Hello! I am new here. When did you know it was time to go ahead with mitral valve repair surgery? Did any of you go ahead before reaching the severe regurgitation ...Read more
Hello! I am new here. When did you know it was time to go ahead with mitral valve repair surgery? Did any of you go ahead before reaching the severe regurgitation stage?
J Alexander Lassally Hi - Some folks consider it if you have been mod-severe but trending in the direction of severe. Depends on your age and other issues, too.
Some clinicians quantify it on a 4 part scale which is helpful. So, I was 4+ at time of surgery. Probably a tad overdue, personally.
But some people have "overreacted" and do not need it yet (not saying that is you!) ... Read more
J Alexander Lassally Hi - Some folks consider it if you have been mod-severe but trending in the direction of severe. Depends on your age and other issues, too.
Some clinicians quantify it on a 4 part scale which is helpful. So, I was 4+ at time of surgery. Probably a tad overdue, personally.
But some people have "overreacted" and do not need it yet (not saying that is you!)
Depends. Get a cardiac surgeon view - they are good at setting the pace. Cardiologists not always the case.
Richard Munson Having symptoms or not can also sway your decision.
Robert Miller If you know it is getting worse, do not wait. Severe regurgitation will lead to heart failure with al ... Read more
Robert Miller If you know it is getting worse, do not wait. Severe regurgitation will lead to heart failure with all its complications. You do not want to get to that stage.
Kathy Blank What J Alexander Lassaly commented is spot on! The surgeon is the best gauge for your surgery timing ... Read more
Kathy Blank What J Alexander Lassaly commented is spot on! The surgeon is the best gauge for your surgery timing options- and you should definitely find the most experienced expert for your specific mitral valve issue! I actually got 4 opinions. And Robert is also correct- waiting too long can lead to complications - we often don’t even recognize we have symptoms bc they creep up on us!
J Alexander Lassally Thanks Kathy. Love your multi opinion view. Had about 8 consults myself and each surgeon slightly dif ... Read more
J Alexander Lassally Thanks Kathy. Love your multi opinion view. Had about 8 consults myself and each surgeon slightly different - although my home town surgeon told me to wait and all the rest said do it now ! Congrats on many years of success on your repair !
Robert Miller Maybe I should have added a bit more context. I did feel that my heart sometimes wasn't beating right ... Read more
Robert Miller Maybe I should have added a bit more context. I did feel that my heart sometimes wasn't beating right. However, I was doing my 1h daily exercise on an elliptical without feeling more exhausted and I didn't go slow. As a matter of fact, when I did exercise, my heart seemed better. Then from one day to the next, I starting wheezing when laying in bed and got swollen legs. I spare you the rest of the story but my point is, don't panic but do take this serious. Get maybe 3 opinions and make sure they do the right examinations (at least echo but possibly TEE based on the result of the echo).
Chris Ohannessian You all are so helpful. I am looking for a second (and probably a third) opinion now. I have been hol ... Read more
Chris Ohannessian You all are so helpful. I am looking for a second (and probably a third) opinion now. I have been holding steady at moderate-severe regurgitation for the past 3 years. My left atrium was slightly enlarged this past round. Just a bit confused because I have been dealing with this for 4 decades (wow, I am getting old... 61) and have had long periods where it has been stable. I also am very active with no problems. Palpitations always have been my only symptom. I will get second and third opinions, but your opinions matter just as much to me since you have been there!
Richard Munson Omg, chris old at 61. I had mine at 81. A few years ago. Fidel, take notice, this man thinks he’s o ... Read more
Richard Munson Omg, chris old at 61. I had mine at 81. A few years ago. Fidel, take notice, this man thinks he’s old. Lol.
Fidel Martínez Ruiz Yees Richard, I had mine at 73. Chris no doubt is a kid.
Fidel Martínez Ruiz Sorry, I meant at 75, I don' t want to age my valve by another 2 years.lol
Candy Wilson My surgeon wanted to repair my mitral valve before it got way out of hand. When I reached severe regu ... Read more
Candy Wilson My surgeon wanted to repair my mitral valve before it got way out of hand. When I reached severe regurgitation, that kind of sealed the deal. I'm grateful for his proactive stance. I just had my surgery last Thursday and am glad to be on the other side. I had definitely been having lots more symptoms recently.
J Alexander Lassally Chris - a great discussion above. I think you are a true borderline patient so there is probably no t ... Read more
J Alexander Lassally Chris - a great discussion above. I think you are a true borderline patient so there is probably no totally right or wrong answer. But yes, I think you need to think about what you want and need and come to terms with what the critical trigger would be. (For me, I had a lackluster stress echo with the severe regurg. and it was clearly time, plus enlargements) At 61 you are plenty young to have a great repair - so know that and work to find surgeons who can guide in that way.
Richard Munson Got my annual echo coming up next week so i will see whats what in the world of valve repairs. I feel ... Read more
Richard Munson Got my annual echo coming up next week so i will see whats what in the world of valve repairs. I feel good for 84 but then i never had symptoms before surgery. In some ways, not having symptoms can be a curse because you think things are better than they are. I recall telling my doctor, lets do this.
Fidel Martínez Ruiz Yes , the same happened to me. When I met the surgeon first time, I had not noticeable symptoms but s ... Read more
Fidel Martínez Ruiz Yes , the same happened to me. When I met the surgeon first time, I had not noticeable symptoms but she told me that surgery was necessary. Then I scared told her, dr. I prefer wait for a while, ¿2 or 3 months, please, give me this delay?. She agreed reluctantly and I was leaving when another Dr which had heard the last part of the talk told me : patients always wait and wait and then we have to perform the valve surgery when the whole heart is in worse state and dilated. Then I came back on my one steps and said her (the surgeon), yes, go ahead with the surgery. This was the story. 🤝
Robert Miller You say Chris is young at 61... I could be his son. Ok, maybe not but not too far away from being a t ... Read more
Robert Miller You say Chris is young at 61... I could be his son. Ok, maybe not but not too far away from being a teen dad. The good news is that recovery is easier when you are younger.
Peggy Bennett Hi Chris, I followed my doctor's advice to pursue surgery after an echo showed moderate to severe and ... Read more
Peggy Bennett Hi Chris, I followed my doctor's advice to pursue surgery after an echo showed moderate to severe and then TEE showed severe regurgitation (despite the fact that I had no symptoms). I started looking for top hospitals and surgeons for my specific issue, consulted with two surgeons, and had my robotic valve repair surgery Feb 4. That process took about 4 months. I wanted to get the surgery done early in the year when I'm less active—that was a main motivation to get it done fairly quickly. Plus I knew if I didn't, it would be lingering in the back of my mind.
I am 60, which I guess is "young" in the mitral valve repair universe (I feel young!) and helps with recovery. I am recovering well, with the exception of some arrhythmia, which hopefully will go away soon. Best of luck!!
Chris Ohannessian Thank you Peggy. Our backgrounds sound similar. I have been putting it off as I'm getting back into ... Read more
Chris Ohannessian Thank you Peggy. Our backgrounds sound similar. I have been putting it off as I'm getting back into running, pickleball, etc. now that it's warmer... and of course I'm dreading surgery. It's really good to hear how well you are doing on the other side of this. Good luck with your recovery. Take care!
I am from: Farmington, CT
Some clinicians quantify it on a 4 part scale which is helpful. So, I was 4+ at time of surgery. Probably a tad overdue, personally.
But some people have "overreacted" and do not need it yet (not saying that is you!)
... Read more
Some clinicians quantify it on a 4 part scale which is helpful. So, I was 4+ at time of surgery. Probably a tad overdue, personally.
But some people have "overreacted" and do not need it yet (not saying that is you!)
Depends. Get a cardiac surgeon view - they are good at setting the pace. Cardiologists not always the case.
valve issue! I actually got 4 opinions. And Robert is also correct- waiting too long can lead to complications - we often don’t even recognize we have symptoms bc they creep up on us!
But yes, I think you need to think about what you want and need and come to terms with what the critical trigger would be. (For me, I had a lackluster stress echo with the severe regurg. and it was clearly time, plus enlargements)
At 61 you are plenty young to have a great repair - so know that and work to find surgeons who can guide in that way.
I am 60, which I guess is "young" in the mitral valve repair universe (I feel young!) and helps with recovery. I am recovering well, with the exception of some arrhythmia, which hopefully will go away soon. Best of luck!!