I just wanted to give an update. I saw my electrophysiologist because I felt that my problem had gotten worse and I am home on break. He confirmed via EKG that because of my previous cardiac ablation I now have a wandering pacemaker and that medicine will not help nor can I have another ablation. We are monitoring the progress of it and I have a check up in 6 months. I saw a regular cardiologist regarding the previous echo that showed mild tricuspid insufficiency and I wanted to get the intermittent edema checked out that I have in my lower extremities. He is going to repeat the echo and he mentioned that he was curious to see if I have right sided heart enlargement, and I am having a vein mapping done on both of my legs. (Another doctor previously told me I had venous insufficiency in my right leg only, so they are going to do another diagnostic test to check). I will update if anything shows up!
TEE gives the best pictures but unless you are very overweight, a normal echo (TTE) will probably suffice at this stage to check if your tricuspid valve regurgitation has increased and if there are other issues with your heart.
Severe/moderate tricuspid regurgitation can be recognized with a stethoscope.
I assume worsening of the regurgitation would have been detected in december.
I would ask for a TEE which is a great way to look at your valves. It does mean swallowing a sensor, but your throat is numbed. At least it will satisfy you if Doctors are looking in the right area.
The websites state that tricuspid regurgitation may not cause any symptoms if the regurgitation is not moderate or severe.
Mild regurgitation hardly ever gives problems, that is why I said that it is very unlikely that your edema is caused by it.
Good luck and please keep us informed on what your doctor's visit brings.
I don't mean to object by any means, but how come with a quick google search on "mild tricuspid insufficiency" every single site (including American Heart Association) say that it can cause swelling in the lower extremities? It just confuses me, nonetheless I am still going to see my doctor to have all of this checked out, especially with the rapid progression of this new arrhythmia
Hi Erica,
many people have leaky valves, it is very common. As long as the leakage is trace or mild, there is no reason for concern. When it is moderate or severe, closer monitoring is required.
Hypothetically, a tricuspid valve can deteriorate in very short time. A bacterial infection for instance can cause great damage in a very short time.
Normally however, leakage remains stable for many, many years. So, not 3 years but decades.
It is very unlikely that mild tricuspid valve leakage causes any symptoms. I can not imagine that your swollen ankles are caused by it. There must be another reason for it.