Michael mercier - Heart Valve Journal

My Journal

74 days ago

Mike McKenna reacted to this

To all of you who responded to my question about second opinions…thank you for your input. For me, i have been following the progress of my mitral valve regurgitation ...Read more

To all of you who responded to my question about second opinions…thank you for your input. For me, i have been following the progress of my mitral valve regurgitation for over two years…it was first diagnosed in 2016(mild MR). Wiith that said, based on all that I’ve seen, heard, read, treatment (surgery) will most likely be required when we reach severe level (currently moderate to severe) unless something shows up on Echo. So I would not require a second opinion just to confirm surgery, i pretty much accept that more than likely it will be required. I now believe that after reading your comments “for me” the 2nd opinion would be following meeting with the surgeon when he recommends surgery, type of surgery, etc. So once again thank you for your input. As my son has said, I am into a future chapter in this process but my response is that I am just trying to become educated and prepared.

Michael mercierposted an update

75 days ago

Adam Pick reacted to this

So often we hear or read of the importance of the 2nd opinion...is the 2nd opinion based on cardiologist referral to a surgeon at a medical center or is it ...Read more

So often we hear or read of the importance of the 2nd opinion...is the 2nd opinion based on cardiologist referral to a surgeon at a medical center or is it based on having met with the surgeon and have his recommendations for surgery, type of surgery, etc.

Ralph Wright Leaving hospital here in Liverpool UK today March 22nd following MVR Sat 18/3. Wonderful team of Doct ... Read more

Ralph Wright Leaving hospital here in Liverpool UK today March 22nd following MVR Sat 18/3. Wonderful team of Doctors, Nurses and Physiotherapists got me up on my feet 2 days after surgery and now the long careful rehab at home.

Gary Dupuis Congrats Ralph!

Marie Myers Michael- I think when people speak of a second opinion, it is a second surgeon’s opinion or a secon ... Read more

Marie Myers Michael- I think when people speak of a second opinion, it is a second surgeon’s opinion or a second cardiologist’s opinion. Hopefully the second doctor is from a separate group, and not just a practice partner of the first opinion. That way you get a totally different perspective on your condition.

Rose Madura My 2nd opinion was just that, a cardiologist in a different practice and ended up staying with him. ... Read more

Rose Madura My 2nd opinion was just that, a cardiologist in a different practice and ended up staying with him. I got a 3rd opinion from my brother, a doctor (but not a cardiologist) and a 4th opinion from my brother's close friend who is a thoracic surgeon. They all agreed so my decision was easy.

Klara Čičić My second opinion was cardiologist from different hospital as well as surgeon from a different hospit ... Read more

Klara Čičić My second opinion was cardiologist from different hospital as well as surgeon from a different hospital. So I got two opinions of each cardiologist and surgeon and made my decision based on those, and the research.

Adam Pick Great question Michael... I got two second opinions - from both a cardiologist and a surgeon. I want ... Read more

Adam Pick Great question Michael... I got two second opinions - from both a cardiologist and a surgeon. I wanted to be a 100,000% sure that I needed surgery and which type of surgery might be best for me. To find the second opinions I asked around - my family, my friends, and several doctors. Again, great question!

Andrew Dial My cardiologists hospital didn’t even offer the surgery I wanted (Ross Procedure) so thanks to HVS. ... Read more

Andrew Dial My cardiologists hospital didn’t even offer the surgery I wanted (Ross Procedure) so thanks to HVS.com, I was able to find a surgeon in my state that performed the Ross, and to give me a second opinion via Echocardiogram, etc on my valve measurements and everything.

Christopher Cozzi I asked my surgeon where I could get a second opinion and he provided 2 names at the Cleveland Clinic ... Read more

Christopher Cozzi I asked my surgeon where I could get a second opinion and he provided 2 names at the Cleveland Clinic. I went with the Cleveland Clinic.

Debbie Whitlock My first surgeon consult scheduled me for surgery to replace my valve. My 2nd opinion at a different ... Read more

Debbie Whitlock My first surgeon consult scheduled me for surgery to replace my valve. My 2nd opinion at a different hospital said we should watch and wait. Ten years later, I'm still in watch and wait mode, and feeling great. If you have ANY doubts at all, get that 2nd opinion.

Marie Myers Wow, Debbie! Little bit of a difference of opinion there!! So glad you did that second opinion…

Michael mercierposted an update

100 days ago

I am a 78 year old healthy male who rides a bike 45-50 miles per week or about 4+ hours of aerobic exercise per week. I have moderate to severe MVR asymptomatic. ...Read more

I am a 78 year old healthy male who rides a bike 45-50 miles per week or about 4+ hours of aerobic exercise per week. I have moderate to severe MVR asymptomatic. My question is if at some point my cardiologist refers me to a medical center what choices do i have and what is the process when I get there….thank you

Grace Mason Hi Michael, this is great site to start doing some preparation and information on several centers and ... Read more

Grace Mason Hi Michael, this is great site to start doing some preparation and information on several centers and surgeons and blogs. Have you used the surgeon finder? Click the 3 bars at the top right and select. Or the search option and type MVR. Plus there are many people on here that have similar stories to yours. If you click on people's names in the newsfeed you can find more stories and great information and people.

Michael mercier What i am trying to learn is what the process is once referred to a medical center…are you referred ... Read more

Michael mercier What i am trying to learn is what the process is once referred to a medical center…are you referred to a surgeon or does the center do their due diligence and determines surgery type and then a surgeon is recommended…can’t find this kind of info anywhere…thank you for your reply

Richard Munson I can comment because i was exactly 78 and fast walked 5-10 miles a day with my dog and had moderate ... Read more

Richard Munson I can comment because i was exactly 78 and fast walked 5-10 miles a day with my dog and had moderate to severe mvp with no symptoms. Also non symptomatic a fib. I reached the realization that this valve was not going to get any better on its own and i was not getting any younger. I did not know about adams site but i knew that i wanted a repair not replace if possible based on my doctors feedback so i finally said lets do this before you say i’m too old. So now i’m 81 and god willing have a few more miles left. We just walked the dog 5 miles and 4 this morning and i still work. By the way, no symptoms can be a curse in some ways because you become as the saying goes, fat, dumb and happy. I experienced all the fear we all had concerning ohs but its done and so far so good.

Grace Mason I think I would ask your Cardiologist that question and see what he can tell you.My Cardiologist told me at my last visit he was going to present my file to a group to review for possible intervention and after that happened they were referring me for surgery. I believe your Cardiologist and center would try to match you with the surgeon that is the best match for your need, but every center is different, I'm sure. Ask questions, for sure. I am seeking 2nd and 3rd opinions, myself, before I decide on where I go. I used the info I found here to search for a surgeon that does the type of surgery the first surgeon recommended and then I checked with my insurance company and asked if those doctors and centers were in my network. Then, I contacted those centers on my own with the information I found in the surgeon finder. Hope this helps.

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Rose Madura In my case, I fired my cardiologist after getting a 2nd opinion (even though the opinion was the sam... Read more

Rose Madura In my case, I fired my cardiologist after getting a 2nd opinion (even though the opinion was the same) because I really liked the guy much better. He referred me to the hospital I chose and suggested two surgeons. Another hospital nearby was discouraged. So I was glad for the frank discussion. If you have traditional Medicare, you can go wherever you want. At any rate, the decision is yours. I've learned that you must be your own advocate. Look up doctors and surgeons online. When you see one, ask all the questions you can think of including how many surgeries have they done like yours and what was their success rate. To answer the question about process, the cardiologist will make referrals for all the tests you will need. Hope I've been helpful. Ask away if not and we'll do our best to help.

Michael mercier Richard, I wear an implanted heart monitor and no indication of AFIB has been found so don’t expect that I will need the Maze procedure but like you are very much interested in MV repair vs replace even if a replace trans catheter but we’ll see what changes in technology take place by time i go from moderate to severe to severe.

Rose, Nothing wrong with firing cardiologist…we need to be comfortable with our doctors.

I know that processes may vary from center to center but had hoped that I might have gotten a comment or two from those who went to centers and could explain the process of that first visit with them up to point where type of surgery is determined and surgeon recommended.

Richard Munson Michael, just do me a favor and don’t wait too long. Our older organs are not as spiffy as the youn ... Read more

Richard Munson Michael, just do me a favor and don’t wait too long. Our older organs are not as spiffy as the younger folks on this site. That being said, curious why you have the implanted monitor which i currently wear to detect any recurrence of a fib after my mvs and maze procedure. No incidents in 11 months and my very recent echo looked good so myself and cardiologist decided to take me off elliquis and go on baby aspirin but keep the implant for another year. Staying on metropolol for now. Time will tell. I could i guess have an a fib incident next week, have a stroke and be a vegetable or dead but life is an educated gamble i guess. If i am a vegetable i am choosing summer squash.

Michael mercier Richard, thank you for that advice…both my wife and i do feel that earlier is better to avoid any p ... Read more

Michael mercier Richard, thank you for that advice…both my wife and i do feel that earlier is better to avoid any permanent heart damage by waiting and second because of my age…to the point about implanted monitor…i was on a bike ride in September cruising along nicely after about 20 miles and had a freaking stroke and crashed fracturing my scapula…they could not find cause of stroke and AFIB was suspected and that is why i am sporting the monitor. they have not ruled out that a case of Covid caused tiny blood clots that went to brain and BOOM!!!my stroke was closer in symptoms to a TIA than a stroke and I am good now and was riding bike again after 4 months with no residual stroke symptoms. I saw that you are from Massachusetts…we are originally from RI and worked many years in Attleboro and Boston and now living in SC.

Richard Munson I live close to rhode island, was in woonsocket wednesday on a business call.