Cardiologists and time travel!? Cardiologist discharged me 1 month before reviewing my echocardiogra

Posted , 3 users are following.

I recently had a cardio appointment to investigate the symptom of palpitations on 11 of October.

I note that the discharge letter I received is dated the same day as my consultation with the cardiologist 11of October.

At the same appointment she suggested that she'll arrange a stress test ECG and an echocardiogram. But she didn't think there was any cause for concern.

The echocardiogram and stress test I had 14&16 of November.

The discharge letter did have an addendum in which to my surprise stated that I have mitral valve prolapse with trivial regurgitation.

Now I am no cardiologist but looks to me like she wasn't expecting to see anything to report when she wrote the discharge letter a whole month before any useful investigation had actually been done!!?

Then I get another letter dated 7of December.... I now also have a mild tricuspid valves regurgitation!??

Personally disgusted that I didn't even get to hear about my heart disease in a consultation yet alone receive the results in two letters one of which was written before she had even seen my echocardiogram!???

How?

0 likes, 8 replies

8 Replies

  • Posted

    Mitral valve prolapse with trivial regurgitation:.

    You basically have a very mild leak in your mitral valve which makes you one of the 70% of the worlds population with this problem.

    If you have mild tricuspid valve regurgitation, you may only need to have regular follow-up appointments with your doctor to monitor your condition.

    • Posted

      Thanks for the reassurance derek76.

      I am glad it's so trivial.

      But since this diagnosis my doctor won't prescribe me the contraceptive pill!

      Says he "doesn't have the same cardio knowledge as the (kind) cardiologist" that is no longer involved in my medical care!!!

      I have tried telling......

    • Posted

      Why not write to the cardiologist for her opinion of you taking the pill. If you are in the UK and not happy with your hospital you can contact PALS (Patients Liaison Service) Their contact details will be on your hospitals web site.
    • Posted

      Thank you derek76.

      Yes the PALS was suggested by the nice chap I spoke with at the GMC.

      I have spoken (yesterday) with the cardiologist.

      She has explained the findings and just as you said a large portion of the population have similar heart features.

      In her opinion it shouldn't be a reason why I should not be prescribed the contraceptive pill?

      Thanks for the reply and the sharing of your wisdom ......

    • Posted

      When I had an Army medical in 1952 I had a rather similar finding so you can see it was not life threatening :-)

      I did have my aortic valve replaced six years ago but for a different reason. My Mitral valve is still gurgling away and I always comment on it when I have a two yearly  echocardiogram at follow ups to my valve replacement.

  • Posted

    I wouldn't worry too much about those findings, trivial and mild in this country (USA) wouldn't even merit much attention as far as contacting the patient.  I have moderate to severe tricuspid valve regurgitation, and heart failure to boot, and I was just told my heart, overall, looks 'terrific".  It made my day to hear that, because, at 64 I don't want to think I don't have long to live, because I would like to make life expectancy, which is 78 for women in this country.  The last specialist I saw said, with the advent of echo-cardiogram machines, which were being used starting in 1970, more and more people were learning they had "trivial" or "mild" valve leakage which, according to him is probably just another "normal" variant, and nothing to really worry about unless you have other cardiac abnormalities, like congenital heart defects, which cover a large spectrum.  I have a congenital heart defect, but even mine isn't considered complex by any stretch.  I don't know how old you are, but take it from me, stop worrying about something as trivial as trivial or mild regurgitation, your physician examined you when she first saw you, and probably didn't note or recognize any murmurs or other heart sounds that would normally make a physician take notice.  They start to get concerned when there are other coexisting findings.

    • Posted

      Thank you Scotgal.

      Strangely I wasn't worried til my gp wouldn't prescribe the contraceptive pill in light of my heart disease.

      Anyway the cardiologist kindly contacted me yesterday morning to reiterate and explain the findings which was great.

      I expect to live long even if I don't prosper!

      Wishing you well!

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