Why I Had Open-Heart Surgery At 39 Years Old
"A cheerful heart is good medicine." Proverbs 17:22 When that heart was operated on during open-heart surgery, that cheer and gratitude hits differently, let me tell you! So, a few days ago in an introductory post I made on Instagram, I mentioned that I started to study content creation while recovering from open-heart surgery in Summer 2020, and my Instagram sis, Michele, asked whether I’d mind sharing more about my open-heart surgery.
I’m happy to share my story, and honestly, I think my story is far less dramatic than it sounds. “Open-heart surgery” … I know it sounds major and scary… and it is, but at the same time, if it is a planned surgery rather than an emergency surgery, you can feel a bit more prepared and at ease. So, going back to my early 20s, I recall a primary care physician (PCP) telling me that I have a heart murmur and that heart murmurs are quite common. Nevertheless, he sent me to a cardiologist for a more thorough examination of my heart, and the cardiologist confirmed the murmur and said that I should follow up with him annually. I didn’t. The cardiologist also stated that murmurs are common, and that they could stay the way they are or become more severe. I simply figured that I felt fine for the most part, so if I had any issues occurring with my heart, then the doctors at my regular annual checkups would notice and would address it or refer me to someone who could address it. After that scenario, I had a whole two pregnancies, gave birth to two boys, attended all my OB/GYN appointments, and annually or close to annually saw my PCP which had changed over time.
Fast-forward some years, we move to a new neighborhood, and I change PCPs, and the physician’s assistant (PA) in the office asks me, “Has anyone told you that you have a heart murmur?” I reply, “Yes, but the doctors say it’s common.” The PA replied, “Yours sounds significant to me, so I’m referring you to a cardiologist.” I went to the cardiologist as recommended, and he is still my cardiologist now. At my very first cardiology visit with him, after completing an echocardiogram, he told me that I had mitral valve regurgitation. Basically, the leak from my heart valve not closing completely, which had initially caused the heart murmur, had gotten more significant. He also explained that some people with mitral valve regurgitation go many years without symptoms, and others develop symptoms all of a sudden. The only way to fix the leaky valve is through surgery, and although it wasn’t urgent that I have surgery, it was necessary for me to know that surgery would likely be recommended at some point. Also, cardiothoracic surgeons recommend that this particular open-heart surgery be done prior to the onset of symptoms and prior to the weakening of the heart because the outcomes are better for such patients. My cardiologist said that, when the time is right, he knew the right surgeon to refer me to because that surgeon is world-renowned not just for heart surgery, but in particular, mitral valve repair, which is what I needed. The REPAIR element is what is exceptional because other cardiothoracic surgeons would probably opt to REPLACE the valve, but the one I would be referred to has an excellent track record for valve REPAIR, which means not removing my God-given valve, but being able to repair it to no longer leak. I had regular follow-up appointments with my cardiologist for years, and in 2019, he suggested that I have a consultation with the premier surgeon he had been telling me about all these years. It wasn’t urgent, but having monitored my heart for years and telling me the same sort of information regarding the condition, he thought speaking with the surgeon would be a step for me to obtain further information. I agreed to meet with the surgeon, and remember telling my husband and my mom that they didn’t have to come with me to the appointment because “I’m not having surgery. I’m just going to comply with my doctor’s recommendation to meet with the surgeon for information.” Ha! Why do we say things that make God laugh?
That day that I met with the world-renowned mitral valve repair team, including the Cardiac Surgeon in Chief of the Mount Sinai Health System and the President of the Mitral Foundation, who happens to also be the surgeon who would conduct my surgery, his genuine care and concern coupled with his confidence, knowledge and expertise won me over. I asked if I could wait to schedule the surgery a year out, so that would be some time in 2020, and he said that would be fine based on my tests, so long as I continued to be monitored by my cardiologist in the interim. Just to be clear, I wasn’t procrastinating at this point, but rather, I was planning because my mom was planning to retire in early 2020, so she would be available to assist with my recovery and to take care of my children while I recovered and my husband Allan worked. So, the plan was in place. I kept my word and scheduled surgery for June 2020. Then came the pandemic in 2020, and hospitals in NYC had cancelled all non-emergency surgeries for months due to the pandemic, but by some time around April 2020, I received a phone call to inform me that surgeries would resume and that mine was on the calendar in June. I kept the appointment, and well, I now have a repaired mitral valve.
There are so many ins and outs of the experience that I can share, like me passing out in the shower at the hospital on the day before I would be discharged… it was likely due to a combination of me being dehydrated and moving a bit too quickly in the moment. The hospital personnel immediately responded to me and although it was scary, I was fine.
It’s now approaching 7 months post-surgery, and by the grace of Almighty God, I feel great. I thank Michele for asking me to share my story because, honestly, I can take this time to ask you ladies AND gentlemen to please take seriously any and all cardiology referrals that your doctors provide to you.
The condition that I had, mitral valve regurgitation, could lead a person to suddenly collapse, and in some cases, suddenly die. It’s a condition that can persist with little to no symptoms, but can also progress rapidly, and the person with the condition would have no way of knowing exactly when it would worsen. It is not a condition that improves on its own. It either stays the same or worsens, and is corrected only with surgery. So, I opted for surgery while young and healthy, and I am happy that I did. Yup, I had open-heart surgery at the age of 39. I am now 40 and thankful! I remember in the weeks and days leading up to surgery, my husband Allan saying that he just wants the surgery to be over, and I remember feeling that way too. Well, now, here we are. Happy and healthy, thank God!
So, please get your annual check-ups, AND follow through on your doctor’s referrals. In order to do any of the things that we would rather do instead of a doctor’s appointment, we have to actually be alive and well to do them. So, let’s work on that alive and well part and keep those doctor’s appointments.
Make it a blessed and beautiful day and week!
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Some may wonder whether or not I am able to travel or have been cleared to travel since the surgery. Yes and yes! I am medically cleared to travel. I look forward to sailing, flying, exploring and all around globetrotting with my family again. However, the world is still experiencing a pandemic, so we are enjoying the comforts of our home these days, and safely exploring locally from time-to-time. We do already have one trip booked for 2022! Hopefully, we will be safely exploring the globe again before then though, and we look forward to virtually taking you along through photo and video coverage.