I have a leaky heart valve

[Shada]

Thinking of you Judy and praying this will turn out to be nothing serious.

{{HUGS}}

[judy]

I'm going for a blood test on Thursday. Jessie said she is coming with me on Monday for the cardiology tests. I'm not sure that will work. I think it may take several hours. I'm having an EKG, an echo cardiogram, a cardiac consultation to see if I can take a stress test, and a chest x-ray to see the size of my heart.

They are thorough up here!!! I think I will know whatever I need to within the next 2 weeks.

I'm watching Dr., Phil right now and they're talking about a lack of energy, etc. associated with menopause. I'm already on a very low dose of FHT, which I just cut down to 3/week. I have been on them for 12 years now and really do not want to continue for too long. Bioidentical hormones sound pretty safe, but I have symptoms that are not helped by that kind. (Or so I was told).

Truthfully, I do not trust doctors 100%. I have seen diagnoses match the specialist you see way too often. I have also been told so many different things about the same issue by different doctors. Medical science is not an absolute.

I do think I trust an EKG, etc. though - so we will see.

[Janet]

I watched that show too, well I had it on. It was a rerun and I wanted to hear it again, while I cleaned cabinets. I was taking Premarin for too long and decided to try something else. I went with the Black CoHosh and it didn't so a thing for me. Didn't have night sweats, but kept having hot flashes throughout the day. Quit taking those and now I'm trying something called New Phase. It seems to work pretty well so far.

[DianaB]

Keep us posted, Judy, on how things go! {{{{{Hugs}}}}}

[2tiredmom]

As always your in my prayers along with the others. Keep us posted.

[gja1000]

Judy, the EKG will take about 5 minutes to run. The Echo will take about 20-30 minutes to run, and the x-ray will only take a few minutes. Of course, I don't know how long it will take to wait to get those done. The cardiac consultation to see if you can take the stress test, will probably depend on the x-ray, EKG and the Echo. I don't think they will run the stress test (if you are able) because those things usually have to be scheduled in advance - but maybe they can go ahead and do it. The stress test will take about 30 minutes - or longer if they decide to do a chemical stress test.

Most stress tests are done with you exercising (treadmill) while hooked up to an EKG machine. But some people who can't exercise, like my husband, have to take a chemical stress test. They give you drugs to speed up your heart, like would happen during exercise. Those tests take longer to run.

I think you will be fine - yes, it probably will take a couple of hours to get everything done, but hopefully, they will be quick!

[judy]

Originally Posted by gja1000

Judy, the EKG will take about 5 minutes to run. The Echo will take about 20-30 minutes to run, and the x-ray will only take a few minutes. Of course, I don't know how long it will take to wait to get those done. The cardiac consultation to see if you can take the stress test, will probably depend on the x-ray, EKG and the Echo. I don't think they will run the stress test (if you are able) because those things usually have to be scheduled in advance - but maybe they can go ahead and do it. The stress test will take about 30 minutes - or longer if they decide to do a chemical stress test.

Most stress tests are done with you exercising (treadmill) while hooked up to an EKG machine. But some people who can't exercise, like my husband, have to take a chemical stress test. They give you drugs to speed up your heart, like would happen during exercise. Those tests take longer to run.

I think you will be fine - yes, it probably will take a couple of hours to get everything done, but hopefully, they will be quick!

You are so good Gayle! I really appreciate your knowledge so much. Thank you!

[Mandy]

Keeping you in my thoughts Judy *Hugs*

[gja1000]

Originally Posted by judy

You are so good Gayle! I really appreciate your knowledge so much. Thank you!

You are so welcome - Gary and I have been through a million of these tests - well, maybe not a million, but it feels like it!!

[Gina]

Judy I normally run a BP of 110/60 the last time I went it was 130/62 like yours, I was very nervous and the dr. didnt say it was bad. So attribute it to aniexty I bet with all that is going on.

I too have a slight heart murmur and years ago they told me that I had mitral value prolapse actually it was the nurse who told me .. long story short the heart dr. at the time told me that I didn't have it...

Fast forward to last year , if you remember when I was at the gym I got very dizzy when I got off the thread mill and my dr. sent me for an ekg walking on the thread mill. The results were fine, but the person giving me the test saw a slight heart mumur and I was suppose to go back for an echo.. never did.


Your going to be fine , I am sure don't get nervous....

[judy]

Originally Posted by Gina

Judy I normally run a BP of 110/60 the last time I went it was 130/62 like yours, I was very nervous and the dr. didnt say it was bad. So attribute it to aniexty I bet with all that is going on.

I too have a slight heart murmur and years ago they told me that I had mitral value prolapse actually it was the nurse who told me .. long story short the heart dr. at the time told me that I didn't have it...

Fast forward to last year , if you remember when I was at the gym I got very dizzy when I got off the thread mill and my dr. sent me for an ekg walking on the thread mill. The results were fine, but the person giving me the test saw a slight heart mumur and I was suppose to go back for an echo.. never did.


Your going to be fine , I am sure don't get nervous....

Go for that echo Gina!!! I'm sure you're fine, but I am a firm believer in taking care of your health, although I don't care for a lot of doctors and all of the silly tests they send you for.

[gja1000]

Originally Posted by Gina

Fast forward to last year , if you remember when I was at the gym I got very dizzy when I got off the thread mill and my dr. sent me for an ekg walking on the thread mill. The results were fine, but the person giving me the test saw a slight heart mumur and I was suppose to go back for an echo.. never did.

Gina, go for the echo - it's a very easy test - not as quick as an EKG, but you just lie on a table and they smear some gel on your chest and then use a little metal thing to rub around your chest to do the echo - it's like the thing they use to find the babies heart rate when you are preggers. It takes about 20-30 minutes and then the doctor will read it. It would be worth doing, just to be sure everything is OK.

I think everyone should have heart tests - there is so much that can be done to fix heart problems, medication included. If you leave heart problems untreated, then that is when you have real problems. Even untreated high blood pressure can have severe complications.

So, GET THAT ECHO, Gina.

[judy]

I'm fine!!!

Went for the EKG, etc. today and my heart checked out fine. I have a slight leaky valve, but nothing to worry about.

Thank goodness for that! Good health is such a gift. I am always so grateful, and so relieved, when I get a negative on a mammogram or a pap smear. I am just as grateful today.

Jessie went with me, which was so good.

Just got home, so I'll be back on tomorrow.

[gja1000]

I"m so happy to hear that!!! Many many people have a slightly leaky valve, but it causes absolutely no problems - you fall right in there with them!

It's really good to get it checked out though and be on the safe side. You can't be too careful with heart issues!

[DianaB]

I'm glad to hear that everything's alright and now you have peace of mind about it. I'm so glad that you checked it out.