About Me (In My Own Words)
I began experiencing fatigue in 2009. I had bronchitis three times in a few months. I felt shortness of breath, but I thought it was related to the cough. I blamed all these on not exercises enough. Once I start exercise again, all would be fine. I was wrong. My health tumbled downhill ever since.
I tried to do some yard work and exercise but the fatigue and the shortness of breath did not allow me to do much. There were intermittent bouts of irregular heartbeats. There was also this numbness feeling radiated to my right leg. I felt cold on my feet at night. I tried swimming, and using sauna and Jacuzzi to help with my blood circulation.
The symptoms made me very uncomfortable. My blood pressure went up to 170 over 97. I was scared, especially about the tingling sensation on my leg. I went to the ER on January 2, 2010. I was told I that I may have had a minor stroke. I was discharge with medications for hypertension and prevention for another stroke.
My cough persisted. I took antibiotic and cough medicine. My family doctor told me that I had a very bad heart murmur. Finally, the cough subsided. But around 3pm each day, I started wheezing as if I had asthma attach. I was sick before, but never lasted over a weekend. I was almost fainted during my walk. I called my doctor. He advised me to go to ER. I obeyed and went to ER on January 12, 2010.
ER echocardiogram indicated mild to moderate Mitral Valve Regurgitation, and bronchitis. I was told to follow up with the cardiologist who treated me in the ER. During my visit to the new cardiologist, he listened to my heart and said, “it sounded like there is a hole in your heart.” I was scared to death. He suggested a stress echo. In February 2010, I was diagnosed mitral valve prolapse and moderate to severe mitral valve regurgitation. The cardiologist told me to follow up with him in 6 months.
The heart palpitation and the shortness of breath become daily routine. My carotid arteries would feel overexerted as if I was over worked. My eyes would feel strained and stretched. My chest would feel pain or pressed. I would lose my voice as if I had given a long speech. My endurance dropped while the symptoms getting stronger.
I decided to get a second opinion. I met my new cardiologist Dr. Rao on March 1, 2010. She ordered an echocardiogram and she performed a heart catheterization on me. The results confirmed that I have mild mitral valve prolapse and moderate to severe mitral valve regurgitation. In addition I have mild tricuspid regurgitation and dilated atrium. She advised me seeking surgical treatment while my heart function is still good. She referred me to a heart surgeon immediately.
There are some Incidental findings during the diagnosis - a huge liver cyst measuring 14x17 cm on my liver and an abdominal aorta aneurysm measuring 4.2 cm. It turns out that both the incidental findings are urgent medical concerns. Now my journey starts.
More Info About Me & My Heart
More About Me
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I am from:
Monterey Park, California
