Adam’s Heart Valve Surgery Blog

Question Topic: PISA Mitral Regurgitation

Let’s all remember that I am heart valve surgery patient. I am not a cardiologist or a cardiac surgeon. That said, every once and a while I get emails about topics that are very technical, very scientific and very tough for me to answer.

Guess what? That’s great!!!! I love it. I like learning about all the different elements of heart surgery.

One of the more technical questions that arrived in my inbox was about PISA mitral regurgitation. “What the heck is that?” you may be wondering. Well, let me explain as best I can.

There are many diagnostic processes to determine the severity of mitral valve regurgitation. A doctor can review the patient’s symptoms or the doctor can utilize a series of tests to diagnose mitral regurgitation. Electrocardiograms, x-rays, and echocardiograms are popular tests used to determine the problems of bloodflow through the heart valves.

FYI, I had two echocardiograms to confirm my need for aortic valve replacement. (Pssst! Please. Please. Don’t forget to get a second opinion - click here to find out why!!!)

Now for the scientific stuff about PISA mitral regurgitation:

The degree of severity of mitral regurgitation can be quantified by the percentage of the left ventricular stroke volume that regurgitates into the left atrium (also known as the regurgitant fraction).

Continue reading this post »

Topic: Symptoms of Heart Valve Problems

Hey everybody,

I just received an email about asking me about the symptoms and problems associated with the congenital defects and diseased heart valves. Specifically, the question was, “What are the symptoms of heart valve problems?”

This is a great question. Unfortunately, there is no specific symptom which indicates a potential heart valve issue. The fact is that there are multiple problems or symptoms that occur for the patient depending upon the nature of the heart valve defect - bicuspid aortic valve, mitral valve prolapse, regurgitation, etc.

Some of the more common symptom of heart valve problem are:

• Shortness of breath, especially with exertion or when you lie down
• Fatigue, especially during times of increased activity
• Cough, especially at night or when lying down
• Heart palpitations — sensations of a rapid, fluttering heartbeat
• Swollen feet or ankles
• Heart murmur
• Excessive urination
• Chest pain (angina) or tightness
• Feeling faint or fainting with exertion
• Dizziness

To add some confusion into this discussion about symptoms of heart valve problems is the possibility that a patient may be asymptomatic. Meaning that none of the above symptoms are apparent to the patient.

So you know… I was almost entirely symptomatic. Even though I knew I had a congenital bicuspid aort valve, I had never experienced any symptoms for the first 33 years of life.

Then, one night, I was eating Mexican food with Robyn (my wife). As we made it through the first bowl of chips and salsa the left side of my body tingled and went numb. I thought it was nothing but Robyn was not convinced. “YOU’RE GOING TO THE CARDIOLOGIST!” she pleaded with me. The next day I saw my cardiologist, then I had echo, and then came…. the diagnosis.

“The rest,” as they say, “is history!”

FYI, my history included a double heart valve replacement of the aortic and pulmonary valves known as the Ross Procedure.

I hope this helps you understand symptoms of heart valve problems.

Keep on tickin,

Adam

P.S. Feel free to email me at additional questions at adam@heart-valve-surgery.com.

Hi there!

I recently received an email asking me whether or not I had a link for an aortic valve surgery video. It turns out that there are several heart valve surgery videos up on the Internet. In fact, I recently started a category in this blog (on the right) so that future patients and caregivers can watch all the videos I find.

That said, I will place a few more links, in addition to the link for the aortic valve surgery video (below), in the days to come.

I hope this helps!

Aortic Valve Surgery Video

Cheers,

Adam
Adam Pick is the author of The Patient’s Guide To Heart Valve Surgery, a unique book which integrates the clinical facts of heart valve surgery with the personal experiences of an actual heart valve surgery patient. This special book was designed to minimize stress and enhance the patient’s recovery. To learn more about Adam’s heart valve surgery book, click here.

Heart Valves and Weight Lifting, Jogging, Exercise - Before And After Surgery

Hi everyone,

I just received an interesting email from Luis Ayala that I thought I would share with you. Luis raises a very interesting question about heart valves and exercise.

So, without further ado, here is Luis’ question:

EMAIL QUESTION FROM LUIS AYALA:

“The Patient’s Guide To Heart Valve Surgery is a great book and I really appreciate you putting it together. I am 33 and was recently diagnosed with a defective aortic valve and an enlarged left ventricle. Currently, my cardiologist has suggested monitoring with an echo every 6 months. I am very active and love lifting weights and jogging. The cardiologist has asked me to lift weights for higher reps as oppossed to heavy weight and low reps. However, as I’ve read articles on the web, there are studies that say no weightlifting should be done at all! I am getting a second opinion but was wondering if you were familiar with any information on the web or articles regarding exercise activity when diagnosed with valve insufficiency?”

ADAM PICK (AUTHOR OF THE PATIENT’S GUIDE TO HEART VALVE SURGERY) RESPONSE:

Hi Luis,

Thanks for writing. And, thanks for the kind words about the book.

Hmmmm. That’s a great question….

As I wrote in my book, I went from diagnosis right into aortic valve replacement surgery (eight weeks later) given the severity of my bicuspid aortic valve. So, I didn’t really have the time to determine an alternative approach to exercise given my valve defect.

But, I can tell you that your cardiologist gave similar advice to my surgeon, Dr. Vaughn Starnes.

Dr. Starnes told me that lifting heavy weights puts additional strain on the valves, which over a long period of time could be problematic - both before and after surgery. That said, Dr. Starnes told me to lift for tone (repetition) not for muscle build-up.

I’ve taken his advice to heart (pun intended).

Jogging, however, should not be an issue. In fact, there are several stories of patients, like Jarret Roberts who had bicuspid aortic valve replacement, that went onto run marathons after surgery. Stories, like these, are amazing and found in the new revision to my book.

However, one of the most incredible stories about exercise following heart valve surgery is Veronika Meyer. Veronika Meyer recently climbed Mount Everest after heart valve replacement (click here to read Veronika Meyer’s story).

Also, just be safe…Stay on top of your echos. Get one every 6 months to make sure that there are no sudden shifts in blood flow through the valve.

As for me, my passion post-surgery is surfing. To read about my return to surfing in the Pacific Ocean after double heart valve surgery, click here.

Keep on tickin,

Adam

Adam Pick is the author of The Patient’s Guide To Heart Valve Surgery, a unique book which integrates the clinical facts of heart valve surgery with the personal experiences of an actual heart valve surgery patient. This special book was designed to minimize stress and enhance the patient’s recovery. To learn more about Adam’s heart valve surgery book, click here.