"Leaky heart valve"

I have had a leaky heart valve for at least 30 years; about 8 years ago the NHS thought monitoring was in order, today I am 65.

The leaky valve was found when I strained a chest muscle as I have a very physical job, the doctor check by listening that it was not a heart attack; "oh you have a leaky valve we must monitor this", this is the start of this strange story.

I had an ultra scan every year, always the same questions, how breathless do you get, I don't; how tired do you get, I don't; what about your high pulse, it about 55 resting; then how did we find out about it, well I strained a chest muscle (you get the story, no records, as if you had them you would have read them.

Now my heart specialist decided an angiogram was in order so in december 2018  I had one, after I was told that my heart was in good order and may need a minor heart repair.

Now I get a call from the heart nurse, I am your contact etc, left a message; do not do this it! Also do not withhold numbers its really stupid, as no one trusts call from unknown numbers.

The appointment comes with a potential surgeon, who turns up with an A4 piece of paper, how do you feel? "Well", now you are breathless, "No I am not", well you get tired, "No I do not", well tell me about how we found out about your leaky heart valve: ( again I go through the story, while said surgeon is writing on the piece of A4, as if they cant even use a computer and do not read notes!). Well we need to discuss what type pf heart valve you want.

Now its getting really scary, how long would I be in hospital? about 6 to 10 days, how long would I be off work, about three months, well thats my business gone and my house gone. Now I am working about working 8 hours day walking over 20,000 paces a day. but I am a walking dead person.

What are the risks; well about 13% dies from this operation, over 30% problems and oh a stroke you could have a stroke. I would be doing the operation which included a 25 cm cut, stopping your heart etc.. My god they're trying to scare me to death, or put me off the operation! No thanks I will put it off for nine months while I still run, work, take the dogs out etc.

Next the nurse phones again, how tired do you get (you get the idea, no records etc etc). SO I ask if they had seen my records; no they say ( why have they phoned me?).

Now for the next 8 weeks my life was destroyed, I am now getting back to normal; should I have an operation when I feel really fit or have an operation to maybe kill me or change my life forever, or carry on living my life?

You really need to sort this.