MITRAL VALVE REPAIR/PLUG

[jackiesimmonds]

anyone had a TRANSCATHETER MITRAL VALVE REPAIR? if so would like to have a chat.

[Marchman]

I had Mitral valve repair 12 weeks ago. Recovery was going very well but 4 weeks ago I started getting out of breath doing menial things and started getting dizzy spells. ECG etc shows everything s OK but that s not much concellation.

How are you feeling?

[jackiesimmonds in reply to Marchman]

I am feeling I wish I hadn't asked since I dont much like your response. I am feeling constantly exhausted, heavy in the limbs, and life is pretty miserable....the docs are doing the job in a couple of weeks but they seem less than hopeful to me.

[Marchman in reply to jackiesimmonds]

I didn t mean to worry you. My operation went fine and my sternum has heeled really well. As you no doubt already know, it is a major operation and, as such the body takes time to recover. It can take anything between 12 weeks and 6 months or more to really feel the benefit. I know that my operation was successful. Its just going to take me longer to get back to normal. I certainly feel a lot better than you say you're feeling.

I had the operation because I had to. Leaving things as they were wasn t an option.

Don t worry about the operation. They will look after you and you will feel a lot better.

[jackiesimmonds in reply to Marchman]

Ah we are talking at cross purposes here, you did not understand my heading. I had a valve REPLACEMENT in October last, (tgether with a triple bypass) and now need the transcatheter repair because the replacement valve has developed gaps, it is broken away from the heart in several places. The gaps need to be plugged and this is done via a transcatheter procedure, which is quite different, they go in thro a vein in the groin and it is done by watching on a monitor. Bit like having a stent. but not such a common procedure. If you are very breathless, I would suggest you need to see a cardiologist. I only developed this breathless-on-exertion thing recently, was fine to begin with. they only found it because my cardiologist was very vigilant, and did a TOE - Trans Oesophagal examination, and discovered the gaps (tube and camera down the throat to view the back of the heart).

[Marchman in reply to jackiesimmonds]

My apologies. We were at a misunderstanding.

I m seeing my Consultant in a month and will discuss it with him, if there is no improvement.

I hope everything goes well for you.

[jackiesimmonds in reply to Marchman]

I hope things improve for you too. If not, and you feel any worse, I would not wait a month, instead take yourself to A&E and let them check you out thoroughly. You can check this by phoning and speaking to someone at the British Heart foundation, they have cardiac nurses you can speak to.

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to jackiesimmonds]

Slightly different but Mick Jagger had a TAVI (transcatheter aortic valve implantation) last year and was back touring in three months. Sometimes mitral valves can also be repaired by minimally invasive surgery through the ribs. Good luck.

[Heythrop51 in reply to MichaelJH]

Had forgotten about that!