The MakeMeThinner Support Forum

[JonnaD]

Thanks, Tawanda and Tonia.

We'll have to see about the family joining me - they are both quite capable of doing the program and not telling me til later

Well, back to work on the book.

[holberry]

jonna,
glad you got the med help you needed and can continue on.
Best of luck on the book, a bidding war sounds terrific!
hb

[DonicaB]

Jonna~ Just checkin in to say hello. It looks like things are going well.

I know you're working hard to finish book, I just wanted you to know I was thinking about you.

<img src="http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e92/mycutegraphics/blink/bl3.gif" border="0" alt="Blinkies & Graphics @ MyCuteGraphics.com">

Donica

[JonnaD]

Hello, Everyone -- I'm still working hard to finish my book. We reviewed the first 42 pages last Thursday and I got the greatest compliment - they all were disappointed to come to the end Yay!! That's a very good sign. Now if I can get that reaction from the publisher

My brother won't be joining me on MF - he's on Coumadin because of his valve replacement. The Vitamin K in the meals will conflict with his meds and he only recently got them regulated. Oh well, that's the way the cookie crumbles.

Back to the frog pond. May the MF fairy shake her dust generously over each and every one of you and y'all have fantastic weeks

[Pashta]

That's too bad about your brother. I have a leaky heart valve, I was told that it shouldn't affect my lifespan any, but to be careful and not do too much aerobic exercise or anything that will make my heart go too fast. When I do, I can faint and sometimes almost do.

Does your brother have the same thing? "mitral valve prolapse" I guess it's called.

[JonnaD]

Hi, Tonia.

Until recently, I thought I had Mitral Valve Prolapse. But my brother and I both have (he had, anyway) leaky aortic valves. I have a condition called Bicuspid Aortive Valve disease. The normal heart valve has three leaflets, a bicuspid valve has only two. The valve usually shows early onset of stenosis (calcification).

His valve had a plug of calcium in it that was as big as my thumb, he almost died before he had the surgery. (he was only 57)

My calcification is classified as very mild. At some point I will probably have to have the surgery. Oh joy!

Have you had any tests which confirm it's your mitral valve which is leaking? It very important to be sure, because if you have the bicuspid valve, you are also at a higher risk for aneurisms and tears in the aorta. Many cardiologists don't recognize this problem, it took me over fifteen years to find a doctor that didn't automatically diagnose me with "panic attacks" when my heart raced and I had shortness of breath.

Sometimes the only test which will confirm the BAV, is something called a TEE (trans esophageal echocardiogram), especially if you carry too much weight. A regular echocardiogram has to read through too much tissue and the results usually aren't conclusive.

Since you have such severe symptoms, I would look for a doctor who will do the TEE. I've had doctors lie to me, tell me the echo was conclusive and I didn't have the BAV.

If you want more info, you can go to the Bicuspid Aortic Valve foundation website (just google them). They are very helpful and informative.

Can you tell you hit one of my hot buttons? I really need to be sticking to the frog pond and finishing my book, but I couldn't pass this up.

Take care and don't let the md's push you around. Remember, you pay their bills.

[Pashta]

Hey Jonna, thanks for all that information! That's scary about the calcification thing.. As long as you are monitoring it I guess you will be fine! Glad your brother caught it in time.

I was tested when I was about 22 or so, they kept me in the hospital for 3 days... I had EKGs I think and for sure they had me hooked up to a halter monitor (sp?) to try to catch it happening. I guess they did. I'm not sure what other tests they did, it was a long time ago.

I do remember the doctor telling me that it won't affect my life expectancy, to be careful with exercise and to always take antibiotics before any surgery or dental visit.

I don't have a regular MD but once I do get one that I like and will stick with I'll discuss it with him/her and check to make sure I have that and not something else like you said. Thanks!