New Here

[HeatherT]

I just wanted to express my thanks for this site being here. I haven't been able to read alot of the information here yet, but that will be a work in progress.

My husband was diagnosed in June with Acute Mitral Regurgitation. He is still in the testing phase. I guess that means they run every test they can think of so they can figure out everything that might be wrong and of course where he is at with this problem.

We are lucky in that so far he has few symptoms. We are told that we can change lifestyle things and medicate to perhaps delay the inevitable surgery. My husband is 44 and experiencing a wide range of emotions as a result of all of this. I am starting to look around and educate myself, so that I can help and support him as i have always done. I don't have to live with the disease, I do have to live with him.

The good news is that the Doctors found that my husband does in fact have a heart. The children and I were all glad to hear this news. (Sorry we try and laugh... that one was his)

I hope you will all forgive my ramblings and all my questions for the future....

 

[nadi]

Welcome!!

Welcome!!

Welcome to this wonderful site. The members here are wonderful!

Knowledge is POWER, the more you understand, the problem and cure, the better it is. I was a basket case when I was told in late March I had severe mitral regurg. and would need surgery ASAP, prior to that I was (mis)diagnosed with COPD. Everyone here helped get me to a fairly calm place by the time surgery rolled around.

It was suggested to me to read past posts. You can also do searches for specific things, I highly recommend the reading and searching. But like I said before all you have to do is ask. If one person doesn't have the answer just give it a little while and someone will come along that does.


Again welcome!

 

[Guest]

Hi Heather!

I'm glad that you have found your way to VR.com. You will find the most caring and supporting folks, by far at this site. We have all been or are currently in the position that your husband finds himself in at this moment. We will try to attempt to answer your questions as you have them, so don't hesitate to ask!

By the way, what is your husband's name?? Please let him know that the emotions (good and bad) that he may be feeling right now are totally normal and to be expected. I can tell you that matters of your heart health can be rather overwhelming at times. But come to visit us here at the site because we support each other and lift each other up whenever the need arises!

Well, I'm sure more members will be along quickly to welcome you both! When you do post again, fill us in a little more so that we can help you more!

Julia

 

[fyrfytr]

Hi Heather,
Just wanted to Welcome you and your husband to this Wonderful Site. Like Julia said you will find a lot of caring and supportive people on this site. So don't be afraid to ask questions. You both will find that there are a lot of warm hearts here. Just watch out for Ross.
Take Care and again Welcome

Dave
_________________________________
Surgery: 4/21/03
Aortic Aneurysm Repair
AVR, with a St. Jude Mechanical
Heart Center of the Rockies

 

[Nancy]

Hi Heather-

Welcome from another New Yorker. We're from the tri-cities area, in Glenville, near Schenectady.

My husband is the patient and I've been through many, many things with Joe throughout all the years. He had his first valve surgery when he was just a few years older than your husband. He's 72 years old now, and that valve (aortic mechanical) is still with him. He's had two other valve surgeries. He had rheumatic fever as a teen and it affected his heart severely.

After his first valve replacement, he remained a very active man and the surgery saved his life. He's slowed down considerably now, but then he is 72 and entitled to take it easy.

This surgery is done to save your life, and it is highly perfected. The surgeons who do this are experts at what they do and are in and out of hearts all the time. Everything in there they have seen before and know how to fix.

All the feelings you both are having right now are the normal course of events. This is a wonderful website, and once you start reading and learning about the surgery you will start to feel some relief. It's hard at first to read the posts here, but keep reading a little at a time, and your fears will diminish.

By the way, my husband and I use humor to diffuse many serious situations. It works.

So welcome, and I hope we see you here often. Feel free to ask as many questions as you can think of.

 

[John Cochran]

Welcome, Heather!

A sense of humor is one of the most valuable tools in getting through all of this. Knowing that heart surgery is in one's future is a very sobering thing. The folks here are keenly aware of the emotional trials and tribulations that go along with it, and will help you and your husband get through it. Both my adult son and I have had valve surgery within the last two years. We are both back to leading active and fun lives, and have learned that this kind of surgery can change your life for the better.

Hang in there, educate yourselves about the surgery and the choices available, and ask us here questions; most likely, someone here has been there, done that, etc.

Best wishes,
--John

 

[EVELYN]

Hi Heather

Welcome to a wonderful place!!! I'm sure you will feel right at home here. I'm Evelyn, whose husband, Tyce, had AVR surgery in June of 2002....seems like ancient history now, but I can assure you, it wasn't then!!! I, too, am the wife who had to find out as much as I could about this surgery and was lucky enough to find this site. Any question you may have....and I mean ANY question can be answered here. The collective knowledge of this group is unbelievable, but it is the caring and concern that brings us and keeps us close.

We, too, are New Yorkers, but....as you guys call us, "downstaters." Long Island is home for us, eastern part.

Again, welcome to a great place and feel free to ask any questions you may have.

Evelyn

 

[hensylee]

Dear Heather - welcome to our 'heart' home. We all, indeed, have found that we have hearts and we gladly share. Maybe your dear husband will find his way in here, too. He will need his mind eased from time to time during his progression to possible valve replacement. If he doesn't drop by, there are several spouses who do the reading for their loved one as you are doing. There is a great deal to learn from this site. It has brought many down from the ceiling and landed them in a soft spot without so much as a bruise. So hang with us and get the scoop - and even some fun every day. After all, we have Ross........Love Ann

 

[HeatherT]

Wow Wow

Wow Wow

I knew many people would greet me here kindly. I am surprised though and well I feel honored, and lucky to have what seem like a great group of supportive experienced people in my corner.

Not that the Doctors aren't supportive etc... you folks have gone through this yourselves. I don't think this is something we want to be feeling our way through or learn by trial and error. No errors allowed Please!

Many thanks to everyone! BTW Nancy (wife of Joe) was how I heard about this support group. Very active and well informed lady, glad I happened on one of your posts elsewhere.

Once I really get reading through, and yes some of this is hard to read. I will ask my husband, Bob (for those of you that asked) to join up. I am sure that he will have questions and enjoy the support here even more than I will.

This is our first heart related issue in the family. We have never experienced any of this before, and so it is hard to find family to talk to on the topic. So really and truly from my heart, thank you for being here.

 

[ccrawford]

Hi Heather and Bob - I welcome you both to the site. This is THE place to be if you are facing some heart/valve issues. I would strongly encourage you both to spend a lot of time here as it is a great place to learn, and to start to minimize your anxieties about all of this stuff. Many of us were scared to death when we first appeared on this site, and knew absolutely nothing about heart problems and remedies. Thanks to a lot of great people, we made it through surgery, much better informed, and calm as a cucumber through the whole circus. Stick around for awhile and meet the gang-I think you'll like us. Chris

 

[Christina]

Welcome to VR. com...

Welcome to VR. com...

Hello there Heather & Bob, and welcome to this wonderful site. Pull up a chair and get comfy. We are all people who understand and know where you are at this point. Most of us have been there, and done that.
Some of us are still in the waiting room which is the hardest part. But learn all you can learn, and educate yourself. Knowledge is POWER, and the more you know the less you will fear.
Please come back often because we are here to help and support. Ask all you want and someone will be along to answer your question.
Give our regards to Bob.

 

[bvdr]

Welcome to both of you! Do make yourself at home. You will find this is a good place to vent too when you need to....and there will probably be times like that.

It was hard to me to accept that I had heart problems. The first couple of times I mentioned it to anyone it seemed like I had to be talking about someone else. Now that I know that I am still who I was but also with a manageable heart problem I am finding it not that big a deal. Just keep reading and feel free to join in on small talk too where we sometimes just kid around. Before long you will truly feel like part of the family.