Dear Dr. Stoll:
I read your article on the above subject. I have been diagnosed as having a SEVER valve leakage, I was told that one of the tendons ruptured! Would I be able to go without an operation? I have had a murmur for years, the VA hospital, two years ago informed me that there was nothing to worry about. Now. the VA hospital here in Tampa Bay, tells me that surgery is needed. I am 69 years old and feel great. I do have occassions of short breath and chest pains, if I walk vigorously. Your comment will be most appreciated and I understand that your comment will merely be an opinion! I certainy thank you for your time and profusely thank you for writing your article on Mitral Valve Prolapse.
Sincerely,
Frank G. Cecala
Follow Ups:
Re: Mitral Valve Prolapse
Posted by Walt Stoll on November 20, 1998 at 14:23:26:
In Reply to: Mitral Valve Prolapse posted by Frank G. Cecala on November 19, 1998 at 13:57:19:
Dear Frank,
What you are describing is NOT MVP as it is currently being discussed in the literature. It is a much more serious form of mitral valvular disease and it is likely that you SHOULD consider surgery.
This kind of surgery has been done for more than 40 years & is among the safest heart surgeries known.
Your symptoms with exercise are from heart failure due to the valvular problem. You could put off those symptoms for a while with digitalis and the like but you would then be increasing your risks when you finally do have the surgery.
Your surgeon needs to sit down with you & fully explain what is happening with YOUR exact lesion, what will happen without surgery & what is your future with surgery. It is the surgeon's job to be able to explain this to you to your satisfaction. This is one reason surgeons are paid so much. If your presently chosen surgeon cannot do this for you, you need to find another one who can.
Let me know what you learn.
Walt