A “Simple” Heart Murmur
By Joyce Shelby
What started out as a “simple” heart murmur turned into something much more serious. I am truly thankful for my primary care doctor who noticed my heart murmur and insisted that I get a transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) to determine if the murmur needed to be addressed; at the time, I was 38 years old. I did see a cardiologist after it was determined that my murmur was due to mild aortic regurgitation. The regurgitation was caused by malfunctioning leaflets that were allowing blood to flow backwards into my aortic valve; this malfunction had created an aneurysm on my aortic valve.
What did all this mean? What would I have to do as a patient? Basically, this meant CT scans, echos and valve measurements every year. My cardiologist told me that eventually I would have to have my aortic valve repaired or replaced – probably when I was around 50 years old. But that was SO far away! I was only 38 years old at the time, but believe me, those years flew by! I had no idea that the condition I had was virtually a “ticking time-bomb” and, if left untreated, could potentially be deadly if the aorta dissected. This is known simply as an aortic dissection, the same thing that took the life of the actor John Ritter at 54!
How could this happen to me? I worked out all my life, ate healthy and never smoked… but sometimes things are not about lifestyle, and they just happen or there is a family history – or in my case, a childhood disease called rheumatic fever that had damaged my heart valve.
Fast forward to March 2016: It was determined by my cardiologist that it was time for surgery and the aneurysm had approached the danger-zone. April 11, 2016, I celebrated my 50th year of life by having open-heart surgery (OHS) to fix my “broken” valve. The surgery was successful, my recovery was long and hard, but like so many other OHS patients, I made it through! A heartfelt thank you to God, my family, and my medical team!
Now I am six years post OHS. I feel great, and I am truly thankful for each day I have. I encourage those who are facing valve disease to keep marching on! Follow up with your doctor and do not wait! It is scary but be committed to every doctor’s appointment that you have… it may save your life!
For those facing heart surgery, please know that there is hope and health afterward; you can do this, and you will come out better! I am thankful that we live during a time where medical technology has saved many patients like you and me and that the technology is constantly improving. Thank you for reading my story and may God bless you all with long-term health!
For more information on this health topic, visit heart.org.
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