I must admit that I have had longer than most people to come to terms with having this type of operation. Even though the operation had been done privately, it was actually one year ago (December 2002) that I was first told that I would be needing to have an operation to repair or replace the valve.

In August 2003, I attended the British Human Power Club (BHPC) Racing event at Salt Ayre Racing track in Lancaster. I entered the second race and decided that I would just take my time, and not push myself too much. The race was for a time of 40 minutes + 2 of the 1500 metre laps. For the first 20 minutes, most of the time I was out of breath, I just got into a steady pace, and some of the slightly downhill places I would stop pedalling for a while to try to get my breathing back to normal. My final time was 48mins 30secs, and I came 7th out of 11 competing with an average speed of 17.4mph. To put this into perspective the winner of my race averaged around 23mph. In the final race, the winner averaged over 31mph! It wasn't a matter of trying to win, but just to enjoy taking part in it.

It was less than a month later in September 2003, that I had the Angiogram, and was told that there was a good chance that the Mitral Valve could be repaired. The next stage was to see the Surgeon, and from now on I was able to go private through my Health and Dental scheme that I was in where I work.

From then on I decided that I would maintain my fitness level right up to when I was due to go into hospital. All throughout the year I had been cycling whenever the opportunity arose, and when the weather was fine, I cycled into work from my flat in Lytham St Annes. Also unless it was raining I would go out for a ride on the bike, even if only to ride to the shops and back.

I saw the Surgeon, who was to carry out the operation on 24th September, and he told me all about the operation, and showed me what a replacement valve looked like, as if it was not possible to repair the Mitral Valve, then a replacement would be fitted. I was quite amazed that it was so large (about an inch in diameter). We agreed a provisional date sometime after Mid November 2003 for the operation. I asked if I could be given plenty of notice so as to sort things out at work.

On the 10th November, I was informed that I would go into hospital on 5th December, and the operation would be the day after.

By now it was getting dark by the time I finished work and I was unable to go out cycling after work. I did manage to get 2 half-days holidays in late November when the weather was particularly nice. One day I cycled from St Annes towards Blackpool all along the Promedade as far as Cleveleys and back. I just took my time, and enjoyed the journey.

During the last week weeks before the operation, I went to the gym once a week and concentrated on doing cardiovascular exercises, also every thursday I went swimming, and finally I ate lots of fruit, as part of a healthy diet which included having oily fish such as Salmon, Tuna and Trout three times a week.

By the time I went into hospital I considered myself very fit, I was not overweight and my teeth were in good condition. It's also very important if you smoke, to stop as soon as you can. A lot of people I had spoken to, were surprised when I mentioned that condition of teeth was important, as infections in the gums can lead to blood clots.

Ever since I discovered I had a heart murmur, my dentist would prescribe an antibiotic to be taken one hour before certain dental treatments.