PFO Closure - Open Heart or Transcatheter 2

hi everyone, sorry I haven't been on from some time but I have been busy with my web..... Mimiflo, Have a look at my web site I have now added a page that is about my experiances and my closure as I felt there was a need for this, through that I am now talking to a lot of people whao are about to have or have had closure. it is a non profit site about horses and horse care but have a look and you will see the ASD page on the left hand side

  http://www.tonette.co.uk/

 

I am feeling a lot better but tired, I was amazed that my hole had grown half an inch in a year. At closure it was an inch and a third!

I will be back on the site next week so will be able to catch up then

Take care 

Hello, Patched1129.  I just want to say thank you to you and so many of the previous members for all your words of wisdom and advice, including MimiFlo, mamanuss, cabikerun, etc.

My procedure is scheduled for this Friday the 24th and I am having the typical pre-procedure jitters.  I know everything will be fine, and my quality of life will be better post-op than it is currently, but I guess we all have to go through this proceess.  Today (Sunday), I have spent most of my day relaxing and getting ready for my last work week for a while.  I couldn't help my son with his studies because I was too distracted, but I promised him that tomorrow we would tackle his Pre-Calculus and AP American History homework with zest!  He did our laundry today since I have prepared him for my upcoming surgery and recovery (I know they don't call it surgery, but common, they are playing with your heart!). 

I know my recovery will take some time, but I have some wonderful doctors who are taking really good care of me.  I went to the beach yesterday for my "beach therapy" and it was wonderful.  But, my great hope is that one day soon I will be able to run on the sand again, and I will be able to swim as opposed to just float in the ocean waters!  LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL.  I just hope I get my energy back to fully enjoy it as much as I did before I had this major curve ball thrown into it!

I am so incredibly grateful for this forum.  The internet has some wonderful qualities and this is one of them.  This has been one of my best coping mechanisms and it will continue to be in the weeks to come I am sure.  I will post during my recovery process in the hopes that I can help others in the way that so many of you have helped me over the past few weeks. 

Thank you again and may you all be well!

Greenhope

Dinby, thank you! I will call the doc, today. Greenhope, I will keep you in my prayers. I love your attitude. It will get you through this with flying colors. My mom calls me a Prayer Warrior. That is what has gotten me through this. This website's greatest asset is the people. They have held my hand through each step. I always come back to it. It comforts me when I get scared. There isn't anyone out there that gets it. You can talk to friends and family about every thing but, they just look at you with those "sorry, your sick eyes". Everyone here has gone through it at some point. They get it! Katie G, take your time with the healing and learn to relax. That has been a challenge for me. I am 5'3" and weigh 105 lbs. It takes a toll but the key is to take it easy and listen to your body. You are in my prayers, as well. When I was laying on the table and they were about to begin, I just asked God to hold me and let me feel that I would be okay. And, from that moment on, I was. Of course, the meds helped!!!

Again, thank you to all of you that have been here along for the journey.

God Bless

Dinby, we both know it wasn't the drugs but God's Grace. It was exactly the same for me. It was a peace that I have never quite felt. Overwhelming! I will let you know what happens. Thanks, Patched

Hi, I had my PFO/ASD 25mm closure on Oct 6,2008 and for the first two days I felt good, but after that I started to experience chest pressure again and strong heart beats 103..is that normal?

MiMiFlo said...
Katie G.,

GreenHope gave you some very detailed information which certainly demonstrates her ability and wisdom to educate herself and also that she NOW has a physician that talks to her, but most important listens to her.

Please read my 10/10 post (from MiMIFlo). In regards to recovery time, everyone is different and physicians often have different post procedure instructions. But, I can tell you the following:

I was 57 years old when I had my procedure and not in good health. My energy level and stamina were much like GreenHope described herself. I'd gone from someone who'd been known as the one who was still going when everyone else had fallen by the wayside to having very little energy and stamina to even do the activities of daily living. My physician's limitations were not to lift anything heavier than 10 lbs for about a week after my PFO closure. However, I had decided that I was going to give myself longer and stricter limitations than my physician did simply because these procedures don't have any long term statistics and I figured better to be safe than sorry.

But, the procedure itself really was a fairly simple procedure and the physician had no problem inserting the device. The ONLY problem I had was that I continued to bleed from the femoral vein (which is where the catheters are inserted) after the procedure, requiring me to lie flat for an extended period of time. That wasn't much fun. And I did actually end up with a blood clot at the femoral vein insertion site, but that was because when I was continuing to ooze several hours after the procedure, the resident held too much pressure for too long. Therefore, I had restrictions related to the bleeding into the tissue around my insertion site and the blood clot, but that is highly unusual and I've not heard of anyone else who had that problem. We have a family trait of bruising very easily and I bled excessively after childbirth, etc. So, my problem was more specific to me and a resident who was still a bit green behind the ears. However, the clot has resolved without problems and I was Christmas shopping within a week of my procedure (granted it was before we realized I had a blood clot). But, the point is from the PFO closure, I felt MUCH, MUCH better after the procedure than before the procedure.

Please, also note that my 31 year old daughter just had an Atrial Septal Defect closed this past Monday (Oct 6th). Atrial Septal Defect, referred to as ASD, is closed essentially the same way a PFO is closed. Her ASD was quite large but her procedure went great. She felt great. She has an 18 month old very active baby. I stayed with her during the day last week to help with the baby. For a couple of days she was a bit more tired and she felt lightheaded when she stood up. However, no other issues. Her discharge instructions were that she could lift her 26 lb baby after 3 days and she could go back to work after 4 or 5 days. She is a retail pharmacist and she worked 12 hrs today as her first day back. She said she felt great--no problems at all. She also started lifting the baby again on Saturday and reports not having a problem with that at all. I personally wanted her to wait a little longer but her physician said her restrictions for lifting were only 3 days because she could not dislodge the device.

Since massage therapist will require some physical exertion, you may need a little more time off, but that is something you should ask your physician. Typically, they tell you to return to normal activities within 3 or 4 days.

Can you get your procedure scheduled any sooner? I'd get it done ASAP so you'd have a longer time in case you need it.

But you are young and I was 57 and "worn out" from raising 3 daughters and working as a nurse for 30 years--plus I have several other chronic conditions, not to mention the PFO that had been causing problems all my life, and I felt like a new person and had a very short recovery time.

Everyone is different, but I hope this helps. I'll be glad to answer any other specific questions you have as best that I can within my experience with this problem.

Good Luck.

Hi, I just had a PFO/ASD 25mm closure along with a anysum and multiple holes in my heart and two leaky valves on Oct 6,2008. The doctor told me that it was unsual to have multiple holes ASD. I'm still getting pressure in my chest and also strong heart beats. They didn't do anything with the leaky valves cause he told me that it would cause more problems for me. I see the doctor again tomarrow for the pressure. It took them 3 hours to try and close the holes, and the anysum. He said that he did the best he could. I just hope that there is no leaks and that he would have to go back in. I had 3 holes they did as cathers. at the same time. glad to hear that your doing good. and yes there isn't too many people out there with ASD's.

dinby said...
</b> my experiances and my closure as I felt there was a need for this, through that I am now talking to a lot of people whao are about to have or have had closure. it is a non profit site about horses and horse care but have a look and you will see the ASD page on the left hand side
http://www.tonette.co.uk/</A>


<FONT>I am feeling a lot better but tired, I was amazed that my hole had grown half an inch in a year. At closure it was an inch and a third!





<FONT color=#0000ff>Take care

Hi Sheba. I used to get constant irrythmia (palpatations) my surgeon said that when they was doing the procedure my heart beat was all over the place but as soon as the put the device in I had normal heart rythum. I do still get the irregular heart beat and very strong ones that make me feel like I will pass out as the blood rushes to my head. My doctor told me this is normal as my heart is getting used to the implant. My ASD was 33mm, i still get tight chest feeling and breathless if I do too much, but I feel a lot better than I ever have.

Patched I am so pleased for you, I was thinking about you and praying that you would be ok......... Isn't it funny that we have had our hearts done but we don't like to trubble the doctors, I mean it's not like we have had a minor procedure. I took me ages to go back to my doctor for my chest pains! What did your doctor say about you using the treadmill? I am never sure of how much I am supposed to do, but I mucked my 2 stables out today for the first time!!!!!!! I was okay at the time but a bit tight chested an hour later

Take care

Thank you so much to everyone for all your positive thoughts and prayers.  On Friday, I will be thinking of all the positive and wonderful things that have happened in my life and also things that I can look forward to post procedure and recovery.  Positive thoughts only on that day.  And when fear tries to overtake me, I will close my eyes and see that shining star in my darkest nights that always radiates love, my beautiful son.

I truly appreciate all the support, encouragement and understanding that I have received from everyone on this forum.  I will post again post procedure, to update everyone on my progress.

Thank you again,

Greenhope

Greenhope, I agree with Patched I would do it again if I had to. The difference in my self is amazing. Take a good book to read while you are waiting to go to theatre that helped me.
If you become afraid, you hold onto that shining star and your fear on the day will go, and think of the prayers and love that you have recieved from all of us.
When mine was over I remember thinking, mmm it wasn't that bad after all.
Take care and god bless

www.tonette.co.uk

Hello, everyone.  I wanted to give you a quick update before I doze off to sleep again for an afternoon nap.

My procedure was successful and completely uneventful (thankfully!).  It was done on Friday 24th at 11AM and lasted approximately 2 hrs.  I was not completely conscious or unconscious.  The doctor says he uses something called "MAC" which puts you to sleep but not completely, so it is easier to recover from than general anesthesia.  I came home yesterday (Sat.) afternoon and slept most of the afternoon and all night.  This morning I felt energetic but right now I feel a little tired, which I believe is normal since I am still recovering.

The doctor's assistant who came to see me before being discharged did mention that I may get palpitations as my heart is getting accustomed to the device inside my heart.  I guess all of those who have come before me who have complained of this symptom have been heard and some doctors are now mentioning this as a possible side effect!  (I know some of the first posts I read from 2 years ago mentioned that doctors did not typically mention this as a symptom).  I will be on Plavix and low dose aspirin for the first 3 months.  After that, low dose aspirin only for the rest of my life.  The doctor's assistant also mentioned that it would take a full 6 months before my body adjusted completely to the device.  The cut on my leg is healing quite nicely.  You can barely see it!  I have not had any palpitations yet, but I guess it is still too early.

But, overall I feel good physically.  Mentally and emotionally, I have found great peace and comfort in knowing that things will start getting better soon, and this was the first big step in getting there.  I am starting to see the light at the end of this long tunnel I've been traveling in for the past few months.  It's not over yet, but I am getting there!

Thank you all for your support and words of encouragement. 

Greenhope

can anyone out there tell me if you had irregular heart beats before your procedure? They drive me crazy. Also, for those of you who have had the procedure done, do you have a noticable increase in energy, stamina? I really am wondering if I should really have the procedure done since it sounds like from what I am reading that the change isn't dramatic.
Greenhope-happy to hear yours went well.

Not having another stroke has been the incentive for most of us. I have not had a TIA in a year (since the implant). After my stroke, I had 2 TIA's over the next year. It is the relief of taking away the impending doom of having another stroke that was motivation for me.

Best of luck.