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PFO Closure - Open Heart or Transcatheter

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Posted 10/12/2007 6:01 PM (GMT 0)
thanks i will let you know the outcome after my appointment on tuuesday. Amazing how much we mothers take on eh? But i think you are right that god needs people like us who are survivors to help others.
Thank you for your encouragement. Take care until we chat again
Posted 10/14/2007 2:11 AM (GMT 0)
I am new to this board but am going through my 2nd PFO closure. The first time was in Jan and they put in the largest closure they had but it did not get all the hole. I have since had more TIAs (2 weeks ago). Since my anatomy of the heart is flabby now due to a rather large (gigantic is what the cardio told my husband) aneurysm, this procedure will be trickier. The cardio said if it doesn't work then surgery will be in store for me. Does anyone know what the surgery is? Is it open heart?
Posted 10/14/2007 2:25 AM (GMT 0)

D Sig-

How big was your patch? Did you have any symptoms?

Posted 10/14/2007 2:31 AM (GMT 0)
I had TIAs and went to the ER.  The patch was 14 mm or about 5/8 inch.  That was the biggest device they had and it wouldn't close all the area.  The only complications I have had so far is the TIAs and daily miserable headaches.  I also sleep alot since the last onslaught of TIAs.

Posted 10/14/2007 2:36 AM (GMT 0)
Wait a minute, the patch was about an inch my husband said and was not able to close all the hole. I actually had two holes. If you werre to draw it, it would look like a hole and then a line (which is the aneurysm) and then another hole.
Posted 10/14/2007 2:44 AM (GMT 0)
My hole was an inch as well. The doc told me that they were using the biggest device they had and that if it failed at any time, they would have to do open heart surgery and stitch the hole up by hand.
I am sooo sorry that you are still having TIA's. I am assuming that you have a clotting disorder as well?
Posted 10/14/2007 2:50 AM (GMT 0)
From what the dr has told me, the blood is shunting across the heart due to the hole that wasn't patched the first time. That is what he says is causing the TIAs. He has me on coumadin and recently added a baby aspirin since I had more TIAs and the procedure was still 2 weeks off when I had the last TIAs.  They are pretty scary, those TIAs.  My husband was out of town and I was here by myself!  I went to the ER and the first thing the girl at the desk asked me was what was a TIA.  I explained to her it was a mini stroke and they just left me sitting in the waiting room for hours.  I got to feeling better and went home that night but it all started over the next morning.  My friend took me to another hospital and they took me right back into the back. 

Posted 10/14/2007 4:34 AM (GMT 0)
Oh... my... goodness!!! I cannot believe it! When I thought I was having another stroke, I walked in and told them... I was wisked away. That is just crazy!
(My side effects from my stroke are weird mirgraines that make one side of my face go numb and pull. Topamax and beta-blockers help.)

Anyhow, I am so sorry to hear that you are having issues.
It sounds like God has a plan for you!
Keep me posted on how you are doing! I'll keep you in my thoughts.
Posted 10/14/2007 10:30 AM (GMT 0)
D Sig, i am so sorry for what you are going through, i am lucky i haven't haad TIAs just the bad headaches and light headed feelings. When have you got to have the second closure?
I know all this is so scary, but thankfully there are people like mamanuss out there that can help alleviate our worries.
Hope you don't mind me asking, how old are you and when did you find out you had a PFO?
as Mamanuss said please keep us posted
Take care
Posted 10/14/2007 2:34 PM (GMT 0)

D Sig,  I just wanted to pop in here real quick and welcome you to Healing Well and the Cardio forum.  I hope that you are finding that we have great members who are always willing to lend support, advice and suggestions.  Please do stick around and keep posting, letting us know how your doing.

Take care :-)

Posted 10/14/2007 11:02 PM (GMT 0)

I'm 53 years old and it was found at 52.  The 2nd closure is scheduled for this Thursday and we will know if open heart is in the cards then. 

I have been having such bad headaches since the last episodes of TIAs and have been so very tired.  I sleep 12-14 hours a day.  Does anyone else have the problem of being real tired.  I also have bad back failure and am on Neurontin, Skelaxin and Zanaflex for pain as well as Cymbalta for depression.  Gee, looking at all this, I am falling apart at all the seams (literally)! 

I should only have to stay in the hospital overnight so I will try to post on Friday after I get home. 

I was thinking this morning that if they have to put in two more buttons, then I will have a vest!

I'm happy this forum is here to bounce things off of y'all.

Posted 10/15/2007 5:58 PM (GMT 0)

you will be in my thoughts and prayers, fingers crossed once you have this done you won't need any more, and you will have a new lease of life tongue .My consultant told me when i go ahead and have mine done i will feel like i never have done before. Just hope it won't make me more of a dizzy blonde than i already am yeah  

Looking back i have always felt tired but i get a lot more tired now, i also get breathless at times, and chest pains (but not bad ones ) i also have a lot of acid indigestion.

 I think i have taken mamanuss as my mentor, she has given me strenght and encouragement to have mine done. I am going to tell my consultant i will go ahead with the procedure.

The thing is we are all the same we have to have it done, and it is talking to others that have had or going to have the procedure done that helps us.

Take care, and let us know how you get on  

Posted 10/15/2007 7:04 PM (GMT 0)
Yeah, Dinby!! I know it's scary... but you will get through this like you have overcome EVERYTHING else!! At least with mine, the proceedure was nothing compared to other surgeries and even child birth.

Let me know how tomorrow goes... keep up the kooky-ness!!! You crack me up!!

Many, many blessings!!!!!
Mamanuss
Posted 10/15/2007 9:24 PM (GMT 0)
you know it's catching? my friends and family say that if they spend too much time with me it shows!.............. i have no idea what they mean!!!! yeah  

 

I think it is because i try to do things as quick as i think them ( so you can guess the muddles i get in), although the funny thing is at work it doesn't show ( my dizziness that is  tongue   ) My sister in law is is also my big big boss couldn't believe how i am out of work. maybe that is what tires me is keeping it under control, and not the PFO. 

God Bless to you all x  

Posted 10/16/2007 4:57 PM (GMT 0)

Dinby,

I'm glad you are having the procedure.  It's not all that bad.  They gave me some conscience sedation and I was loopier than I have ever been.  I don't remember anything at all but when they wheeled me out and talked to my husband, they asked him if I always talk alot.  My husband taped me and I was a case.  My doctor is precious, he looks just like Doogie Houser and I kept calling him that.  My husband had to shush me several times.  While the doctor was talking to my husband, you could hear me in the background just running my mouth and not saying a thing.  Let us know how your appt went today.

D Sig

Posted 10/17/2007 6:36 AM (GMT 0)
Well it looks like i am going to have the procedure done! My consutant told me very clearly i am not going to have a miracle and it won't go away or get better, i will get worse.

So i either have it done now or it will be too late ( i think this is because of where the hole is and it will effect my lungs )

Oh and i have an inteview today.................. funny really, in the past i used to put a lot of pressure on myself if i was going for a new job, this isn't even making me nervous. I have told them about the PFO and they seem okay about it, mind you it is in the caring proffesion so i guess they will be more understanding. 

Take care everyone

Posted 10/17/2007 3:08 PM (GMT 0)
Dinby-
Good. Just get it done and over with. I was totally knocked out for my proceedure.... I don't remember a thing. It sounds like that all is going to work out well!! Job and healing!!!! YEAH!!!!
How is this going to effect your lungs? Is it the placement of the PFO?
D Sig-
It sounds like that would be some good Christmas funny-footage!!! Ha ha ha!!! Smart thinking to bring the camera!!!
Many Blessings, my friends!!!
Posted 10/18/2007 9:37 PM (GMT 0)
I got the job!!! but then went home and found a letter waiting for me i am going into hospital 13th november. The concern with my lungs is that the hole is facing my lungs and there is a possibility that some blood is going in there, and that can eventually lead to my lungs decompressing.
wonder how Dsig is doing? Hopefully we will hear from her tomorrow.
On about christmas footage, brings me to christmas. i love christmas and i drive everyone mad! I even have a 4ft santa who looks like a disney one so cute, anyway he sings jingle bell rock and swings his hips. Thinking about it, its a good thing i am not going in hospital in december cos' he would have to come with me haha
Take care
Posted 10/19/2007 12:16 AM (GMT 0)
Congrats!!! Well, I am glad that they are not going to dilly-dally with your lungs- or heart.
I love Christmas, too! Just think, now at least two great things in your life will be better than new this holiday season... your job and your heart!!!
Take care and keep in touch!!!
Posted 10/19/2007 4:33 PM (GMT 0)

She's baaaack.

Everything went well.  They could not close the hole because of the flabbiness in the wall but the good news is no open heart they said the hole is too small to warrant open heart.  The two doctors are sending me to a neurologist because they do not believe the size of the hole (they said it was tiny) is what is causing the TIAs.  They still think it's migraines.  My husband and I do not believe that because the symptoms are strokelike and not migraine like but like the two doctors said, they don't do TIAs.  We'll see what the neurologist says.  I just want to feel better.  If they can't close the hole, I want something to make me feel better and find out what might be causing all this.  I still say it's TIAs but I'm not the expert.  I was real bitter and mad yesterday when they said it wasn't TIAs because I've had them before and I know what I went through before and what I went through 3 weeks ago was the same.  Other than being nauseated, I had none of the other symptoms that go along with a migraine.  Oh well the neurologist should be able to help. 

So I will have to stay on coumadin.  Yuck. sad

Dinby, Congrats on the job!  I love Christmas too.  I take evrything down and the whole house is done in Christmas stuff!  I even made Christmas curtains and valances.  My husband loves it.  He usually doesn't care for a clutterd house but he loves it at Christmas and the more cutesy tootsy it is, the better he likes it. 

I'm glad you are getting your hole closed soon.  It's not bad, you will be so happy you did it. 

Posted 10/19/2007 5:34 PM (GMT 0)
D Sig!!! You HAVE to hear this!!! Check it out:
- numbness on one side
- drawing on one side
- nausea
- dizziness (to the point of falling over)

After my stroke several weeks went by and I started getting these symptoms about three times a month. The first time, I freaked out and went to the hospital sure I was having another stroke. They called it a TIA until I saw the neuro. He said that what I was having are called A-Typical Migraines. Caused by the stroke!!! I still get them, but Topamax helps me to not get them as often and I only get them when I am tired, too busy or too stressed out (or around my cycle). It sounds like what they are going to tell you!! Topamax is a weird medicine, but stick with it, the side effects usually go away after awhile.
Let me know!! I am anxious to know if this is what you have been experiencing!!!! AHHHHHHH!!!!!
Posted 10/20/2007 8:58 PM (GMT 0)

Mamanuss,

Does sound similar to what I was having. 

Numbness - rt side of face

Couldn't move

Lightheaded

Weakness - arms and legs

Went to the ER and they said TIAs.  Maybe what the neuro told you about A-typical migraines is what my heart doctors are talking about.  Maybe I'm not so mad at them today! :-)

Can't wait till the 30th to see the neurologist now.

Thanks for the info.

D Sig

Posted 10/22/2007 2:49 PM (GMT 0)

You had a 1" patch, also, right? I wonder if it has something to do with that? It's just too weird to me that we experience the SAME thing with the same size patch.

I see my neuro in Jan. I am going to ask him about that.

I am excited to see mine as well. Do you mind to let me know what your neuro says about all of this for you?! It's so scary and exhausting... but answers help.

Many blessings!!!!
Mamanuss

Posted 10/24/2007 9:38 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome back Dsig :-) bit of a mixed blessing uh? Hopefully your neuro can sort you and Mamanus out, it sounds like you both could have the same thing.If they can sort this out for you both or at least tell you what it is, and not serious then you will be able to move on with life easier. I wonder if it is conected to the closure? Interesting to find out  

May i ask you both ....... how did you feel after the closure? (i know you both had TIAs and that is how you both found out) but you where both like me and had it from birth but never knew. So your lives were like mine you lived with it and the symptoms ( which i guess for me i thought was normal ) But did you used to get breathless, tired easily, indegestion and palpatations? if you did, did all that go?

I was addmitted to hospital 3 years ago and had a suspected clot on my lung and was treated with warfin (through my stomach) for 5 days and then it went. Didn't stay on warfin with hindsight that could have been some of the blood going into my lungs. But the hole wasn't picked up then.......... strange

I am not sleeping so good now, i think all this is getting to me more than i think. I think i am driving my husband mad too! Although he has been going that way since he met me yeah When i send him a card, you know christmas etc, i put love you withe the hole of my heart yeah

Take care

Posted 10/26/2007 12:39 AM (GMT 0)

Dinby,

I felt much better after the closure but still have bad headaches and am always sleepy.  I can sleep 12-15 hours a day (that includes naps. I also have problems with PVCs which my heart doctor said is not unusual with PFO holes and that I will always have them.  He said if they get too bad he can put me on some medicine for it.  It feels like a "skipped" beat when I feel my pulse but I also get a fluttery feeling in my chest.  Sometimes I throw a PVC every 3-4 heartbeats.

I sure hope they can get you fixed up soon. 

I am still on warfarin and will ask my doctor about it when I see him at the end of next month.  I sure can't wait to see the neuro because these headaches are killing me.  They come on about the same time every day which I think is weird and they are so hard to get rid of.  I can't take a lot of things due to the warfarin and Tylenol doesn't touch them.

Good luck, you get your procedure done soon don't you?

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