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Suggest Treatment For Low BP, Weakness And Atrial Fibrillation
Question: My wife, aged 74, has three heart valves that do not function regularly and she suffers from LOW BP. She apparently had Rheumatic fever as a child and has always lacked the energy to negotiate a slope or stairs and for some time now feels faint and weak. Tests done indicate that the heart itself is strong. Recently, she has developed atrial fib with a pulse rate of above 100. Doctor tried regulating speed with Coumadin and toprol, but this has increased her lethargy and weakness so toprol has been replaced with Cardizem beginning tomorrow. Q: any possibility of a surgical procedure to correct her valve problem? I wondered if it is a problem that the Mayo clinic might be interested in examining.
Brief Answer:
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!
I understand your concern and would explain that Rheumatic fever is commonly complicated with valvular disease.
Valvular disease is a progressive disease, which needs a periodically scheduled follow up, to slow its progression and treat the possible complications (like the decrease of cardiac function or cardiac arrhythmia).
It is necessary to closely monitor heart changes, with periodically scheduled cardiac ultrasound, to evaluate the cardiac function and the disease evolution.
This disorder is usually managed with medical therapy in the early stages (depending on the symptoms and echography results). The main therapy goals are controlling the progression of the disease, treat hypertension, anticoagulation and treatment of possible cardiac arrhythmia.
In the later stages surgery is another treatment option. It can be used to repair or replace the valves.
It is important to have a good correlation between the clinical symptomatology and the echography results ,in order to exactly quantify the stage of the cardiac failure.
In this situation, the Mayo clinic would be one of the best medical institutions to help you make a real evaluation of your wife's actual situation and discuss the possible options of therapy (continue medical treatment and echo follow up or go into surgery).
Feel free to ask any other questions, whenever you need!
Hope to have been helpful!
Best regards,
Dr. Iliri
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!
I understand your concern and would explain that Rheumatic fever is commonly complicated with valvular disease.
Valvular disease is a progressive disease, which needs a periodically scheduled follow up, to slow its progression and treat the possible complications (like the decrease of cardiac function or cardiac arrhythmia).
It is necessary to closely monitor heart changes, with periodically scheduled cardiac ultrasound, to evaluate the cardiac function and the disease evolution.
This disorder is usually managed with medical therapy in the early stages (depending on the symptoms and echography results). The main therapy goals are controlling the progression of the disease, treat hypertension, anticoagulation and treatment of possible cardiac arrhythmia.
In the later stages surgery is another treatment option. It can be used to repair or replace the valves.
It is important to have a good correlation between the clinical symptomatology and the echography results ,in order to exactly quantify the stage of the cardiac failure.
In this situation, the Mayo clinic would be one of the best medical institutions to help you make a real evaluation of your wife's actual situation and discuss the possible options of therapy (continue medical treatment and echo follow up or go into surgery).
Feel free to ask any other questions, whenever you need!
Hope to have been helpful!
Best regards,
Dr. Iliri
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you, Dr. Iliri. You have echoed our sentiments. I feel that having an evaluation from the Mayo clinic would finalize matters: if they rule out surgery, then we are stuck with the medical solution which appears to a be a dead end one.
UNfortunately, there does not seem to be a happy ending to this scenario.
Thank you again for your response.
XXXXXXX and XXXXXX
UNfortunately, there does not seem to be a happy ending to this scenario.
Thank you again for your response.
XXXXXXX and XXXXXX
Brief Answer:
You are welcome!
Detailed Answer:
Hello again!
I am glad to have been helpful!
I think that you are going to find the proper solution to your medical situation.
You can ask me directly at anytime if you have any other uncertainties on the link below:
http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/Funnel?page=askDoctorDirectly&docId=69765
Wishing the best,
Dr. Iliri
You are welcome!
Detailed Answer:
Hello again!
I am glad to have been helpful!
I think that you are going to find the proper solution to your medical situation.
You can ask me directly at anytime if you have any other uncertainties on the link below:
http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/Funnel?page=askDoctorDirectly&docId=69765
Wishing the best,
Dr. Iliri
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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