hole in the heart

hi everyone.......... i have now got (at long last) results on all the scans i have had (mri, angiogram ect....) any way i need surgery or my heart will enlarge or if that doesn't happen my lungs will not work! But i am scared to have the procedure done, my consultant told me that it is 85% effective by going through my groin, if that doesn't work then it is through my chest. 2% chance they can lose the flipping thing if that happens then it's bad ............. anyway i havent' said i will have it done yet.

My point is i know lots of people that have had bypass and other things, but i have never spoke to another peson who has had this done.............. please can some one who has had it done talk to me? I am normally level headed but this has freaked me out. I have 2 lungs 2 kidneys ect, but only one heart.

Any one out there had it done? I would appriciate thoughts on this

hi dinby

 

I had the pfo done in june of 2005. i was put to sleep for it as i was very nervous and the dr decided to put me to sleep .normally they give you a seditive and go through the groin but i was a mess and he did put me to sleep.i was in the hospital 3 or 5 days i believe that for the first 6 hours you have to be still and the nurse came in and took the drain out and if needed i was given pain meds.all and all it went very well.i was put on plavix for 6 months and i go every 6 months for a echo to keeo a check on things. i know it is a very scary thing believe me i was never so scare but i am glad i had it done. i know when i was having it done my dr gave me a dvd to watch that explained the whole pfo thing and just how it is done perhaps you can ask your dr  about it,

 

i just wrote a post to mamanuss if you want to read it ,please know my thoughts and prayer's are with you and please if you have any question please feel free to ask or if you just need to talk i am here i dont come here a lot but i do check the board so just wirte and i will answer

 

hugs

tyler's granny

thank you Mamanus, Tylers granny and Hope 3 for your replies. yes it is the PFO closure that i am going to have done. I guess it is rather like the angiogram but a bit more complicated from what you have all said? I think it scares me in case they lose the flipping thing ( that is an old english saying for i guess silly or a much stronger word ). Or also if it becomes loose. Will i feel any different after? i get tired a lot now but don't all of us once we hit 40? i am active enough i work full time and have horses so it isn't like i am totally unfit. I do get slightly breathless. But then looking back i have never been able to do cardio sports. i have always done everything at a don't rush pace. The reason my consultant wants me to have closure is because we now know the hole is just under an 1 ins and is facing my lung.
I know have a very good consultant, but i am still very scared. I haven't contacted him yet to say if i will have it done. he advised me strongly to have it done. But it is the fear thing isn't it?
Thank you all for giving me support through this and hopefully i will make my mind up soon x