Kathleen's Journal

Hi everyone, I've been quiet for awhile. I had my valve surgery at the end of June and now I'm back at work. It's been 10 weeks and I am still tired. I thought I would be "better than before"...but the fatigue is crazy. I'm happy that I can now walk up a flight of stairs without stopping and taking a breath, I am happy that I can walk almost a full mile without stopping...but between the fatigue and walking in the humid weather we're having in NY is just very hard for me to deal with. Any advice! Thanks,

Tomorrow morning I meet the man who will open my chest to work on my bicuspid calcified aortic valve. I pray that the surgery will happen soon. The stress and waiting aniexty is getting to me. My lungs are great but breathing is difficult.

My GP wanted to see me soon after my emergency room visit...which basically determined nothing. Just walking from the parking lot to the office was awful. I had to stop many times to catch my breath. By the time I got to the office I thought I was going to pass out. Thank God the nurse was there and he saw how sick I was. The doc saw me and after a rather normal EKG, tried to convince me nothing was wrong. She asked me to take a short walk with the nurse..which I did. My chest ached and I was dizzy and short of breath. My doc called the cardiologist and he said to get me admitted. My doc didn't think there was anything wrong...but I went. Turns out..I needed a cartherization. The dept couldn't take me to the next afternoon, however. Once in the Cath lab the doc said that he doesn't expect to find anything since my echo and keg show mild to moderate aortic stenosis. Well..in I go for the Cath and their jaws basically dropped when they saw I have severe stenosis and must have a replacement asap. See..echo are not all that accurate. I am a walking time bomb. I'm no we home waiting for an appointment for a TEE, which makes me nervous because I gag. After that is done...then surgery. What an adventure. Has anyone had this surgery at Montifiore in the Bronx? If so..how was it and the care while recouping?

Saw my GP who wanted to check on my 1st ER visit and she told me to hight ail it to the ER. An angioplasty is being planned for tomorrow. I keep losing my breathe when I walk and have a dull ache on my left chest. So it begins.

Saw my GP who wanted to check on my 1st ER visit and she told me to hight ail it to the ER. An angioplasty is being planned for tomorrow. I keep losing my breathe when I walk and have a dull ache on my left chest. So it begins.

Wound up in the ER yesterday due to chest pains. Had blood test, monitors, etc. I was told I was panicked. This is what I'm worried about. .niw every chest pain I will think it's the beginning of an attack. I was dizzy and lightheaded. Now I am afraid I won't take chest pain seriously.