic since I seem to keep having problems. ;)

Liza