Stroke ?

[karin]

Hello,
My name is Karin, 36 years.
I wonder if there are people who (just like myself) have had a stroke after their heart-operation.
I had a valve replacement on januari 2001 and i have a stroke since.
Please tell me...are there more people as I ?

ps. Forgive me my bad Englisch....I'm dutch !

Karin

 

[Nancy]

Hi Karin-

Just wanted to welcome you to this wonderful site. I can't help you with stroke issues, but I believe there might be some others who can. We also have a terrific member named Christina who is Dutch also. I'm sure she'll give you a proper welcome in your language.

You will love the friendships you make here. Everyone understands about heart surgery and we're all very friendly.

I hope we see you here often.

Today is a holiday, so it might be a little slow as far as replies to your post, but tomorrow will be better, I'm sure.

 

[karin]

stroke

stroke

Hi Nancy,

Just want to say that 'that friend' of mine Christina was.
She told me of this site.
Christina is just great....she sent me flowers while i wass in the hospital.
Hope that there are people who will help me with my question !
I refuse to think that i'm the only one who wass that unlucky !
Ok, i know that it may happens not so many times during a heartoperation but i feel so lonely...

 

[Christina]

Welkom Karin...

Welkom Karin...

Hallo Karin,

Hoe kan ik je helpen Karin? Ik weet dat je een stroke hebt gehad na je operatie in 2001. Gaat het nu een beetje, of nog niet zo goed?
Ik had al zolang niks meer van je gehoord, dus ik dacht dat alles weer goed met je was. Laat vlug wat van je horen en zodra ik je post zie zal ik daarop antwoorden. Okay?
Mijn e-mail adres is hetzelfde: [email protected]

Hugs,

PS... Folks, I seem to remember that the stroke affected one side of Karin's body, and she lost the use of one of her arms. I forget which side. I hope she'll update us on this, and I will translate if needed. I had not heard from her in a long time, and I had to think back to remember who she was. When she didn't respond anymore to my e-mails, I thought she was doing better.

 

[Ross]

Hi Karin and welcome.

You are not the only one that has had a stroke. I had one after my first surgery in 1995. Mine wasn't terribly bad. It went to the vision portion of my brain for the left side. I have had no lasting effects from it. As a precautionary measure, the surgeon installed a "Greenfield Filter or Hemashield Device" you can see it here, that is supposed to stop and hold any clot until it dissolves.

Am I to assume that you've had more of a major stroke? What all has it affected for you?

 

[medtronic of borg]

strokes are not new

strokes are not new

I have had several small old and new...had several with my last surgery. My memory is shot all to hell, my vision was a little blerrry, and i'm dizzy off and on. They also excaterbated a nerological condition i deal with as well. So listen when I say YOU ARE NOT ALONE!!!!!

Medtronic of Borg

 

[Kim]

I have a friend who had an aortic valve replaced one year ago this week. He had two TIA's (mini strokes with symptoms lasting only a few minutes to 15, I believe, and with no permanent damage) within 24 hours of each other. They occured before he was dismissed from the hospital.

Approximately 4 weeks after my surgery, when my INR was only 1.3, I experienced several episodes of double vision and then a large brown spot in my vision all within 8-12 hours of each other. At the emergency room I was told I probably had a TIA. I also experienced periods of memory lost several times after my surgery. It was a very scary time. The memory losses might have been from my 14+ hours of being on the heart lung machine and under anesthetic for so long.

My surgeon told me that the risk of stroke from a blood clot is the highest right after surgery, when the valve is new. As time passes, the risk decreases somewhat, but will never go away.

Welcome to this sight!!!

 

[Nancy]

Hi Karin-

I know I said I couldn't help you with the stroke issue because my husband has never had a full-blown stroke. I assumed you had a full blown stroke

But he has had about 16 TIAs which many people call mini strokes. They do not leave any lasting damage, but there is some recent thinking that they can leave cumulative residual damage. Like Kim said they last about 15 minutes. He had a couple right after having his aortic valve replaced, and the rest prior to having his mitral valve replaced.

Here is what I said in a prior post:

"They can have various symptoms. I'll mention a few that Joe has had. They were all temporary.

Vertigo

Blindness in one eye (several times)

Blindness in both eyes (a couple of times)

Stabbing pain in his head

Speaking "garbage", unintelligible words

Not remembering how to do simple things like winding up the garden hose

Falling out of bed

Confusion

Joe had to see a neurology specialist. Interestingly enough, the specialist was able to tell us exactly what area of the brain the clot had traveled, from the symptoms we told him. He was on Plavix for a short time. But not on that any longer."

His Coumadin (warfarin) level was OK at the time. But we were told that it had to be well controlled.

 

[LUVMyBirman]

Hi Nancy,

That's a long list. I hope Joe has not had too many symptoms at once. Thank the good Lord there were no lasting issues.

I have had maybe 3 visual episodes. Along with the aura some of us have. They happen when my hormones fluctuate, interesting huh? Have been tracking this for 2 years now. Tried to blame a lot of my problems on my valve. Point in matter, once you reach your mid 30's your body starts to go though changes. My doctors are leaning towards hormonal. Even with the migraines. My CT's have been negative for TIA and or stroking.

Karin, I hope you are recovering well. Was your INR within range during your stroke? You may want to try a PM "private message to Tammy. She had a stroke and as I understand she has recovered fully. Just noticed your age. Are you taking hormones or any type of birth control? Not trying to be forward....my doctors forbid these medications for myself as they have the potential to cause clots.

 

[joy]

Hi Karin and Welcome to the site! I had a TIA in January. I had a Bovine valve, so I was only on aspirin at the time, but my cardiologist put me on Coumadin definately, and my PCP says that it will probably be a lifetime thing. When I had my TIA, I was in the grocery store, and my heart started beating really fast, and all of the sudden it felt like the whole store was leaning to the right, and then it felt like I was leaning to the right, and I couldn't walk straight. I got sort of confused and weak on my right side, so I called the cardiologist fellow on call and they told me to get to the ER immediately, so I did. They can't tell you if you've had a TIA unless you are going through it while you are in the hospital, but when I talked to my cardio, he said it definately sounded like it and told me I needed someone in my area to be in charge of my coumadin.

This is a great site, there is a wealth of information, and I am so glad I found it while searching for valve type and brands. I came across it. Glad to have you in our big cyber family!

 

[Nancy]

Hi Gina-

He only had one at a time, that was enough. And he hasn't had any since his mitral was repaired. I hope I never see another one. They are frightening.

 

[bvdr]

Hi Karen

Hi Karen

Welcome to this site. I'm sorry about your stroke. Stroke is a risk with any surgery but particularily with any type of heart or vascular surgery. I worked as a nurse in a busy emergency department for many years and we saw many. Many people regain back much of what they lost and I hope that happens with you.

My mother was born in Amsterdam and my father's family was from Friesland. Most of my relatives came to the United States right before World War II or shortly after. Even though I don't speak Dutch, I do have a love for your beautiful country. God bless you Karen. Betty Van de Riet

 

[Jean]

Dear Karen,

When I had my av replaced, I had a small stroke . When I woke up I had very little use of my left hand. They did a MRI or brain scan...I cannot remember which...on the way to my room from CICU. Then the next day they started my therapy....from squeezing a ball to picking up tiny aluminum slivers. Within about 2 months I had a lot of it back and by 6 mos. I was probably about 75% back. Now , 3 years later, I have much normal function.

I hope your stroke was not too severe and that you are recovering.

 

[Georgia]

Welcome, Karin

Welcome, Karin

Hello, Karin. I'm very fortunate in that I do not have any stroke experiences to share. I just want to say that we're glad to have you join us and hope you will continue.

And you certainly do better in English than I'd do in Dutch - or any other language!

 

[sylviayasgur]

hi karin!
welcome to this great site. as you can see, you are not alone.
my family is also dutch (from aruba) and my youngest brother lives in wassenaar with his girlfriend.

mijn nederlands is heel erg omdat ik het nooit hebruik. ik spreek wel met mijn ouders, maar ik schrijf het nooit, zo, ik hoop dat je dit kunt verstaan.
heb jij nog gebruik van jou armen en beenen? hoe erg was jou "stroke"? was het een mini, of kleintje? was het een grote? ik hoop dat je, met therapy, beter kunt worden.
sorry dat mijn nederlands so slecht is; jou engels is veel beter!!!!
ik hoop dat jij ons laat weten wat met jou gebeurt.
all the best, groeten, sylvia

 

[John & Joann]

Hi Karin,

Welcome to this great site. Joann had a major stroke 27 years after her double valve surgery. Fortunately, she has only a VERY minor residual reminder. She had approximately 20 TIA's after the 2nd double valve surgery and 3 bypass.

She is doing GREAT! We live an active life, but watch everything.

They "think" that her TIA's came from the scar tissue that was scrapped during the 2nd surgery.

The first stroke was a result of the stiching getting old and allowing vegitation to grow on the loose stiching.

We are blessed and realize that life is a gift from God.

 

[Tammy]

HI

HI

Hi Karin,

Welcome. I hope you are on your way to a full recovery from your stroke. You have found a place for tremendous support when you need it most. I had a mild stroke last year, 13 years after my valve replacement surgery. The stroke only effected my speech and with speech therapy I am back to 95%. I still notice it a little.

I am taking more Coumadin now and hopefully that will eliminate future problems. That you had a stroke so soon after surgery could indicate that it was maybe a complication from the surgery.
What is your Doctor saying about the probable cause. I do know arrythmia (sp), irregular heart beat, can cause a stroke. The Doctor determined that mine was caused from debris (so to speak) from around the Mitral Valve.

If you want to talk further, feel free to e-mail me at [email protected].

Have a Great day.

Tammy
MVR 04/06/89

 

[karin]

Hi there,

Thanks for the reactions. I doesn't feel alone anymore .

I want to share a part of my story whit you all.
I was born with heartproblems.
My aorta has a leak and my valve also had a (big) leak.
Get my first operation when I had the age of 9.
Then for a few years it went alright.
But the problem became a big problem while I was 20.
Then I get my second one.
This time they tought they could manice with a reconstuction.
After that it became a hospital time for me.
At the age of of 23 I get a ross-procedure.
And two years later i had another reconstruction (two times).
The last one was in 2001 at the age of 34.
Now my doctor desite that it was time for a mecanical valve and a new part of aorta.
You can understand that day change my hole life....
I get a new valve, a new part of aorta and a stroke.
I was in a coma for about a week.
My husband was desperate....he doesn't know what he can expact when I became awake.
Lucky me, I went awake.
But I can't use my right hand and my right knee !
I had many therapys and I had the feeling that I can't be any better.
It all happens for more than two years ago.

The first year was my therapy year, the second one was my acceptation year.
And now I've accepted my life....
Maybe i'm changed, but so what ?
I can be very angry, very happy...But I am who I am.
But the most importend thing what I've learned is that I can accepted the things and people who they are...
And after a difficult couple of years i can say : I'm lucky....I get a second chanche...

Thanks for reading my story.
Lots of love, Karin (the Netherlands)