Eric's Profile

My name is Eric and I am 32 years old with two kids 13 and 5. After going to my PCP for a cough in August, I was told I had a heart murmur and was sent for an Echocardiogram. I was then referred to a cardiologist who told me I had moderate to severe mitral valve regurgitation. Initially he informed me that I would be able to be monitored once a year but since I was unsure if I had symptoms I recommended a stress test to get an objective point of view. About a month later I had performed my stress test. During the test I had felt fine and reached stage four of the test with my heart rate at around 200. However, after they slowed me down in intervals, I started to feel faint and almost passed out. My heart rate and blood pressure dropped really low. This caused my cardiologist to be concerned, so he ordered a TEE test. Once the TEE results came in, my cardiologist recommended surgery to be performed in the next 6 months due to thee severity of the regurgitation and my reaction to the stress test. He passed on my results to a surgeon that he recommends and he has said that the valve is repairable. In my case the midsection of the anterior mitral valve leaflet has to be repaired. After my wife and I did some research, we found out that the anterior leaflet is one of the more difficult leaflets to repair in the mitral valve and that a very experienced surgeon is recommended. I have since met with the surgeon my cardiologist has recommended but was a little disappointed in the initial consultation. The surgeon my wife and I met with informed us that he himself wouldn't feel comfortable with performing the repair but would refer my case to a more experienced surgeon in the hospital.