Linda's Profile

In 2023 my PCP didn't like the sound of my heart during an annual exam. I was referred to a cardiologist. It was going to take a few months to get an appointment. I had never seen a cardiologist before. I talked to a few a friends who recommended a local cardiologist. I made an appointment and after a in office checkup he quickly got me scheduled for testing at a local hospital. After several tests a TEE was performed and moderate mitral valve regurgitation was diagnosed. He then referred me to a Dr Ailawadi in another hospital system U of M Ann Arbor, MI, and recommended I seek a heart valve repair there. I was put through several tests that were going ok, but a CT scan revealed I had complicated diverticulitis with an abscess. All heart procedures came to a halt until the abscess was cleared. I had trouble getting someone in the GI field to take ownership of my problem. It seemed I was also having a UTI problem and was prescribed antibiotics for the abscess and UTI, other than make me sick, the antibiotics did nothing for me. The Urologist was puzzled and scoped out my bladder and took specimens for testing but felt I might have developed a problem between my colon and bladder and that I should see a colorectal surgeon. The surgeon advised me that I needed the diverticulitis problem resolved after a long complicated surgery it was revealed my colon and small intestine had become connected to my bladder. The surgeon handled these problems. After a few months recovery I resumed pursuing getting my heart valve repaired. I had a bad bout with Afib along the way and had to visit the ER a few times where medications and cardioversion were used to get the Afib under control. I went through another complete round of testing at U of M and reached the point where the surgeon Dr Ailawadi presented my options to repair the valve. Open heart surgery or a MitraClip were the options. I was advised due to my low lung capacity the clip would be easier in my body, but the choice was up to me. I wanted to try and get the MitraClip surgery, that's were we are today, It might be possible to have surgery in late November. Linda had her Mitral valve repaired on November 25, they also performed the Maze procedure Mini MVr (36mm Simuplus annuloplasty ring, PTFE chord x 1), MAZE, LAAL via R anterior thoracotomy and R axillary cannulation She was discharged December 6th to home. After much rest she is doing very well, we are closely monitoring her vitals. We will have a Zoom follow up call December 26th.