Sharon's Journal

Judi Nunez  I have mitral valve regurgatation with a small tricuspid leak. I had a TEE in November which showed a pretty good leak. My cardiologist and 3 different surgeons I saw all said to get the surgery now while it can still be repaird and not replaced. Also because my heart is still strong and healthy they all feel surgery sooner than later is better and I will have a better outcome. I def want to be repaired and not replaced. Hope this helps.

Sharon Shultz   Hi Judi. I also have mitral valve regurgitation for over 10 years and tricuspid regurgitation. Dr. Adams said I will likely need repair to both. I,too, am extremely anxious and worried about OHS. This blog has been a great help in hearing others say the same things and the support is invaluable. I, too, wish to have repair while I can rather than replacement. I do worry over how my recovery may be affected by my autoimmune disease. I have had a most difficult time getting the bacterial overgrowth in my GI tract due to my autoimmune disease, controlled, and the nausea and vomiting that accompany it, so I certainly have concerns how the surgery may affect this. I am conflicted enough without doctors giving me more to worry over. Thanks for your input. I hope you get the answers you need and your surgery scheduled!

Jim Hernandez  So many voices telling you many things....I would say that from research I have done for myself, repair is the way I am looking to go. It gives you the best option for a long lasting and event free life. Seeing that your already in with Dr Adams, a strong proponent of repair, that your in great hands! I have a consult scheduled with him in early March. We know it is something we have to do, so let the best of the best do his magic. Trust me, I am nervous beyond belief, but trust in them and all these wonderful folks on here whom have gone thru this s truly beneficial

Cheryl Batzing  Sharon, I got very similar counsel to Judi here....do it NOW while my heart is not damaged other than the "leak" and while they think they can repair it vs. replace it. BUT, they said I needed to be prepared for replacement just in case. I also saw that someone else suggested getting other opinions if you are being pushed for replacement. Find a surgeon who does thousands of repairs and replacements. Best to you!

Bob M  The TEE and Cardiac cath will provide more data for your doctors to develop the correct plan for you.

Sharon Shultz   Thanks to everyone for their input. Dr.Adams stand was that I am definitely a good candidate for repair, and that it is up to me whether I have it done now or later, but will need to have repair or replacement in future. His outlook is do the repair when I am ready but realize that my symptoms will get worse and with not knowing how my autoimmune disease will progress, wouldn't it be better sooner than later. I agree, more tests will give more info. In our area they still do cardiac cath thru groin. I was reading someone else posted thru the wrist, which does sound much better. Wondering if I should just have tee and look at that first and postpone cardiac cath?

Wiliam Height  Welcome. I'll will be seeing him on 1/30 and the only thing I can say is we have one of the best surgeons on mitral valve repair. This, all of the knowledge and resource here, and having some blind faith may help some.

Adam Pick  Sharon, I've been fortunate to see Dr. Adams operate several times before in the United States and the Dominican Republic on a medical mission. You are in the best of hands. Dr. Adams is an incredible surgeon and an extraordinary person. At this link, you can see over 30 patient testimonials for Dr. Adams and a great video about mitral valve surgery. Again, you are very lucky to have Dr. Adams as your surgeon. If you need anything else, please let me know. Keep on tickin! Adam (patient & website founder) https://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/surgeons/dr-David-Adams-New+York-New%20York.php

Sharon Shultz   Thank you Adam. I have your book and was in on the webinar just before the holidays with dr. Adams. I appreciate the links and will check them out!

Sharon Shultz   Thank you William. Good luck with your surgery. And you are right, this website is a great resource!

Adam Pick  Awesome Sharon. Great to hear that the educational resources have been helpful. If you need anything else, please let me know. You are going to do great!

Jim Jones  Sharon - welcome! Here is my wisdom for you!
First, you are in great hands. Dr. Adams is a veteran. He has a great operating team around him. I had 3 doctors in total during the procedure. He has built a great system post-procedure to get you from to OR to the front door for discharge. He knows his business and is, I believe, at the top of his game. My MV surgery was quite complex. I was told that only 4 surgeons in the US, including David, could have repaired it. That is good enough for me. The total care team matters and as I said he has built a strong team from OR thru after care. That is critical.

You mention you are nervous. We all were! Here is how I handled it. I kept extremely busy. I spent lots of time connecting with other HVS members and asking questions like you are doing. One thing I would advise would be that you plan your recovery. Check out the best cardiac rehab classes before March so you know your options. Figure out how you will spend your first month to keep your mind active while your body recovers. Check out meditation apps. I only discovered meditation apps and gentle yoga during cardiac rehab - I could have used both before surgery!

Sharon, all the best to you and again welcome to the community.

Sharon Shultz   Thanks Jim! I greatly appreciate your suggestions. Yes, I do plan to check out local cardiac rehab. I have been doing yoga for 10 years now, and hope to continue after surgery. The meditation apps sound like a wonderful resource. I will check them out!
Just had an echo today and have appt to see my local cardiologist with a list of questions on Thursday. Trying not to get too overwhelmed. Thank you.

Nancy D  I myself, and all of us here understand the fear and uncertainty! Knowledge is power- do some research here and other sources and get more comfortable with the process. Ask questions here, you are sure to get answers, some that sound right to you and some that don't. It is an individual journey but you aren't alone. Lots of info here. Take good care!

Cheryl Batzing  Sharon, I totally understand what you are saying. We are in a similar situation needing surgery and scared. I met with one surgeon and waiting on a second consult, then scheduling surgery probably early December. We're in this together!

Ken Obermeyer  Know that you are not alone, Sharon. I think we all decide to do the surgery because of what you say: "I know after recovery I will be much better off." That says it for me. I've reached the point where I'm so tired of dealing with the symptoms I can't wait until surgery is over and I can get on with healing so I get my quality of life back. Right now, I’m just existing, surviving. So surgery holds the key to “Life: Part Two.” Those are the things I tell myself when fear rears its head. Hope this helps.

Sharon Shultz   Thank you all for your comments and support. I have been doing much research. Also very thankful for this site. Fr years have attributed the overwhelming fatigue to my autoimmune sjogrens and fibromyalgia diagnoses, but now wonder how much may be due to my heart. My autoimmune ds make me wonder how well I will cope with the surgery. Knowledge is power, so am hoping the more I read, the more comfortable I will become with it. Thanks again!

Joseph Ballett  This is a awesome site, all our story's are quite the same,different valves different places, lean on each other on this site and trust your Doctors, You will do fine like the rest of us .We are here for you!

Adam Pick  Hi Sharon, Here's some data that might help help dispel some of the fear related to heart valve surgery -- http://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/valve-mortality-surgery-repair-replacement.php.

Also... Over the years, I've learned through my experience and the experiences of others that fear is really nothing more than an acronym - F.E.A.R. - for fantasized experiences appearing real. Here's more about that -- with one of my favorite poems:

http://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/heart-surgery-blog/2009/12/24/fear-anxiety-before-heart-valve-surgery/

You are going to do great!!! Let me (us) know how we can help you!

Keep on tickin!
Adam

P.S. Dr. Adams is a mitral valve guru. I have personally seen him operate in New York and in the Dominican Republic -- where we went together on a medical mission. Great job finding him and the Mount Sinai team!!! Dr. Adams is not just an amazing surgeon. He is an amazing person.

Daniel Spurgeon  Sharon, I was diagnosed with an aortic aneurysm right where the heart delivers blood into the aorta. With that condition I was at risk of rupture if I lifted anything too heavy or strained. I was obviously anxious about this problem and the inevitable open heart surgery. When I took the step of scheduling surgery my anxiety decreased by at least half, because I had a date to get the problem fixed and leave the diagnosis in the past. Hopefully you feel better once you get a date on the books too.