Barbara Bachman

Barbara Bachman maintains a healthy weight, doesn't smoke, exercises regularly, leads a stress-balanced life and eats lots of vegetables as part of her low-fat diet. Even though she has a low-risk lifestyle, she hasn't been immune from heart disease. Recently, Barbara underwent open heart surgery after discovering she had a defective mitral valve.

"Back in 1999, my doctor said I had a heart murmur," recalls Barbara. A subsequent echocardiogram revealed a leakage of the mitral valve. "This is something they told me was likely present at birth," she says. "But they told me not to worry about it, since I was feeling fine and it would likely never present a problem for me."

All that changed in 2003, when Barbara embarked on an archaeological dig. "I love digging up artifacts," she notes. "Unearthing parts of history is a long-standing interest of mine and I had a chance to go to Lawrenceville, Va., and dig in a fort used in the early 1700s. We were searching for clues about the interactions between white man and Native America's. What a thrill ... can you imagine? It's like being a history detective."

Earthwatch Institute — a scientific field research company sponsoring the dig — required that all participants have a health assessment form completed by a physician prior to participating in the adventure. "I was surprised at what I heard. My doctor allowed me to go on the dig, but said I needed to address my heart condition when I returned," notes Barbara. "My first thought was how glad I was that I could go and dig, but the words 'heart condition' went with me on that trip."

Barbara knew she had more digging to do when she returned.

Digging up Answers

"I was feeling good, but knew I needed to delve into my heart condition. Normally, I love to dig, but was apprehensive about what I might uncover here," recalls Barbara, who spends her winters in Florida with her husband, Bruce. "I garden, volunteer at the local schools and help on a charter fishing boat," says Barbara. "I'm busy, but not too busy to read Mayo Magazine, where I learned about the Women's Heart Clinic at Mayo Clinic in Rochester." Barbara earmarked the page.

Barbara researched 'mitral valve prolapse' on the Internet and felt she needed a second opinion on her condition. Mayo Clinic was her first choice, she was also intrigued by a clinic that focused solely on women's heart disease. Before leaving on her archeological adventure, she made an appointment with the Women's Heart Clinic.

"After some initial tests, we determined that Barbara's valve was indeed faulty and also that her heart was slightly enlarged. She needed surgery and it was scheduled later that month," says Charles Mullany, M.D., a cardiovascular surgeon at Mayo Clinic in Rochester. "Patients often recover more quickly if we do surgery when the patient is strong and has a normally functioning heart versus waiting until there is impairment of heart function."

Because Barbara is very active, which includes archeological digs, gardening and motorcycling, she was ecstatic that surgeons could repair her valve rather than replace it. "I didn't want to be on the blood thinner Coumadin the rest of my life," says Barbara, who during digs could potentially come in contact with obsidian, a sharp rock from which arrowheads are made. A cut from this dense black stone is much like a paper cut and the bleeding could be dangerous while taking daily doses of an anticoagulant. "I also love to eat tons of green vegetables, which may interfere with blood clotting ... being on Coumadin could have robbed me from many joys in my life," notes Barbara.

"We elect to repair valves whenever feasible," explains Dr. Mullany, "and we perform about 300 valve repairs annually at Mayo Clinic in Rochester." Since 1973, Mayo Rochester has repaired about 2,500 valves in patients with heart disease or defects.

"The risk of surgery is quite low," explains Dr. Mullany. "Without repair of the mitral valve, Barbara's left ventricle, her heart would have continued to enlarge and its function would have eventually deteriorated." This would have negatively impacted Barbara's active lifestyle and long-term outcome.

Dr. Mullany explains that the mitral valve is like a parachute, and cords supporting the heart valves are akin to the strings supporting a parachute. "When one of those strings breaks, it causes part of the valve to flap unsupported," he says.

"Barbara also had a small hole in her heart, which was discovered and repaired during her valve surgery," says Dr. Mullany.

Back in the Dirt

Following a successful surgery, Barbara is back in the dirt ... literally. She has more energy than ever to tend to her seven perennial beds, cook, ride the couple's BMW R1150R Roadster motorcycle and do just about anything else that she wants. "I do love digging in the dirt," Barbara says with a laugh, clearly evident by her love for archaeological digs and gardening. "It's funny that I said I felt great before, but I didn't realize how much energy I was lacking. Now, I have energy to burn ... and I do."

"I've learned by example from my husband to follow your dreams," explains Barbara. Race-car driving is a dangerous sport, but he had a passion for it and auto racing was his dream. "So he drove his race car for many years and now we're just avid spectators," she says. Hobbies keep you balanced and healthy, notes Barbara. "Activities you enjoy keep you mentally and physically sharp."

"Bruce gave me strict orders when I was temporarily on Coumadin (necessary for a short time post-surgery) that riding the motorcycle, archaeological digs, sharp kitchen knives and fishhooks were off my 'to enjoy' list. So I'm glad I don't have to take it for the rest of my life," Barbara explained. "That would seriously cramp my style."

"I completely trusted the Mayo Heart Clinic, my cardiologists and surgeons. I will be thankful to them for the rest of my life. After all, my renewed quality of life and ability to follow my heart, so to speak, are the direct results of their skillful hands and vast knowledge."