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My aunt has a problem with her mitral valve. It does not close. She had her aortic valve repaired 3 years ago, but now the other 2 vavles are leaking. Last week, she was told that her mitral valve does not close. She was sent home and hospice is now seeing her. What I need to know, is how much time does she have? I know no one can say for sure, but she lives 850 miles away, and I need to know what to expect. She is terribly short of breath, and the smell of food takes her breath away. Any info would be appreciated.
In Reply to: mitral valve posted by Cathy Svrcek on May 06, 2001 at 23:56:17:
Hi, Cathy.
This is the end stage of Rheumatic Valvular Disease. She must be pretty decrepit for them to give her up since this kind of valvular surgery is pretty safe and very effective--another place where conventional medicine shines. How old is she? Even though her chances of dying from the surgery may be good (totally depending on the above) if she is not VERY old, the chance of years of a pretty normal life may be worth the risk. Slowly dying from congestive heart disease is NO picnic. If it were me, I would sooner die on the table than suffer for months of slow suffocation.
Her demise will be from congestive heart failure--from the heart finally giving up trying to pump all of her blood twice, thrice, or more times to get it out to the body.
Since her time left is based upon her stage of decrepit, and her organ reserves, there is no one but her docs who can answer your question; AND it is their responsibility to do so.
By the way, 200 milligrams of CoEnzyme Q10, twice a day, might just help her a lot for a while. This is totally non-toxic and available at any good healthfood store. Expensive but worth it for something as advanced as this.
Hope this helps.
Walt
In Reply to: Re: mitral valve (Archive in heart disease.) posted by Walt Stoll on May 08, 2001 at 09:45:09:
Thank you so much for your info. My aunt is 78 and all other systems seem t be ok. She had her aortic valve repaired 3 years ago, but she had a stroke on the operating table. Her docs have said she would not survive the surgery, and my Aunt says she will not have more surgery either. The stroke left her with memory problems and weakness in her hands. I can not talk to her docs because I live 800 miles from her. We were just there last week and she tires very easily. If she talks even a little she turns blue around her mouth. She has oxygen and a nebulizer at home. She will not use the oxygen unless she has a "spell". She calls not being able to breath at all a spell. She can not stand the smell of food cooking, and has no appetite. I would like to go back to see her, but I can't go just now. I don't know how much time she has left, but I want to see her again before she passes. Thanks.
In Reply to: Re: mitral valve (Archive in heart disease.) posted by Cathy Svrcek on May 08, 2001 at 11:47:13:
Hi, Cathy.
Without being there I can only predict from what you are saying. MY guess is that she will not likely see another Christmas.
Walt
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