M
MaryMichelle
I've watched this website and all of your words for months now but, didn't have the courage to write.....well, I'm so sad about all of it that I'm now going to reach out for some suggestions.
I was 39 years old and had my aortic valve replaced on Jan 18, 2008 with a bovine tissue valve. I had my fourth child 6 months prior (by c-section) and never knew how bad my valve had gotten. I was never advised to see a cardiologist during any of my pregnancies (last echo was when I was 22 years old). After the c-section, I thought I had post partum depression and that my exhaustion was from being "an old mom" at delivery. Needless to say, by December, I couldn't get up a flight of stairs and ended up at a doctors office who said I needed to have my heart checked asap. I ended up having a TEE, Angiogram, and finally sugery within a 3 week period.
I had major complications, due to low blood pressure, that they could not give me most pain meds and I pretty much was "narcotic free" during recovery which made it absolutely horrible.....I was in ICU for 10 days and another 11 in the regular ward. I also had tachycardia and required medications, but no longer take them.
The surgery then caused major problems with my menstral cycle....I would have excessive periods which caused me to be severely anemic. By May, they attempted a surgical procedure to slow my cyles but it did not work and I ended up having a complete hysterectomy "7 months to the day" from my Heart Surgery!
I've been trying to keep working between surgeries (with four kids and a foster child we need the money) and try to stay positive but, I feel so overwhemed with fear of dying and leaving my youngest daughter without a Mom that I have constant nightmares and cry a lot. I have been taking a light antidepressant since before the surgery but, hate medications and don't want to ask for anything else. I'm not anemic anymore and am not so tired but, I still experience shortness of breath from time to time, palpatations, and dizziness....which scares me and I think the valve may be failing but, don't want to incur anymore medical bills for my family, and honestly, I'm sick of being sick!!!
After having 3 major operations and an infant in a 15 month period really has been horrible!! Am I just a whiner? Should spend the money and get counseling? I'm not suicidal in fact, quite the opposite.....I love life and want to live to be way old!!!!!
Anyone else have any of these feelings??? Your suggestions are so welcomed!
Sorry for such a long letter.....Mary M.
I was 39 years old and had my aortic valve replaced on Jan 18, 2008 with a bovine tissue valve. I had my fourth child 6 months prior (by c-section) and never knew how bad my valve had gotten. I was never advised to see a cardiologist during any of my pregnancies (last echo was when I was 22 years old). After the c-section, I thought I had post partum depression and that my exhaustion was from being "an old mom" at delivery. Needless to say, by December, I couldn't get up a flight of stairs and ended up at a doctors office who said I needed to have my heart checked asap. I ended up having a TEE, Angiogram, and finally sugery within a 3 week period.
I had major complications, due to low blood pressure, that they could not give me most pain meds and I pretty much was "narcotic free" during recovery which made it absolutely horrible.....I was in ICU for 10 days and another 11 in the regular ward. I also had tachycardia and required medications, but no longer take them.
The surgery then caused major problems with my menstral cycle....I would have excessive periods which caused me to be severely anemic. By May, they attempted a surgical procedure to slow my cyles but it did not work and I ended up having a complete hysterectomy "7 months to the day" from my Heart Surgery!
I've been trying to keep working between surgeries (with four kids and a foster child we need the money) and try to stay positive but, I feel so overwhemed with fear of dying and leaving my youngest daughter without a Mom that I have constant nightmares and cry a lot. I have been taking a light antidepressant since before the surgery but, hate medications and don't want to ask for anything else. I'm not anemic anymore and am not so tired but, I still experience shortness of breath from time to time, palpatations, and dizziness....which scares me and I think the valve may be failing but, don't want to incur anymore medical bills for my family, and honestly, I'm sick of being sick!!!
After having 3 major operations and an infant in a 15 month period really has been horrible!! Am I just a whiner? Should spend the money and get counseling? I'm not suicidal in fact, quite the opposite.....I love life and want to live to be way old!!!!!
Anyone else have any of these feelings??? Your suggestions are so welcomed!
Sorry for such a long letter.....Mary M.