About Me (In My Own Words)
Jan 24,1992, a Fri morn, was run over by a Ford Ranger truck on my bicycle, with tire tracks across my body, 111 Long Bones broken, plus Short, Flat, & Irregular ones, severly lacerated Liver, *a torn Mitral Valve "Hanging like a thread," & slight damage to Tricuspid & Aortic valves. In ICU for 3&1/2 months on a ventilator, had 17 surgeries, including all 10 toes amputated for Gangrene. But on the Sun morn, my 2nd hospital day, had Cardiac Arrest & before surgery, Doctors asked if I'd like a Priest to read me my "Last Rights," because was high chance I'd die. After 3 days of leaving my chest open, because was so swollen, I had severe Electrolyte Imbalance, & as a petite, active 23 year old, was nearly 300 lbs of water retention weight! Jokingly loved ones called me "Pillsbury Dough Girl," because I still kept positive & a sense of humor. Long story short, after getting off the ventilator & much prayer around the world, everything amazingly got better. After a total 6 month stay, I left the hospital, no longer taking Lasix for the Edema. But fast forward to 2001, my Pig Tissue Mitral Valve, because infected, got replaced mechanically. But a few years later, & at 26 surgeries, my Aortic & Tricuspid Valves were now Moderately Leaky. I started taking 20 MEQ Potassium daily because severely low. & after Echogram, increased it to 40 because had to re-start Lasix because was my heart was slightly enlarged from water retention, & ankles swollen. Now fast forward to my complex prob today, with Severly Leaky Aortic & Tricuspid Vakves, strangely a Slightly Leaky Mechanical Mitral Valve, & Pulmonary Hypertension that the TEE recently proved is from the leaky valves, I'm seeking an Open Heart Surgeon, confident to open me up a 3rd time. I'm waiting for a call from the Open Heart Surgeon I've been talking to at nearby St Jude Providence CA Hospital, with a Cedar Sinai referral & maybe UCLA too, because are most experienced, equipped hospitals & Docs. I'm praying is possible to get Robotic Mechanical replacements, but for the Trucuspid, only needs be Clipped & that can be done with TAVR. I don't want TAVR for Aortic & if need replace my Slightly Leaky Mechanical Mitral Valve, because are Tissue replacements only lasting about 10 yrs & I'm only 55, have been a health nut since before my accident, always back to the gym, riding the bicycle, & my doggy walking Mr fast! The TEE & Angiogram recently show my heart is strong & healthy & clear arteries. My LDL way low, HDL high, & total cholesterol is low, with 0 inflammation. I know I can make it through any open heart surgery but if can get Robotic, of course want that. Any prayers welcome. God bless you all & prayers for everyone at this site from me. I'll update as I continue my life journey, now at 30 surgeries total, which 2019 was a hip replacement. (& btw, over 100 blood transfusions, which most were directly after the accident.) & lastly, I'd like to say, my loving supportive Hubby went to Heaven Oct 2021, but I'm thankful for other loved ones, church, & medical social sites like this, though this is 1st I've joined, becauae I love Adam Pick's story, knowledge, & his sharing of wisdom. Thank you All! Vanessa Ingold
More Info About Me & My Heart
More About Me
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I am from:
Fullerton
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My surgery date is:
January 24, 1992
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I was diagnosed with:
Aortic Regurgitation
Bicuspid Aortic Valve
