About Me (In My Own Words)
During a regular check-up with my primary care physician in April, he mentioned he heard what he thought was a heart murmur and suggested I make an appointment for an echocardiogram. At the same time I had a sore spot on a toe on my left foot which turned into a severe infection and sent me to the emergency room on April 25. I was admitted to Alexian Brothers Medical Center in Elk Grove Village and put on IV antibiotics and a heart monitor. The monitoring resulted in more heart testing and a diagnosis of severe aortic valve regurgitation. The valve is allowing blood to flow backwards with each beat - not good.
After 9 days, the foot problem (osteomyelitis) was resolved and I was sent home to finish a course of IV antibiotics for about 2 weeks. Jim was trained by my home health care nurse to administer the infusions -- and he was good at it.
May 18 was set as the date for valve replacement surgery. We arrived at the hospital before 5:30 AM and the pre-op preparations began. At about 5:40, Dr. Sullivan appeared and said that the blood screening test showed there was a problem with platelet clotting and he wanted to do more testing before he performed surgery. I was admitted to the hospital again for 2 days and had multiple vials of blood drawn. Then home again to wait the results of that testing.
After all the results were in, and the doctors were sure there was no problem, surgery was set for June 22. It was a long wait. Am I nervous? Yes. But now that we've arrived at the day before I'm ready to have this done and get the healing process started.
Jim and I are thankful for all the concern shown for us these past weeks - the love and prayers and good wishes have sustained us thru this uncertain time - and means more to us than you'll ever know. We are grateful for this web site. It will allow us to keep you informed of my progress without needing to send multiple emails or make phone calls. We hope you'll keep in touch with us.
More Info About Me & My Heart
More About Me
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I am from:
Des Plaines, Illinois