Living With a Leaky Tricuspid Valve

How tricuspid regurgitation might affect your life depends a lot on how much your valve is leaking, as well as any other heart conditions you have.

If the valve is only leaking a little, you may not feel much differently than usual. Still, because it’s a lifelong condition that tends to get worse with time, your doctor will want to see you regularly and monitor how leaky the valve is – even if you feel OK.

At later stages, people notice having less energy. Daily tasks can take much longer. It may also be difficult to do many of the activities once enjoyed – for example, working, preparing holiday meals for their families, traveling, volunteering, taking care of others, or pursuing various hobbies. The good news is that, depending on your disease, newer procedures to fix the valve can greatly improve symptoms and quality of life.

What you can do

• Build your support team. Reach out to other people with tricuspid regurgitation to share experiences and tips. At later stages of the disease before the valve is fixed, many people share that they feel like they are reliant on others and feel a loss of independence. Talk about your feelings rather than bottling it up.
• Keep all follow-up visits and imaging tests ordered by your cardiologist and valve specialist.
• Tell your doctor if symptoms get worse. For example, if you notice new or more:
• Swelling in your belly, legs or ankles
• Shortness of breath
• Lack of energy
• Weakness
• Always take medicines as directed.
• Diuretics (water pills) can be difficult given frequent trips to the bathroom, but getting rid of excess fluid is important and will help you feel better; tell your care team about any challenges or concerns.
• Ask about procedures to fix the valve and whether that’s an option for you. Your care team should talk about the benefits and harms of fixing the valve. Your goals and preferences should also factor into any decisions about your treatment. Share how the disease is affecting your day-to-day and what you want to get back to doing in your life.
• Bring a trusted friend or family member to your appointments as a second set of eyes and ears.
• Know that this is hard for your loved ones too. Try to talk openly about your experiences and how you can support one another.
• Reduce the amount of salt (sodium) you take into your body. Anything sold in a jar, a can (canned vegetables or soups), or a bag (chips) tends to be high in salt. Food labels can help and include the amount of sodium in each serving. You can also look for products that say “low-salt” or “low sodium.”
• Adopt a healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables, and low in cholesterol and saturated fats.