Quote Originally Posted by orangeman
Lol ok cool, will they take any x-rays?
They probably won't take X-rays. I had a carotod Doppler a couple of times, because my GP's heard a "whooshing" sound with the stethoscope, in my neck.

If you go for an echo, be sure to ask them to send a copy of your results to your GP, and a copy for yourself as well. Youâ??ll probably be given a good report, he or she may not think that you have anything worth worrying about, and they may just say that you're fine and leave it at that. This has happened to me, and I found out about several abnormalities, which confirmed my suspicions, after receiving the reports. Because most cardiologists are used to seeing much worse problems, they usually donâ??t pay any mind to leaky valves. Many people are affected by this condition, and the symptoms that we experience not just in our heads.

I have, according to my last exam:
IMPRESSION: Echocardiogram:
Thickened aortic valve with normal valvular opening - remaining valves appear normaL.
Normal chamber sizes.
Left ventricular wall motion is symmetrical and systolic function is normal.

IMPRESSION: Doppler Color Flow Doppler:
Trace mitral regurgitation
Trace aortic regurgitation
Mild tricuspid regurgitation
Normal mitral and aortic flow patterns
No significant aortic or mitral valve gradient
No significant left ventricular outflow tract gradient

The first Echo I had, a few years ago, only reported a "mild" mitral valve prolapse. I guess you can get different results at different times. I don't feel any worse now, and actually much better because I've been taking care of myself more dilligently.

Those "stabbing" and â??heatâ?? sensations that you wrote about sound like MVPS. I get both, and many people have high pulse rates and panic attacks as a result of these, and other, sensations.

You don't have to eat much fish to help your heart - a couple of ounces a week is sufficient. Or, you can just take fish oil capsules and avoid the taste altogether. This is what I've been doing for a while, but plan on incorporating some salmon into my diet soon. I'm going to glaze it with some high-quality maple syrup, from Pennsylvania, that I picked up recently while on vacation.