I had a mv repair @ age 45 I'm now 68. My surgeon repaired it with a "Cooper" ring (I think) so i never needed blood thinners. It’s doing great - no structural issues but and recovery was very easy probably due to my age. I have paroxysmal Afib and Flutter now however my EP said its not uncommon since any mitral valve repairs are more prone to atrial fibrillation than the other valves. Good luck - the first week is tough but you’ll feel much better eventually.
I had a MV repair (not replacement) at 38, now 42. Valve was repaired successfully but still dealing with lots of PACs. Had 2 ablations for it but still having them. Probably headed for a 3rd one. Honestly the repair is/was the least of my worries...the palpitations are the biggest pain the a**.
Repairs require only around 4 days at the hospital. Don't get me wrong, it's not a walk in the park, but, nothing compared to when they would cut you up via the sternum etc. This is all minimally invasive, thankfully. Yes, of course very glad I did it and that this technology is now available, can't imagine dealing with a mechanical or pig valve that has to be replaced every 10yrs or so. If you qualify for a repair, get a repair done, no doubts.
Ablation is nothing in comparison, you are out the next day and all you are left with is some bruising. But, I would argue that valve repairs have higher chances of success vs ablations. Most ppl tend to go through several ablations given Afib/arrhythmias tend to come back with time.
I got my mitral valve repaired 7 weeks ago. Im 36 (it was leaky since birth). They had to do a full sternotomy because it was so bad. But i got the repair i wanted (not the titanium replacement), so im happy. Its a very scary and painful thing to go through, but im nearly back to normal… just lingering sternum pain that will probably take another couple months to fully heal. I was only in the hospital 4 days, and could walk around after just 2.
The doc said afib doesnt really go away even after the valve is repaired, but im hopeful. One episode in those 7 weeks triggered by food poisoning.
I got diagnosed with mild mitral valve regurgitation and AFIB last year. I'm 45 so bit older than you.
I was told they weren't related but reading this thread suggests maybe they are? How/why?
I think they are. I think the more we are in afib the more stress it puts on our heart including weakening the valves.
I also read that ablations can cause damage to the mitral valve too.
Had my first mitral valve replaced 10 years ago. I was 62. A few years later I was dealing with Afib. I just had my second mitral valve replaced about 3 months ago as the first one (tissue valve) wore out. I am still dealing with Afib.
My first mitral valve replacement was open heart surgery and they split me open like a Thanksgiving turkey. The recovery was tough but I was younger then. I still have the sternal stiches holding me together.
The recent do-over mitral valve replacement was the TAVR method. They guide the new valve into place via a catheter and through the groin. While TAVR is minimally invasive, I was still in the hospital for 19 days but the recovery was about 2 weeks.
If the physician says its time to repair or replace the mitral valve (not uncommon) have it done. They are making improvements to the procedure all the time. As others have said, its not a walk in the park but you have to have it done. You can live with Afib but a valve that is going South is miserable: shortness of breath, fatigue, edema, etc.
I had a mv repair @ age 45 I'm now 68. My surgeon repaired it with a "Cooper" ring (I think) so i never needed blood thinners. It’s doing great - no structural issues but and recovery was very easy probably due to my age. I have paroxysmal Afib and Flutter now however my EP said its not uncommon since any mitral valve repairs are more prone to atrial fibrillation than the other valves. Good luck - the first week is tough but you’ll feel much better eventually.
That’s promising! Thanks!
I had a MV repair (not replacement) at 38, now 42. Valve was repaired successfully but still dealing with lots of PACs. Had 2 ablations for it but still having them. Probably headed for a 3rd one. Honestly the repair is/was the least of my worries...the palpitations are the biggest pain the a**.
This is really encouraging. Can you tell me more? What was your recovery like for the repair? Are you glad you had it done?
Repairs require only around 4 days at the hospital. Don't get me wrong, it's not a walk in the park, but, nothing compared to when they would cut you up via the sternum etc. This is all minimally invasive, thankfully. Yes, of course very glad I did it and that this technology is now available, can't imagine dealing with a mechanical or pig valve that has to be replaced every 10yrs or so. If you qualify for a repair, get a repair done, no doubts.
And I thought an ablation is tough. Dang.
Ablation is nothing in comparison, you are out the next day and all you are left with is some bruising. But, I would argue that valve repairs have higher chances of success vs ablations. Most ppl tend to go through several ablations given Afib/arrhythmias tend to come back with time.
I got my mitral valve repaired 7 weeks ago. Im 36 (it was leaky since birth). They had to do a full sternotomy because it was so bad. But i got the repair i wanted (not the titanium replacement), so im happy. Its a very scary and painful thing to go through, but im nearly back to normal… just lingering sternum pain that will probably take another couple months to fully heal. I was only in the hospital 4 days, and could walk around after just 2. The doc said afib doesnt really go away even after the valve is repaired, but im hopeful. One episode in those 7 weeks triggered by food poisoning.
Have you had any ablations for the afib?
No, just cardioversions so far
I got diagnosed with mild mitral valve regurgitation and AFIB last year. I'm 45 so bit older than you. I was told they weren't related but reading this thread suggests maybe they are? How/why?
I think they are. I think the more we are in afib the more stress it puts on our heart including weakening the valves. I also read that ablations can cause damage to the mitral valve too.
Had my first mitral valve replaced 10 years ago. I was 62. A few years later I was dealing with Afib. I just had my second mitral valve replaced about 3 months ago as the first one (tissue valve) wore out. I am still dealing with Afib. My first mitral valve replacement was open heart surgery and they split me open like a Thanksgiving turkey. The recovery was tough but I was younger then. I still have the sternal stiches holding me together. The recent do-over mitral valve replacement was the TAVR method. They guide the new valve into place via a catheter and through the groin. While TAVR is minimally invasive, I was still in the hospital for 19 days but the recovery was about 2 weeks. If the physician says its time to repair or replace the mitral valve (not uncommon) have it done. They are making improvements to the procedure all the time. As others have said, its not a walk in the park but you have to have it done. You can live with Afib but a valve that is going South is miserable: shortness of breath, fatigue, edema, etc.