Patricia's Profile

After becoming symptomatic the last few years, specifically being very winded when walking up hills, stairs, etc., and having heart palpitations especially when sleeping, I was diagnosed with a mitral valve disorder. One of the tendon chords that helps hold the mitral valve in place has ruptured, though they don't know when this happened and it may have been over a number of years that it weakened. It means there is now "severe" regurgitation of blood back up into the left atrium of my heart and due to my heart pumping harder to get that oxygenated blood where it needs to be, that area of my heart has enlarged. The surgery will be to repair the mitral valve and if it's not repairable, they will replace it, probably with either a pig valve or a mechanical valve, my choice. We will further discuss those options with my surgeon but I am leaning toward mechanical as that would last approximately 30 years vs. only 12-15 with the pig valve. I would then need to be on Coumadin the rest of my life but I'd be able to avoid another open heart surgery. Dr. Steffan seems very certain that he will be able to repair the valve. I will arrive at the hospital at 6 A.M. on Monday the 23rd and surgery will be between 8 and 8:30, and will last 3-4 hours. I'll be in the ICU for a day and then in a room in the Heart Hospital at Abbott for 4-7 days. Thanks ahead for all your support!