Jackie's Surgery tomorrow 1/27

[weekycat]

I talked to Jackie at church this morning, and found out she is going down to St. Mary's tomorrow to have the hole in heart fixed.

She does eventually need valve replacement, but will wait 5 years for that. She said this is not open-heart surgery, but rather, they will go up through an artery in the leg. The doctors have told her that the hole in her heart, not the valve problem as she had thought previously, is the cause of her current symptoms so this should take care of them.

Please keep her in your prayers.

 

[Nancy]

HI Jackie-

I'm wishing you all the best with your surgery tomorrow. You'll be in my thoughts and prayers. Please let us know how it went.

 

[John Cochran]

Hi Jackie,
The procedure for dealing with holes in the heart has taken a huge leap forward in recent years! I know they now have the capability to, via catheter, insert a small device into the hole that is much like a tiny folded umbrella. Once in position, the "umbrella" is opened and drawn up tight against the hole. Is this the procedure you're having done? I believe they used to have to fix this kind of problem with open-heart surgery, but no more. Ain't progress great!

Best wishes,
--John

 

[hensylee]

Hey, Jackie - I have been watching the calendar and didn't see your name til this morning. I wish you the very best in getting that hold fixed. Then you should feel new again. GODSPEED

 

[sylviayasgur]

hi jackie!
i probably missed you , but just wanted to let you know that you are in my thoughts and prayers today.

jean,
thank you so much for posting about jackie. will you be keeping us up to date on her condition?

hoping all goes well.
all the best, sylvia

 

[jackie]

Thanks for your prayers everyone

Thanks for your prayers everyone

Well, today is Wednesday and I'm back from Rochester. The hole in my heart that was recently found by TEE was fixed and I'm on my way. The heart catheter surgery took 3 hours. The docs put one catheter in my left femoral artery, one in my right femoral artery and one in my right vein. I had an echo, balloon and the device in these 3 separate catheters.

It was pretty amazing--I was awake for the whole procedure. They keep you that way so they can get accurate oxygen readings of your heart. (Just on the edge w/sedation). I was able to view this fantastic procedure--saw them thread these catheters up to my heart. The device that was placed in the hole was an 8 mm Amplatzer Septal Occluder. Dr. Hagler w/Dr. Yoe from Mayo did an excellent job. I even brought pictures home of the inside of my heart.

I'll be on Coumadin and an aspirin for 6 months and then if all goes well, I'll be down to 1 baby aspirin a day for maintenance. By then, tissue will form over the device and any danger of clotting should be gone. I'll be able to start exercising in 2 weeks. I just need to watch for any arrhythmia's for the next 2-4 weeks.

I'll have 4-5 years to think about what I want to do w/the bicuspid aortic valve. (Mechanical vs. natural). Still up in the air. But I sure would like to avoid the coumadin. My surgeon agrees--long-term coumadin if can be avoided, is best. I hope this helps my odd symptoms--cuz no other BAV has my symptoms.

Thanks for all your support!
A very grateful...
Jackie

 

[weekycat]

Hi Jackie

Hi Jackie

I hope you didn't mind my posting a prayer request for you! I'm glad to hear all went well, and you're back home. Let me know if there's anything I can do for you, I'm just a phone call away.

 

[jackie]

Oops - forgot to mention

Oops - forgot to mention

I failed to mention--Mayo also found out I had Factor V Leiden Mutation (FVL). Which, from my understanding, might be causing clotting on that hole in my heart and giving me TIAs. It's hereditary and I have heterozygous, which is one mutated gene from my mom or my dad. (Homozygous is from both parents and it's more rare). If anyone knows about FVL or has it, I'd like to know anything you do to avoid clots.

Thanks again,
Jackie

 

[hensylee]

Sounds like you are in fine fettle. Very good news. And congratulations on a great success. God bless

 

[terry40]

Jackie

Jackie

Great news, it's amazing what they can do now through a cath tube/or two.

You still have a full plate, but breathe a sigh of relief for this sucessful repair.

Terry40

 

[richie rich]

HI JACKIE

I POSTED SOME PERSONAL INFO ON YOUR OTHER THREAD. MY ADVICE IS TO GET A MECHANICAL VALVE. FORGET THE TISSUE. IT IS NOT WORTH IT IN YOUR CASE. I HAVE A TISSUE AND I AM EXTREMELY HAPPY WITH IT. THE DIFFERENCE IS THAT I DO NOT HAVE YOUR BLOOD DISORDER. WITH THE MECHANICAL YOU MAY NEVER NEED A RE-OP BUT WITH A TISSUE YOU ARE ALMOST GUARANTEE A RE-OP. EACH TIME YOU HAVE SURGERY YOU RUN THE RISK OF BLEEDING TO DEATH. MY WIFE ALMOST DIED LAST YEAR. SHE WAS IN DIC AND THEY COULD NOT STOP THE BLEEDING. FORNATELY THEY FINALLY STOPPED THE BLEEDING. SHE WAS IN THE HOSPITAL FOR 6 DAYS. I HOPE THIS HELPS.

RICH