About Me (In My Own Words)
In September of 2016 I was diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse with severe regurgitation. My journey began with my doctor informing me that I had a heart murmur during a routine physical early that month. From there I had a series of echocardiograms consults with cardiologists within the Park Nicollet healthcare system in Minnesota.
On a friend's recommendation, I sought out a second opinion and from then on I was working with the good folks at the Minneapolis Heart Institute. I met Dr. Farivar for a consult in November and from then on I knew I was in good hands.
My surgery was on January 18 at Abbott Northwestern Hospital. I was quite concerned about the level of damage to my mitral valve going into surgery. Dr. Farivar let me know that I had damage to two of my leaflets and that a repair would be tricky. That said, I felt confident in my choice of Dr. Farivar and that if anyone could repair the valve versus replace he was the right surgeon to do it.
I would say the greatest source of anxiety for me leading up to surgery was the decision on whether would have a mechanical versus a tissue replacement valve. Sure I had anxiety about worst case scenarios during surgery, but I knew the odds were low and that relative to a lot of people with this condition, I was in good health going into it.
I stayed active right up through my surgery, playing tennis 3-4 times a week along with regular dog walks. I chose to go with a mechanical valve due to my age (45) but I didn't firm up my decision until the weekend before my surgery.
Meeting with all the people at MHI leading up to my procedure really put me at ease. My confidence was confirmed when I emerged from surgery and found out that Dr. Farivar had successfully repaired the valve. I have never been so grateful in my life.
More Info About Me & My Heart
More About Me
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I am from:
Chaska
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My surgery date is:
January 18, 2017
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I was diagnosed with:
Mitral Regurgitation
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My surgery was:
Mitral Valve Repair
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My surgeon is:
Dr. Robert Farivar
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