Can You be Sick and Not Know? Yep.

I’d like to think I wasn’t sick, but I am, even though I feel fine (well, except for my knee, but that doesn’t count). I’ve had mitral valve prolapse since I was a kid (I remember going through all the tests at the UCLA Medical Center). I was always told my heart murmur was just an extra heartbeat, so I never worried about it. Heck, the U.S. Army let me in with it. Then back in April I went to the doctor because of my cough (which turned out to be allergies, remember that?). I even mentioned HERE that he’d heard my heart murmur and suggested I have another EKG -- which turned into an echocardiogram -- and that I wasn’t worried one bit!

Except… Those tests determined that the valve is leaking, and in the severe range. I didn’t even know I’d been in a mild range. So when the doctor said the only way to fix it was through open heart surgery, and that I would need it within the next 5 years, I went into shock a little.

This news tanked my writing a bit. Okay, maybe a lot. I went to a retreat, RT, and RAGT with this weighing on me. I didn’t want to tell anyone until I had all the information.

I needed some questions answered and my cardiologist on base suggested I get another opinion up at the Cleveland Clinic (because they do these surgeries all the time). He said if they could fix it, I should have the surgery now. If they thought it was beyond fixing and needed to be replaced, then I should wait until I start having symptoms. That’s because replacement valves only last 10-15 years, requiring another surgery in my future. Plus, I’d be on blood thinners the rest of my life. Yeah, I don’t want that!

Turns out they feel it can be fixed. I’m scheduled to have surgery on November 2nd. Talk about motivation to get my novella finished this month. I have no idea what kind of shape I’ll be in after. They’re gonna have to break my breast bone. That can’t feel good!

I should be in intensive care for a couple of days after the surgery, but should (SHOULD) be released in 5 days. Yeah, that shocked me, too. But I sure hope that’s the case. I don’t want to stay in the hospital any longer than I need to. In any case, my daughter will have access to my blog and Facebook page and will post the results of the surgery (since I’m pretty sure I won’t feel like blogging for the first couple of days after).

And this is why I feel I won’t be continuing with my exercise routine this fall/winter. I’ll be on cardiac physical therapy (hubby will have to take me—I won’t be allowed to drive for about 8 weeks), but I’m sure it won’t include weight lifting (at least what I’m used to). Heck, I was told I shouldn’t lift anything heavier than 10 lbs for several weeks after. It’s a bummer, but I sure hope all this exercise I’m doing now will help in the healing process.

I hope you don’t mind me sharing all this with you. Hubby doesn’t like to talk about it so much (can’t blame him; sometimes I think he’s freaking out inside more than I am) and sometimes it makes me feel better if I can rant (and I have some pre-surgery appointments coming up that I might want to discuss).

One thing I was surprised when informing some people, was finding others who have the same condition I do. I’m letting them know not to ignore it like I did. That they should get tested regularly. Maybe they won’t need surgery, but if they do it’s better to find out sooner than later.

Hopefully I haven’t bummed out your weekend. I plan on having fun watching my daughter play Footy in the USAFL Nationals in Austin, TX. I hope she wins some games and doesn’t end up with another broken foot (yeah, she did that last year!).

Thanks for reading. See you on Monday.

Stacy