About Me (In My Own Words)
Before last January (2012), I had no idea I had anything wrong with my heart. I passed out on the plane coming home from our vacation, and from then on it's been a medical nightmare. I was diagnosed in February (2012) after a cardiac catheterization with moderate aortic valve stenosis and told I would eventually need surgery to replace the valve. All went well until September 24, 2012, when I experienced a TIA, at which time I was taken to the hospital to get checked out. I had been having extremely low blood pressure for months, which affected my ability to do anything requiring exertion. I had always felt "out of breath" while growing up and had just gotten used to it, believing it was just the way I breathed. During my eight day stay for a TIA that resolved before I even got to the ER, they performed an echocardiogram, which showed the stenosis had progressed from moderate to severe and needed to be replaced NOW.
When I went home from the hospital on Oct. 2, I made an appointment with the cardiologist, who performed an echocardiogram stress treadmill test, during which my blood pressure never reached the level which would require them to stop. I just got worn out performing the walking on the treadmill. They told me that this proved that I need valve replacement ASAP. I was scheduled to have aortic valve replacement using the Freedom Solo stentless heart valve. It is made from bovine (cow) pericardium tissue. I am not sure of what kind of incision they will be using--the doctor called it "minimally invasive", but he also said there would be a three inch sternum cut with an L-shaped incision, instead of cutting through the whole sternum.
It is now just a week before the surgery date of Dec. 10, 2012. To say I am scared is an understatement...but I trust in God and know that he wwill take care of me and what will be will be. I ask anyone reading this to please pray for me on that day, pray for the surgeons, pray for the anesthesiologist, and the nurses. I've never done a journal before, and am not sure what I'm supposed to put on here, so bear with me as I learn how to do it. I love you all.
Check back here for updates! The updates will probably be done by my family members, as I suspect I won't be using a computer for a while after the surgery.
More Info About Me & My Heart
More About Me
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I am from:
Clayton, Indiana
