About Me (In My Own Words)
I am 57 years old. In Feb of this year I had a right knee replacement. Upon returning from the recovery room....a doctor listened to my heart...she jumped back and yelled "WOW".....I told her I had a heart murmur...."Yes I know she said...but thats LOUD!"...The internist following my case came into the room & listened, then quickly ordered an echo. The next morning he told me I had a valve problem & that he needed to see me in 6 weeks.....At that visit ...he told me I had AS & would need to follow up with a cardiologist.
My appt with the cardiologist was 8 wks later. The cardio drew valves on a piece of paper explaining their function, also what they looked like if they were diseased or bicuspid...At that time, he also indicated i would need to have AVR and that we "needed to get on this"...(WHOA...COWBOY...AVR???..NOW THAT'S NOT ON MY BUCKET LIST"....of course neither was the knee replacement!.)......(note to self....time to redo my Bucket List in BOLD letters)....lol.... He then proceeded to draw a chart with numbers indicating mine was in the "critical stage"... Huh??? Now that's not a word you want to hear in the same sentence with your name...critical!!!!..How could that be??? I have a physical with my gyno every September...and physical with my GP every October...and no one has ever mentioned getting an echo!!!??!! Plus a surgery last April...and no one said a word!!!!...My cardiologist said you would have to be deaf not to hear my murmur.....My GP's reports from October said "no murmur detected"...Oh really????? (another note to self....time to look for new GP). I left that office with tears streaming down my face....I had not completely recovered from my knee...and now this???? Then the whole rush of emotions started on that drive home....Why Me???? Several weeks later I would come to the conclusion of .....WHY NOT ME?
Almost two weeks ago I had my heart cath & TEE. The tests indicated my valve was bicuspid with heavy calcification. I have been busy "preparing" for the surgery...both physically & mentally. I have ordered and received my "I fight like a girl...Heart Disease Survivor" t-shirt to wear home from the hospital.....the next thing on my list......shopping for hiking boots........Looks like I have a mountain to climb!!!!
More Info About Me & My Heart
More About Me
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I am from:
Anna, Ohio