Jennifer's Profile

I was diagnosed with bacterial endocarditis in mid May. I had been feeeling sick for awhile but my doctor and I thought I had a respiratory virus, so by the time I got to hospital my mitral heart valve had been badly damaged by the infection. Once I received antibiotics in hospital I started to feel alot better and my symptons subsided after two weeks on antibiotics I had surgery to replace my mitral valve. Prior to getting the infection I had had a couple of episodes of atrial flutter so my surgeon also did a maze procedure. Surgery went well and I made a good recovery apart from a low heart rate straight after surgery and then two episodes of atrial fibrillation in the following week. Initially I was told I would need a pacemaker even after being discharged from hospital. Since then however my heart appears to have settled down and now it is unlikely I will be having the pacemaker but my cardiologist will make a final decision when I see him next. As I had a mechanical valve I am on warfarin and also take asprin and metoprolol. Although this whole experience was unexpected and hard at times I am lucky that we have some of the best heart surgeons in the world at Auckland City Hospital in New Zealand. My surgeon, anaethetist and the hospital staff were all fantastic dedicated and caring people. It's now 8 weeks since surgery and I have been feeling good, I walk most days and returned to work recently.