Leslie's Journal

. I tend to write when things are wrong but not when things are good. I did not have to have a 2nd surgery. After having a whole bunch of testing, my Cardiologist and Surgeon didn't agree on things. In the end my blood flow is fine. I can't remember what my last echo numbers were. I'm probably due for another. But I'm totally fine. That being said...in October 2017 I had to have an ablation. I kept having episodes of rapid abnormal heart rate. It started happening more often. It was managed with medication for a while. Then I would have to have a cardioversion. They think this happened due to the MAZE procedure they did at the time of my valve replacement. Perhaps some scar tissue formed and caused the electrical currents to bounce around incorrectly. I have not had any episodes since the ablation. I was able to stop taking Multaq and Cartizem. So I'm still alive and kicking and doing well. My Cardiologist told me back when I started having issues a 2nd time that I will likely have hiccups here and there throughout my lifetime because of the damage that was done to my heart before the valve replacement. But it should all be manageable. The doctors really scared me back when all of that was going on and then acted like it wasn't that big of a deal. It was pretty annoying. I've learned not to freak out initial over test results.

I had Mitral Valve replacement 12/7/12. I went for my 3 month Echo and was told the gradient pressure in my valve is too high and the blood flow is on the low side. I will return for another Echo in a month. If the results are the same my Cardiologist says he will refer me back to my surgeon. The thought of having to go through surgery all over again after I am just now healed is just overwhelming. I was very saddened that everything wasn\'t resolved. So anyway.. Does anyone have any experience similar? I have been trying to research if the outcomes of 2nd surgeries are any better or worse if the same surgeon who preformed the 1st surgery preforms the 2nd. I have been unable to find any info on this. The only reason I even question this is because earlier last year I sat on a jury for a wrongful death case where a doctor made a mistake (on a gall bladder) and repaired it himself. And apparently this is not the best choice. I realize this is a different surgery but I am thinking there must be data somewhere on this. My surgeon was \"the best\" in my town. I see he is recommended on here but if my surgery wasn\'t successful the first go round after only 3 months should I really have the same doctor do it again?