About Me (In My Own Words)
Ever since I was a small child I would tell people that my heart felt funny. No one really thought anything of it. I remember running laps during my 3rd grade softball practice and telling the coach that my heart was racing. She told me it was normal to beat fast when you exercise and to keep running. Little did they know, my heart was beating up to 250 beats per minute. I didn't get diagnosed with Supraventricular Tachycardia until I was 15.
After my 2nd cardiac ablation in 2003, I was complaining of chest discomfort. I would always get sent home from the ER since I wasn't in SVT and my blood work and EKG was fine. One of the ER doctors mentioned my murmur, which I never had and he assumed I did, and discharged me. I told him that I did not have a murmur and that night I was admitted and diagnosed with moderate to severe aortic insufficiency. I have had 2 more ablations for my SVT, all 4 operations lasting about 6-7 hours each. My last ablation was October 2010.
My most recent hospitalization was in January 2011. I had echos, xrays, angiogram, CT scans, MRI, blood work, EKG, etc. I was in the hospital for about 5 days while the doctors scratched their chins. They were trying to rule out a possible aortic dissection after spotting a hematoma on my aorta in a scan and debate on whether or not I need surgery now or late. I am following up with the surgeon that I met while in the hospital.
I keep my medical records and read everything since my cardiologist likes to leave out important information, like finding nodules on my thyroid in a carotid echo and having my heart rate go in the 30's while I sleep during a holter monitor and calcifications in my lungs seen on chest xrays. He left that information out. I have also notice that all of my valves had trace regurgitation a few years ago and then mild, and now moderate. I am hoping I only need the aortic valve replaced but with that information, I wonder if I need the others fixed too.
I am hoping to get my surgery soon but I have had ongoing insurance issues. I am very symptomatic and have been for years. I don't think it's fair that I was afraid to dance on my wedding night and that some days I get short of breath from just talking on the phone. I am 26 years old, a mother and a wife, a hair stylist and a photographer (www.mistiblu.com) and I am hoping that my story will help someone, and theirs will help me. I also thought I'd write about my progress to keep friends and family updated as well as an outlet through this scary journey.
Thanks for lending an ear!
Misti Blu Day
More Info About Me & My Heart
More About Me
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I am from:
Rockledge, Florida
