Chuck's Guestbook

Chuck -- Your story could be mine!! My story is posted, but I went from running 4-6 miles with no problem to gasping for breathe after 400 yds in about 2 days. Plus, I had aFib for at least 4 weeks. Now asymptomatic, but trying to get posterior leaflet repair scheduled as soon as possible to forego recurrent complications. I hope my recovery goes as smoothly as yours. Best wishes in all you do!!

Chuck: By the time I went to the ER it was too late for many opinions and I was taken by ambulance to a larger hospital to have the surgery. Sometimes you have more options than others. Either way, you will be fine in a couple of weeks. I am 3 weeks post op tomorrow and feeling much better.

Hi Chuck. I had mitral valve repair done at U of M hospital by Dr. Steven Bolling April 16, 2013. If you do not hear anything back from Cleveland I would consider sending your info there for another opinion. You are definitely doing the right thing getting second opinion as most can be repaired these days . Even if you end up going with replacement you will do great as there are so many great doctors around the country these days. Good luck in your journey.

You are right. It is so important to get another opinion. Actually I got 3 opinions. I decided on the 3rd opinion from The Mayo Clinic in Rochestor, MN. They then monitored me for 5 years for my BAV and ascending aortic aneurysm (AAA) when it came time for surgery, they were able to do repair on my AAA and not do anything with my valve since tests showed it was working pretty well. The surgeon thinks it will be good for another 15-20 years before they have to replace it. I can live with that!! The 1st 2 opinions would have automatically replaced my aortic valve! I'm so glad I went with Dr. Greason at Mayo! I am feeling wonderful 6 months post op. Good luck to you.

I've lived with MVP most of my life, no problems. Last 5 years I'd get a yearly echo and have had a couple of cardiac caths, which showed some progression of the regurg but no surgery warranted, continued to watch. Then in December 2013 everything changed quickly. Extreme fatigue, short of breath on exertion, rapid heart rate leading to surgery on March 6th repairing the valve. Glad you're getting it checked out. Good luck

Hey Chuck, that's actually similar to how I found my valve issue to begin with, back in 2002. I've been a distance swimmer since I was 7 years old, and found that I could no longer hold my breath thru flip turns. I mentioned to my doc that it sucked getting older, and she sent me to a cardiologist, the rest is history. I'm 57 now, valve replacement surgery on 11-18-13 for my aortic valve, a had my mitral valve tightened up (and my ascending aorta replaced, can't forget that). I encourage you to do what you're doing now, get that thing checked out, and follow the best advice you can get. Much scarier to me NOT to get it done.......Best to you.....