Find your diamond
Find your jewelry
shape
carat
color
clarity

Who Calling Catmom....

Date: 4/3/2009 1:04:09 PM
Author: Catmom
Aww thanks Linda!! I think it''s going to be a long time before I get anything else. I''m feeling ok, thanks for asking. I only get occasional funky beats now. The ''big'' test is coming up on the 15th so please keep your fingers crossed that the hole has closed up. I don''t even want to think about if it hasn''t.
14.gif
Click to expand...
I have everything crossed for you too. I love your new bracelet. OOOH, very pretty. Your house is gorgeous; I think the flowers are so pretty. The view from the place your stay in Florida looks so nice and relaxing. Hugs to you for next week.
 
Thanks so much marcyc!! The test is a big one for me. If the hole in my heart isn''t fully closed then my chances for another TIA or stroke are high. I may then have to have another closure device put on top of the one I already have or have open heart to remove the first device and close the hole. My stress levels are running pretty high right now.
14.gif
 
Michelle,


Just want you to know that I will be thinking of you on Wednesday, the 15th. Will you please let us know, how your appt goes??? I am sending you tons of fairy does and hugs.

Love, Linda
xoxoxoxoxox
 
Catmom, if I was out there I would take you out to lunch; my strongest prayers and good thoughts are outgoing. You are such a fabulous lady and I am thinking of you for good results on the 15th.
Your friend,
 
Oh my, had no idea Catmom. I am sending biggest prayers for you on the 15th. Praying all will go well.
12.gif


I know it will. It has to.
1.gif


Hugs and love, Lisa. xxxoooo
35.gif
 
Thanks guys, you make me feel ever so much better! I''m trying not to dwell on it today so not to drive myself crazy. I really appreciate all the dust I can get. I''ll know right away during the test. They do an echocardiogram and while doing that they insert an IV and squeeze the bag so that bubbles will go into your blood stream. You can see the bubbles enter your heart and if any of the bubbles go from one side of the heart into the other then the hole is still open. Please pray that the bubbles stay where they belong!
 
You have our prayers sweet Michelle. Those bubbles just had better STAY where they belong. PLEASE let us know ASAP ok? We will be worried, until we hear from you tomorrow after your appointment.


Love, Linda
xoxoxoxoxox
 
Thanks Linda, but they were BAD bubbles. The hole still isn''t closed although there were less bubbles going through than last time which is good I guess. Don''t know what the next step is yet. I have to wait for my cardiac surgeon to get the test results.
7.gif
 
OH noooooooooooooooo Michelle. I am so sorry to hear this. I feel so bad for you sweetheart.

Well, we will be sitting right here, waiting with you to see what the next step is. Please let us know when you hear.

A big hug to you my friend.


Love, Linda
xoxoxoxox
 
Oh Catmom, I am sorry; I will pray it closes (praying that less bubbles means it eventually closes). Huge hugs dear friend.
 
Thanks so much Skippy and Linda. It means a lot to me.
 
Michelle, I never saw this thread before so I''ve been catching up. First off, I''m so sorry your bubble test didn''t go well. Is the hole a congenital issue? Keeping my fingers crossed that they can effectively treat it.

On a happier note, you and your home and family are beautiful! What an interesting life story you have. And I''m already married, but I''d TOTALLY rent your sapphire suite!
9.gif
 
Hi Selkie, thanks for joining in! It''s a hole that everyone has while in the womb. It''s in between the two upper chambers of the heart and allows for the blood to circulate through the heart without having to be filtered by the lungs since a baby''s lungs aren''t developed yet. It''s supposed to close by shortly after birth. In about 20% of people it doesn''t close at all and normally that''s not a problem but in the lucky 1-2% it causes strokes because the blood going between the heart chambers is not filtered. I had a mini stroke last Feb and my PFO was discovered plus I also have another problem with the wall seperating the atria[upper chambers]. It''s loose and floppy and can balloon out. I had a heart catheterization procedure done last April to insert a device between the upper chambers to close the hole and shore up the wall. I lucked out because my device was only FDA approved 6 months before my procedure was done. I was the first one getting this device that my cardiac surgeon had done so we had 3 manufacturers representatives in the operating room with us. Normally it takes 6-12 months for the hole to totally close after the device is in place but my hole was quite large. Yesterday was my one year post procedure check up and my hole has still not closed totally. I''m waiting to hear from my cardiac surgeon as to what the next steps are. It could be that since there has been some progress that he may want to wait another six months. I''m sure I''ll still have to take the drugs I''m on . I was so looking forward to getting off them. I look like my husband beats me every day and if I knock into something just a little bit I develop these huge hematomas that take weeks to go down.
14.gif
The research I''ve read though looks like if the hole hasn''t closed after a year it never will. Then the next steps are to place another device on top of the old device or do open heart surgery to take out the old device and repair the hole, neither of which I want to have done.
23.gif
 
I''m sorry to hear about this Catmom; and DH and I will send prayers your way for a complete closure of the hole.
 
i''m hating those bubbles today too, michelle, right along with you.

this sounds like such a struggle, and it''s amazing how incredibly sweet and friendly you are with so much on your plate.

i take my hat off to you, lady - you''re an example.

sending prayers your way and all the positive zen in the world...

and a big, gentle hug ----> {{{{{michelle}}}}}

with warm friendship best wishes,
 
I''m really sorry to hear that Catmom. Damn bubbles. Sending lots of hugs to you. That has to be good news that it''s gotten smaller though.
 
(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((BIG HUGS))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

Open heart surgery is no fun, so I hope it doesn''t come to that.
 
Thanks so much guys!! I''m trying to remain positive about this and there are positives. There definitely were less bubbles going through this time so the hole that is left is much smaller. I''m hoping I''m just a very slow healer. It''s just scarey to think every time you lift something or strain "is this the time I''m going to have another stroke?" Ehh, enough about this, I can''t deal any more.....someboby tell me some good news. It was in the sixties here today so I spent a good amount of time out reading on my front porch. That''s one of my most favorite things to do. How about you guys?
9.gif
 
Hi Michelle
35.gif


I was wondering how you were feeling??? Has your doctor decided to do anything???


Love, Linda
xoxoxoxoxox
 
Aww thanks for asking, sweet granny! I haven''t heard anything from him yet. He''s been out of town and just got back yesterday. If I don''t hear from him today I will call tomorrow morning.
 
Michelle,


Please let us know what he says ok? We love you and are concerned.


Love, Linda
xoxoxoox
 
Thanks so much Linda! I haven''t heard from my cardiac surgeon yet but I did hear from my other cardiologist and he did speak with him. The bottom line is my hole will never close any more. They want to do another TEE test or a transesophageal Echocardiagram. This is where they basicaly knock you out and then put an ultrasound transducer down your throat to get a clearer picture of the heart. Depending upon the outcome of this test they will decide if the remaining hole is small enough that I can get by without further strokes or if they need to put in another device next to the one I already have which should finally close it [yeah sure they said that the first time around
20.gif
]. Just how many of these damned devices do they think can fit in one person''s heart?
38.gif
I''m now waiting to hear from the cardiac surgeon to schedule the test because he wants to be the one to do it. It kind of hit me hard because I really don''t want to have to go through this again. Nope I sure don''t!!
14.gif
 
Aw Michelle, I don''t want you to have to go through that again either. I feel so bad for you sweetheart. What an ordeal. I just hope that this will be the last time they will have to do this procedure.

I wish I could give you a hug in person. Please know, that I am thinking of you.

Please keep us posted too.

Love, Linda
xoxoxoxox
 
Thanks so much Linda! You always make me feel better. I''ll let you know how it goes. The test is Wednesday morning although I don''t know if I''ll be able to get back to you on Wednesday. I just got word that I will be heavily sedated. Please send as much dust as you can so that I don''t need to go through this again. Frankly I''m pretty scared about this one.
7.gif
 
Michelle,


I am sending you all the dust there is to send. I know how scared you are and I will be with you in spirit. I will be praying really hard for you too sweetheart.

Here is a great big hug for you.
bighug5.gif
 
Thanks Linda, that means a lot to me!
 
YAY, good news I think.....for now anyways! I had the test on Wednesday and it did show a leak but the device is still in the correct place which is good. The leak is around one of the edges of the device. It also showed a small valve leakage but nothing to be concerned about. The leak around the device is small enough that my cardio surgeon has decided to do nothing right now. We''re on the wait and see plan. If it gets any bigger then something will have to be done but as it is right now I should be okay. I have to have periodic TEEs to monitor the size of the leak but I''m off of all medications except aspirin. It''s that "should be okay" that scares me a little. I certainly don''t want another stroke but I didn''t want to have surgery again either. Thanks Linda for all your good wishes!
 
Michelle,

I am so happy to hear this, but I do understand your concern too. I would be a bit worried also.

I am sure your doctor is doing, what he knows is best for you.

I am always sending dust your way and having a special guardian angel, watching over you. We don''t'' want you to have another stroke either. I am glad to know your doctor will be monitoring you regularly.

Lots of love to you,
Linda
xoxoxoxoox
 
Catmom, your "it''s never a good idea to bet with Catmom" thread was very enjoyable! It is a pleasure to meet you!
35.gif
 
Hi Imdanny, it''s nice to meet you too!!
 
GET 3 FREE HCA RESULTS JOIN THE FORUM. ASK FOR HELP
Jewelry Blog
PriceScope-Concierge-Ad
Find prime cuts.
Top