Peggie's Profile

Hello everyone, I have two children one that is 18 years old and a baby boy on Nov 1 2008 ; I always had a murmur but never thought anything of it. I was very active and healthy my whole life. After having the baby I was feeling very tired, out of breath and I could feel like a pulsation in-between my clavicles, right above my sternum, I thought it was due to having a new baby and it was just hormones, after feeling really bad for 10 months I went to get a physical with my family doctor, she made an appointment for me to get an echocardiogram, the cardiac doctor who's name is Dr Holmes, told me that I had an Aortic root aneurysm with an insufficient valve. The cardiac doctor said that I needed surgery in the next two weeks and that my Aorta root was 5.5cm which is ready to tear, i was only 40. So I had Ascending Aortic root dacron graft and aortic(ST Jude,biological)valve replacement surgery on Sept 14 2009 at Ellis Hospital in Schenectady NY by Dr Harry Depan. It was a very invasive and long procedure. Because of difficulties in my recovery we decided to move back to Los Angeles California so I can be with family and friends for support and guidance.on Sunday Aug 7th 2010 I went to the park with my Son Sammy, i felt good that day when i decided to go to the car to get my cell phone, when i had such bad pain on my right side of my neck,jaw and arm, it felt like i was having a heart attack. I almost went to the floor it was so painful when my husband came to the car with Sam to see what was taking so long, he suggested i go to the ER. once i arrived they gave a EkG and took some blood and of course Morphen for the pain.The doctor said i did not have a heart attack, We did another CT scan, nothing all looks good. As for the attack and pain they dont know, i was released late that day. Sense then, i have been having pain on my right neck/jaw and the pain comes and gos with my pulse.(update) Saw A specielist of post surgery at USC medical he said that the pulsation in my right neck will never go away and that i have to deal with it for the rest of my life.. I also will have to have another surgery in 5 to 7 years for a new aoritc valve. how they are going to do it is scary because i also have a tub for a acending root so i hope i get the new treatment of the replacing the valve with out opening me up again? as for my life everything has changed big time. but i guess that is life.. hope all the best for everyone that is going though this too.