Dan's Profile

I was recently diagnosed with mitral valve regurgitation with prolapse. It's at a moderate to serious stage that is now being recommended for surgery. I am scheduled for 4/26/13. I'm pretty nervous about the whole thing and have had some serious anxiety. I am trusting in God that all will be ok. Dr. Bolling at U of M will most likley being performing the surgery. He averages 6 mitral valve surgeries per week. I was scheduled for a 2nd opinion at Northwestern Memorial in Chicago but my HMO insurance denied my visit. They said there are doctors closer to home (southeast Michigan) and I didn't need to go to Chicago. (very upsetting). I am now scheduled for a 2nd opinion with Dr. Kong out of St. Joe's in Ann Arbor. That is scheduled for 3/27/13. If the current recommendation holds I will most likely move forward with the surgery. I guess I am still hovering near denial since I am still mainly a-symptomatic. I do have some extra heart beats (that was my first "oh oh" 2 years ago when this was first looked at) but other than that I don't feel too much. What I am feeling is probably more depression that anything else. Maybe some shortness of breath. Hate to be a downer about all of this but with little kids, and a heart surgery nowhere in my spring/summer plans, this is a little scary. Give it up to God. That is what I plan to do. I am sure in time I will be on the mend and this journal will have new entries filled with thoughts of summer sun, biking, playing with my kids and enjoying time with my wife. Here I go!