Lorraine's Story
It might just save your life": grandmother discovers life-threatening heart condition during health MOT
When Lorraine, 66, decided to book a health MOT with Bluecrest, she expected nothing more than peace of mind. An active grandmother and full-time project manager, Lorraine led what she believed was a healthy lifestyle. But what began as a simple check-up turned into a life-saving intervention
“I had absolutely no symptoms whatsoever,” Lorraine recalls. “I was expecting all green traffic lights. I never imagined anything could be wrong.”
Lorraine had seen a friends Bluecrest health assessment earlier this year. Seeing his comprehensive results and encouraged by a discount offer, she decided to book her own test.
Her appointment included an ECG – something that would later prove critical. The test detected potential atrial fibrillation, a condition where the heart beats irregularly, which can lead to life-threatening complications like strokes or heart failure.
“I was expecting everything to be fine. I wasn’t at all worried about my results for a second, so I couldn’t believe it when the results came back 2 days later,” she said.
A silent threat
After receiving her results, Lorraine immediately contacted her GP, who confirmed the diagnosis with a second ECG. A week later, she met with a cardiologist. Further investigations revealed severe mitral valve regurgitation, a condition where blood flows backward into the heart due to a faulty valve.
“The cardiologist told me it was serious,” Lorraine says. “He explained that people with atrial fibrillation are five times more likely to have severe strokes. He warned that my heart could fail completely, it would feel like I was drowning.” Despite the severity of her condition, Lorraine says she had no symptoms. After doing some further research on the internet “The biggest shock is the number of people walking around with atrial fibrillation who are totally unaware of it,” she says. “Most only find out after a stroke.”
A race against time
The diagnosis set off a whirlwind of appointments and tests. Within six weeks, Lorraine underwent major heart surgery, and was fitted with a pacemaker and a new mitral valve. While grateful for the care she received, Lorraine knows that waiting times for procedures can often be lengthy. “They were going to wait to operate, even though my condition was severe. I asked how long the waiting list was, and they said about 11 months. I couldn’t believe it.” Lorraine decided to proceed with surgery privately. “It’s shocking to think what might have happened if I’d waited,” she says.
Recovery and reflection
Now five weeks post-surgery, Lorraine is focused on recovery. She will soon begin cardiac rehabilitation, but the road back to full health has been challenging. “There are still things I can’t do. I’ve had to slow down and remind myself not to overdo it,” she says.
Before her diagnosis, Lorraine’s life was filled with activity. She worked full-time, helped her daughter on her farm, kept bees, cycled, scuba diving, and cared for her grandchildren. “I was due to be travelling all this month!” she adds. “I had to cancel trips to Dubai and India because of my condition. But I’ll rebook for next year. I love travelling, and I need some sunshine after the last few months!”
A call to action
Lorraine is now passionate about raising awareness of atrial fibrillation and the importance of regular health checks. “I would tell anyone to go and get assessed,” she says. “It’s well worth doing. Without Bluecrest, I wouldn’t have known anything was wrong.” Looking back, Lorraine is struck by how lucky she was to have taken action when she did. “If I hadn’t had the Bluecrest test, I wouldn’t have known I was in danger. My surgeon told me my heart was in great shape apart from the valve, so the prognosis is good. I might need another valve replacement in the future, but for now, I’m grateful they caught it when they did.” Life-saving results
Lorraine’s story highlights the life-saving potential of preventative health checks. “It really was life-saving,” she says. “From the moment Bluecrest found the problem to the day of my surgery, everything happened so quickly. I can’t thank them enough.” For Lorraine, the experience has been a wake-up call – not just for her but for her entire family.
“When I told my brother about my diagnosis, he made sure to get his valves checked too,” she says. Lorraine’s story is a powerful reminder of how silent conditions like atrial fibrillation can go unnoticed until it’s too late. Her advice to others? Don’t wait.
“It’s a small price to pay for peace of mind – and it might just save your life.”
