When you say 'getting to you' you probably
When you say 'getting to you' you probably
are like many who haven't had many symptoms that give you a 'sense of doom'.
That feeling, unlike any other symptom you can name, will cure you of any anxiety and fear you might have to proceed. (you will still have some, but far less than would if you had serious symptoms).
Having had two bouts with rheumatic fever, once as a child damaging the Mitral Valve and then a second one as a strappy, skinny 13 year old, that nearly finished me and damaged the aortic valve, I lived with two faulty valves for nearly 40 plus years.
One day in 1999 as I was finished working in the yard, I found I couldn't breathe in, catch may breath.
That led to some panic, a next day doctor's appointment then the full gamut of testing culminating in a Catheterization (the Coronary arteries look great in basic black) and a report advising immediate AV repacement from 3 cardiologists. ( a .25 mg daily dosage of Xanax)
You don't want to experience Congestive heart failure if you can avoid it. Mild CHF is no reason to panic as I did, but no one ever told me it comes in degrees, and mine was just the overworked heart telling me, 'it's time'.
What it DID do, the CHF, is cure me of any hesitation to get the surgery. I figured rightly I would live with the surgery and likely die without it.
That, in turn, led to the the sense of doom, and gave me all the courage I needed to sustain me thru the 9 months of investigation and choosing.
I considered surgery as a relief; the anticipation of what would happen without it, a reason for panic and anxiety.
You can do this. The surgery itself, in the right hands, will be successful 99% of the times it is done, and easier than you think.
The recovery, getting well again, is a bit more problematic and requires some patience.
Those of us with symptoms, the more serious, the more a functioning new valve is appreciated.
For those without symptoms, the 'preventive' nature of the 'benefits' of surgery is a bit lost since there is only now a beginning to reduced activities. The surgery is not as dramatic in results considering how you feel post-op vs pre-op. It may seem not worth it. But mostly uninterrupted activity within 6 weeks of discharge, will be worth it in the end.
I wish when I as 34 the advancements and technology were available that are here today.
Managing a heart condition by gradually cutting one activity after another, (first skiing had to go, then even mild weight lifting, and then hiking, then household remodeling involving heavy objects and enduracne, forget jogging, etc) 'managing' a deteriorating heart, is not a future you would like if it can be corrected now.
