Patient Story of Katherine Johnson-Martindale

My Story

About Me (In My Own Words)

Hello everyone, I'm so pleased this site exists! Your stories have touched me and will allow me to share and ask for your advice. Also, I thought this heart surgery and recovery was going to be as lonely as the last but this is encouraging. I'm coming up on the third anniversary of my mitral valve repair in seventy days and am now scheduled for mitral valve replacement on May 1st, 18. After approximately more than a decade and a half f constant complaints (actually starting in my mid twenties) about my life altering heart failure like symptoms, chest pain, anxiety, depression, severe headaches, shortness of breath etc. I finally learned of my severe MV regurgitation. On 6/30/15 my surgeon repaired my mitral valve. Or, at least, that was the goal but no such luck. Since then I've still been complaining of the aformentioned symptoms in addition to two years of fainting spells, impaired (broken) cognitive function, double and blurry vision, and a host of other related problems.
I'm now scheduled for mitral valve replacement in only twelve days. Other than fearing the pain and long recovery I'm unsure of which valve to choose, mechanical or biologic? The problem for me is misophonia. Any repetitive noise brings instant rage and thoughts of violence especially if I'm unable to do anything about it. For example, the sound of any clicking such as the one that comes from a mechanical valve. That could do me in for good, lol. However, because of my age, my cardiologist recommends a mechanical device knowing it'll most likely have to be replaced with a biologic valve down the road. My cardiothorasic surgeon says the choice is up to me and mechanical valves do last. It sounds like either way we're already discussing a third heart surgery. Ugh.

Does anyone have any advice on which valve to choose? How about dealing with the pain? Has anyone tried biofeedback? If so, where and how do I begin? Thanks in advance.