Charlie's Posts

Hello Everyone …. I have just discovered this site & firstly I would like, on behalf of everyone that has posted a message, thank Adam for his painstaking research into this area of our health…. I was diagnosed with a prolapsed Mitral Valve over 30 years ago & had surgery to repair the problem only 6 months ago.. With the exception of headaches, I have suffered all the side-effects mentioned here. There are obviously some real connections to otherwise unknown/unlikely side - effects that even the doctors do not fully understand yet. I have had Vision problems, Vertigo, & Speech Paralysis problems since surgery & while these are debilitating in their way, they are a small price to pay for an extended lifetime. But the question remains -- with so many patients complaining of suffering from the same problems (as this blog testifies) why has there not been a study organised by the relevant specialists, in their relevant areas of expertise, to try to get an understanding of the overall picture. There are obviously other heath issues that are affected by Major Open Heart Surgery that the profession has yet to be able to answer. Instead, you are being referred on to other Specialists in other fields to explain an association with a procedure that they are not familiar with. Who would have thought that successful surgery on the Heart could possibly affect your Vision ? — or your Balance ? or your Speech ? - BUT IT DOES - as can be seen from this study by Adam, an ordinary guy who just wants to try to understand & asks just one simple question --- WHY Enough of my ramblings — I have leant of1 piece of information that has helped me in the area of Vertigo/ Dizziness & may help others with similar problems… As explained to me by a very young female cardiologist who, under supervision, examined me at my 6 monthly follow up examination that my vertigo "could" be caused by an inner ear Balance problem, & advised me to take it up with my next appointment with an Ear, Nose, & Throat specialist who was looking into my speech problem. Well I did - & lo & behold, he came up with a realistic possibility. If during the actual surgery the patients head is moved backwards to any extreme to ease the entry through the mouth to the chest of breathing/other apparatus, small crystals can be dislodged from the balance duct wall & float in the balance fluid. These crystals can slow down the movement of the fluid delaying the return of proper balance — result — VERTIGO. Anyway — there is a method of manipulation (Brandt-Daroff) excercises designed to move these floating crystals out of the area in question so as not to impede the return of correct balance.. He performed these manipulations on me in the consulting room & I have had no further problem as yet with vertigo He copied from the 'net an explanation fact sheet on this procedure & advised me that if I had a recurrence of the problem I could self-treat myself by following the instructions as presented.. For those who might like to try this simple procedure, the web site address for the information page is www.health.vic.gov.au/edfactsheets Go to the search area on the top right of the page & type, brandt-daroff then press search.