About Me (In My Own Words)
I had rhuematic fever when I was 10 which damaged my heart valves. In my early twenties I again had symptoms of having rheumatic fever. I went to a DR. and told him I thought I had rhuematic fever and he reassured me that I only had a virus that had settled in my joints, and that I wrong. Greatly relieved I accepted this diagnosis. It wasn't until I gave both to my first child that I learned that I had been correct, and that I had had rheumatic features and it had been misdiagnosed and gone ountreated. Within hours of giving birth to my first child I went into heart failure and ended up in the ICUfor 4 days. It was then that I learned that my valves were very damaged. My cardiologist told me my heart valves looked so damaged that if he were to guess my age by my heart he would have guessed I was in my mid sixties not my early twenties. He confirmed that I had to have had rheumatic fever more than once to have had such damaged valves.
My cardiologist told me at the time that I probably shouldn't have any more children, because it would be too hard for my heart and that I would need to replace my valves within 5 years. Fortunately my cardiologist did work with me and I was able to have two more children. When I gave birth to my second child I was admitted straight to the ICU the day before and had a heart cathider put in. My heart was monitored very closely during delivery and I diverved my son in the ICU unit. After the birth my cardiologist said my heart did better than He thought and gave me the green light to have a third child.
Here I am today. My oldest child celebrated her 28th birthday,and I have been able to hang onto my damaged valves for a lot longer than the 5 years I was first told. My surgery is scheduled for October 29, 2014. I feel so blessed to have put it off for so long. I will be having my aortic valve replaced. Hopefully my mitral valve can be repaired, if not it too will be replaced and I will also have a maze procedure.
More Info About Me & My Heart
More About Me
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I am from:
Utah
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My surgery date is:
November 29, 2014
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I was diagnosed with:
Aortic Regurgitation
Aortic Stenosis
Mitral Regurgitation
Mitral Stenosis
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My surgery was:
Aortic Valve Replacement
Mitral Valve Repair
Maze Procedure
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My surgeon is:
Dr. James Dane
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My hospital is:
Utah Valley Regional Medical Center
