when to have surgery

[Ja42]

I had an acute mitral valve repair after I went into heart failure suddenly 2 years ago while I was abroad. The operation did not go well as I still have severe regurgitation and I will need a replacement. I am with a lot of medication but no symptoms. As my NHS consultant was really unhelpful I went private, the advice is for me to have the surgery when I have symptoms. I am only 59 and full of energy to travel etc but I worry about going abroad in case I had an acute event again so my quality of life is not great. When is a good time to have the surgery? Having to wait until I have symptoms and my heart is suffering makes little sense. I don’t want to go for surgery privately due to cost but I don’t think the NHS will operate me or even add me into the waiting list until I am more unwell. Any advice?

[Pilgrim2]

Hello JA42,

I am exactly the same age as you and was diagnosed with moderate to severe mitral regurgitation in February. At that time I had minor symptoms, feeling more out of breath on exercise and feeling more tired than usual after an active day, like gardening, but not bad. The consultant said at the time I could wait until it had deteriorated which could be a few years but I pushed to go on the waiting list 1. because the wait was estimated at 9 months and I could be alot worse by then and 2. I thought why put off the inevitable and better to be in as fit a condition as I could be to help recovery. I was so glad I did as I deteriorated quite quickly and by August had quite an increase in pains and discomforts and my ability to do activity significantly reduced.

It is if course a personal view, but I would recommend pushing to get on the waiting list. You will be low priority now and so likely be many months away from surgery. If you leave it until your condition deteriorates you may find you are many months from getting surgery. Also I was concerned if left too late I really didn't want to end up risking a situation where I have to have an emergency op.

Good luck with your journey.

[rubyred5051sew in reply to Pilgrim2]

i have had reumatic fever in 1963 age 13 damaged my mitral valve to cut a long sorty short annual check ups then in 2002 told the operation was getting close so i was told 6months waiting list and i told them i was happy to go on a cancellation list in january 2003 age 53 was told a bed was available so i had it done mitral mecanical replacement . It is all about guality of life have it done as sone as possible so you can get on with your life i have no regarets