Hi everyone. I am new here and wanted to stop in an introduce myself. My name is Laura and I am from Wisconsin. I am the mother of 5 and am 37 (well, i will be in a couple of weeks). I recently found out I need my pulmonary valve replaced. My surgery is scheduled for March 23rd. Here is my short version of me.
I was born 37 years ago with Pulmonary Stenosis ( a narrowing of the Pulmonary valve in the heart). I had surgery at just a couple days of age. I again at age 6 had another open heart surgery to put a "patch" in the pulmonary valve.
I had a pretty normal childhood after that and did what all the other kids could do.
About 5 years ago, i started to have a lot of palpatations in the heart and pain in the chest. I saw my doctor and every time I saw him he would either say it was a pulled muscle, panic attacks, pinched nerve, etc.
In April of 2006 I was rushed to the emergency room with a heart rate of over 300bpm. After spending several days in the ICU, the doctors put in a Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator.
My symptoms didn't subside and some got worse. I just learned to live with them.
In January of 2009, I started to swell everywhere. I did what most people do when they have swelling. I layed off salt, elevated my extrematies above my heart. This was not helping and so I decided to go to the doctor.
My family doctors office ordered an Echocardiogram, Chest x-ray, EKG, Venus Doppler Ultrasound on my legs to check for clots and lots of lab work. I had the Echo done the next morning and after that was in the room having the Ultrasound done when a woman came in and said are you Laura David. I said yes. She said, your Doctor is on the phone and needs to talk to you. It was during that conversation that I found out the Echo they had just finished showed something very wrong. It was with my valve.
So long story short, there were lots of other tests, doctors appts and such after that. I am now waiting for a heart valve replacement that will be done on March 23rd. I hope after this I can be active again and get back to being Mom.
I look forward to getting to know all of you. I'm sure I will have lots of questions. I have already learned so much from this site. Thank you!
Laura
I was born 37 years ago with Pulmonary Stenosis ( a narrowing of the Pulmonary valve in the heart). I had surgery at just a couple days of age. I again at age 6 had another open heart surgery to put a "patch" in the pulmonary valve.
I had a pretty normal childhood after that and did what all the other kids could do.
About 5 years ago, i started to have a lot of palpatations in the heart and pain in the chest. I saw my doctor and every time I saw him he would either say it was a pulled muscle, panic attacks, pinched nerve, etc.
In April of 2006 I was rushed to the emergency room with a heart rate of over 300bpm. After spending several days in the ICU, the doctors put in a Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator.
My symptoms didn't subside and some got worse. I just learned to live with them.
In January of 2009, I started to swell everywhere. I did what most people do when they have swelling. I layed off salt, elevated my extrematies above my heart. This was not helping and so I decided to go to the doctor.
My family doctors office ordered an Echocardiogram, Chest x-ray, EKG, Venus Doppler Ultrasound on my legs to check for clots and lots of lab work. I had the Echo done the next morning and after that was in the room having the Ultrasound done when a woman came in and said are you Laura David. I said yes. She said, your Doctor is on the phone and needs to talk to you. It was during that conversation that I found out the Echo they had just finished showed something very wrong. It was with my valve.
So long story short, there were lots of other tests, doctors appts and such after that. I am now waiting for a heart valve replacement that will be done on March 23rd. I hope after this I can be active again and get back to being Mom.
I look forward to getting to know all of you. I'm sure I will have lots of questions. I have already learned so much from this site. Thank you!
Laura
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