About Me (In My Own Words)
Severe anteriorly directed mitral regurgitation with prolapse of posterior leaflet
Likely vegetation noted on tip of posterior leaflet, in the setting of Streptococcus bacteremia, concern for possible endocarditis…
That’s what the notes say in my chart.
I started getting fevers. I thought I had a flu. I went to my doctor and was put on a bacterial antibiotic for strep. I immediately felt better. A week later I flew to Denver for business and came back the next day, and the symptoms came back. My doctor demanded I go to the ER.
I was there for about 10 hours while they ran several tests, CT Scans of head and of chest, they took blood cultures from both arms, echocardiogram, etc. then they sent me home.
Woke up at 6am the following morning to go to an annual golf outing and had a voicemail from hospital staff to call them asap. I was told they found gram positive cocci in my blood cultures, and I must return to be admitted.
I spent 5 more nights in the hospital with several cultures and a TEE and heart cath, among other things, and they concluded I had what I copied and pasted at the very top of this.
Basically, I was somehow poisoned by an open wound that allowed bacteria to enter my bloodstream, it found its way to the weakest point of my body, a small hole in my mitral valve, and has built a home there to grow. They feel this was from an infection in my mouth, but I went to my dentist to get cleared for surgery and they did X-rays and a full check up, and there are no abscesses, cavities, or signs of periodontal disease. I mentioned to them I had a massive issue a couple years ago, I was working in a greenhouse and put my hand in a toolbox to grab something, and a pipe cutter closed on my hand, ripping it open, and I only washed it out and bandaged it, with a bit of Neosporin.
I didn’t realize at the time, but I also developed some form of anemia around that time and had to go and have iron infusions with plasma each week until my numbers went to normal. Not even then, did anyone suggest I may have some bacteria in my blood. It just got better after a while, and I attributed it to the change in my work, (post COVID I had to switch careers out of necessity), and maybe I just wasn’t used to that level of labor involved.
Anyway, they said it would be very unlikely that this could have been from something in 2022, and insisted it must have been something more recent. To me, it makes much more sense this lies dormant on my valve, where I have always had a slight murmur, and all of a sudden it got much worse, and now have a mass of vegetation residing on the posterior leaflet.
So they have told me I will need to have either repair or replacement. Most likely replacement, and he is going through the front, even though he specializes in the less invasive procedures, he feels it will be more efficient to go through my chest.
This is all so new to me and I have days of doubt, but mostly just trying to keep positive and look forward to getting this done. I have had a PICC line in my bicep for the last 3 1/2 weeks and receive daily infusion therapy, which is supposed to end this coming Monday, May 12th. Not sure what happens between the 12th and my surgery scheduled June 26th, but I have read that I need to try and get my body as prepared as possible and try to get my legs as strong as I can to help put less pressure in my arms and chest when moving or getting up.
Obviously, I am terrified inside, I do have a great support system on my wife and our oldest son who is here with us in the house to help. I am grateful beyond anything else, but uncertain on so many ways.
Just looking for others who have had similar experiences and can shed some light as to what I should expect. I don’t have the time or means to have a second opinion. Or to field surgeons. This surgeon is very accomplished and I trust he is more than capable of successfully treating me. It’s just the big wait that is messing with me.
Thanks for allowing me to share
More Info About Me & My Heart
More About Me
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I am from:
Orlando , Florida
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My surgery date is:
June 26, 2025
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I was diagnosed with:
Mitral Regurgitation
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My surgery was:
Mitral Valve Replacement
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My surgeon is:
Dr. Michael Hanna
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My hospital is:
Orlando Regional Medical Center
