Tim Powell
Wednesday 1st April 2015
Every two years, I undergo health screening. In previous years I have been ranked as very fit and at much lower than average risk of developing cardiovascular disease or diabetes. However, on my most recent screening, I received the shock of my life when the GP said “You know you have a heart murmur don’t you?” This was the moment when I was first diagnosed with mitral valve disease.
I am 51 years old and work full time as a patent attorney (a professional with a particular expertise in the field of intellectual property). I’m married to Pam, and together we have a son, Nick, who is 21. I am very active and enjoy cycling, walking, skiing and attending regular sessions at the gym with my personal trainer. I recently underwent open-heart surgery to repair a ‘leaking’ mitral valve.
Every two years, I undergo health screening. In previous years I have been ranked as very fit and at much lower than average risk of developing cardiovascular disease or diabetes. However, on my most recent screening, I was shocked when the GP said “You know you have a heart murmur don’t you?” This was the moment when I knew something was wrong, which led me to being diagnosed with mitral valve disease.
I was referred to a cardiologist who confirmed, via an echocardiogram test, that my mitral valve was leaking. A second ‘stress echocardiogram’ verified that I would need to undergo surgery within between one and five years. However, the two cardiologists who were advising me had differing views on the timescale for my treatment so I was asked to undergo a third echocardiogram.
The results of the third test were sent to a cardiac surgeon at Papworth Hospital. He advised that my heart valve would need repairing sooner than the doctors had originally thought. This was due to the inefficiency in my valve causing my blood not to be adequately oxygenated. There was some flexibility over when the repair should be done but it was confirmed that I would have my mitral valve repaired, via open heart surgery, two months later, in July 2014.
Meeting the surgeon caused many of my fears about the upcoming treatment to reduce, although on the morning of my surgery I was very apprehensive about what lay ahead. My wife dropped me off at the hospital the evening before my procedure and was advised not to arrive until the operation was underway, so that my doctor could update her on my progress. The doctor was very positive about my procedure announcing that my repair “should be relatively easy, for a double-sided valve repair”. Before I knew it; I was being wheeled to the operating theatre in time for an 8:00 am start.
I have no recollection of the surgery. The surgeon advised my wife that the surgery had gone very well and my valve was working perfectly again. After surgery, I spent less than 24 hours in the Critical Care Area (CCA) before being moved to a cardiac ward for the next few days of recovery. Four days after my surgery, I was allowed to go home.
In the first few days at home, I was tired and so I slept a lot. However, I felt normal all day, every day. There was no pain and only a few infrequent bouts of dizziness. Eight weeks after the surgery, in a follow-up clinic at the hospital, I was told that all was well, and I was discharged from the surgeon’s care.
I returned to work 12 weeks after the surgery in a staged programme during which I built up to full-time working over a short period. I was authorised to do normal things again, like driving, after just six weeks – although I took my son with me the first few times for reassurance.
I went for a two and a half mile walk just two weeks after my surgery and I was pleasantly surprised at how agile I was in such a short space of time. My surgeon had recommended walking between two and four miles every day to avoid a stroke. I have found this no problem at all, maybe due to my love of exercise, and went on some long walks with a friend during the rehabilitation. I also enjoyed using my static bike and undertaking a light exercise programme with my personal trainer.
I was impressed at how quickly I started to feel normal after the surgery, and how much I could achieve day-to-day. Having a good support network around me has also been very important for my speedy recovery: my wife, our son, neighbours, clients, colleagues and friends have helped me to know that people are rooting for me.
I am still the same person now as I was before having my valve repaired. I am very grateful I am still able to enjoy opera and punk music with equal joy, watch cricket and rugby, ski, cycle and do my challenging job. I am keen to continue with my exercise programme and like to think of my “repair” more as an upgrade for the better. In the next 18 months, I am planning to complete the coast-to-coast walk (consisting of 192 miles across Northern England) so wish me luck!
