About Me (In My Own Words)
Hello, I am 33, I've been diagnosed with mitral valve prolaps in early childhood. Lived my life symptom free and had my echocardiograms yearly. After my second pregnancy 3 years ago my mitral regurgitation became severe, paroxysmal atrial fibrillation started occuring from time to time (after sleepless nights and heavy lifting) and I occasionaly had shortness of breath.
Much wanted third (and risky) pregnancy followed and luckly I delivered happy and healthy baby.
Now I have indication for operation and I'm actually excited and I can't wait to get this valve fixed, stop Afib and get on with my otherwise happy and busy life...
After thorough research I decided to do the operation in Leipzig Herzzentrum in Germany (payed out of my pockett, well, the bank's pockett actually haha) because in Croatia surgeons aren't as expirienced in fixing Barlow's disease, especially complex one like mine (although it would all be for free). Research shows that there is a higher chance for successful repair if surgeon does it more than 25 times a year. Professor Michael Borger from Leipzig Herzzentrum does it on a weekly basis and will do the minimaly invasive mitral valve repair with MAZE procedure.
I'm very happy that I found this site and this wonderful, almost surreal community.
Update 29/09/2022:
It was a successful repair. I am very happy for that. My Barlow's disease (degenerative type of mitral valve prolaps) was very complex and surgery was longer then expected. I've had anterior prolaps, comissural prolaps and posterior prolaps with all the features of Barlow's (redundant leaflets, elongated chordae etc), but the peculiar thing was that half of my posterior leaflet was prolapsing, and the other half of it was kind of hypoplastic (underdeveloped I guess) so it was a challenge to achieve perfect line, get them straight. There is a small bit of regurgitation left, but considering the state in which my valve was, professor is very pleased with the result and calls my operation extremly successful. I am telling you all of this because a decision to come in excellency center was the best one. Always go to excelleny centre if you possibly can where surgeons experienced with mitral valve repair work. I had to do my own research and find the best place in Europe for that. It took much time and energy. But it was worth it. I am not quite sure if they would've succeed in Zagreb and maybe I would be having a mechanical valve now. Care here is amazing, I have nothing but the words of gratitude and respect for the staff (yes, I am aware that privately funded patients get somewhat better treatment, but it was worth every cent to avoid mechanical valve and be in such a good care during such a vulnerable period).
Good luck everyone!
More Info About Me & My Heart
More About Me
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I am from:
Zagreb, Croatia, Republic of
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My surgery date is:
September 26, 2022
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I was diagnosed with:
Mitral Regurgitation
Atrial Fibrillation
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My surgery was:
Mitral Valve Repair
Maze Procedure
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