Kim's Guestbook

Kim Owen  Thank you Phyllis for the warm welcome, your encouraging words and sharing your experience. I started out with CHF in 2005 and my heart is now functioning normally. I do have mitral valve regurg and it is moderate but my recent echo showed mild dilation of the right atrium and my ef is now 50 instead of 55-65 (my doctor didn't mention it but I took a copy of the report home). The overall report said no significant changes from the prior year. He did want to start me on a beta blocker (Metoprolol Succinate ER 25 mg) which I can only take half the dose prescribed due to side effects of feeling off balance, heart palpations in the beginning, numbness and a few others. The nurse practitioner laughed at me when I mentioned them to her (I don't think they are so funny). I suffer from anxiety also and that is probably contributing to these side effects. I was plugging along for so long with the same regimen and then wham beta blockers again (I had taken them years ago but my old doctor who died, took me off saying that I didn't need them anymore and I had side effects back then too). I have no surgery in the future so I hope it's okay to be on this site. I find the encouraging experiences really helpful. I often wonder why they don't fix the mitral valve before it becomes serious? Do you feel better after the surgery? I hope so. Did you have a lot of symptoms? Do you still have to take medication? Again thank you xx

Phyllis Petersen  Have you only been to a cardiologist? Surgeons have quite different criteria and they all differ from each other. I would think with a history of CHF and the heart starting to enlarge that they would want to repair your valve before permanent damage is done. If you can, I would get another opinion. Doctors sometimes wait too long trying to put off surgery until absolutely necessary. It's a bit of a drive into San Diego, but you may want to look into getting a second opinion at a major heart facility there.
My main symptoms were sudden bouts of fatigue, which got substantially worse in the months before surgery. I also would hear my heart beating loudly when I went to bed at night and sometimes had to change position so I could sleep. I did get occasional fluttering, but it never lasted long. The symptoms can be subtle and chalked up to something else.

Kim Owen  Hi I do live in San Diego County and yes I have only been to a cardiologist. Is the right atrium considered an enlargement? My primary and Cardiologist both say they only operate if necessary. I have heard my heart pounding in my ears also. I thought it was due to pulsating tinnitus. I guess I would have to go to my primary dr for a referral to a heart facility. Thanks.

Kim Owen  I just read the criteria for a clip (didn't see actual open heart surgery) on this site and it says for people with severe regurg and symptoms. I think I will go to my primary to get a referral for a second opinion. I don't know if they would send me to a surgery center. Did you have open heart surgery or the less evasive one? Now I am feeling really anxious. Like I said my cardio didn't even mention the right atrium dilatation.