Hi all,
Well, three years ago tomorrow I arrived on this fantastic site after hearing the news that mitral valve replacement was in my future. And although I've done my best to hide behind one of the chairs in the waiting room, somehow or other I was spotted and my number has just been called - told you we needed bigger chairs Steve!!!
A quick summary. I'm currently 40 and was diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse at 13. Then was told 3 years ago - to my great shock, that I would need a MVR one day. I have been seeing my cardio every 6 months for echos since then and in October 2008 he said that due to the fact that I had had a number of echos that showed severe regurgitation that I would need MVR in March 2009. Today was the follow up appointment to that and my surgery is now officially booked for Tuesday March 17th with an angiogram on March 9th. I have met the surgeon on three separate occasions and have been very impressed with him - he comes highly recommended by many of the Melbourne members on VR.com and has a great bedside manner. He is going to try and repair the valve but is doubtful he will be able to do so in which case he is going with a mechanical valve. He didn't give me an option and at least that doesn't make me choose
So how am I feeling?? Well, I totally understand it when you all say that the waiting is the worst. Having known this was coming since October has made the last five months rather difficult - I am normally careful to maintain my correct weight but in the last few months have sought comfort in the occasional chicken parma. At this rate there'll be a chance they have to roll me into surgery!! IAlso I am normally an avid reader but have found it difficult to concentrate so have whiled away many an hour with a DVD - so far in the last few months I have watched every season of Grey's Anatomy, The OC and One Tree Hill
I don't have any symptoms that I know of but they are keen to operate before any damage is done and it is a big help to know from all of you that this is conventional wisdom followed in many countries...
Having read this site avidly for the last few years I actually don't have any questions - I think you've pretty much covered it all - although I will definitely be living in the Anticoagulation Forum afterwards. Funnily enough I'm actually quite happy about having my surgery - can't wait to have it over and done with to tell you the truth. And as a person with a deep faith I know God will be with me every step of the way - no matter what happens!!
Thanks once again to everyone on here for your continued commitment to keeping us all informed - there's no way I would be coping as well as I am at the moment if it wasn't for this place
Jeanne
Well, three years ago tomorrow I arrived on this fantastic site after hearing the news that mitral valve replacement was in my future. And although I've done my best to hide behind one of the chairs in the waiting room, somehow or other I was spotted and my number has just been called - told you we needed bigger chairs Steve!!!
A quick summary. I'm currently 40 and was diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse at 13. Then was told 3 years ago - to my great shock, that I would need a MVR one day. I have been seeing my cardio every 6 months for echos since then and in October 2008 he said that due to the fact that I had had a number of echos that showed severe regurgitation that I would need MVR in March 2009. Today was the follow up appointment to that and my surgery is now officially booked for Tuesday March 17th with an angiogram on March 9th. I have met the surgeon on three separate occasions and have been very impressed with him - he comes highly recommended by many of the Melbourne members on VR.com and has a great bedside manner. He is going to try and repair the valve but is doubtful he will be able to do so in which case he is going with a mechanical valve. He didn't give me an option and at least that doesn't make me choose
So how am I feeling?? Well, I totally understand it when you all say that the waiting is the worst. Having known this was coming since October has made the last five months rather difficult - I am normally careful to maintain my correct weight but in the last few months have sought comfort in the occasional chicken parma. At this rate there'll be a chance they have to roll me into surgery!! IAlso I am normally an avid reader but have found it difficult to concentrate so have whiled away many an hour with a DVD - so far in the last few months I have watched every season of Grey's Anatomy, The OC and One Tree Hill
I don't have any symptoms that I know of but they are keen to operate before any damage is done and it is a big help to know from all of you that this is conventional wisdom followed in many countries...
Having read this site avidly for the last few years I actually don't have any questions - I think you've pretty much covered it all - although I will definitely be living in the Anticoagulation Forum afterwards. Funnily enough I'm actually quite happy about having my surgery - can't wait to have it over and done with to tell you the truth. And as a person with a deep faith I know God will be with me every step of the way - no matter what happens!!
Thanks once again to everyone on here for your continued commitment to keeping us all informed - there's no way I would be coping as well as I am at the moment if it wasn't for this place
Jeanne
