Rheumatic Heart Disease

Is there anyone on here that has Rheumatic Heart Disease?  If so, how many surgeries have you had to have so far?  I am really concerned because I am 19 and am to get my second open-heart surgery this summer.  I would really love to talk to someone who has my same condition.

[Paderla Anitha, DNB]

Hello and hope you are doing well.

It depends on the number of valves involved and the severity. Rheumatic heart disease is a condition in which permanent damage to heart valves is caused by rheumatic fever. Mitral valve disease is the most common cardiac problem seen in rheumatic heart disease. It can cause stenosis or regurgitation. Aortic valve disease is also common in rheumatic heart disease.

If the symptoms cannot be controlled by medical therapy or if there is progression of the stenosis or regurgitation, then surgical intervention may be needed. Valvuloplasty or valvotomy may be done initially and if needed then a valve replacement surgery may be planned. Please discuss all the options with your treating doctor, before consenting for surgery.

Hope this helped and do keep us posted.