Linda's Heart Valve Journal

I do not need surgery at this time, as the heart cath showed that my valve was not as bad as described on the echo. My doctor told me that my symptoms (tired, dizzy spells) can be helped by losing weight and changing my RX's. So She took me off the beta blocker and put me on a calcium channel blocker. I started going to the YMCA and so far I have lost 1 pound. She wants me to weigh 140 and I am 5'7". That will make me really skinny, but I have vowed to do my best to get as close to that as reasonably possible. That is going to be really hard, but all I can do is work at it. I am so happy that my valve is still good enough and I do not have to go through that surgery. She could not promise that it won't need surgery sometime in the future, but all I can do is try to get in as good of shape as I can, and if that day comes, I will have a better recovery. Wish me luck with this challenge. I have to lose 68 pounds to get to her goal. (my goal is really 48 pounds)

As I have been coming to terms with my reality, I was wondering if any of you are victims of phen phen. I took it for 7-1/2 months under close doctor supervision . That is my story in a nutshell. I would love to hear about your journey. For many years I have been stable but this last echo brought the reality of that deadly drug to center stage. Linda Stahl

You did not sign your name and I would like to read your story. Linda

I have an appointment next Wednesday (17th) and I should know the answers. I have been seaching the web quite a bit. It is really overwhelming...all the information. There are just too many websites and statistics that are mind boggling. I was told by the doctor who did my heart cath that the hospital does NOT do minimally invasive surgery. Does anyone have a comment on the pros and cons of standard surgery vs. minimally invasive? I really appreciate all your comments and advise. Thanks, Linda