About Me (In My Own Words)
I've known my entire life I had a heart murmur. I remember when I was a child a doctor telling my mother I would grow out of it. Well needless to say that never happened.
In 1998 I was hospitalized at SAMC in Dothan, AL. I went through several tests for different issues. I was diagnosed with Pernicious Anemia. At that time the doctor also informed me that I had a leaky valve and that it would have to be replaced eventually. He said later in life, like 60's and beyond. And that was it. He didn't seem concerned or ever told me to keep that condition checked on a regular basis.
So I went on with my life as normal.
I was also diagnosed with high blood pressure, which was controlled with medication. I've always been a salt freak so we attributed the hbp to salt intake.
I cut down on the salt in my diet, started feeling better, and took it upon myself to cut out the meds as well. BIG MISTAKE on my part.
I have been noticing for maybe 6 to 8 months now that my blood pressure was elevated again. But I was so busy with work I just kept putting off going to the doctor. I jad frequent headaches and sometimes chest pains, but just kept ignoring them. So I'm hard headed as you can tell.
I probably would have kept putting the dr. visit off except in January of this year I was shocked into going
Around the 15th of January I fell a lump in my left breast. I immediately was terrified and made a doctor appt. for January 26th.
So I went to doctor and had a check up and physical and was sent for a mammogram. The doctor also prescribed hbp medication that day as well. And asked questions abouy my heart murmur and also scheduled an echo that day.
The mammogram was a breeze and I was informed I had dense breast and what I felt was a cyst. My breast were fine.
Then the dr. called me back in and said she wanted to refer me to a cardiologist because of her concerns with the test results.
The cardiologist informed me that I had aortic stenosis and that it was severe and I needed to start preparing myself for surgery probably in 8 months.
So she immediately started scheduling me for several tests and procedures.
I had my first consultation with my surgeon last month and he informed me of how severe my condition is and that I was too young to have a tissue valve. He answered alot of my questions and informed me of alot of symptoms and the procedures he would be doing.
He told me I had been living like this for so long that I didn't realize it wasn't normal and that he was gonna make me feel good again. Then he schedules an angiogram. I had that procedure done on the 11th of this month. That's the day I was informed I also had an aneurysm and that surgery needed to happen soon.
So here I am. I have another appt with the surgeon on the 5th of this month to discuss what else will be included in the surgery. That's the day we will more than likely schedule the surgery. I'm gonna assume it will more than likely be the week after, considering the dr. that performed the angiogram and found the aneurysm informed me that he wanted the surgery done withing 3 weeks.
More Info About Me & My Heart
More About Me
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I am from:
Circle Pines, MN
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My surgery date is:
April 29, 2016
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I was diagnosed with:
Aortic Stenosis
Bicuspid Aortic Valve
Aortic Aneurysm
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My surgery was:
Aortic Valve Replacement
Aortic Aneurysm Replacement
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My surgeon is:
Dr. Jong Duk Kim
