David's Journal

I met with a physical therapist. Now I know what I can and shouldn't do, while exercising. I'm pedaling a stationary bike in the basement, (it rains a lot here in western Oregon). 

My only symptom was a sudden loss of cardio fittness. One day I could bicycle for miles or hike steep trails, the next, one flight of stairs had me gasping for air and walking my bike uphill was more than I could do. I was EKGed, stress tested, echo-cardio-gramed and had my lungs tested, My PCP was stumped, but referred me to cardiology anyway. At my cardiology appointment I was told I had a prolapsed mitral valve which needed repair or replacement. That scared me, and I quit doing anything that made me out of breath. More tests, including 2 under general anesthesia. I started telling friends and relatives "I have broken heart strings". Who knew we have actual heart strings? Not me.  At least, not until I started educating myself.  November 4th I met with my heart surgeon. In my ignorance, I was expecting him to propose TMVR. (I didn't know it wasn't FDA approved yet) I walked out with open heart surgery scheduled for Jan 8th. The plan is to repair both my mitral valve and my tricuspid valve.