Elaine's Profile

I finally had an in-person appointment with my cardiologist a couple of weeks ago. He explained that my mitral valve regurgitation status is moderate but is calling it "eccentric mitral regurgitation," and that I need a transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) which I will schedule for July. Apparently nothing can be done to stop the enlarging atria (which is due to the permanent a-fib), and it's obvious I will need some sort of surgery on the mitral valve. (I do have tricuspid valve regurgitation, too but apparently it is not a worry?). What the mitral valve surgery will entail is yet to be discovered pending the transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE). I have been in (permanent) a-fib since being diagnosed 35 years ago (at age 26). have severe biatrial enlargement and a left bundle branch block. Have been in congestive heart failure for a while and the lungs are congested and I have that cough. Next week I am going to give in and accept whatever treatment they tell me I need for my mild sleep apnea. I finally got the message (duh!) that the sleep apnea really needs to be controlled with all of the heart issues. I am experiencing extreme fatigue and I think the coughing is exacerbating that (I am so tired of coughing!). My chest was hurting but after a remote Reiki healing, that went away for over a week, which was amazing!! I feel weird about all of this; I can't really talk to my daughter (she is 33) because she gets so upset and worried, and my husband is very loving of course but I really don't like to complain too much about my symptoms. So I am glad to have the opportunity to write in this forum, knowing there are others here who understand. Thanks for letting me vent!