About Me (In My Own Words)
I'm 68 years old and in good health. I have been one of those health nuts as I have tried to take care of myself all my life. I eat right, exercise most of my life and probably a very good thing I have tried to do all the right things.
I was born with a small hole in my heart and at 40 years old they decided it was time to sew it up - this was 1984 they took one stitch in my heart (open heart surgery then, but probably could do non invasive now)
In Oct 2008 I went to Cleveland Clinic to have an successful afib successful and then back in Feb 2009 to have a successful PVC ablation - done by one of my hero doctors, Dr. Walid Saliba. During his check of me he found that my pulmonary pressure was high (54mmg) and suggested I follow up on it back in Virginia. During all the tests that were run to check this out, one was a right heart cath (they tried to go through my neck but couldn't) and finally went through the groin which is where all my procedures had been before. It is believed that the attempt to go through my neck caused the AV vetebral fiscular. Local doctors said this condition was rare and the local vascular surgeon said he had never seen one....yea, that made me feel really good!!!!
So back to CCF I went and while going there for that I decided I would take the results of the work up on the pulmonary pressure. Even though we have known for a few years that my mitral valve regurgitation was progressing no one had suggested anything be done. Dr. Saliba took one look at tests I brought to him and said something was not right, referred me to a valve specialist who did an echo and echo stress and said high pulmonary pressure was coming from mitral valve and I needed valve repair - would not qualify for min invasive because of previous open heart surgery in 1984.
I am scheduled for surgery at CCF on July 12 with Dr. Gillinov. At this point I am very thankful I took those tests to get a second opinion so more thankful than anxious right now but I'm sure I will get anxious as it gets closer - remember I have been there before 27 years ago - I remember the worse part - freezing in the ICU and of course thirsty and no one paying any attention to me - probably because I had the vent in but all I remember was thinking these nurses are walking around in sweaters and ignoring me while I knew they could see me shaking from cold. I am so thankfrul for this support group. I have been reading for awhile and thank you Adam for this.
More Info About Me & My Heart
More About Me
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I am from:
Virginia Beach, Virginia