Elaine's Profile

I have rheumatoid arthritis and during a routine examination by my new rheumatologist, he discovered a heart murmur which hadn't been found before. After an ecg and an echocardiogram, I was told I had a bicuspid valve with heavy calcification between the two joined leaves. The cardiologist thinks that I will need replacement valve surgery within a year. This came as a total shock as I have only been diagnosed with the RA since last December and am just getting used to that and the strong medication in the form of weekly injections that goes with it. I am still quite shocked.