My Heart Valves are Leaking???!!!
So, today I go see my cardiologist because they want to do a cardiolite stress test and I have been very afraid and thought going in and seeing the dr would alleviate some fears. I haven’t seen him for awhile and I was very excited to note that I have lost 28 pounds since I saw him last. The last time I had seen him I came in for a cardio ultrasound test but I hadn’t gotten the results so thought I’d get them too at this appointment.
So, I am all smiles and he drops a bomb on me. He says, “Your ultrasound has shown that your heart valves are leaking fluid”. I have been feeling these fluttery feelings on the left side of my chest and thought it was gas. So, I tell him about it and he tells me that’s what he’s talking about and I feel this when my valves are malfunctioning. He says it can be remedied by weightloss. I told him I have lost 28 pounds since the last time he saw me and he tells me that I still have a long way to go. I agreed a long way! But, I was feeling very scared! I told him how scared I was about everything and the upcoming test. He was good at reassuring me. He says that he already knows I have this problem which can be corrected, the other test will show if there’s any damage and if anything further needs to be done but he’s going to put me on some meds after the test is done. I take a lot of meds already for diabetes and high cholesterol. My blood pressure was good tho, thank God or I would be on that too.
So, next week I go in for a Peripheal Arterial Test which will be an ultrasound of my lower extremeties, and then the 17th I have the stress test. I am worried about the results but the dr convinced me it’s better to know ahead of time than to suffer a heart attack, but it’s pretty stressful! I feel so angry that I let myself get this way and gain all this weight and that all of my illnesses are the result of my obesity. I am hypersensitive to the fluttery feelings now and I seem to notice it all the time now which is adding to my stress. And it seems to be taking me forever to lose weight these days and it’s mandatory that I do!
For those of you who do not know what a cardiolite stress test is, it is a heart test where they will give me an IV of some nuclear substance and then I will walk on a treadmill and then they take pictures of my heart. Then, a few hours later, I come back and get more nuclear stuff and I will lay down. It’s going to look at the blood flow and valves and all that stuff. I am trying not to act like this is a big deal so I don’t have a complete panic attack when I go in. But, I am pretty scared!
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Sweety I will be praying for you. My dad had open heart surgery in Feb. Get this, he had gone to the Dr for bronchitis. Dr’s are so amazing, the things they can do is unreal.
Of course you are scared. But try to turn it in to motivation. He said it….weightloss can help tons. So don’t let it discouarge you.
Smile…you can get through this. We are here for you.
Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers
I am here for you, just as you have been for me! I am sending you good thoughts and prayers!
You have done so well with your weight loss and things will improve as you continue!
Lots of Love and Biggest HUGS!
Stacey, I can totally understand your fear. But, you are doing all the right things to regain your health. 28lbs! Isn’t that the weight of a three year old? Girl, you lost a toddler! LOL Please, keep us posted about how your tests come out. You will be in my prayers.
I have leaking heart valves (2 of them), and though it can be scary sometimes, it is not necessarily as serious as it sounds. I know anything related to the heart sounds terrifying, but your cardiologist will be able to tell you what you can do to take care of yourself and keep it in check. I was diagnosed years ago with one valve, then was told that I have two valves leaking! And guess what? I’m still kicking, still active, still feeling good. Finding out what the problem is and what to do to take care of it is what is important. I have done a lot of research on leaking heart valves, and lots of people live with it with little interference in their everyday lives. If you have a good cardiologist, you should be able to handle it and keep it in check and keep living your life no problem.
I know it sounds so scary, and I was terrified when I first found out about mine; but to be honest, I hardly think about it anymore, except to make sure I’m doing everything my cardiologist says to do to take care of myself.
Hey your are going to be *fine*
You are doing everything you can, you are doing what so many people fail at. 28 pounds gone, more to come. I am really proud of you, I know exactly how you are and feel, you remind me of my mom and all the stuff she has been through with her diabetes. Her blood pressure is fine too even!
I agree with your doctor, it’s best to find out now then later….I give him props for being so proactive. Just remember you are in control of your destiny, some things you cannot help and some you can, as long as you are doing everything you can then you have to leave the rest up to faith. I am not a relgious person but I do believe that.
I know it sucks to be doing all these tests, it’s scary and stressful but do it for your kids and husband if no one else. You have so many people who care about you and would love to know your ok. I tell my mom that all the time, she may not want to go back to the wound doctor but we all need her and need to know she’s ok. Let us know what happens!
Thank you everyone! I have been online looking up info on this condition and it sounds like I can be ok and learn to live with it. I just have to get thru the hurdles of going thru the testing and then getting results but I am feeling more compelled to find out all I can.
I noticed one of the symptoms, which I have had was you can gain 3 pounds or so in one day. I have suspected I have had problems with my heart all along but I was avoiding getting the confirmation. Now I feel stupid for waiting so long to find out. I shoulda had the test back in June!
I’m sorry to hear you’re getting more stress on top of everything else, grrrr! It just isn’t fair how that happens to some people (my mother is one of those people as well)
I know you can do this– you’re going to lose the weight and then look and feel fabulous in your new and improved healthy body!
This gives me more motivation too.. I’m terrified of what is going to happen if I allow myself to stay like this. My family has history of diabetes, high blood pressure, thyroid problems.. I want to be healthy, darn it!
I hope everything comes out well
xoxo!!
Joy
It’s definitely better to catch it earlier, when you can still do something about it. You’ve already done something about it, losing 28 lbs! I’m sure this will be even more motivation for you to get even healthier.
I’m glad it is caught early. Sorry you’re going through this Stacey.
Well hon, you have more of an incentive to lose it. Let’s do it ok?
Sorry to hear about this, but thank goodness you found it now. Is’s always better to know what’s going on. Lood luck and take care of yourself.