Questions to Ask

It’s important to learn about your tricuspid regurgitation and how best to manage it. Be sure to ask your care team questions. Sometimes it’s hard to know where to start.

Here are some common questions other people living with the disease had:

• What’s most likely causing my valve to leak?
• Are there lifestyle changes I can make to feel better or stop it from getting worse?
• What treatments might I need now and over time as the amount of blood leaking back through the valve gets worse?
• How will we know if medications alone aren’t working?
• How often should I have an echocardiogram to see if the valve is leaking more? What signs should I watch for and report?
• What are my options to fix the valve? Am I a candidate for the minimally invasive procedure?
• How long will it take me to feel better after the procedure? What kind of recovery and after care should I plan for?
• How long until I can drive, return to work, exercise?
• Will I need to take any new medications, including blood thinners?
• Should I continue taking diuretics/water pills?
• Will I need to have the valve fixed again in the future?
• How can I manage other conditions as well?