Nearly a year since mitral valve repair

[HeartSketchBristol]

I am over a year since infective endocarditis left me needing a mitral valve repair.

It will be a year in May.

Some days feels like a very long time ago other days just yesterday infantilised in a hospital bed addicted to their custard. 😀

I was very lucky and the support I had from the NHS amazing plus being able to be a member of this community and read everyone else’s stories. So thank you.

I have been cardiac med free since September, back at work full time and spent the morning bodyboarding. My only gripe is that my dog wanted to stay on the beach with the friends he had made rather than leave with me… 😝

[HeartSketchBristol]

dog for reference…😀

Disappointed dog

[Jasia in reply to HeartSketchBristol]

Thank you for your post. You have given me a boost and hope.

[Anon2023]

hi. You had a lucky escape as endocarditis is very nasty. I had it in January last year and it left me with heart failure. It’s uplifting to hear that you are doing so well and it gives me hope, so thanks. I don’t think I could manage bodyboarding although it sounds great, I did go shark cage diving last October though and hopefully doing it again in January, maybe with great whites this time 😱

[HeartSketchBristol in reply to Anon2023]

Thanks, looking back now yes I did have a lucky escape.

I am sure you will enjoy the cage diving with great whites!

All the best.

[Hidden]

Hello

What lovely pictures

Addicted to the Hospital custard they must make it better than we get it here

I am so pleased that your life is back to normal and you are doing so well and lovely to read such a positive post to x

[Cee-Cee1]

Thank you for sharing your experience, HeartSketch, and your gorgeous photos! It's always really inspiring to read about successful recoveries. (I'm a bit jealous though - we didn't get custard while I was in hospital last year - mind you, we did get offered a tub of ice-cream!) Carol😆

[Golfingnrwby]

great news you are doing so well. Cute dog btw

[spinningjenny]

I always have rice pudding when I’m in hospital. It’s about the only thing they can’t mess up. Cornflakes, they don’t muck them up either. 😁

[SuperFluff]

Thanks for posting. İ have surgery coming up in the future for mitral valve regurgitation so always nice to hear a positive story.

[eholl01]

I'm not surprised doggo doesn't want to leave, Trebarwith is such a beautiful beach. Really good to hear a positive story.

May I ask, how did you find out about your mitral valve?

Only I have just found out I have a heart murmur, waiting for echo but think it might be mitral valve.

[HeartSketchBristol]

yep it’s a lovely beach.

My gp heard the murmur and referred me to heart institute, They confirmed via a echo that it was a leaky mitral valve.

I did not know that having a leaky valve could leave me open to such serious damage once I had a blood infection. Apparently the valve not functioning properly allowed the infection to latch on.

Source of blood infection never confirmed but chief suspect was a serious gum infection.

Even more careful these days about dental health.

Hope all goes well for you.

[eholl01 in reply to HeartSketchBristol]

Thank you for replying and sharing.Waiting game here, still no sign of echo appointment, but it's only been a few weeks, I'm just worried and trying to keep a lid on it until I know more, easy said than done!

You take care.

[1234_6]

Well done on your recovery and thanks for sharing your story of shopping a hospital bed for a bodyboard! Also for the beautiful photographs which make lots of us wish we were on the beach with you and your dog too.