About Me (In My Own Words)
Was admitted to a hospital in NE Arkansas in mid-December of 2016 with Atrial Fibrillation and severe Mitral Regurgitation. The Cardiology staff there determined that I was a good candidate for valve repair instead of replacement. Since they did not perform valve repair surgery, they referred me to Dr. Ralph Damiano at Barnes-Jewish in St. Louis. I was transported to St. Louis via ambulance on 12-22-2016. Initially Dr. Damiano wanted the a-fib corrected and initial efforts to accomplish this via treatment with drugs proved unsuccessful. After a couple of weeks of these treatments a trans-esophageal defibrillation procedure successfully stopped the a-fib. On 1-4-2017, Dr. Damiano and his team repaired my Mitral & Tricuspid valves and performed a Maze procedure. On 1-12-2017 I was sent home to Arkansas. I didn't have an opportunity to plan for this and shop around for a surgeon because I was so sick - I was essentially an emergency patient the entire time. I feel very fortunate that Dr. Damiano was available and able to do my procedures. He was very caring and answered all of my questions, etc. Follow-ups throughout 2017 were all good. I did Cardiac Rehab here in Arkansas as soon as I got back home and it helped a great deal. Now at two years post-surgery I have not had the a-fib return and I feel great. I take an 81 mg aspirin daily, and that is the only heart related medication I have to take! I feel tremendously blessed!
More Info About Me & My Heart
More About Me
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I am from:
Paragould
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My surgery date is:
January 4, 2017
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I was diagnosed with:
Mitral Regurgitation
Tricuspid Regurgitation
Atrial Fibrillation
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My surgery was:
Mitral Valve Repair
Tricuspid Valve Repair
Maze Procedure
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My surgeon is:
Dr. Ralph Damiano
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My hospital is:
Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis, Missouri
