Terri's Journal

Well, it's almost a year after my valve surgery and I still don't feel much better. I've never really felt like my surgery did me any good. Shortly after the surgery they looked at my newly repaired valve and said it looked great. I expected to start to feel my old self again 3 months or so after my surgery. As it stands, not much has changed. Oh yes, I feel way better than I did directly after surgery, but nothing like I use to. I get winded just walking from the parking lot to the store, or just a block to my kid's school. I teach yoga, but without the energy I use to have. I've had 3 different Dr's opinions after 2 TEE's and numerous other tests on my lungs and diaphragm. My valve is leaking again, but not in the same place and supposedly not to the extent that it was. I have no answers and are as frustrated as ever. If anyone else out there is in the same boat, I would love to hear from you. I was told by one Dr. I need to replace the valve and two others said no I shouldn't. One said I should get the repair repaired. Help!

I have always been very active and enjoy hiking, yoga, snorkeling, horseback riding, etc... I use to be more of a daredevil trying everything at least once, including skydiving, hand gliding, parasailing, whitewater rafting, ballooning and rock climbing. I\'ve always loved roller coasters, but a few years ago, found that some are very hard on my body and stay away from wooden ones at all costs. The last one I went on, it felt like my bones were no longer connected to my body. I am writing these things, because I wonder if all this action has contributed to the quick deterioration of my heart valve. Being that this is congenital, I wonder why my mother was able to avoid repair until she was 79 years old. I am only 48 and was given 6 months to have it done this past March. I also did a whole lot of partying in my teens, 20\'s and early 30\'s. My mother was no slouch when it came to drinking wine, but I\'m pretty sure I put a lot more substances that did not support me in my single years than she ever did. Within the last 15 years I\'ve taken the healthy road more than ever and always considered myself in shape and pretty strong. My mother was never as active, especially with extreme sports and or anything more cardiovascular than walking. I\'ve been a yoga instructor for the past 3 years and before this started slowing me down, felt like I could do any pose I set my mind to with consistent practice. There are so many things I think about that could\'ve caused me to have to have this surgery so much earlier than my mom. The reason I am so concerned with this is that I have a beautiful little daughter that may have this genetic flaw and it would be nice if I could give her words of wisdom to keep her valve going longer than mine. Not sure if there are any answers out there, but would be good to hear from others that are thinking of these things. I can\'t imagine anyone being diagnosed with this disease and not wondering if they could\'ve prevented the early onset.