About Me (In My Own Words)
I've had mitral valve prolapse as long as I can remember, wasn't a big deal. I had a physical for a job in the spring and my doctor remarked that my murmur was different and she wished she had a student to teach. I'm 53 and also have high cholesterol and a bad family history for heart disease and had planned to see a Cardiologist and start medicating the lipids, but this got me in PDQ. I had an ECHO with "moderately severe" MR and my Cardiologist told me that I'd need surgery in the next 1-2 years. That really floored me. Had not been on my radar at all and it took some time before I was able to move forward and learn a bit. This website helped a lot!
In learning more, I realized that my MVP and MR were not really benign, and that I needed to get another perspective.
After looking here and at CTS.net (great website for looking up info on thoracic surgeons, BTW), I saw 2 potential heart surgeons, got somewhat different perspectives, and have chosen Dr. Luis Castro to perform my surgery. I have a cath scheduled in 10 days and will schedule surgery after that, looking at late September as a goal.
My cardiologist has been concerned about my search for more info and basically told me that it was "too soon", the regurg isn't bad enough, slow down. While I have been seeing literature showing improved survival with repair prior to symptoms and just want it done. I saw my cardiologist this week and am realizing that the reticence to push surgery is not about mortality, but about emotional and cognitive issues related to being "on the pump" (cardiopulmonary bypass).
This is now getting pretty real. I work as a high-powered professional in a good job. I'm looking for more info on this "post-pump" syndrome. Wondering if there are others out there who have had primary mitral valve repair while healthy and what your experience has been?
Thanks in advance and more to follow, yours in chest scars,
Ellen
More Info About Me & My Heart
More About Me
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I am from:
Walnut Creek, California
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My surgery date is:
September 28, 2016
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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. Luis Castro
