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I have a PFO, having it closed by key hole surgery does anyone know how soon you can return to work?

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Posted 6/13/2005 11:42 AM (GMT 0)

 Hi my name is Bee i am 31 yrs old, i had a TIA in January, and have had 3 episodes of numbness since having TIA and also blackout 1 to 2 times aweek with no warning.

Doctors have discovered i have a PFO which they are now going to close due to the other episodes of numbness which they feel could lead me to having a massive stroke. Doctors are also hoping my blackouts cease once hole is closed.

They are still not sure why i am blacking out tests are still being done, CT & MRI scan clear.

They tried me on tablets for epilepsy which have not worked awaiting EEG scan.

Anyone experienced what i am experiencing ?

Does anyone know the recovering period after key surgery?

Been off work for 6 months now also have a 11yr & 2 yr old need to get back to normality.

Thanks Bee...

Posted 6/13/2005 5:53 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Bee and Welcome to HealingWell again!! yeah

 

I saw your other post re this problem and I'm not real familiar with it, but I have talked to a couple of other's here with this problem, though I am not sure they had it to your extent.

 

I've copied a site for you to go look at and it gives wonderful information!~your Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO) seems almost the 'classic case'!

 

I wish you all the best, Bee, and please stop in anytime just to chat or ask questions, whenever you'd like!!

 

Hugs, Teri tongue

 

http://www.clevelandclinic.org/health/health-info/docs/3400/3454.asp?index=11626

 

http://www.clevelandclinic.org/health/health-info/docs/3400/3455.asp?index=11627

Posted 6/13/2005 6:41 PM (GMT 0)
 Hi Teri (again) thankyou for your information i have printed it off and will have a read with a nice cup of tea.

  tongue  Bee

Posted 6/14/2005 12:47 AM (GMT 0)
Bee, don't be afraid to ask questions here or of your Dr.'s, that's what they are there for!! yeah

 

I hope you enjoyed your tea! :)

 

Hugs, Teri tongue

Posted 6/17/2005 3:40 AM (GMT 0)
Bee, How are you doing??

Hugs, Teri :)
Posted 6/18/2005 8:54 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Teri,
Sorry for delay in replying been so busy. Im ok i suppose but could be better, the doctors who are dealing with me have made such a mess trying to sort me out and this has been going on since jan 12th.

Had an appt at hospital on thursday as they have said that they need to put me on warfarin, doctor at this clinic was not happy with my blood results and asked me why its taken them so long for them to refer me to her anticoagulant clinic, as blood test results in jan should have shown my blood level is very low which means it clots in no time which can cause a stroke.
Just feel really disappointed with some of the doctors who have dealt with me the only one i have faith in is the cardiologist who has seemed to get things moving for me.

Ive gone from a happy, independant full time working mother, to being housebound and cared for by my parents in the day time until my partner gets home, because of my blackouts, as i have a 2yr old at home with me and i cannot be left alone because of anything dangerous happening when i blackout. I have remained off work since the TIA in jan and my doctor wont let me return until blackouts stop completely, which he is right but i am feeling alittle low and just want my normal life back.

Sorry to off load Bee.
Posted 6/18/2005 3:23 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Bee, tongue

This is one of the reasons that we exist.  Venting and having another ear to listen to us is one of the most therapeutic things that there is!! 

 

I can offer up something that I'm wondering about in reading your 'vent' tongue ...how much are you on the phone with these other Dr.'s and their nurses getting on them about these needed appts.?  In today's world I'm sorry to say that it's no longer the Dr. that calls you at home and worries about you and sets up all your appts (they do worry, but they don't have the convenience of time anymore).  You may get some help, but what I've found during the last 30 yrs. (and increasingly so), is that we ourselves need to be a part of our own health team and not only rely on our Dr.'s, but to pick up the phone and start making some of these calls ourself.

 

You are now the receptionist and secretary for your health team!!  You must follow up on what Dr.'s tell you to do, whether it's something that they've mentioned doing, or planned on doing...you need to handle your own insurance companies at times to make sure that they are paying what they should be paying.

 

I wish you the very best, Bee, and please make sure you continue to come here-if only to vent, or ask questions, or offer support to some of the others going through the same things-you are very welcome here!!

 

Big Hugs, Teri tongue

Posted 6/19/2005 5:31 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Bee,

 

I was trying to find info on how long to expect that you'd be out of work after the surgery...this article said in the hospital for 5 days and back to normal activities in a month!

 

Hugs, Teri  tongue

Have a nice day!!

http://www.m/paeded.nus.edu.sg/patient_education/chd_guide/conditions/holes/ASD.HTM

Posted 6/21/2005 3:24 AM (GMT 0)
I was looking on an Echo site today, trying to decipher some results, and I happened to run across this on PFO...thought you might find it interesting.

http://www2.umdnj.edu/~shindler/pfoanim.html (animation of echo)

http://www2.umdnj.edu/~shindler/foramen_ovale.html (more info)

The animation is amazing.
Posted 6/23/2005 4:41 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Bee,

Hope things have been moving along for you in a positive way.

I fully agree with Teri16 about having to be the receptionist & secretary of your health team.  I do not think that it is that they dont care but rather that they simply havent the time in a day & it's up to you to get things moving along by making the phone calls - daily if need be.

My husband had a TIA end of February.  It tooks 3 months worth of Dr.'s & test to finally confirm that his condition (numbness on the right side of his face - loss of taste on the right side of his tongue) was indeed caused by a stroke.  His Dr. prescribed Plavix & then aspirin therapy just in case it had been a stroke - they were certain that it had been a stroke but could not figure out why it happened.  In May they diagnosed the cause of the stroke to be PFO.  In order to get this far many phone calls had to be made from our side -- mostly to the nurses who set up the appts.

He had the PFO procedure done a week ago today & was sent home from the hospital the following morning.  I know going to the internet to find out about the procedure can be a little confusing as there seem to be mixed information about what to expect.  I can tell you from my husbands experience though that the actual procedure took less than 1 hour.  He said he was in no pain just a little discomfort from the entries at the groin.  He is required to take both Plavix & aspirin everyday for the next 6 months.  He was pretty much back to his regular daily routines within 48 hours.  This procedure is amazing considering that they use to do open heart in order to correct this problem.

I wish you well on your recovery.....now go get on that phone! tongue

Best regards,

Pattee

Posted 6/23/2005 5:01 PM (GMT 0)
Hi and Welcome to HealingWell, Pattee!! tongue

 

I want to thank you for the support!~anyone going through any new procedure or surgery has always got so much to deal with emotionally, it's just wonderful to hear from someone who's been there before us!!  So thanks again, I'm sure Bee will appreciate hearing this!

 

Big Hugs, Teri tongue

PS  Join in with us here anytime!!

Posted 6/24/2005 8:02 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome Bee and Pattee! I'm just trying to get caught up on some messages and saw your posts here about this procedure. It seems I learn something daily here. I'm glad that you posted about your situation and that Pattee saw it and replied. It does help others who might be in a similar situation.

Kathy

Posted 7/2/2005 6:21 AM (GMT 0)
I'm just bumping this one back up to the top...Hugs, Teri :)
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