About Me (In My Own Words)
I am 44 years old, and I was born with a mitral valve that leaked, a heart murmur, and an enlarged heart. The only solution the doctors gave my parents at the time in 1965 was to do surgery to insert a catheter into my heart to SEE what was going on. The doctors said it would just be investigative, so my parents said no thanks. I was otherwise healthy and active, so they saw no reason to do it unless it became a problem. I was an athlete all my life and a basketball referee for 20 years for high school and college. I actually retired from refereeing about 4 years ago, because whenever I would blow my whistle to make a call, I would go lightheaded and dizzy and not remember what I was going to call. I now realize that it was because of the mitral valve regurgitation that was getting more severe that I was experiencing. My surgeon, Dr. Alfredo Trento at Cedars Sinai in Los Angeles, said that the problem will go away, and I will be able to go back to refereeing if I so choose. My blood pressure was always high growing up as a result of the mitral valve regurgitation, but I didn't need heart medication to regulate it. When I was 24 years old, I applied to become a police officer with LAPD, but I was turned down due only to having a heart murmur and moderate regurgitation (leakage). The department's cardiologist said that I would need a "valve job" at some point, so they couldn't take the risk of the job's stress aggravating my heart and that it could be 5 years or 30 years, so I was declined. It took 20 years, so they were right.
I didn't know that I was having symptoms related to my heart valve, because no one told me what the symptoms were. I am now realizing more and more that I have been having symptoms of dizziness, lightheadedness, shortness of breath, and symptoms that seem like ADHD but is just a lack of blood to the brain for over 20 years at least, if not longer! They had proceeded to get worse over the last 5 years or so, but again, I just didn't know it was related to my heart. I also thought that everyone felt their heartbeat through their chest on a regular basis. Someone had to tell me that it was not normal! I didn't know!
I had mitral valve repair DaVinci robotic surgery on December 15th, 2009, with Dr. Alfredo Trento at Cedars Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles. The surgery went amazingly well! I have a perfectly working mitral valve, a beautiful sounding heartbeat for the 1st time in my life (I've had swishing sounds my entire life), and no more symptoms or palpitations AT ALL!! It is such a miracle! I notice that I am able to focus much more easily and do so many more things, and it has only been 3 months since the surgery! And I don't feel my heart beating at all! Woo hoo!
I went on 5 roller coasters this past Saturday, and I felt great and had the best time! I have never gone on a roller coaster without feeling winded or dizzy or a little weird or having palpitations. I am now realizing that it was a result of my heart! I am also walking up stairs and not getting as winded, which was happening a lot before the surgery.
I am going to cardiac rehab, and I am improving on my stamina and movement.
I am so excited about the possibilities in my life as a result of having a healthy heart with a normal heartbeat!!
More Info About Me & My Heart
More About Me
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I am from:
Los Angeles, California
