Mitral valve surgery

[Zootropolis]

Hi all, I would just like to ask if anyone has had a mitral valve re repair. I had mitral valve repaired 3 years ago and it may have severe again so doctors are going to do a transesophageal echo in January to see why it's gone that way.

[Smarticus]

Hi, I had my first MVR in November 2019, due to failed stitches I had a redo in October 2020. This time it was a metal (Carbon) valve. I have tried to work out if it is better or worse second time around - at least you know what you are up against! Any questions, just ask HTH.

[Zootropolis in reply to Smarticus]

Hi was it open heart surgery second time round?

[Smarticus in reply to Zootropolis]

Hi, yes. I knew what I was in for this time... felt like a pro lol!

[Zootropolis in reply to Zootropolis]

Lol. Thanks for responding

[Rosanna75]

Good morning.I had a mitral valve repair 5 years ago, done with minimal invasive surgery

Unfortunately it didn't work out since I went from a regurgitation to a stenosis. The repai done was too tight.

So, 2 years ago, they had to rectify.

They told me that they couldn't do a repair of a valve that had already been repaired. So I now have a mechanical mitral valve.

This was done through open heart surgery.

The recovery is definitely long and I wouldn't say it is easy but I feel good now and able to live my life fully.

The main issues with the mechanical valve is that you need to take warfarin for the rest of your life.

Straight after the surgery, please ask the to show you breathing exercises.

Believe me, it is very important.

I ended up with pleural infection and I had fluid removed from.the lungs.

It is fundamental that you breath deeply , even if it hurts at the beginning.

The lungs are heavily effected by the surgery as much as your heart.

When I saw your message, I thought that this is the most important information I can pass on.

Look after your breathing and walk

Try to walk gradually faster ...this will help you immensely

Not sure about your age, as this might make things different, I am now 45.

If you have any questions, please ask.

I am happy to help and I wish you all the best.

Rosanna

[Klau80 in reply to Rosanna75]

Hi Rosanna, I am 40 and was told I would need a mitral valve repair at some point. That really upset me and made me so anxious, having an open heart operation is so frightening. Could you please reassure me of the process, my condition is currently moderate, although technician thought it was moderate/severe, the cardiologist put put it back to moderate. I am a bit confused as how this classification works, one technician aftercI had my baby in 2016 said my condition qas mild, then following year it was moderate now moderate/severe. Then cardiologist said no, it is moderate rather. It's very confusing and if I think of the rate it got worse, does that mean next year it will be severe and need a surgery? Cardiologist didn't know when I get to the point I need surgery. I have two little kids I cannot have a surgery as need to look after them!

How long was your recovery? How was the surgery process? At what stage did they tell you you need surgery? Did you have symptoms?

Many thanks xxxx

[Rosanna75 in reply to Klau80]

So sorry to hear that they made it so unclear for you. It is hard enough as it is then having confused diagnosis clearly doesn't help.I had my mitral valve repaired at your age, I turned 40 while in hospital recovering 😅

I discovered the problem because I passed out at work a few months before my surgery.

I was feeling very tired all the times and it went from bad to worse

I wasnt sure what it was, at the beginning I was thinking it was becouse of my demanding job, but when I passed out, I was taken to hospital and they diagnosed a moderate to severe regurgitation of the mitral valve.

They told me straight away that I would need a surgery at some point in the future and that pretty much it depended on how I was feeling .

From the time of the diagnose to the the first surgery passed a year I think.

I was feeling exhausted to the point that I was finding hard doing my day to day activities. Very short of breath even after a very short walk.

They done a TOE and they established that the gradient of the valve had changed and also on a stress echo they discovered a change on the pulmonary pressure.

So they reccomended an immediate repair.

Given the relatively young age, they will always go for a repair.

Usually the repair happens through a minimal invasive surgery to which is much easier to recover compared to full open heart surgery.

The second time ,they replace the valve and I had an open heart surgery, which is a bit more difficult to recover, it does takes more time since they are literally breaking your sternum so you need to recover from the fracture in your chest as well as the rest.

With mitral valve repair, expecially if done with minimum invasive, it is much quicker

I stayed in hospital for a week and the recovery at home is quite fast

I had some complications due to an infection and I had to be in hospital for 3 more weeks on antibiotics.

But despite that I was impressed on how quick I could do everything by my self.

In your situation, I think you will need some help with your kids.

Expecially for the first week you are at home, it also depends on how old your kids are and how needy they are.

But please dont be scared, you will see that things are much easier than they look like and I am sure that with the support of your family, you will be fine.

Also in your situation, you might not even need a surgery anytime soon.

It all depends on the parameters and also on how symptomatic you are.

My advise to you is, trust the way you feel and learn how to recognise the symptoms of a possible deterioration.

If you are feeling terribly exhausted and always short of breath report this to your cardiologist straight away.

In most cases (not mine unfortunately) it can take years before the valve deteriorate and it needs a surgical intervention.

Listen to your body and if you feel worse, ask for a stress eco and a TOE.

These two examinations will be giving clear answers to the cardiologist.

This way you will have one opinion that is scientifically proved.

I wish all the best, stay strong and positive

Happy to help with any further questions

Rosanna

[Klau80 in reply to Rosanna75]

Hi Rosanna,

Thank you so much for your kind reply and reassurance!

It must have been so frightening for you when out if the blue you were told you have a mitral valve issue after you've fainted! Can't imagine what you went through!

I know about my vakve issue since I was a baby, they noticed a murmur then investigated it further.

I have had checkups every 1-2years. Never caused an issue. This year, with all the stress we had, and I also have health anxiety, I experienced palpitations and breathlessness often. Since I have asthma also from birth been back and forth to the GP to sort me out. Once I've been at the GP she noticed my palpitations and was a bit worried I have arrythmia. So sent me to the cardiology for checkup. They did echo, 24hour ecg, normal ecg and blood test for BNP. Echo showed mitral valve regurgitation moderate/severe, where cardiologist then reviewed and concluded it is not severe. BNP was normal so was 24hour ecg. Cardiologist did say he suspects I will need to get my valve fixed at some point given I am young. (He did say it would be an open heart surgery I specifically remember that). That really scared me to death. He said the breathlessness is likely due to my asthma, got meds for it, now a bit better.

Can I ask, when you felt breathless and very tired; how was the breathlessness? Only when you walked or did chores or also when you rested? And were you able to exercise? I am usually better walking outside..

And regarding tiredness...what was thar like? That you felt always tired as in wanting to sleep? Sorry for the silly questions...

I have a 2 and a nearly 5 year old girls, so surgery would be really at a bad time.. xx

[Rosanna75 in reply to Klau80]

Good morning and happy new year!Interesting to read your story, so many are effected by similar issues and we don't even know.

A minimal invasive surgery is still classified as an open heart surgery for what I was told back in the time although the one where they cut your sternum sounds more like an open heart than the other.

I think the terminology has more to do with what they do to the heart than the chest, not sure though, I might be wrong.

Regarding your questions, of course always happy to help with my experience

I was breathless even after waking 20 metres, I couldn't exercise at all.

Every little activity was a major effort. I dont know who gave me the strength to get up every day for work

During my days off I was mostly in bed, not sleeping but resting.

I had no life!

I was so tired that everything was an effort, even making my own bed in the morning. This is to give you an example

I was constantly pushing myself as I am and I have always been very active. I was also feeling dizzy often.

To be honest I was lucky as they kept a very close eye on me and once I done my third TOE they already called me to let me know that I was on the waiting list.

If you don't feel the same way I did, hopefully your surgery is still far away from you and hopefully if it will happen it will be when your kids are older.

Listen to your body as it will tell you when it is too much to take

Best wishes

Rosanna

[Klau80 in reply to Rosanna75]

Hi Rosanna,

Thanks so much for your message!

I totally understand now, your symptoms are very different from mine, luckily but I will keep an eye on it in future.

I am not sure which surgery I will have in the future, but you have reassured me so kindly, whichever it will be I will be fine.

Happy New Year and wishing you all the best for this year xx

[Crystal-21 in reply to Rosanna75]

Wow you are an inspiration, thank you for sharing, I have heart failure and a few other things wrong with my heart ❣, I am inspired by your story , and I will try to breath better and walk as much as I can, it seems my doctors are often to busy to help give advice so I look here to help myself . Happy new year 🥳 thank you .

[Rosanna75 in reply to Crystal-21]

Bless you, thank you for your kind words.This place is really good for helping people.

All of us in here are in the same situation in a way or another and makes me happy if with my experience I can help someone else

Happy New year to you too

[Zootropolis in reply to Rosanna75]

It was good to read your story, cos I'm not sure if I could face open heart surgery a second time it knocked the hell of first time, though I'm sure what docs will recommened this time unit they have done transesophageal echo. I've reading about a mitral clip that sounds a much simpler operation I don't know we can opt for that but I, ll ask.

[Zootropolis in reply to Rosanna75]

I'm 54 and had my first repair 3 years ago. So that bit of extra advice is valid as I recall the sooner you get walking the better.

[Jax14]

Hi there i have had mitral valve repair about 2 year ago,due to having severe mitral stenosis,repair went fine was told it would last 5 to 10 year,i felt quite good afterwards but was sort lived lasted 6 weeks at the most,then started to feel unwell again worse than i did before,so i got heart scan ect,and was told my heart was worse,my valve was severely leeking and i would need a mitral valve replacement,plus the main pumping chamber had also weakened due to the damage of my valve,which is not repairable,i got the surgery last august,and am feeling loads better,

[spinningjenny]

I had mitral and tricuspid repairs November 2018. All went well. Recovery time was pretty much as expected and am extremely pleased I had it done. Was told to expect it to last around seven years which I thought was a bit specific.

Whole range of problems before and since with rate and rhythm but that's a whole other story

[Silvasava in reply to spinningjenny]

Very interested to read your post. I was diagnosed with severe mitral and tricuspid regurgitation in September. The cardiologist opinion was that my issues were to be controlled by my present drug regime. I wasn't happy as with persistent AF my QoL ha been severely impacted. I've managed to get a referral to Southampton and I'm hoping they may be able to offer some alternative. Repair giving me 7 years would definitely be a bonus!

[spinningjenny in reply to Silvasava]

Funnily enough I had an echocardiogram this morning and all is holding up well. I mentioned seven years to the radiographer. He laughed and said the surgeons pick a number based on they're own experience and that he has seen some repairs that have lasted forty years.

Hope all goes well.

[Mazatectribe]

I had mitral valve repair 3 years ago was never told how long it would last but now have AF again and had to increase my betablocker from 1.25mg now up to 6.25mg a day. Feeling bit sob at times just wondering if things will get worse.

[spinningjenny in reply to Mazatectribe]

I think leaky valves and their repair is a hardware problem. Arrhythmias are software. They are not necessarily connected.