"Transesophageal Echocardiogram." Pretty impressive term huh? It means, "We are going to shove a hose about the size of your little finger down your throat so we can get an up-close and personal look at that leaky valve."

It really isn't as bad as it sounds. They have good drugs for this sort of thing, and once they put the IV in your arm you're pretty much good to go. All I really remember is talking to the nice nurses and then my vision started to narrow-quickly. I said "OK, Bye." and the next thing I remember is waking up.

In the cloudy stupor I remember the Dr saying, "We are gonna have to fix that."
But first....MORE tests.