Greetings, new member here.

My initiation into the "zipper club" began as a mitral valve repair and MAZE procedure. Mine was to be the first MAZE to be performed at my hospital. After the surgery, I did not recover as expected, and began to fail. The doctors informed me that we had no alternative but to go back in and replace the valve with a St.Jude mhv. That was in 2007, I was 39. Things have gone well for the most part. I did suffer some depression in the beginning and the INR has been erratic at times. For the most part, the MAZE has been a success although I do go into afib every two weeks or so. This is a very good group and I am happy to meet you all.