[Susie]

Well, all this talk about Echos got me in the mood to look for my paperwork, I just noticed I had it done on September the 10 last year, WOW, times goes by fast.

Anyway, this will be a little long, but, I want to share what the results are and the attached letter from my doctor:
CARDIAC MEASUREMENTS:
Left Atrium Diameter: 35 mm(normal 27 to 41)
Aortic Root Diameter: 22 mm (normal 23-35)
Left Ventricle, diastole: 38 mm(normal 40-51)
Left Ventricle, systole: 24 mm(normal 22-34)
LV Septum, diastole: 9 mm (normal9-12)
LV Septum, systole: 12mm
LV Posterior Wall, diastole: 9 mm (normal 9-12)
LV posterior Wall, systole: 17 mm
Right Ventricle diameter: 26mm (normal 22-44)
LV Outflow Tract Diameter: 21mm (Normal 19-27)

CALCULATED VALUES:
LV Fractional Shortening: 37% (normal 28-44)
IVS Thickening Fraction: 24% (30-65)
LVPW Thickening Fraction: 46% (normal 30-65)
LV ejection fraction: 75% (normal 48-72)

CARDIAC STRUCTURES:
Aortic Root; Small
Left Atrium: Normal
Right Atrium: Normal
Left Ventricle: Small
Right Ventricle: Normal
Pericardium: No pericardial effusion

REGIONAL LEFT VENTRICLE WALL MOTION
Anteroseptal Wall: Normal for Apical, Mid and Basal
Anterosuperior Wall: Normal for Apical, Mid and Basal
Posterolateral Wall: Normal for Apical, Mid and Basal
Inferior Wall: Normal for Apical, Mid and Basal

VALVE MOTION AND MORPHOLOGY
Aortic Valve: Native valve. Valve area index 1.69 cm2/M2 by L:Continuity
Mitral Valve: Native Valve
Tricuspid Valve: Native Valve
Pulmonic Valve: Native valve

DOPPLER FLOWS
Aortic: peak velocity is 1.39m/s. No aortic stenosis. No aortic regurgitation.
Mitral: No mitral stenosis. No mitral regurgitation
Tricuspid: No tricuspid stenosis. Physiological trecuspid regurgitation
pulmonic: No pulmonic stenosis. No pulmonic regurgitation
PA Pressure: Normal pulmonary artery systolic pressure: 26-31 mmHG Systemic BP 140/80 ( I was super nervous, for me that is high, normal for me is 110/65)
COMMENTS: Sinus rhythm with rate of 40 bpm.

CONCLUSION: Small left ventricular size with huyperdynamic systolic function.

Here are my doctors comments, there are two:
Hi Susan~when your heart is at rest (diastole) your left ventricle is small, thus the diagnosis.

As far as the sinus rhythm I believe that you are someone whose heart rate can change in either direction on a dime (how true ) I would believe that it was that slow especially after a nice fun of it being fast.

Were you particularly nervous while they were actually doing the test or did that innate curiosity take over once you found out that it was not all that an invasive a test. (LOL, she knows me too well)

Here is the other letter:
Hi Susan~I got your echo info.
The IVS is your intra ventricular septum. Yours is not as thick as usual. This makes sense because your left ventricle is slightly small so why would the wall be as thick as usual?
Also, because your left ventricle is slightly small but, your body still needs as much blood as anyone's, your heart does one heck of a job getting the blood to your body. So you have a slightly increased ejection fraction (a higher percentage of the blood in your left ventricle gets pumped out) and hyperdynamic systolic function. (Your heart muscle works a little harder than normal to get that much blood out).
So, even though you have a small ventricle that holds less than the average person your heart compensates by pumping out more blood so that all of your cells are well oxygenated. Even so the walls of your heart have not thickened.
Why the small ventricle? Well the pathological case would be because of thickening of the walls of the heart. You DO NOT have this. It looks like your left ventricle has been small from birth.
They small ventricle may be associated with the PVC's but most studies link them to decreased ejection fraction and increased size of the ventricle.
It looks like your body is doing a great job compensating for an almost but not exactly normal heart. So, you are better than normal.

I tell you, she is really knowledgeable and sure knows how to keep me calm.

I still can't believe it has been a year. I thought it was October, but, that was when I had a very, high-end carotid scan and it was "stellar" according to this same doctor, no inflammation anywhere or plaque. I guess I am pretty blessed.

Susie

[Jeff]

I would say your heart is in excellent shape. And I think you're fortunate to have a doctor that will go into that depth with you - that's got to give you great piece of mind.

And considering you're no longer a teenager, with your slightly smaller left ventricle giving slightly better contractions, but no hypertrophy of the ventricle walls, it looks like your heart has figured out a nice arrangement to stay happy and healthy.

You should feel confident in your doctor and confident in your heart. It's a good ticker.

[Susie]

I agree, I am very fortunate to have a doctor like her. Granted, she, at times, is hard to reach, but, all in all, I am very pleased. I have been seeing her for over 7 years now, so, she knows all my silly ways and such.

Thanks for the reassurance about my heart too, even though I guess I basically know it, it is always nice to get others support as well.

Hugs
Susie

[tickertock]

Its always better to have a heart on the smaller side from what I gather.

[tickertock]

My heart is on the smaller side also, only mild LVH of the IVS of course the last echo I had was in 2005, all other measurements normal, personally I don't think anyone's echo is 100% normal, if they look hard enough something will be off , the good news is beside their EF criteria you're only 3% off normal, I wouldn't give it a 2nd thought.

[jkfrench]

I think I need to find another doctor. One that doesn't say you need to get a grip or you are going to blow. Even though that did work...lol...the last time, I would be much happier with someone like yours. You are very lucky to have a wonderful doctor and to have an almost perfect echo.
Jodiei