Cynthia's Journal

J Alexander Lassally  Sorry for this diagnosis. Go slow - get several consults... You will want and need a sophisticated bunch to manage a double surgery. Most likely, done in one surgery. A great surgeon may elect to repair mitral but again - multiple consults. Where do you live?

 

Robert Miller  As Alexander said, get other 1 or 2 other opinions. I was just a tad older than you when I had my surgeries. There are a few things to check and decide on. For instance, do you qualify for robotic surgery. Maybe not because you have two valves to take care off and I have no idea about the aortic valve. While the surgeon said you need a replacement, clarify if they first try to repair it. It's my understanding they first try to repair, test it before they close you up and only then when it fails will they do a replacement. If they do a replacement, you have to decide between mechanical and tissue valve. At your age, you are just at the border of either. Initially I thought I would go mechanical but last minute decided tissue. Statistically, I believe tissue valves last around 15 years. They can then do "tissue valve over tissue valve" without having to open up your chest again. So that gives you maybe another 10 years. And one of the surgeons mentioned, that by that time they might have other new procedures. Luckily, in my case the fixed it both times. And check out the learning center on this page. Scroll all the way down passed the ads.
https://www.heart-valve-surgery.com/learning-center.php

Fidel Martínez Ruiz  Agreeing with Alex and Robert opinions, our health system in Spain is different from U.S. and I can´t say anything about that subject. By the other hand, I am rather old than you and I was scared too when heard the diagnostic. For me, the most important question was to find a good surgeon - may be the first you consult or the second (not more), trying to get information about him(her) here in this Adam´s site is an excellent option and after simply trust the surgeon chosen. Wish you the best in your journey, which although looks very hard sometimes, is overcome at the end .

Rose Madura  It's always a shock when we find out about a major surgery. You've received great advise from my fellow warriors. Knowledge is power.  God bless you.