OK! Here's the timeline so far... AUGUST 2009 ~ Mitral Regurgitation

TUE 08/18 12 - 15 year-old sypmtoms have gotten MUCH worse in last few weeks so scheduled appointment with Cardiologist, Dr. Doug Pitts.

MON 08/24 Went in for what I thought would be a consultation; had EKG, Echocardiogram, blood work, & chest x-ray. Blood work & x-ray came back OK. (PTL!) Echocardiogram confirmed "Mitral Regurgitation." Laymen's Terms: Blood flows out of heart on right side; flows through body; back into heart from lungs on left side of heart; broken/leaky mitral valve allows blood to backwash (regurgitate) back into lungs. Dr. Pitts said it's a substantial amount of blood being backwashed so valve needs to be corrected.

WED 08/26 Had a CT scan looking for possible blood clots. All is OK there, too. (PTL!)

THU 08/27 Dr. Pitts' advised me to take BP medicine he prescribed Mon for about 1 month. If no improvement, will go ahead with Heart Cath & will discuss surgery then.

THANK YOU ALL for your prayers & words of encouragement! Please keep them coming!