Kelsey Ballard - Heart Valve Journal

My Journal

PVCs and NSVT

Journal posted on June 1, 2018

Met with my cardiologist today to discuss results of the halter monitor and my echo from last week. He says my EF is still 65% and the status of my leaky valve has not changed (still severe but not any worse.) He says because I otherwise feel so well (tolerate exercise fine, no swelling, no shortness of breath, etc.) that he hesitates to recommend replacing the valve yet. He is still having me see an electrophysiology cardiologist Monday just to be sure about the NSVTs I am having. At this time, my cardiologist is not recommending an ablation or medication change. Basically, just have to live with it for now.

Like | Susan Lynn, Kelly Stoll and 1 other likes this

Rose Madura Hi Kelsey, it might be a good idea to get a second opinion. Having something labeled as "severe" makes me wonder. Sometimes, waiting for symptoms is the "old ... Read more

Rose Madura Hi Kelsey, it might be a good idea to get a second opinion. Having something labeled as "severe" makes me wonder. Sometimes, waiting for symptoms is the "old school" way of thinking. It wouldn't hurt and your insurance would probably cover it. Just a thought. Keep us posted.

Bonnie Stone-Hope Hello Kelsey,
Agree with Rose, good to have a second opinion.

Jean Hochevar I’m getting a second opinion. I am not comfortable waiting it out. Why wait for symptoms to occur if already severe. Goodnluck!

Sudden Increase in PVCs

Journal posted on April 26, 2018

This past Friday I had to take a trip to the ER to be evaluated as I was feeling more (and stronger) PVCs than usual. I usually have only noticed hem if eating higher carb foods, sugar, etc but I have been eating well. I wasn’t sure if it was stress/anxiety or what but I am still having them almost a week later. Saw the cardiologist yesterday and tomorrow I will have a halter monitor placed for 48 hours and also repeating my echo (last one was September 2017) to check for heart enlargement (doctor said that my severe insufficiency and regurgitation can cause enlargement which can cause PVCs.) Anyone else with Aortic Stenosis, Bi-cuspid valance, insufficiency, etc experience this? I have no other heart failure symptoms.

Like | Kim Owen likes this

Civita Fahey Hi Kelsey..I am having PVCs and started feeling them about 6 months after surgery, though I did have them before surgery too. I dont really remember feeling ... Read more

Civita Fahey Hi Kelsey..I am having PVCs and started feeling them about 6 months after surgery, though I did have them before surgery too. I dont really remember feeling them, but now I do.. I went to an electrophysiologist ( heart rhythm doc) and she said though they can be normal, they dont want too many for too long ( years) as they can cause issues with the heart function.. my testing is all ok right now and I am back on 25mg of metropolol. hopefully they will decrease.. she said that its something that comes and goes.. will ebb and wane I guess. stress, can definitely bring them on .. I know I was pretty stressed out when they started, so I'm hoping they will start to decrease.. I can also feel them more if I have sugar or chocolate, so I am staying away from them.
I have my yearly echo in a few months again, just to keep checking on the heart, but, pretty much not much else they can do.. unless of course they become so unbearable that its worth thinking about an ablation.

Kelsey Ballard It’s nice to hear you also experience issues when having sugary foods. Most people think I am crazy when I say that! I notice alcohol does it, too.

I just ... Read more

Kelsey Ballard It’s nice to hear you also experience issues when having sugary foods. Most people think I am crazy when I say that! I notice alcohol does it, too.

I just heard from my doctor about my halter monitor results and I am having “a lot” of PVCs and also Non-Sustained Ventricukar Tahycardia. I will also be seeing an electrophysiologist now to discuss what to do.

My friend Google says this may be related to my aortic stenosis and ventricular hypertrophy. I am just wondering now if this is a sign that my valve replacement time is near.

Valve Replacement/Desiring Pregnancy

Journal posted on August 19, 2016

Hello,
New to posting here but have been following on FB off/on. I am 28 years old and have Aortic Stenosis with Aortic Regurgitation. I have had to valvuloplasties in the past but it looks like it is finally time to start thinking about valve replacement per my most recent Echo (shows gradient of 39 and valve area of 1.00.) I have 2 children but my husband and I desire a 3rd and am hoping to find someone on here who has had a similar situation or decision to make in regards to valve replacement type and/or having children or not after. Also, if anyone is from IN their input on a surgeon that could help me with this decision would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!
<3 Kelsey

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Clare Auten I already had my children before surgery however, my sister was born with a heart problem and had a mitral valve replacement before she had her son. She got ... Read more

Clare Auten I already had my children before surgery however, my sister was born with a heart problem and had a mitral valve replacement before she had her son. She got a pig valve to stay off coumadin so she could get pregnant. Her son is 3 and a half now and they are both doing well.

Joshua Trimberger oddly enough this came up in my decision as my surgeons were explaining as to why some people choose mechanical or biological replacements. He said that he ... Read more

Joshua Trimberger oddly enough this came up in my decision as my surgeons were explaining as to why some people choose mechanical or biological replacements. He said that he had just done a biological replacement for a young women because she still wanted to have kids and being on blood thinners with a mechanical valve wasnt the safest thing for the birth so thats why in that case biological was right for her. Good luck!

Kelsey Ballard Thank you guys for sharing; gives me a little hope! I have been pretty down the last couple days thinking about surgery in general and whether or not to have ... Read more

Kelsey Ballard Thank you guys for sharing; gives me a little hope! I have been pretty down the last couple days thinking about surgery in general and whether or not to have a third. I am hoping I can find a surgeon that will lay out all my options clearly. My cardiologist is great but he is pretty one-sided on suggesting a mechanical valve.

Joshua Trimberger My surgeon explained it as this. If you're "young" the textbook says implant a mechanical valve because thats what is going to last the longest and give the ... Read more

Joshua Trimberger My surgeon explained it as this. If you're "young" the textbook says implant a mechanical valve because thats what is going to last the longest and give the patient the best odds of not having another open heart surgery. My surgeon said what the textbook says is best doesn't work for every patient. If you're young and have a job like a pro athlete, police, or another job that being on blood thinners would be an issue. Or if you're young women who still wants to have kids, then your surgeon needs to ignore the textbook and work with you to give you the best outcome for your situation. I am 27 and considered young so I would say you are as well. They say the downside of a bio implant and being young is our bodies are rough on the implant and use it up in anywhere from 7 to 10 years on average (my cardiologist said the newer implants may be longer though there is just not enough research on young people with newer implants to get an accurate measure yet) So you will end up having to measure if having another surgery down the road is worth having another kid(s) down the road. My cardiologist also said that he thinks and hopefully this is the case when I need my replacement replaced that it should HOPEFULLY not even be open heart surgery anymore. So thats what I planned on and am hoping for because to put it mildly open heart hasn't been pleasant for me. Good luck!