About Me (In My Own Words)
I have always been fairly healthy, kept my weight down, and I was active. In my mid 40's I took a desk job, and put on some weight, but my blood pressure was always in the normal range, heart rate was good, no murmur, etc. A couple of years ago, I started getting bronchitis off and on, around 53 years old. My vitals were always normal, but the cough was real bad. It usually would start with a sinus infection. I'm not a smoker. About a year ago, I was at work walking to the parking garage, and I felt shortness of breath. I had been suffering with that cough. Employee Health gave me an inhaler and antibiotics for a sinus infection, and it seemed to clear up. Last October, I was t-boned at a stop sign by someone going at least 40 mph. I had severe seat belt injuries to my chest, stomach and neck and many hematomas. An x-ray revealed no broken bones. But, my sternum was bruised, and I needed help getting out of bed for a month and physical therapy. Fast forward to this past spring 2017. The cough was back. Vitals didn't look bad, as usual, and PA thought it was a sinus infection gone into my usual cough and so did I. I received another inhaler and antibiotics. Two nights later, I was up all night feeling a sensation of being unable to get a full breath. I could breathe, if I sat up, but if I lie down, it was shallow. First thing in the morning, I told my husband who took me to the doctor. My heart rate was up. Doctor wanted to send me for an x-ray. We speculated that it could be pneumonia, but she was probably already concerned it could be my heart. I had mentioned that my mom and maternal aunt had mitral valve leakage and repairs. It didn't occur to me before, because I never had any heart symptoms! Next thing I know a bed is waiting for me at the hospital. The echo-cardiogram revealed a 40 percent leakage, and that is what was causing my cough. My lungs had fluid in them. I may have had a more mild leak for some time, which was exacerbated by the trauma of the accident. Either way, here I was in need of surgery at 55 years old. Up until this time, the only medication I had generally taken was when I got sick, so it was very traumatic to accept. Dr. Davis was very reassuring and confident. This put me at ease. They sent me home for three weeks on medication, and on July 10th, I had surgery. I was home on July 14th. The sternotomy was not fun. No sleep the first month in a recliner. I started to feel stronger and more active throughout the summer. I was sent home on just an 81 mg aspirin and vitamins. I lost 25 pounds due to no appetite, and I planned on keeping it going. In early Sept, I had my appt. with a cardiologist. He put me on generic Coreg, which I had been on previously to my surgery. Even though my BP is normal, my heart rate is high, 103ish. I am told this can take time to get back to normal, and this medication lowers the heart rate. This medication is making me feel awful. I am extremely weak. I really want to lower my heart rate with exercise, but I can't do that feeling this way. It's a bit of a roller coaster, but I am grateful to be alive, and I am waiting to hear from cardiologist about alternative medication or I keep hoping no medication! On a positive note, when I breathe in, I can actually feel the difference in the oxygen I am getting. It takes longer to feel strong, I am learning, than we may want, but I have had some really good days. Just need to get this medication thing adjusted. This site has been encouraging to me, and helps me to feel less alone in what I am going though, so I decided to join and share my story.
More Info About Me & My Heart
More About Me
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I am from:
Fountain Inn, SC
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My surgery date is:
July 10, 2017
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I was diagnosed with:
Mitral Regurgitation
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My surgery was:
Mitral Valve Repair
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My surgeon is:
Dr. Barry Davis
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My hospital is:
Greenville Hospital, Greenville, SC
