Flo Em - Heart Valve Journal

My Journal

Flo Emposted an update

3252 days ago

Elaine Cutri, Adam Pick, Mark Caswell and 2 others reacted to this

On this day, 5 years ago, I went through an open heart surgery to repair my mitral valve at the UC Davis Hospital in Sacramento, California.

Jennifer Lorenz How are you doing Flo, five years later?

Flo Em I was doing really well, until now...I started experiencing the same symptoms similar before I had my ... Read more

Flo Em I was doing really well, until now...I started experiencing the same symptoms similar before I had my mitral valve fixed. My recent ECHO test shows calcification around the ring, and now I'm developing a mitral stenosis. My cardiologist is monitoring the progress very closely. I might need to get my valve replaced down the road... :-(

Flo Emposted an update

3280 days ago

Steve Salvador reacted to this

My echo cardiogram shows that I've developed mitral stenosis (which I was told very common after Mitral Valve Repair). That's what causing my breathing symptoms ...Read more

My echo cardiogram shows that I've developed mitral stenosis (which I was told very common after Mitral Valve Repair). That's what causing my breathing symptoms and light headedness for the past 3 weeks. It's very disheartening right now. My cardiologist will be monitoring the progress of this. At this time, I'm on stage 2 (I guess). Ugh! Has anyone here developed stenosis after MVR? Did you you go through another open heart surgery to fix it?

Emily Rowley After having my Mitral Valve Repaired due to Regurgitation, I need another Open-Heart Surgery but I d ... Read more

Emily Rowley After having my Mitral Valve Repaired due to Regurgitation, I need another Open-Heart Surgery but I don't know of any Mitral Stenosis developing :| I know I have Regurgitation now.

Flo Em Wow. Emily, how long did it take until Doctor figured out you needed another one?

Emily Rowley Roughly 4.5 yrs later my Cardiologist decided I need another OHS. It took about 6+months of testing ( ... Read more

Emily Rowley Roughly 4.5 yrs later my Cardiologist decided I need another OHS. It took about 6+months of testing (by the time appointments made etc-all takes time), however I felt it earlier within myself. He said Replacement but my Surgeon said she might be able to repair. Did you have OHS for MVRepair?

Flo Em Yes, I had on OHS back in January 2011 for MVRepair. So, it's been 5 years. Although my heart is ti ... Read more

Flo Em Yes, I had on OHS back in January 2011 for MVRepair. So, it's been 5 years. Although my heart is ticking normal (unlike before), my shortness of breath and light headedness these days is taking a toll on me. I'm literally freaking out. But, I guess I just need to accept the fact that this thing is inevitable. I was really hoping I didn't have to go through with another OHS, but well... It is what it is.

Sophia Ridley Hi Flo, so so sorry to hear that you face surgery once more. Have you received an explanation why thi ... Read more

Sophia Ridley Hi Flo, so so sorry to hear that you face surgery once more. Have you received an explanation why this has happened? There's some information that it's to do with the ring (type/size) used during the repair, is that the case? (I've had a MV repair and this us the first time I've heard that this is possible. I'll be asking my surgeon at our next meeting.)

Flo Em Yes Sophia, it is the ring. I requested a copy of my Echo test result...not that I could read them (L ... Read more

Flo Em Yes Sophia, it is the ring. I requested a copy of my Echo test result...not that I could read them (LOL) but to have another cardio take a second look.

Flo Emposted an update

3284 days ago

Emily Rowley reacted to this

Five years ago, I had my mitral valve repaired. But I was feeling miserable leading to the surgery. Everything has been great until this past couple of weeks. ...Read more

Five years ago, I had my mitral valve repaired. But I was feeling miserable leading to the surgery. Everything has been great until this past couple of weeks. I've been experiencing the same symptoms prior to surgery and I'm just really scared and freaking out. I can't imagine going through the same ordeal and I'm getting myself so stressed out while I wait for the Echo result. Has anyone experienced this? Has anyone here had a mitral valve repaired and eventually had to go through a replacement? How long does the repair usually last before it needs to get replaced? Please help me...thanks everyone!

Emily Rowley Yes. I had my Mitral Valve Repaired (+2 holes in my heart) 5 years ago. Over the past 12 months I hav ... Read more

Emily Rowley Yes. I had my Mitral Valve Repaired (+2 holes in my heart) 5 years ago. Over the past 12 months I have been experiencing symptoms which has increased in the last 3-6 months. I'm now having Open-Heart Surgery for the second time in January to try repair my Mitral Valve or replace if it will give me the best long-term result. You had MV Repair 5 years ago just like me and I had mine repaired in 2011. What symptoms do you experience? My echo showed up the regurgitation, but my two Stress Tests I had done showed up more. Please let me know if you have any questions. I'm wondering how long do re-repairs last.

I would like to keep in touch.

Emily.

Jeff V. Flo, I had a MVP repair done in Cleveland in Dec., 2014. My surgeon advised that there was a 10% cha ... Read more

Jeff V. Flo, I had a MVP repair done in Cleveland in Dec., 2014. My surgeon advised that there was a 10% chance that another repair or replacement would be necessary down the road. Hang tough and don't let your imagination get the better of you. You've done it once and can do it again if you have to.

Wanda Mroz That's what I fear down the road as well. But that being said, I've done it once and can do it again ... Read more

Wanda Mroz That's what I fear down the road as well. But that being said, I've done it once and can do it again if I have to. With the advancements in surgery, the techniques get easier. I'm doing good so far and I hope you get good results and it's nothing. Let us know. Wondering myself how long these things last... I was told 15-20 years initially. Only time will tell.

Sophia Ridley Here in the UK they favour MV repair over replacement. My surgeon gave me incredible odds of success ... Read more

Sophia Ridley Here in the UK they favour MV repair over replacement. My surgeon gave me incredible odds of success if done through OHS and I had some goretex strings added to give some extra support all with the hope that I don't need to see him in theatre again.
I'm with Wanda on this. I've got through it, little bruises by a bumpy ride but frankly there was no option.

Wanda Mroz Exactly Sophia... Here they favor repair also... Lasts longer as a general rule. In my case my surge ... Read more

Wanda Mroz Exactly Sophia... Here they favor repair also... Lasts longer as a general rule. In my case my surgeon fixed the valve and it was still leaky so he put me on bypass again to redo it with success. Even though he had a valve on standby he persevered to fix because that is preferred if at all possible.

Flo Em Thank you all. I'm so blessed to have found this site...I could talk to people that could relate. S ... Read more

Flo Em Thank you all. I'm so blessed to have found this site...I could talk to people that could relate. So, over the last 3 weeks now, I've been feeling shortness of breath and light headedness. I am unable to carry over 5 lbs while walking without shortness of breath. My MVR was done in January 2011...so you can imagine what I went through Christmas 2010...and to experience it all over again especially right now, it's just bad flashbacks. I'll be calling my cardiologist this morning, and I'm really hoping that it has nothing to do with my heart. I just need to be strong. I will update. Thanks again!

Wanda Mroz Praying for positive good news!