Sara's Profile

On August 14, 2018, I went for what was to be a standard routine physical. During the exam my doctor commented on how loud my heart murmur was (which was diagnosed at age 15; I am now 56 years old). She had me go for an echogram on Aug 28; the next day I learned I had "severe mitral regurgitation" and needed to see a cardiologist. This of course came as a complete shock, given no one ever told me to have my murmur monitored over the years; not once. For several years I would take penicillin prior to dental exams (and then that was stopped due to new research); that is the only attention that has been given to my hear murmur in 41 years. Fast forward I am now scheduled for surgery on 11/28; the surgeon is hopeful my mitral valve can be repaired but there is a chance it will have to be replaced; we won't know until the actual surgery. I am absolutely scared out of my mind!! To know that my heart will be stopped, and I will be on a heart lung machine is more than I can sometimes fathom. I am so grateful that I discovered Adam Pick's book and this site!!