Patient Q&A: 4 Days After Jim’s Mitral Valve Repair
Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Medical Expert: Raymond Singer, MD, Jefferson Health Montgomery Hospital
Published: June 7, 2025
When Jim Makovetz moved to East Norrtion, Pennsylvania in July 2024, he began feeling unwell. After visiting a local urgent care, Jim learned that he had high blood pressure. Then, it was recommended that Jim get a transesophageal echocardiogram. The tests revealed severe mitral valve regurgitation due to Barlow’s syndrome, a condition Jim had no noticeable symptoms of at the time.
Given the severity of this dangerous and potentially life-threatening disease, Jim was referred to Dr. Raymond Singer, who performed a successful bileaflet mitral valve repair. Although the first day after surgery was tough, Jim quickly began to feel better, especially after the chest tubes were removed.
As part of the procedure, Dr. Singer also placed a clip on Jim’s left atrial appendage to reduce the risk of stroke if atrial fibrillation were to develop in the future. Jim described the overall recovery as smoother than expected, with only mild discomfort and a few mobility adjustments during the early recovery.
Jim praised the care he received at Jefferson Einstein Montgomery Hospital, calling it “phenomenal”. Despite the stress of finding new doctors after relocating, his research led him to Dr. Singer’s highly regarded team. Now, recovering well with a repaired mitral valve and added protection against future heart rhythm issues, Jim is ready to return home and resume his normal routine.
Great job to Dr. Singer and the entire team at Jefferson Health Montgomery Hospital!
Related Links:
- See Dr. Singer’s Interactive Surgeon Profile
- Doctor Q&A: How Social Media Helps My Heart Surgery Patients with Dr. Raymond Singer
- Barlow’s Mitral Valve Syndrome: 6 Facts to Know
Keep on tickin’ Jim!
Adam
P.S. For the deaf and hard of hearing, I have provided a written transcript of the video interview of Jim conducted by Dr. Singer.
Dr. Raymond Singer: Good morning. Your name is?
Jim Makovetz: I’m Jim Makovetz.
Dr. Raymond Singer: We have your written verbal permission to tape you.
Jim Makovetz: Yes, you do.
Dr. Raymond Singer: And if I put it on my website or social media for educational purposes, that would be okay.
Jim Makovetz: Absolutely.
Dr. Raymond Singer: Now, you recently moved down to this area from my old stomping grounds up in the Lehigh Valley, correct?
Jim Makovetz: That’s correct.
Dr. Raymond Singer: You came down here and what happened.
Jim Makovetz: In July, 2024, I felt horrible and went to a Patient First urgent care. I ended up having very high blood pressure. At the time, I had not transitioned all of my doctors. The recommendation from Patient First was to put me on Amlodipine. I was already on Lisinopril for my high blood pressure.
Then, the doctor coordinated that with my primary care physician at Lehigh Valley Hospital at that time. He said, “You haven’t had an echocardiogram in quite a while. Why don’t we get you one – especially with your blood pressure being so high. I had an echocardiogram and it was recommended that I see a cardiologist – which I did. He then recommended a transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) to confirm the results.
Dr. Raymond Singer: What did they find?
Jim Makovetz: Severe mitral valve regurgitation.
Dr. Raymond Singer: And both leaflets were prolapsed.
Jim Makovetz: Yes.
Dr. Raymond Singer: It was interesting. Did you have shortness of breath before surgery?
Jim Makovetz: No, I had no symptoms.
Dr. Raymond Singer: But you didn’t feel well.
Jim Makovetz: That day I didn’t feel well.
Dr. Raymond Singer: So overall it was a surprise to you?
Jim Makovetz: Oh, absolutely.
Dr. Raymond Singer: And it was really torrential mitral regurgitation. I mean, it was four plus on a scale of heart valve leakage that goes to four. And, your heart was enlarged.
Jim Makovetz: Yes.
Dr. Raymond Singer: Four days ago, we performed mitral valve bileaflet repair surgery. You have a syndrome known as Barlow’s syndrome, where both leaflets are thickened and prolapse. The repair looks beautiful. How do you feel?
Jim Makovetz: I feel really good. The first day was tough. I will tell everybody I have some friends that have had other valve repairs and they warned me the first day is tough.
Dr. Raymond Singer: Now, the second day we removed the chest tube drains.
Jim Makovetz: Once as the tubes are removed, you do feel much better. So now I’m anxious to get home and just get back into my regular schedule.
Dr. Raymond Singer: We’re going to send you home in the morning. And so now that it’s four days out and you’re getting ready to go home, do you have much pain now?
Jim Makovetz: No, I really don’t. You know, a slight discomfort learning that you can’t use your arms when you stand up, when you get up off a chair or something.
Dr. Raymond Singer: So it really is a quick recovery?
Jim Makovetz: I think it is. I really do.
Dr. Raymond Singer: We used the conventional approach through the sternum.
Jim Makovetz: Yes.
Dr. Raymond Singer: It is not as scary as people say. You know, of course, the first day – even a small incision, I had a little hernia type incision and I was complaining for a while too.
Jim Makovetz: This is not my first major surgery.
Dr. Raymond Singer: So have something to compare it to? But you’re doing well now and you’re going home.
Jim Makovetz: Yes.
Dr. Raymond Singer: With a beautifully repaired mitral valve. We also placed a clip on the left atrial appendage to prevent the risk of embolic stroke if you should develop atrial fibrillation, but you’re in normal sinus rhythm.
Jim Makovetz: Sounds good.
Dr. Raymond Singer: How is the care here at Jefferson Einstein Montgomery Hospital?
Jim Makovetz: Oh, the care here is phenomenal. Moving to an area where you are. You have to pick a doctor and you have to pick a practice. We came here because number it’s very close to my home but also from the recommendation and I do my homework. I look at websites and I look at reviews. It’s been excellent care.
Dr. Raymond Singer: Good. Well, excellent. We enjoy taking care of you and congratulations. And, uh, it looks like the weather is going be good shape to go home on Memorial Day.
Written by Adam Pick
- Patient & Website Founder
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