About my appointment...

My doctor's appointment on Monday was routine, but it takes me one big step closer to going under the knife. I met with the surgeon who will do the operation, and he layed out a couple of options. I need to decide whether I'll go with repair or replacement. Repair is better in that I would not have to take blood thinner for more than a couple of months. The down side is that the repairs can wear out after 10 years or so, and a second operation is much more risky. Replacement is somewhat of an easier operation; they just cut out the old and put in the new. And I won't have to have another operation: the fake valve lasts for the rest of my life. The down side of this option is that I would have to take blood thinner for the rest of my life.

The other choice I have is whether I'll be available to go in on short notice. I don't know what they consider "short notice", but that might not be a bad idea; less time to think about it beforehand.


This is a model of a replacement valve. I guess I could be considered a cyborg, but I gain no extra powers.













This gives you and idea of what they want to do. If you google "mitral valve replacement", you'll see a couple of photos that are a little more graphic.