About Me (In My Own Words)
I had severe regurgitation of the mitral valve. I had no idea till I went to Emergency with mild heart attack symptoms that I had any issues with my heart! After angiogram, where thy ruptured the artery in my arm I might add, my heart was deemed 100% clear, no blockages in veins or arteries. My troponin level was 300 at its highest. Only at 9 when I was discharged. After an echocardiogram and transesophageal echocardiogram it was determined I had the leaking mitral valve with severe regurgitation and the left atrium was enlarged. They think it had been this way for at least 2 years. I waited from mid-May 2022 till September 16, 2022 for my surgery. I had what is called Minimally Invasive Repair. In my case they went into my right side with an incision along the edge of my right breast. I had three drain holes after and an incision in the right groin where the by-pass tubes were sent up to the heart and lungs. I had a nerve block in my back which ended up causing a bad, angry itchy rash. I was in the ICU for 3 days instead of the usual one as my Blood Pressure was 60 over 40. I eventually was transferred to what they call the Step Down unit. I was there for another 5 days and then discharged home. Thankfully my husband was there to care for me. I had a lot of confusion for about 5 days, a lot of pain and dizziness. At home my blood pressure remained very low for about 2 weeks till I went to my PCP who took me off all Beta Blockers except for Metropolol. He said my BP was dangerously low. It was 80/50. It stayed low for another 5 days and then the dosage was halved. After about 6 weeks I started to feel a bit better, could shower and do my hair on my own and make my own breakfast but tired very quickly. Because my BP has remained so low I am now not on any meds but aspirin. I have had a lot of dizziness, headache and double vision at times. I am now 10 weeks post surgery. My BP has risen to the 90's over 70's. Heart rate varies between 100 to 113 and as high as 126 at times. Minimally invasive dose NOT mean minimal pain, just less chance for complications I'm told. I have a numb right arm pit, numbness in my right breast and two of my drain holes in the right breast became infected.
More Info About Me & My Heart
More About Me
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I am from:
Red Deer, Canada
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My surgery date is:
September 16, 2022
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I was diagnosed with:
Mitral Regurgitation
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My surgery was:
Mitral Valve Repair
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My surgeon is:
Dr. Corey Adams
