Dorothea Jenkins - Heart Valve Journal

My Journal

130 days ago

Susan Lynn reacted to this

low hemoglobin and platelets with PFO right to left shunt making me feel weak. I have aortic stenosis but doctor said not ready for replacement and said at ...Read more

low hemoglobin and platelets with PFO right to left shunt making me feel weak. I have aortic stenosis but doctor said not ready for replacement and said at age 86 the PFO would not cause me being anemic. I was told I am mentally young but frail and weak. He did say I was more intelligent than most of his patients. I was so bad off Friday I thought I was going to die. I was so weak I grabbed a piece of pie for my husband and me thinking it could be my sugar but I took it before eating and it was 86. I burning up and so weak it took all I had in me to bring pie to my blind husband I take care of. I went in and hooked up my cpap and after 40 min I felt the weakness going away but felt ice cold. Later other than tired I felt better but did not get any sleep. Has anybody endured this with a valve stenosis and PFO

Susan Lynn Dorothea - I'm so sorry you're feeling weak. Whatever the reason, your doctor needs to get to the... Read more

Susan Lynn Dorothea - I'm so sorry you're feeling weak. Whatever the reason, your doctor needs to get to the root cause and address it. There are a number of possible conditions - we folks with heart issues forget that we are susceptible to many health concerns that aren't related to our valve diseases. If your doctor isn't giving you any satisfaction and treatment to address your low hemoglobin and feelings of extreme weakness, it's time to find a new one. You don't need to live your life and care for your dear husband with these symptoms. I'm sure it must be frightening. Prayers to you. Please keep us posted.

Dorothea Jenkins Thanks Susan, It works like this, he says talk to your primary which I have a primary APRN. I see her ... Read more

Dorothea Jenkins Thanks Susan, It works like this, he says talk to your primary which I have a primary APRN. I see her next Wednesday. I have gotten to know this doctor and he sometimes makes me laugh. He told me I was 90% more intelligent than his other patients. I laughed and thought my whole life I was dumb and told him I did poor in school and he said it was not because I wasn't smart it was because you had no interest. He commented on me as I told him my EKG said I possibly had a myacardia infaction old. He said you read everything. I said when it is my heart, that I'm interested in a lot. I want to get back to my art and hopefully I can by reading. I had my son get me some raisin bread at bakery for the iron in the raisins. I mean I have eaten the whole loaf and still tired. I read that plant food iron like peanuts had a lot of Amega 6 which cancels out Amega 3 as it is not proportion. I never went to college but after my husbands and my health problems I think I'm getting close to a degree that is not on paper. Ha Ha of course joking!!.

Dorothea Jenkinsposted an update

187 days ago

I had a TEE test and it showed a Patent Foramen Ovale with blood going right to left, Is this dangerous.

Grace Mason Hi Dorothea,
I just learned post surgery I also have a PFO. Most people that have them don't need ... Read more

Grace Mason Hi Dorothea,
I just learned post surgery I also have a PFO. Most people that have them don't need surgery to repair it. They did not repair mine.
My cardiologist confirmed to me that it was not normally repaired. I would question your cardiologist about whether it could be causing any symptoms.

Ana Brusso I had a PFO closure in 2009 which at the time they thought could have cause my TIA. Who knows. It was ... Read more

Ana Brusso I had a PFO closure in 2009 which at the time they thought could have cause my TIA. Who knows. It was done through my groin.

Dorothea Jenkins I read it was no big deal if the blood flowed left to right but mine flows right to left where unoxy... Read more

Dorothea Jenkins I read it was no big deal if the blood flowed left to right but mine flows right to left where unoxygenated blood mixes with the

oxygen blood going through the body. My blood test shows low on a lot and also low platelets.

Grace Mason Ahh, Interesting! Yes mine shunts left to right. Definitely worth questioning your doc.❤️

Dorothea Jenkinsposted an update

190 days ago

Grace Mason reacted to this

I had the TEE test and Dr. Raza said the aortic valve is not ready to be replaced. Before that test it showed it was severe with the symptoms I have. I checked ...Read more

I had the TEE test and Dr. Raza said the aortic valve is not ready to be replaced. Before that test it showed it was severe with the symptoms I have. I checked my blood work and platelets 86, plus several blood test like hemaglobin was low. I will go back to the hemocologist to see how to get the platelets up. Dr. Raza thinks my symptoms could be old age but I don't think it is. I'm researching and all the low's on blood test I'm checking them out. DR. Raza said a lot of doctors would not do a TEE with someone with platelets below a 100 but he wanted to be sure and I am glad I don't have to have the valve replaced now but at the same time I want to get the symptoms taken care of.

Grace Mason Dorothea, I'm so glad to hear you were able to get the TEE and get a closer look at your valve. Keep... Read more

Grace Mason Dorothea, I'm so glad to hear you were able to get the TEE and get a closer look at your valve. Keep being your own best advocate. I hope you can find some answers and start feeling better

Dorothea Jenkinsposted a journal

221 days ago

Miriam Priest-Benedict reacted to this

I am now moderate-severe aortic valve stenosis. I have started feeling very weak and head feels spinning like I might fall. My son got me to call the doctors ...Read more

I am now moderate-severe aortic valve stenosis. I have started feeling very weak and head feels spinning like I might fall. My son got me to call the doctors office but I did not want to be a pest as it was only Aug when I had echocardiogram. I have gotten an appointment with my doctor next week to see if it is time. Has anybody had it done in Louisville KY? I was going to Indy but it would be a burden on family. I just recently had cancer on my face and got me a hat to wear so I changed my picture.

Rose Madura Hi Dorothea, I'm sorry you are having all this at once. There is a surgeon finder on this site and I ... Read more

Rose Madura Hi Dorothea, I'm sorry you are having all this at once. There is a surgeon finder on this site and I came up with six. I can't vouch for them since I'm from Ohio but at least it will help in your research. Please keep us posted. I couldn't post the results here but look for the surgeon finder. On my phone, it's in the upper right corner.

Miriam Priest-Benedict Thank you for sharing. I like your picture and your new hat!

Dorothea Jenkins I also have low platelets so Sat I am having a blood test which I never had this kind of blood test. ... Read more

Dorothea Jenkins I also have low platelets so Sat I am having a blood test which I never had this kind of blood test. Tuesday I will have a TESS test and Dr. Pagni which I got off this site said right after the TESS test to make an appointment. I figure it will be soon. I am a little scared of having something put down my throat and could cause bleeding.

Marie Myers The risk is pretty low for bleeding with the tube-in - throat test. Your doctor will advise you on th ... Read more

Marie Myers The risk is pretty low for bleeding with the tube-in - throat test. Your doctor will advise you on that, and hopefully you can get that done so you can plan your next steps. I had sedation for that test and it was very easy on me. Keep us posted!