Mayo Clinic in Rochester Minnesota and Mitral Valve Prolapse?

I've been diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse, my doctor just told me that i need to setup an appointment with the hospital to look at treatments for heart mitral valve prolapse-to possibly have a heart valve replaced. I am wondering if i should setup an appointment with mayo clinice in minnesota to get another opinion on that? I'm wondering if surgery is an only option available to me, i have been taking beta blockers that have been no help for the past 3-4 months. Thanks.

Beta blockers. These drugs help prevent irregular heartbeats. They work by blocking the effects of the hormone epinephrine, also known as adrenaline. As a result, the heart beats more slowly and with less force, thereby reducing blood pressure. Beta blockers also help blood vessels relax and open up to improve blood flow.
Valve replacement. Valve replacement is done when valve repair isn't possible. In valve replacement surgery, the damaged mitral valve is replaced by an artificial (prosthetic) valve. The two types of artificial valves are mechanical and tissue. Mechanical valves, which are made of metal, may last a long time. However, if you have a mechanical valve, you must use an anticoagulant medication, such as warfarin (Coumadin), for the rest of your life to prevent blood clots from forming on the valve. If a blood clot forms on the valve and breaks free, it could travel to your brain and cause a stroke. Tissue valves are made from biologic tissue such as a pig's heart valve. These kinds of valves are called bioprostheses. They may wear out over time and need replacement. However, an advantage of the tissue valve is that you don't have to use long-term anticoagulant medication.
Please see the web pages for more details on Mitral valve Prolase and Heart valve surgery.

was this diagnosis made by a cardiologist? You said "your doctor" - are you referring to your primary MD. I am going to assume the MVP diagnosis was made by a cardiologist . the referral to the hospital - is this to a cardiac surgery program at the hospital. You may definitely want to get a second cardiology opinion. Do you live near the Mayo clinic? You also have to consider your health care insurance and what they will cover. It sounds as if your MD is sending you in the appropriate direction - to a hospital - to look at treatments. Can you call this hospital to find out more about the services to which you are being referred?

hi Sporad
I had a mitral valve replacement 4 years ago and I'm alive. Ive been taking beta blockers for 6 years and they work a bit there is one blue tablet that works very well at slowing down hart rates but Dr's don't want to prescribe it till your on your on the way to the knife. When you come out of the op they will be giving you pannadol every 4 hours so be prepared to take lot's of them as no other pain killer performs the job.
Start coughing in post op and don't stop you have to cough your lungs back up onto your rib cage. Get out of bed and exercise you lungs the post op hart ward is not the place to get better. Once you have your new valve or your old ones been fixed up you are ready to go. The stitches don't come out your blood flow has been restored its back to being great. The bad days are really bad at the start and then they get less bad unless you have a really bad day. Just remember they don't just give these things to people who don't need them. If you need one your getting a new chance to live.
The team of people who put new Mitral Valves in are not just standing around waiting for handouts they are do it once fix it up people. They wont be doing it again for a long time. It costs heaps of money so relax ha ha and make sure your not taking any blood thinning meds just before your op even rub on cream and eye drops check it all with your Doctor. Because they can cause big problems in the surgery. Ask for a baked carbon valve and join me in the carbonvalvers group.
I had mine done at the Royal Melbourne,however the MAYO clinic is not a back street job so book in quick. I know you want to time to relax and think things over and there will be plenty of time for that when your walking up and down the wards. ohno not the white tube.

All the best Alan