About Me (In My Own Words)
In 7th grade, my world changed when a physician stopped by and performed physicals for all the athletes in my middle school. He told me that I had a heart murmur. My family and I were in disbelief, because I had routine check ups my whole life and it had never been detected. We followed up with a pediatric group that came to my home town, after very embarrassing testing (imagine with me- age 12 years old, female. My parents were standing on one side of the room while a team of white coats stood on the other side while I had to run on a treadmill- with no shirt, no gown. They were standing and staring and in my mind were eating pop corn watching the show. I swore at that moment, when I became an adult- I would never EVER do this again!) It was confirmed- I did have a murmur. I was told a very silent murmur that would never cause me any problems until I was in my 80's. I would perform experiments over the next several years- if I told the physician that I had a heart murmur- they ALWAYS heard it, but if I didn't tell them- they ALWAYS said everything sounds great. So, into my adulthood that silent murmur became silent to me as well. I married my amazing husband, Brad- he is a RN in the Cardiac Cath Lab. I pursued a career in Paramedicine. We have 3 children- exactly as we said we would. We planned for a boy first, Cooper and then 2 girls, Aubreann and Brooklyn. And, you know, it happened exactly that way. I did become increasingly tired with each pregnancy and started experiencing SOA, bradycardia, chest pains. I was 34 around that time. I brushed it off for a while. I was a Paramedic and 34 year olds did NOT have chest pain- they had anxiety! Made sense. My job was very stressful. Working very long hours and seeing people at their worst and then the physical hardship of the lifting in and out of homes, beds etc. My husband urged me to see a cardiologist. I reluctantly did. I knew some really great cardiologist, but I didn't go to one of them. I was very embarrassed and wanted someone that I didn't already have a working relationship with. The one I chose looks like the bad guy off of Phineas and Ferb. He is pretty much a bad cardiologist too. He ran the right testing, but told me that I was good to go. Only the murmur that I had always had. He didn't even recommend that I follow up with him yearly. My husband would want me to add that he wasn't working in the Cath Lab at that time and he didn't have any idea on the Cardiologist that I selected. I went on my way. I had baby number 3 after this report. Fast forward a few years to age 37 (almost 38 at the time). I incidiently found that I have an aortic aneurysm from an MRI that was looking at something unrelated. I'm now 38, and have followed up with the good Cardiologist and have had appropriate testing. I have a bicuspid aortic valve with moderate to severe regurgitation, aortic aneurysm 4.3 cm, and a bovine arch. What was in the future for OHS has become now. I am absolutely shaken to the core, and have to remind myself, "God gave me this life because I am strong enough to live it."
More Info About Me & My Heart
More About Me
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I am from:
Bowling Green, Kentucky
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My surgery date is:
November 29, 2018
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I was diagnosed with:
Aortic Regurgitation
Bicuspid Aortic Valve
Pulmonary Regurgitation
Tricuspid Regurgitation
Aortic Aneurysm
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My surgery was:
Aortic Valve Replacement
Aortic Aneurysm Replacement
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My surgeon is:
Dr. Paul Moore
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My hospital is:
Med Center Health
