Dawn's Profile

My diagnosis came about during my evaluation for asthma. My husband and I moved up to the mountains in CO 5 years ago, and after a couple years of huffing and puffing up the hills here at 8600 ft. I consulted with my dr. Who then ordered sleep study, which showed severe sleep apnea. I was referred to a pulmonologist and the mitral valve regurgitation was found on the echo. I then saw a cardiologist who did not believe the echo to be correct, and he performed a cardiac cath. That apparently showed moderate regurgitation rather than severe as shown on the echo, so the plan was follow up in one year. The echo this time showed severe regurgitation, so was seen by a surgeon. He only performs open heart, so I did my due diligence and found Dr. Rove in Denver who routinely performs minimally invasive robotic surgery. My surgery is next week (gulp).