Susan Smith, a sister traveler posted a note for Tara that says: Hi Tara, you are on your way to a new beginning. Glad your test results were good. You are doing great. Keep us posted.

Jim Jones posted a note for Tara that says: Hey Tara
Congrats on the pre testing. So glad it went well. Sounds like you are focused and calm. That is just where you want to be. Less than a week to go which is perfect. (waiting is way over rated!)
Please take care of the cold and suggest you get some rest. You will need the energy post-op.
Best!

Jackie keys posted a note for Tara that says: Good luck on the surgery, I know you will be fine. My fear was the same as yours, waking up with tube in, I did wake up when it was still in, but you are still pretty sedated so you don't realize how long it's it. I had told my husband when I give you a mean look you better tell them to take it out now! Of course he paid no attention to my look.

Adam Pick posted a note for Tara that says: Hi Tara,

My thoughts and prayers are with you!

Keep on tickin!

Rebecca S posted a note for Tara that says: Hi Tara, are they going to repair your valve? or replace it? I can't remember.
You have to take care of you. Its hard being a mom and wife. We feel like we have to take care of everyone. But when it's time to let go and do what we need to do to get better......we have to make that decision. I left work when there was only one nurse in our department and she had only been there a month. I barely got to train her. And a new nurse was hired while I was out. There were PRN nurses going in and helping out but a consistent orientation didn't happen for either of them. But I had to do this. I went to the hospital in April thinking I had a heart attack, but if that new cardiologist hadn't come in and said we should do an echo, I probably would've progressed to congestive heart failure or pulmonary hypertension.......bad stuff. Thank God it was discovered. Now I am almost 10 weeks post op and getting ready to go back to work.
We will be praying for you. What is the exact date of surgery?

Mary Clare posted a note for Tara that says: Tara I know exactly what you are going though! I had my surgery 8 days ago..I have an 18 month old who I had to put in the hands of some good friends for the week and I just couldn't stop thinking that my baby would think I was abandoning him. He ended up doing great and was sooo good for them! I feel bad that I can't tend to his needs right now but my husband has been a trooper with it all. The pre anxiety is the worst part...once you are on the recovery side every day will get a little better. Praying for you!

Jim Jones posted a note for Tara that says: Tara:

I am glad you have settled on a date.

BTW, Mayo Clinic published an interesting study in August re: the benefits of early surgical intervention rather than "watchful waiting". It is on their site. It makes good reading.

Tara, I have Barlow's and have finally come to the point where I want relief and my life back. I will be operated on next Tuesday 11/05. I am also getting a mitral valve repair.

I want to wish you the very best as you prepare for your surgery.

Jackie posted a note for Tara that says: Hope you feel Bette soon.

anna posted a note for Tara that says: Hi Tara,
For 6 months I invested in many ways of getting rid of my symptons ( mitral valver regurgitation) and I did manage a huge improvement with the following:
SE2 ( www.stemtech.com) 4 caps 3x a day
This is a herbal formula to stimulate the production of your own stem cells. My shortness of breath went away totally.
If you have PVC's be sure to take magnesium ( 500 - 600 mg) a day. I also take hawthorne berry extract ( 900 a day) and drink 1 liter of 100% pure coconut water ( do you have Trader Joe's in Ohio?) . Coconut water has electrolytes. It will keep you hydrated and is also a natural diuretic. Cut the salt and sugar from your diet. Makes a huge difference - specially if you are swelling. I also take Bcomplex 100 after lunch and take an extra Niacin 100mg after breakfast together with vit D, C and E. Fish Oil ( 1000mg) and Ubiquinol after dinner. I know, it sounds like a lot of stuff, but I am doing really good. Nevertheless I will go to surgery because I don't want to damage the other good parts of my heart or face emergency surgery. I want to go back to jogging and climbing high mountains and staying under the sun during summer. Research for the right surgeon, the one who can do minimally invasive surgery and repair. A few months ago I was without insurance and the hospital I went to at Harbor/UCLA said I needed a valve replacement. I went for a second opinion. I got Adam's book and looked at the best doctors. Invested in a private consultation to get an opinion from Dr. Trento and he said I had a huge chance to have my valve be repaired. That's the surgeon I want! Did you apply for Obama care? If you are close to the Cleveland Clinic go there. Maybe they have finantial aid. I know you love your kids ( I have 2 big kids who need special attention) but there is a moment where you must pay attention to your needs. I wish you lots of luck and keep your spirits up! Don't delay taking care of yourself.

Rebecca S posted a note for Tara that says: Tara, the heart Cath is not bad. You should be sedated and may not even know it's happening. I begged to be asleep for it and got my wish. It depends on the dr and the team. It goes pretty fast. You just have some restrictions afterwards.....on your back for several hours and limited lifting and activities for a few days. I am almost 5 weeks post op from mitral valve replacement and tricuspid valvuloplasty. I am 62 and doing well. It was not easy at first.....recovery is slow and hard.....but eventually we get over the hump and start to feel better.

Lynn ennis posted a note for Tara that says: Hi Tara. I had a cath a few weeks ago. Honestly it was no biggie- they went thru my wrist and I left with a band aid. It's easy- you will be fine:)

Ernie A.S. posted a note for Tara that says: Heart cath was a breeze. You'll do fine.

Brandy posted a note for Tara that says: Hi Tara. I've heard and read many times that to treat it as soon as possible is the best option. How far are you from the Cleveland Clinic? I would without a doubt send your records to them for a surgical evaluation. You are lucky to live so close to the cream of the crop!!

Nancy Scott posted a note for Tara that says: Hi,

I had mitral repair in January, and my condition was diagnosed I when I was 19. I did not have significant symptoms until just before surgery.
Try not to panic, as it just makes the symptoms worse. The surgery is not pleasant, of course, but at you age it should be fine. I am 55 and made it through. Be SURE that you choose a surgeon who has done many, many of the repairs.
We all wished the condition away, but positive action is the next best thing. Keep in touch!

Michelle Wanke posted a note for Tara that says: Hi Tara,
I had surgery10 weeks ago today to correct my mitral valve prolapse/regurgitation. I knew for almost twenty years that I had the mitral valve prolapse and was monitored by a Cardiologist. Suddenly last September my lung cavity filled with fluid and I had to have a procedure to remove it and then it filled up again leading to surgery to do a biopsy and permantly talc the lung in place to keep fluid from coming back. We didn't know what was causing the fluid to accumulate and were worried it was cancer. The tests came back showing a viral infection. After reading a copy of an MRI report I had I noticed that the radiologist mentioned a 4cm aneursym on my aortic arch. Well, I freaked out and called my Cardiologist. He did an echo and I could actually hear the difference in the sound of my blood pumping from the echo I had six months prior. I told my husband that something had changed. When we met to review the results we were told that my mitral valve prolapse/regurgitation had become severe and I would probably need a repair or replacement in the next year or two. More tests followed and after a TEE I was told I needed surgery within the next 2-3 months. I met with two different thoracic surgeons and decided on the one that felt I had a good chance of a repair and not a replacement. I had all of the symptoms you are having. I could barely walk from our bedroom to our kitchen without having to stop to catch my breath. I couldn't walk all the way upstairs without resting on the landing to catch my breath. My doctor put me on Lasix and it helped some but I still had difficulty breathing and had to sleep on a slant pillow at night to be able to breath. I was really scared that I was not going to make it to the date we scheduled the surgery. I am only 48 which is several years older than you but I would recommend getting another opinion and perhaps more testing to determine the severity. Ask the doctor what your regurgitation factor is. Anything below 55% I believe is cause for surgery. Mine was 68%. If you ever want to talk feel free to email me at wanke41@gmail.com and I can give you my phone number. This site helped me out so much when I was going through all of this.

Take care,

Michelle W.

I would suggest getting a second opinion from Dr. David Adams at Mt. Sinai in Manhattan.. He is the leader in Mitral Valve Surgery.

the below is Rachel S

Hey Tara

I'm 26 and have been advised to have surgery in the next year - I'm not on any medication, and the rest of my heart isn't affected too much at the moment by my mitral regurgitation.

So that's totally opposite to the advice you've been given! But my surgeon has said it's best to do surgery at a time where it's not compromising the rest of my heart.

I think you know how you feel, and if you feel unwell, you're doing the right thing by sticking your neck out. I hope when you get a second opinion you get the reassurance you need, whatever the outcome.

I second the second opinion advice. Your quality of life is definitely being affected. Be proactive and seek help. Prayers are going out for you

You are not too young to have cardiac surgery! I'm 27 years old and have mitral and aortic regurgitation. I will be having surgery on both valves, and I'm not symptomatic (for the most part). You definitely need a second opinion!

Erin

Hi Tara,

Have you considered getting a second opinion from another cardiologist? It might be helpful to hear another perspective. I don't know how far Holland is from Cleveland, but Cleveland Clinic is very respected in the heart valve community. I am having mitral valve repair surgery in a couple of weeks at Mayo Clinic.

Good luck in your decision!

Lynn