A tale of two sisters and their heart valve disease
Twin sisters Katharine and Christine Greenland have always been close and have shared many things in their life, however they had never imagined they would find themselves sharing the experience of heart valve disease only months apart from one another.
Katharine
Residing together in Norfolk, the 71 year old sisters enjoy a quiet life exploring the area they live in with their dog and spending time in their garden. Katharine loves to get involved in local village events and Christine enjoys a game of carpet bowls or a good quiz. They had always considered themselves to be in good health until the age of 67 when they both faced a diagnosis of heart valve disease only months apart from one another.
For Katharine, who was diagnosed and treated first, her experience with heart valve disease started with a chest infection. The chest infection was in fact atypical pneumonia and while running tests for the infection the consultant also discovered an unrelated heart murmur. Katherine was referred for a follow up echocardiogram that showed what the technician referred to as a ‘seriously floppy’ mitral valve meaning Katharine was suffering from mitral regurgitation a form of heart valve disease. She was prescribed medication and was scheduled in for regular monitoring by her cardiologist who also suggested that treatment was an almost certain possibility.
Katharine had never noticed her symptoms before and had always put her breathlessness down to ageing, however as her symptoms progressed she began to recognise that there were signs from before. Katharine was eventually put forward for a minimally invasive keyhole mitral valve repair at Basildon Hospital and it was a success. “There were so many talented people involved in my care and everything was done to plan,” said Katharine. “While I didn’t feel 100% right after my surgery, I was right as rain a couple of days later and was surprised how quickly I started feeling like my old self.”
It was fortunate that Katharine was feeling good so soon after her treatment as she would be needed to help support her twin through the same experience. Christine learned of her heart valve disease after her gastroenterologist detected a heart murmur and referred her for an echocardiogram. While this first test was inconclusive, a follow up referral to a cardiologist from her GP eventually revealed that Christine was suffering from a form of valve disease called a mitral valve prolapse. She was prescribed medication but was told that treatment would also be needed eventually.
Christine
Christine began to notice the telltale signs of her valve disease progressing as she found herself getting breathless and had difficulty lying flat in bed. When she could no longer stay out in her garden for as long as she used to she knew things were getting worse. She was finally referred for a mitral valve repair which she received via minimally invasive keyhole surgery like her sister at Basildon Hospital. She received a lot of support from the hospital staff and while she experienced some discomfort and tiredness during her recovery, she was surprised to be feeling better as soon as she did.
“I was lucky to have the support of my twin sister who had been through exactly the same procedure just four months before me,” said Christine. “I found the whole experience interesting and less daunting than I’d imagined, never having been in hospital before. I believe that without the treatment I would have deteriorated fairly quickly.”
Both sisters are now feeling great and back to their favourite activities. They are making sure their dog is having plenty of walks and they are keeping themselves busy out in their gorgeous garden.
“With minimally invasive valve disease surgery, the heart is accessed through a small incision usually on the right side of the chest which can be as small as five centimetres long. The surgeon then inserts a high-definition camera that will allow them the see the heart and using specialised tools they can then repair or replace the damaged valve,” said the twin’s cardiac surgeon, Inderpaul Birdi from Basildon Hospital. “Minimally invasive surgery involves a much shorter stay in hospital versus the traditional surgical treatment meaning the patient can expect a stay of only four to five days. The surgery also involves reduced discomfort, lower risk of infection and less scarring post procedure due to the small access points, so recovery is much quicker as there are less life limitations involved post surgery.”
For more information visit the Heart Valve Voice website: www.heartvalvevoice.com or explore our social media: T: @HeartValveVoice, F: @HeartValveVoice, Youtube:
