rubywhistle
Well-known member
Hi
I am new and I guess I want to share the story and vent a little…
Until 6 months ago I was a fit and positive young mum. For me a horrible night that seemed to come out of the blue left me out of breath, dizzy and panicking - I had felt a tight squeeze in my chest followed by pains over my upper body.
I ended up in emergency with an irregular heartbeat, palpitations, SOB and in a cold sweat. Many Drs and Cardiologists I met along the way went to great pains to tell me it was so unusual for a young person to have a heart condition and that it was most likely an anxiety attack …and ironically…I should not be worried about anything. My family and friends and everyone I know seemed to like those lines as well ‘you are young’ ‘you are healthy’ and ‘don’t be ridiculous’. I know it is what they wanted to believe but it made me feel angry and lonely. I have never been a sickly person or cried wolf! I pushed through work and home duties until finally I was exhausted.
When referred to a specialist I explained I did not feel the same since that night I was told it was 'physiological' and ‘everyone gets tired’. When the ECG and echo results came back I was told that they were showing too serious a condition for me… and that it did not match my current state (still working and doing home duties)….and were most likely wrong.
Finally a second echo and eventually transophegal echo (that I paid for myself to get answers) left us with the diagnosis - severe mitral valve regurgitation due to prolapse and rapidly deteriorating heart failure. Out of the six parts of the valve all six are damaged.
Originally given a date for two weeks after my diagnosis my surgery was cancelled due to heath insurance issues and now very frustratingly I am on a waiting list with no date. My family and friends are still in shock and I love them but they are not helping! (Still chanting ‘you are young and healthy’ ‘I heard lots of people have mitral prolapse and are fine’ and ‘don’t worry’)
I am amazed at the changes in body and mind that the mitral regurgitation has caused! Until recently (with the help of google) I have found my symptoms are actually normal – but defiantly not normal for me!
This site was great - I read through some forums and felt so much better. Talking about it even if its online will be better then bottling it up or scaring my family so what a great idea! THANKS!
I am new and I guess I want to share the story and vent a little…
Until 6 months ago I was a fit and positive young mum. For me a horrible night that seemed to come out of the blue left me out of breath, dizzy and panicking - I had felt a tight squeeze in my chest followed by pains over my upper body.
I ended up in emergency with an irregular heartbeat, palpitations, SOB and in a cold sweat. Many Drs and Cardiologists I met along the way went to great pains to tell me it was so unusual for a young person to have a heart condition and that it was most likely an anxiety attack …and ironically…I should not be worried about anything. My family and friends and everyone I know seemed to like those lines as well ‘you are young’ ‘you are healthy’ and ‘don’t be ridiculous’. I know it is what they wanted to believe but it made me feel angry and lonely. I have never been a sickly person or cried wolf! I pushed through work and home duties until finally I was exhausted.
When referred to a specialist I explained I did not feel the same since that night I was told it was 'physiological' and ‘everyone gets tired’. When the ECG and echo results came back I was told that they were showing too serious a condition for me… and that it did not match my current state (still working and doing home duties)….and were most likely wrong.
Finally a second echo and eventually transophegal echo (that I paid for myself to get answers) left us with the diagnosis - severe mitral valve regurgitation due to prolapse and rapidly deteriorating heart failure. Out of the six parts of the valve all six are damaged.
Originally given a date for two weeks after my diagnosis my surgery was cancelled due to heath insurance issues and now very frustratingly I am on a waiting list with no date. My family and friends are still in shock and I love them but they are not helping! (Still chanting ‘you are young and healthy’ ‘I heard lots of people have mitral prolapse and are fine’ and ‘don’t worry’)
I am amazed at the changes in body and mind that the mitral regurgitation has caused! Until recently (with the help of google) I have found my symptoms are actually normal – but defiantly not normal for me!
This site was great - I read through some forums and felt so much better. Talking about it even if its online will be better then bottling it up or scaring my family so what a great idea! THANKS!
