About Me (In My Own Words)
My story begins like this:
last winter around New Year's Eve, I began to feel palpitations or a skipping of a beat with a quick shortness of breath attached to it. Every couple of weeks, the episode reoccurred and a few times I felt dizzy and light headed. Come late spring, I noticed the symptoms were happening more frequently and seemed to occur whenever I ate something fried or salty. This was the indicator to me to consult a cardiologist for a quick review of my symptoms. I called in spring and to my dismay were told to get a referral from a primary care physician, of which I was in transistion. I waited another month to call back a different cardiologist as I learned from the insurance company that I could in fact go anywhere with my coverage without a referral. At my first appt. the cardiologist listened to my heart, conducted an EKG and told me I sounded great and that my symptoms were probably normal BUT to put my mind at ease, ordered a stress test with Echo which showed the mild aortic regurgitation and traces of the mitral and tricuspid regurgitation.
I have since had a follow up appt with the doctor and was told not to worry that this stryctural abnormailty known as leaky valve, can be helped but I'm completely freaked out. I have a heart condition that is progressive and I am out of my mind about this.
At the follow up appt., I felt rushed and unable to ask all of my questions. I am currently seeking a second opinion and possibly changing cardiologists.
For now, I'm monitoring my blood pressure at home bc I have "white coat syndrome" and get nervous when I see a doctor causing my blood pressure to read elevated.
At home and in day to day situations it's prefect, which is great. The doctor may still want to put me on possible medication but I want know what's what till December. As of now, I am terrified. One day at a time.
More Info About Me & My Heart
More About Me
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I am from:
Johnston
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I was diagnosed with:
Aortic Regurgitation
Mitral Regurgitation
Tricuspid Regurgitation
