Kinda stressed here, you guys. Tim has mitral valve prolapse, which is congenital. His primary care physician has always monitored it, and it's been mild/fine. His PCP had him go get an echocardiogram yesterday, and within half an hour of leaving, the cardiologist's office called and said they'd like to see him in the next couple of days.
The nurse who called said the prolapse has gotten worse, which is why the cardiologist wants to see him ASAP. So I feel like surgery might be in his near future, because a cardiologist doesn't say "We want to see you ASAP" if everything is cool, or just needs continued monitoring. (Though I guess it's good that they didn't say "Come back to the hospital right now because we have an ER booked for you.")
Mitral valve repair/replacement is really common, and pretty damn easy, so it's not a huge thing, but even minimally invasive surgery is still invasive. His appointment is this afternoon, and I'm going to go to the cardiologist appointment with him (because he asked me to, but also because I'm a big medical nerd).
So I have a case of the jitters here. Just hoping that if he needs repair or replacement of the valve, it can be done the minimally invasive way, and not open-heart surgery. (Although of course whatever is going to work best and keep him around for 30 more years is what I want to happen, even if it means cracking his chest open.)
(Assuming it is just minimally invasive surgery, I told him that, considering that Dad AND Mom have had their chests cracked open, mitral valve replacement/repair is minor league stuff and he'd have to work harder to impress Mom and Dad with his heart stuff.)
Fingers crossed. Please send minimally invasive treatment-ma.
(Thank god I have therapy in an hour.)