A second chance at life: living with valve disease
Artist and music producer Ramzi never imagined he’d face a serious heart condition in his thirties. Here, he walks us through the first warning signs, open heart surgery at Hammersmith Hospital, and how his experience has given him a new perspective on life.
What were some of the symptoms you had been experiencing?
At first, there weren’t any obvious symptoms – I was living a healthy lifestyle and felt generally well. But looking back, there were subtle signs. I often felt unusually tired even after a good night’s sleep, sometimes experienced shortness of breath, and occasionally noticed a strange feeling at night, almost as if my heart was struggling to pump properly when I was lying in bed.
I went to see my GP, who listened to my chest and picked up on a heart murmur. From there, I was referred for further tests and scans before seeing a cardiologist.
An MRI at Hammersmith Hospital revealed the full picture – I had severe mitral valve disease. The mitral valve is one of four valves in the heart that keeps blood flowing in the right direction, but mine had developed a serious leak. This meant that blood was flowing backwards, causing my heart to swell as it worked harder.
Ramzi"When I was told that I needed open heart surgery, it was overwhelming. The risks, the procedure, and the recovery process all felt daunting. But from the very start, the cardiology team were fantastic."
How did it feel to receive this diagnosis?
I’d never heard of valve disease before. My father had a heart attack and needed two heart surgeries, but I never imagined that I would face heart problems myself, especially in my thirties. It came as a real shock, particularly as I thought I was doing everything right to stay healthy.
When I was told that I needed open heart surgery, it was overwhelming. The risks, the procedure, and the recovery process all felt daunting. But from the very start, the cardiology team were fantastic.
Those first few days after surgery were tough. In intensive care, even walking across the room felt like a huge challenge. It made me realise just how much we rely on our hearts for everything.
I’m especially thankful to Dr Jonathan Afoke, the main registrar who operated on me, as well as consultant cardiothoracic surgeon Dr Prakash Punjabi and his team. Without their expertise, I simply wouldn’t be here today. I still see this team regularly for annual check-ups, which is reassuring.
What has been the impact of the surgery on your life?
The cardiology team had initially hoped to repair my valve, but during surgery it became clear that wasn’t possible. Instead, I was fitted with a mechanical heart valve.
It has been an adjustment – knowing I have a mechanical valve inside me took some getting used to – but ultimately, it gave me a second chance at life.
I also need to take warfarin (a blood thinner) for the rest of my life and have my blood levels monitored regularly. Living with warfarin does bring challenges – for instance, even relatively minor falls or bumps to the head can mean needing urgent checks for internal bleeding, and regular INR monitoring is vital to keep my blood within a safe range.* It can be demanding at times, but it’s become part of my routine and something I’ve learned to manage carefully.
Ramzi"I’m especially thankful to Dr Jonathan Afoke, the main registrar who operated on me, as well as consultant cardiothoracic surgeon Dr Prakash Punjabi and his team. Without their expertise, I simply wouldn’t be here today. I still see this team regularly for annual check-ups, which is reassuring."
Are there any messages you want to share with anyone reading this?
Without the team at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, I wouldn’t be here today. They saved my life, and for that I’ll always be grateful. My diagnosis, surgery, and recovery have given me a new outlook – I feel truly blessed and determined to make the most of life.
At first, I was hesitant about going to my GP – and I know many men can be reluctant to seek help – but I’m so glad I did. My advice is simple: don’t ignore symptoms or put things off. It’s always better to get checked if something in your body doesn’t feel right.
And for anyone going through something similar, know that you can get through it and still enjoy a positive, fulfilling life. You’re not alone – there are many others who have been through the same thing and come out the other side.
*INR monitoring refers to regularly checking a person’s International Normalised Ratio (INR) – a measure of how long it takes their blood to clot. People taking warfarin need to have their INR tested regularly to make sure the medication is working safely and effectively.
