New to forum

[spaige]

Hello all-

I am a 38 year old female that after finishing a sprint triathlon in September I had some trouble breathing. After a visit to my doctor thinking I had asthma found out I had a nickel size hole. I am scheduled for ASD surgery December 8th at Stanford Hospital.

Is this forum the right place for my procedure? It has been helpful reading the pre and post op posts. If not, can you refer me to something similiar?

Thanks in advance,

Sandi Paige

 

[dmoses1]

New, too!!!

New, too!!!

I'm new, too; but I think you're in the right place. These guys have provided me with invaluable information over the past couple of weeks.

Just wait a bit and I'm sure someone will come along who can (and will be happy to) help you.

Glad you found out what was really going on--makes all the difference in the world to know/understand the problem.

 

[Phyllis]

Sandi,
I don't know anything about ASD surgery, but I found this link that is a pretty good description of the surgery and recovery: http://www.mayoclinic.org/atrial-septal-defect/asdsurgery.html
Of course you are welcome and I am sure others who have more to offer or have had the same surgery will be along soon.

 

[spaige]

Thanks so much. This is great and thank you for the welcome.

Sandi

 

[Lynlw]

Hi welcome to the forum. you might look into the adults/w congenital heart defects (CHD) formum, I don't have the link right now, but am sure someone can post it here. I'm not exactly sure at how small an ASD has to e to be closed in the cath lab, but have you looked into that instead of open heart surgery? http://www.amplatzer.com/us/products/asd.html I belong to a few CHD groups since my son was born w/ heart defects and know lots of kids that have had surgery or caths and have done well, Lyn www.caringbridge.org/nj/justinw

 

[geebee]

Sandi,
Welcome.
Although this site is primarily of members who have had (or will have) valve surgery, there is much information on facing/getting through/recovery from open heart surgery. You will find invaluable help here.
Please stick around and let us know how we can help.

 

[spaige]

again, thanks for the welcome.

Lyn, Yes we spoke at length about Cath lab. The hole is a bit big for the procedure. They think it may work, but it wasn't 100%. There was a chance that once in, they would have to stop the procedued and go to surgery.

After speaking with the Dr. who performed my TEE on the east coast (I was visting home for a wedding when this all happened 2 weeks ago) he recommended surgery and then the Dr. at Stanford spoke to me about my choices. Being a borderline patient I opted to have 1 procedure.

Best-
Sandi

 

[Lynlw]

Yes I know how tough the decision is when there are no clear cut answers, some of my friends went right to surgery and others tried the cath first since recovery time is so different and were lucky and avoided surgery and many of them who's docs were doing a preop cath anyway, tried the cath and then had the surgery. ill keep you in my prayers, Lyn

 

[Curtsmum]

Welcome to the site, stick around. Everyone will help you out, where they can with any questions, that may be worrying you. Paula x

 

[Yaps]

Welcome, to our forum, many answers are here, just pull your feet up and you will see,,love the pup

 

[Diane]

Sandi,
Welcome to the site. You will find lots of valuable information and support here. As Lyn suggested, you might also want to visit www.achaheart.org. It is for adults with congenital heart defects and you will find others there that have ASD.

Who is your Dr. at Stanford? I had PVR surgery at Stanford in February. Dr. Hanley was my surgeon.

Keep us posted and hang in there......the wait for OHS is about the worst part of the whole deal! I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.

Diane

 

[George]

Welcome Sandi!
I would also recommend www.achaheart.org Both of these resources have been very supportive to me. These folks have been like an extended family to me as I went through my surgery recently
Best Wishes, George

 

[spaige]

Thanks so much. I will check out that site.

Dr. Hanley is my surgeon as well. He was great at my consult. I am new to the bay area, and he was recommended by 3 different sources.

Dr Hanley spent 1 hour with me and the meeting wasn't over until I had all the information I needed. He had a 10 hour surgery ahead of him. I left the office feeling so much better than I had when I first heard of my problem. It still has only been 2 weeks since my first echo.

Was your experience the same?

 

[Diane]

Yes I was very pleased with Dr. Hanley and the care that I received at Stanford. Dr. Hanley is one of the top rated CHD surgeons in the country. I thought he took his time with me and answered all of my questions regarding the surgery in layman's terms. He also explained to me the reasons why I needed the surgery and what would happen if I didn't have the surgery. I found him to be very kind and compassionate.

I had to wait quite a while to get in to see him on the morning of my consultation appointment because he got stuck on a long-distance conference call. I also had a CT Scan scheduled for that morning. I was getting worried that I wouldn't have enough time with him to get all of my questions answered because I had the CT Scan. When I finally got in to see him, the first thing he said to me was that he had asked his secretary to call over to CT and let them know I would be late. Then he told me that we could take all the time I needed because he didn't want me to feel rushed. He said he wanted to make sure that I had plenty of time to ask all of my questions.

Are you also seeing an ACHD card at Stanford? I am seeing Dr. Murphy. I have also been very pleased with him. He spent over 2 hours with me the first time I went to see him. He went into a very detailed explanation of my defect......much more than any dr. had ever done before.

Diane

 

[spaige]

Diane,

I felt the same way about him. He recommended Dr Murphy and I have a call into his office for a pre visit. I am so pleased to hear about him as well.

What I am gathering from this site and the other sites recommended is that the ASD surgery is a bit shorter, no tubes and a shorter stay in the hospital.

Is that true?

thanks- Sandi

 

[Lynlw]

Diane,

I felt the same way about him. He recommended Dr Murphy and I have a call into his office for a pre visit. I am so pleased to hear about him as well.

What I am gathering from this site and the other sites recommended is that the ASD surgery is a bit shorter, no tubes and a shorter stay in the hospital.

Is that true?

thanks- Sandi

that's not my understanding at all, from the parents I talk to that chose to try the cath first, asd involves going on bypass and all the tubes, just like most open heart surgeries