Thanks for all your valuable input! Just an update, I have been referred to a surgeon due to my MVP status. An Echo in September revealed that the leak has increased from 4.2 to 4.4 in 3 months. My cardiologist feels that now is the time for the repair. Said in general my heart is in good shape and had not started to dialate. The chamber however is starting to show signs in enlargement. With that being said, he stated I was a good candidate for the Da Vinci procedure which is what I had preferred if at all was possible. I am now working on my appointment w/ a surgeon my cardiologist recommended for this procedures. I’m lucky because at this point I am going in for a repair (pending surgeon’s review) and not a replacement. My cardiologist feels that fixing the valve now before it becomes too damaged to repair is a good thing. And I couldn’t agree w/ him more. My Biscupid aortic valve is still functioning normally. No leakage or sticking. I feel truly blessed – for that and all of you as well as Adam. Thanks to everyone.

Sherri

I would appreciate permission to use some of the information in your book with acknowledgement to you. I haven’t yet started to plan how I would approach this task but I will have access to personal stories from NZ patients. I discussed my desire for this project with a cardiac nurse specialist here in Christchurch.

You may be interested to know that in the South Isalnd of NZ there are cardio-thoracic nurses who work on the district following up and caring for patients in their own homes. I had several visits from my local nurse during the first 2 weeks after discharge from hospital. This was really helpful for encouragement and advice for myself and my carers. She assessed the level of my pain relief at her first visit, the day after arriving home, and arranged further medication with my GP. That made a huge difference to my ability to get moving. Her regular visits included a check on blood pressure, heart rate, lungs and asking whether there were any problems, how was my INR level and warfarin dosage. The weather was so wintry and wet that outdoor exercise was almost impossible – so walking up and down the hallway was the only exercise available until I returned to my own home with the loan of an exercycle. We are now beginning to see some warmer weather with Spring approaching and I am enjoying being able to do some gardening for the first time since before Chrstmas. I am planning to return to work in 3 weeks as a part time administrator.

Thank you again for you helpful book and blog.
Marion

I’m now 8weeks after my surgery for a mitral valve replacement. I had no idea that there was any heart problem until I ent to see my General Practitioner (GP) because I had noticed mised hert beats when checkin mypulse rate at the gym. I am a nurse and know that this is not necessarily a problem. On checking my heart my GP asked if I knew I had a murmur – I did not – and she was concerned about this but not the pulse rate. I made an appointment with a cardiologist but 2 days before I was lifting several parcels of books onto the Post Office counter and experienced some weakness; recovering while the postage was worked out. However I felt tightness in my chest which conrinued until after I had been at work for nearly an hour so my boss, also a GP, sent me in to hospital as an emergency. I was admitted for 2 days during which time most of the tests were run. The Dr then came and told me that I had a moderate/severe mitral regurgitation ahich needed replacement but I was too fit to get it done in the public system! I was to be sent home with 6 monthly checkups and further decisions would be made accordingly.
Thank goodness for insurance! I made another appointment with the private cardiologist who followed up with a stress echo. This showed my heart would not cope with the degree of leakage so I went on to have a cardiogram. This confirmed the degree of leakage and also showed my coronary arteries are fine.
I experienced the roller coaster ride of first diagnosis to surgery in less than four months! I had been feeling tired before seeing my GP, but had also been busier than usual the previous year. After the episode with the book parcels I started to develop some breathlessness and lack of energy but nothing that was much of a problem.
I have been very grateful for Adam’s book which I found really helpful though there are a number of differences here in New Zealand. A big one being the two systems, private and public. Without insurance there can be a realy long wait for non urgent surgery.
Sherri, you may not read this until after your surgery, I wish you well for your recovery period. You will soon be back with more energy than ever.
Marion