i had rheumatic fever as an adult at 40 yrs old. i didn't know what it was but i was very sick for several months before i fired my md and got a new one who put me on strong antibiotics right away. at 54 yrs of age my mitral valve gave out and i had a new artificial mitral valve put in successfully. now at 57 yrs old i have congestive heart failure and the cardio docs are thinking to put in an all purpose pace maker & defibrilator because of irregular heart rates (high -afib/flutter and low). all of it is directly attributed to a congenital heart murmur which was never followed and got worse over the years. the undiagnosed rheumatic fever was the last kick over the edge. i do not have any clogged arteries because i had always taken care of myself with a vegetarian diet and exercise (hiking swimming weight lifting). i have not yet regained all of the prior strength and maybe i never will but i keep trying. it is baby steps toward progress every day
i had rhematic fever as a child. was just wondering if i need to know what effects that may have taken on my heart.? . how can rhematic fever effect your heart when you get older?