What got me to here.....

Hi to all

I'm not sure if this is the best place for me to give a brief recent medical history of what brought me to this point, but I'll write it here and if a better place exist somebody can let me know.

I'm a 40 year working mother who over the last 5 years has been feeling like she is the worlds most unfit woman.  I have had increasing symptoms of breathlessness and exhaustion, however I would have explained it all away as not getting enough exercise!

About 12 weeks ago a blood clot on my kidney took me into hopspital and a series of tests followed where the medics concluded I was suffering from mitral stenosis due to a previous episode of rhuematic fever.  I was put onto Warfarin and refered for a trans oesophageal echo.  I had the echo done 2 weeks ago in Plymouth and was told that the valve was too badly damaged to be repaired and a replacement valve would need to be fitted.  I am now waiting to speak the the cardiothoracic surgeon regarding the operation.  I am finding the range of emotions and the variability of my optimism quite strange.  Not knowing how long I am likely to wait for the operation is not making things any easier.

I just wanted to give anybody that reads this a little background knowledge of where I am in the process so that anybody with a similar story might share the progress they are making.

Thanks for taking the time to read this,

Catriona