Bonnie's Profile

My tricuspid valve was damaged during a pacemaker lead extraction procedure. I was retaining fluids, short of breath, and very fatigued. My echocardiogram showed severe tricuspid regurgitation with an ejection fraction of 40. The doctor who did the procedure didn’t know what to do. Luckily my insurance nurse case manager introduced me to a second opinion program with Cleveland Clinic. I few out (from Los Angeles) for two weeks. I was in the hospital five days. I had an excellent experience at Cleveland Clinic. I’m back to my young self. I’m 54 years old. Unfortunately my cardiac rehabilitation was cut short due to the pandemic closing out-patient services. I continue a heart healthy diet & daily walking. I had open heart surgery to repair the tricuspid valve & some other damage from the laser-assisted lead extraction. My scar is fading with the assistance of silicone tape. Pain was minimal by six weeks, but I still get the slightest reminder when I sneeze or twist in a certain way. I watched a lot of videos and read a lot of articles before the procedure to prepare and that helped. Good luck to anyone contemplating heart valve surgery. Having a great doctor with lots of experience is key. Excellent nursing care in the hospital is of equal importance.