About Me (In My Own Words)
I am a retired 71 year old RN recently diagnosed in May with mitral regurgitation. It came as quite a surprise to me. Suddenly the shortness of breath, increasing cough and fatigue were overwhelmiing. Originally it was diagnosed as severe and I was informed I needed immediate repair, probable replacement and was being referred to Omaha. However, My cardiac cath was normal and my TEE showed mod to severe so surgery was postponed from anywhere from 6 month to 6 years. My symptoms keep me from walking far and doing much but my CHF is well controlled with diurectic and low sodium diet. With time on my side, I started to do research and became aware of the trend in the leading cardiac surgery centers to do repair of the mitral valve rather than replacement.
Since I graduated over 50 years ago from St Mary's in Rochester and had the privilege of watching Dr Kirkland do his pioneer open heart surgery I was attracted to the Mayo program and Dr Rakeehs Suri. If I chose St. Mary's for my training, why would I not chose the Mayo Clinic and St. Mary's for my heart surgery?
Dr Suri has reviewed my records and I will go to the Mayo Clinic the end of next week July 28 &29 and first of the following week for tests and evaluation Aug 1... as a possible candidate for robotic mitral valve repair.
I have Medicare primary and BC/BS of MN as secondary insurance and am frustrated as I am unable to be assured the procedure will be covered by Medicare. BC/BS will cover if Medicare does. Both insurance groups can not give me a definitive answer and do not have the procedure code listed. I would be interested to know if anyone else has had the robotic repair and if Medicare covered it. I am especially interested if anyone covered by Medicare also had the robotic surgery at Mayo and had it covered or not. I probably will still go ahead... but it will certainly drain our retirement savings if not covered.
Meanwhile, our family is planning a week together in August to celebrate our upcoming 50th wedding anniversary in early October.... and I am planning a large 95th birthday party for my mother right after that. Life is full and I count my blessings!
I will feel very comfortable being back at Rochester and Dr Suri's staff has been very helpful over the phone. St. Mary's always will hold a special place in my heart... and now I place my heart in its hands and the hands of God and Dr Suri and his staff!
More Info About Me & My Heart
More About Me
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I am from:
Fremont, Nebraska