Audrey's Journal

Finally received TEE results from July 2011 and forwarded to Dr. Gillinov. Response in one week time is that mitral valve repair is scheduled for 5/21/2012! I have #1 surgeon doing my repair. Am very relieved to know I am on the road to recovery. Next step is appointment next week to get blood pressure under check. After that, nothing to do until week before surgery for pre-op tests. I am on my way! Thanks to everyone for their support! Audrey

I am scheduled for my heart cath tomorrow morning at 9:00. Was feeling pretty good about it until I read the risk factors. I know I am in good hands but still nervous. Any encouragement would be greatly appreciated.

EmilyRae wanted to know why I was at pulmonologist.... I needed to f/u with my doctor after an asthma attack in January. Had mild asthma for a few years due to mold exposure at a building my office used to be located at. It was very freaky to have had a real asthma attack since my symptoms always presented as a chronic severe cough, and I am not a smoker! I think the asthma attack might actually be \"divine intervention\", as my pulmonologist was never concerned with my heart murmur before, but was actually bothered by what he heard and was very insistent I haan echo done ASAP. 9/27/11 is heart cath which is final test!

Thanks for responses and prayers. I am pretty new to blogging, but really appreciate the feedback. Not all of my recent test results have been reviewed by my preferred surgeon at Cleveland Clinic, as they are still \"in transit\" between hospitals, but I am hoping that once the surgeon sees the TEE perhaps he will be ready to schedule surgery. My other concern is that my husband is retiring in June of 2012 and not only will we be losing the \"good insurance\"\', we aren\'t even sure what our new insurance will be! I am trying not to stress, but that\'s not easy to do. Thanks again for the feedback, it does help to know that there are others who understand. :>)

Had discussions with Cardiologist about how much life has changed for me due to valve leak and response is although leak is moderate the symptoms are more pronounced that is why heart cath is scheduled, and there is concern of undergoing procedure without further damage at this point. So, it seems like I am too healthy in one repect! I have always needed to work out - because I enjoy exercise and it is a great stress reducer. I am only able to work part time now and workouts are pretty much non existent. :(

I was diagnosed with Mitral Valve Prolapse about 10 years ago and remained pretty much symptom free until about 2 years ago. Feeling lots of palpitations, fatigue and shortness of breath. My workouts were not what they used to be but kept thinking the cause was stress, menopause, not enough protein, etc. It was during an office visit with my pulmonologist when it was detected that heart murmur was more pronounced; one stress echo and TEE later and I am being told that although regurgitation is at 3.5, I am too healthy for valve repair now. I am scheduled for heart cath in 2 weeks but none of this makes sense....why wait for me to get worse? My life has completely changed over last 22 months and I am lucky if I work out 2x week now. Am completely wiped out after exercising. Knowing surgery is in somewhat near future the waiting to get a little worse is awful, both mentally and physically. Am wondering if anyone else is going thru this.