PFO

[angiebabie627]

During my recent ablation surgery my doctor found that i had PFO (Patent Foreman Ovale) i read about it doesnt make me feel comfortable due to the fact that is says it could cause a stroke it worries me does anyone else have this and can they  help me please !!

[mamanuss]

I did not know that I had a PFO and I had a stroke at 29 with 4 kids and a hubby!! They have so many simple options out there now. What have you chosen?

[angiebabie627]

I have not chosen any yet because its recent and have not talked with my doctor about it yet. i am only 19 so i worry .

[Karki]

Hi.  I am 53 and had a stroke due to blood clots going THROUGH my PFO.  I have children your age, and since I'm not a doctor, and since I don't know anything about your medical stuff, I'll tell you what I would tell them, ok?

Knowing what I know now (I had my PFO closed last year by using a clam-shell type of device called Amplatzer), my only regret is that the doctors didn't find it -- and close it -- when I was younger.  The procedure is very very easy (I was awake), it was painless (and I'm a sissy!) and since then I have never felt better in my life.  My doctors told me that even through I've had the PFO since birth, since it didn't act up when I was younder, if it's going to be a problem, it will likely be during my middle-age years and beyond.  (Yes, I was insulted, but the truth hurts).  I've had decades of headaches and migraines, all of which are gone now, a side effect they're finding is very common with the PFO closures.  In my mind, decades of pain I didn't have to endure.  Strokes, TIA's -- all of which I wouldn't have had, had I known about and closed my PFO.  Would I do it again?  Faster than you can say YES.

I was intially scared of what the procedure was going to do.  Well, it was very easy.  I was awake, had no pain, had no recovery pain; no real recovery at all, since there wasn't much to recover FROM.  I had to take Plavix for six months, and an aspirin, but that's it.  Ohh - during the 2-3 months post implant, I did have some weird palpitations, but they're normal; they said it was due to the skin growing over the implant and the heart adjusting.  

Had I know about the PFO, I could have avoided decades of feeling weak; of feeling like I had mountain sickness (altitude sickness), only because I wasn't getting enough oxygen.  

So, if any of my kids had a PFO, I'd say let's get it closed right away -- it doesn't hurt, it doesn't have any real side effects other than no headaches or migraines (YEA), and it only makes your heart do/become what it should have done after birth anyway -- close that little flap.  

I know you're young, and this is scary, but you're so lucky to have found this now.  Talk with many doctors; go to a teaching hospital in your area and ask the cardiologists there.  Ask about any surgical problems that MAY occur, and how often they actually do.  Ask to talk with someone YOUR AGE that has gone through something similar.

You're doing a great job posting on this site.  Good luck to you, and let us all know what you decide.  Take care, my new daughter, Angiebaby627

[Momto3]

Hellooooo and Welcome (from one Mom to another.....LOL)

May I ask, how did you find out about the PFO?  I'm scheduled for an echocardigram and a bubble test at the end of the month to see if I might have a PFO.  I experienced a temporary (< 1 minute), partial loss of vision in one eye and the doctor wants to be sure it was not a TIA.  Here's what's weird -- I've had a bizillion echos, stress tests, two electrophysiology studies, two ablations and a TEE and no one mentioned a PFO.  I just can't get over that they would not have seen it.  My doctor said if they weren't looking for it, it's very possible I could have a PFO and it was missed.  Seems so strange to me.

Thanks for any insight
Connie