It was in February 1998, more than 5 years before my operation that I discovered I had a heart problem. In the November the year before, I had had a serious problem with my back that had lead to me suffering with sciatica in my right leg, though it was my foot that gave the most symptoms. This led to having two weeks of work at the time, and as I was only paid for the hours that I worked, I was concerned at the level of critical illness cover that I had. If I was to claim under the policy I would have had to wait 3 months before payment would start. This was because I was working as a Contractor operating as a one-man Limited Company. So I enquired about a new policy that would start paying within one month of a claim.

The Insurance Company requested that I attend a full medical before they could considering my applicaion. It was at this medical that an irregularity of the heart was first noticed. I was then asked to see my GP who confirmed that it was in fact a minor heart murmur. My GP assured me that it was quite common for people to have a heart murmur, and most people could lead perfectly normal lives, but the condition would need to be monitored at regular intervals. He then refered me to a Cardiologist or Consultant who would see me at yearly intervals.

Each time I would see the Consultant, it would be shortly after having some tests, mainly an Electrocardiogram and an Echocardiogram. I was told not to stop exercising as it was good for my condition, as long as I didn't overdo it.

Visits to the Consultant were eventually reduced to more frequent appointments. However at the second of these appointments in December 2002, I was told that I would be requiring surgery to repair the valve possibly within the next year, or even sooner. I was then asked if I would be willing to attend the hospital for a Transoesophaheal Echo to get a better view of the condition of the valve.

It was at the stage of having the Transoesophaheal Echo that I knew things were starting to move. The Cardiologist told me from the results of this test that I would be requiring surgery within the next year, and that the next stage would be to have an Angiogram to get a closer look at the heart. I had to make the decision right there whether I wanted to go ahead, and so I decided that it was the best thing to do.

Six months later on the NHS, the appointment for the Angiogram finally arrived. During this examination I was consious all of the time and had to lie in a number of different positions and hold my breath while pictures were taken. At the end of this test, a dye is flushed through your veins and for a few seconds you may experience the feeling as if you were passing water, but it is only a feeling nothing more.

Fortunately for me, I was in a Health and Dental scheme where I work, and I made enquiries as to whether I would be covered to have this operation. If I had mentioned it earlier I could have had my previous treatment carried out under the scheme.

From the result of the Angiogram I was told that there was a good chance that the mitral valve could be repaired. However during the operation if it was decided that the valve could not be repaired, then a replacement (mechanical or tissue) would have to be fitted. For older people the tissue valve (from a pig or cow) are more appropriate, but for more active people then a mechanical one is more suitable. However with the mechanical one, warfarin has to be taken for the rest of your life.

It was only three weeks later that I visited the surgeon who was to carry out the operation, to discuss the options available and the risks involved.