About Me (In My Own Words)
My valve story starts with a tiny "systolic click" that a doctor heart 43 years ago during a routine exam. It was so vague that doctors before and after this doctor couldn't even hear it.
Years went by, I got married and divorced, had a child and moved to Alaska. By the early 1990's, I began having what felt like "skipped" heartbeats. It was bad enough that I made my first visit to a cardiologist. He also heart the "click" but did not identify any valve disease at the time. Tenormin was prescribed and immediately my heart arrhythmia got better (or at least, less noticeable).
Fast forward to 2006. My arrhythmia returned with a vengeance. I couldn't sleep. My doctor performed a holtor monitor test, and I underwent my first echocariogram.
Finally I had a name for my condition - mild mitral valve prolapse. This was followed by many years of "watchful waiting" during which time my valve condition progressed from prolapse, to mild mitral regurgitation, moderate regurgitation and now, "severe, eccentric" mitral regurgitation.
I have a follow up appointment with my cardiologist on September 8, 2020 and I believe that this appointment starts my journey toward surgery. I feel fortunate as I have several things in my favor, not being overweight or diabetic, never smoked, very little alcohol and no edema and only mild shortness of breath.
I will need so much help to understand everything that I will be facing and feel so thankful to have found this community. I don't feel nearly so alone - already. Thank you Adam Pick!
More Info About Me & My Heart
More About Me
-
I am from:
Eagle River, Alaska
-
I was diagnosed with:
Mitral Regurgitation
