My first open-heart surgery came as a shock. As early as I can remember, I was prescribed antibiotics to be taken before every dental treatment. During the COVID19 pandemic, I was diligent with scheduling my biannual dental cleaning. WHen the state allowed dentist services to resume, I scheduled my annual cleaning in August 2020. At the time,I was healthy. After a few weeks, I began to experience a high grade fever for close to 3 months. Initially, I dismissed the cause of the fever as stress or Covid symptoms. After numerous trips to the hospital, I was assured that I did not have Covid, yet, my symptoms worsened. After several hospital admissions, other symptoms occurred gradually—shortness of breath, fatigue, and occasional chest discomfort. I was fortunate to have a stellar team who performed several tests, including an echocardiogram and a cardiac MRI. he result: my cardiologist diagnosed me with severe mitral valve regurgitation. The news was overwhelming. The mitral valve, a small but vital component of the heart, was not closing properly, allowing blood to flow backward. Surgery was not just an option; it was a necessity.
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